'66 Dodge D-Dart at Mecum auction

ddartdude · 12-17-2009, 07:03 PM

Paul,
I thought that I measured the intake valves on the "Mecum" auction cars engine when I had the heads off it. I thought they were 1.87's. I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time. This is one of the slugs in it. No relief for the valves.
Alan

ddartdude · 12-17-2009, 07:36 PM

Paul,
I was looking through my magazine stash and dug these out. Believe it or not, there were a lot of magazine articles written on the little 273. All these have article on building the 273 engine.

Chrysler Race Bulletin Number 8
273/318/340 CI ----- (340 CI hand written on the coversheet)
Engine Tune-Up Tips
Includes D/Dart engine parts and build up

Hot Rod -- February 1966
Power Mods For MoPar's 273
Has pictures of Koffel's C/FX engine

Car Craft --- March 1966
Fine Pair of Fish
-- Ralph Costa's "The Politician" and The Golden Commando's "Goldfish"
-- No build up, just a comparison of the two cars

Hot Rod Parts Illustrated --- May 1966
Dodge Hemi & 273 Performance Bulletins

Super/Stock and FX Magazine --- June 1966
More dig for the 273 Dart
-- D/MP Dart w/Offy dual quad intake - Carter carbs -- 300 HP

Rodder and Super/Stock --- September 1965
Same article as in SS&FX Magazine --- June 1966

Speed and Custom --- August 1966
Blueprint for Performance -- 273 Drag Secrets Revealed

SuperStock & Drag Illustrated --- May 1967
Spehar's 273 Incher
-- 1966 D/Dart --- "The Politician" --- D/S

Car Craft --- July 1968
Ted Spehar on Mopars
-- 1965 Barracuda --- "The Politician" --- F/SA

Car Life --- July 1970
Mopar Magic

Enjoy
Alan

bill dedman · 12-18-2009, 02:15 AM

Paul,
Thanks for the extra insight RE: the street racing '60s and '70s as it went with the myopic Chrysler engineers.

I have probably made a huge mistake by installing a Vortech supercharger (10 pounds of boost) on an otherwise stock 360 Magnum (it does have a better-than-stock Hughes cam and TTI headers.) It's a 4-headbolt street/strip (Bracket) car.

I have lots and lots of anti-detonation Band Aids on it, but if I'd done a 383/400, instead of that 360, I might could get some sleep at night, instead of staying awake all night, trying to come up with new and innovative ways to prevent detonation.

How much money would it have cost to engineer that original Polysphere 277 ('56 Plymouth) with 5 headbolts instead of 4????

I hate bean counters...

Paul Ceasrine · 12-18-2009, 05:29 AM

Alan,
The photo of that piston sure brings back memories. Also, looks like that block has a nice tight seal around the combustion area. No indication of
any leakage (blow-by on the gasket seal). Must be a true block!!
If I remember correctly, you didn't have to notch the pistons (with a ,500 lift cam) providing you didn't mill the heads. Of course thats with the stock valve units.
As for 273 articles. The February 66' Hot Rod article by Eric Dahlquist is probably the best one, on the technical side. Great posting there on
all 273 related publications. Thanks*
Lifter (tappet) question. Are those solid lifters in the block (hour-glass shaped) or fully solid?
Bill,,,A Super-Charger. Where are you going and how fast do you want to get their? A small-block is still the way to go in the A-Bodies for the street. Do you want to know how long it took me to change the spark-plugs on my 69' M-Code 440 Cuda (with stock exhaust manifolds)?
When I started, my daughter was in 4th grade, and now that I just finished the #7 cylinder, she's enrolling in college

Paul

ddartdude · 12-18-2009, 09:16 AM

Paul,
They had the hour glass lifters in it. The original owner said he broke a couple of them while racing and replaced them with the solid ones, so there were 13 hour glass and 3 with solid bodies in it.
The cylinders had no ridges in them at all when I opened it up. For an engine with over 100,000 miles on it, it looked fantastic. He drove it 75,000 miles with the 4.86 gears in it. That helped a lot.
Alan

bill dedman · 12-19-2009, 12:53 AM

Paul asked: "Where are you going, and how fast do you want to get there?"

Answer: to the finish line, and, ASAP.

I have had a couple of races in my time, and the A-engine/A-Body cars I've owned have always acquitted themselves amirably in the smallish venues I've tried my hand in.... particularly, with regard to racing against big blocks.
Still, I know I'd probably be better of with a 383/400 with a turbo than this 360/centrifugal blower.

Day after tomorrow, I'll be 71....

This 360 probably will provide all the fun I should have, at my age... LOL!

