Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock

Paul Ceasrine · 04-30-2009, 12:51 PM

My fellow D-Dart friends,

This is what came on the 66' D-Dart 273/275 HP engine.
The block was a standard 273/235 HP HiPo, with a forged steel crank.
The pistons were standard 273/235 HiPo, 10.5-1 compression with a
2-step rise in the piston (Not domed, as some people think).
The pistons were full-floating.
Standard oil pump. (No windage tray or Hi Volume pump)
Standard 273/235 Hi Po steel timing chain.
The camshaft was not a .520 lift racer Brown as some people think. Though Racer Brown did develop cams for the Max-Wedges and
Race Hemi's, they did not provide the camshaft for the 273/275 HP
D-Dart. The camshsft was provided by Camcraft, out of Easton,
Maryland. The lift was .495 intake and .505 exhaust, with a 284* duration. That cam grind was the same Camcraft recommended for their 273 marine performance engines. How they got involved is still a mystery.
The heads were stock 273/235 HiPo, but the valve springs were
Racer Brown, 260lb. rated tension.
Stock steel valve spring retainers.
Amazingly, the stock steel push rod (yes bendable and breakable) were utilized.
The cast iron (YES!) cast iron intake was a stock unit. The carb venturi
holes were bored out from 1 1/2" to 1 11/16" to accept the larger butterfly openings of the Holley carb, The machining of the intake was performed at the factory. The D-Darts that left the LA plant did not require a carb=adapter plate. In general, the low-plane X-runner shape
intake was a piece of garbage. Small runner ports and low-plane was good for low-end torque, but at top-end the air-flow suffered.
The carb was a Holley #4160, 600 cfm vacuum secondaries.
Air-cleaner was specially designed low restriction-type.
Distributor was a dual-point unit, that was modified (vacuum advance unit was removed), to provide for mechanical advance only.

Paul

04-30-2009, 12:51 PM	#16
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock My fellow D-Dart friends, This is what came on the 66' D-Dart 273/275 HP engine. The block was a standard 273/235 HP HiPo, with a forged steel crank. The pistons were standard 273/235 HiPo, 10.5-1 compression with a 2-step rise in the piston (Not domed, as some people think). The pistons were full-floating. Standard oil pump. (No windage tray or Hi Volume pump) Standard 273/235 Hi Po steel timing chain. The camshaft was not a .520 lift racer Brown as some people think. Though Racer Brown did develop cams for the Max-Wedges and Race Hemi's, they did not provide the camshaft for the 273/275 HP D-Dart. The camshsft was provided by Camcraft, out of Easton, Maryland. The lift was .495 intake and .505 exhaust, with a 284* duration. That cam grind was the same Camcraft recommended for their 273 marine performance engines. How they got involved is still a mystery. The heads were stock 273/235 HiPo, but the valve springs were Racer Brown, 260lb. rated tension. Stock steel valve spring retainers. Amazingly, the stock steel push rod (yes bendable and breakable) were utilized. The cast iron (YES!) cast iron intake was a stock unit. The carb venturi holes were bored out from 1 1/2" to 1 11/16" to accept the larger butterfly openings of the Holley carb, The machining of the intake was performed at the factory. The D-Darts that left the LA plant did not require a carb=adapter plate. In general, the low-plane X-runner shape intake was a piece of garbage. Small runner ports and low-plane was good for low-end torque, but at top-end the air-flow suffered. The carb was a Holley #4160, 600 cfm vacuum secondaries. Air-cleaner was specially designed low restriction-type. Distributor was a dual-point unit, that was modified (vacuum advance unit was removed), to provide for mechanical advance only. Paul