Paul Ceasrine · 12-19-2009, 06:12 AM

Alan,
Thanks for restoring my memory. Another weak-link in the 273, that could have easily been corrected. Hour-glass shaped lifters. Yes, good for
increased lubrication, but shaky for racing purposes (above 6000 RPM).
Hard to believe the D-Dart had those units, to go along with stock
push-rods. We bent many a stock pushrods, while utilizing stock valve springs (210 lb. rated w/valve open), and broke (split) numerous lifters.
I just wonder how many guys with the D-Dart ran into valve train component problems with those high-rated tension valve springs.
Bill,
Happy Birthday to a young 71. But don't do it. Stay with the small block, and just try to improve the performance. I still have nightmares of working on the big-block in my Cuda. I wake-up, with (8) spark-plugs looking at me at the end of the bed, singing "Changes" by David Bowie

Paul

X-TECH MAN · 12-20-2009, 08:11 AM

[QUOTE=bill dedman

Day after tomorrow, I'll be 71[/QUOTE]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to an old fart from another old fart.............LOL.

dart4forte · 12-20-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddartdude

Paul,
I thought that I measured the intake valves on the "Mecum" auction cars engine when I had the heads off it. I thought they were 1.87's. I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time. This is one of the slugs in it. No relief for the valves.
Alan

Or like this one

bill dedman · 12-20-2009, 12:47 AM

Thanks for the well-wishes, guys! I feel lucky to be here.... remember, I was 18 years old when the first A-engine was introduced.... (1956 Plymouth 277), 24, when the first Maximum Performance Wedge motor (413) showed what it could do in '62, and a ripe, old, 32 when the Duster 340's first showed up!

No wonder I can't remember anything; it was too long ago!!!!!!

Insofar as my Valiant is concerned, I will likely continue down this ill-advised path until it sheds it's head gaskets, or ring lands, or piston tops....

In that vein, I have a new 4" crank lying on the floor in the living room, a new set of Eagle rods in a box on the couch (the wife's in re-hab, probably permanently {stroke}... what she doesn't see can't hurt me..). and a second (as in, "additional") Vortech blower sitting in my bedroom closet... I'm not gonna give this up without a fight...

Now, all I need is a set of forged pistons and a better set of heads...

12-17-2009, 07:03 PM	#1
ddartdude Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 57 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: '66 Dodge D-Dart at Mecum auction Paul, I thought that I measured the intake valves on the "Mecum" auction cars engine when I had the heads off it. I thought they were 1.87's. I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time. This is one of the slugs in it. No relief for the valves. Alan Attached Thumbnails

12-17-2009, 07:36 PM	#2
ddartdude Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 57 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: '66 Dodge D-Dart at Mecum auction Paul, I was looking through my magazine stash and dug these out. Believe it or not, there were a lot of magazine articles written on the little 273. All these have article on building the 273 engine. Chrysler Race Bulletin Number 8 273/318/340 CI ----- (340 CI hand written on the coversheet) Engine Tune-Up Tips Includes D/Dart engine parts and build up Hot Rod -- February 1966 Power Mods For MoPar's 273 Has pictures of Koffel's C/FX engine Car Craft --- March 1966 Fine Pair of Fish -- Ralph Costa's "The Politician" and The Golden Commando's "Goldfish" -- No build up, just a comparison of the two cars Hot Rod Parts Illustrated --- May 1966 Dodge Hemi & 273 Performance Bulletins Super/Stock and FX Magazine --- June 1966 More dig for the 273 Dart -- D/MP Dart w/Offy dual quad intake - Carter carbs -- 300 HP Rodder and Super/Stock --- September 1965 Same article as in SS&FX Magazine --- June 1966 Speed and Custom --- August 1966 Blueprint for Performance -- 273 Drag Secrets Revealed SuperStock & Drag Illustrated --- May 1967 Spehar's 273 Incher -- 1966 D/Dart --- "The Politician" --- D/S Car Craft --- July 1968 Ted Spehar on Mopars -- 1965 Barracuda --- "The Politician" --- F/SA Car Life --- July 1970 Mopar Magic Enjoy Alan

12-18-2009, 02:15 AM	#3
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: '66 Dodge D-Dart at Mecum auction Paul, Thanks for the extra insight RE: the street racing '60s and '70s as it went with the myopic Chrysler engineers. I have probably made a huge mistake by installing a Vortech supercharger (10 pounds of boost) on an otherwise stock 360 Magnum (it does have a better-than-stock Hughes cam and TTI headers.) It's a 4-headbolt street/strip (Bracket) car. I have lots and lots of anti-detonation Band Aids on it, but if I'd done a 383/400, instead of that 360, I might could get some sleep at night, instead of staying awake all night, trying to come up with new and innovative ways to prevent detonation. How much money would it have cost to engineer that original Polysphere 277 ('56 Plymouth) with 5 headbolts instead of 4???? I hate bean counters... __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 12-20-2009 at 12:32 AM.

12-18-2009, 05:29 AM	#4
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: '66 Dodge D-Dart at Mecum auction Alan, The photo of that piston sure brings back memories. Also, looks like that block has a nice tight seal around the combustion area. No indication of any leakage (blow-by on the gasket seal). Must be a true block!! If I remember correctly, you didn't have to notch the pistons (with a ,500 lift cam) providing you didn't mill the heads. Of course thats with the stock valve units. As for 273 articles. The February 66' Hot Rod article by Eric Dahlquist is probably the best one, on the technical side. Great posting there on all 273 related publications. Thanks* Lifter (tappet) question. Are those solid lifters in the block (hour-glass shaped) or fully solid? Bill,,,A Super-Charger. Where are you going and how fast do you want to get their? A small-block is still the way to go in the A-Bodies for the street. Do you want to know how long it took me to change the spark-plugs on my 69' M-Code 440 Cuda (with stock exhaust manifolds)? When I started, my daughter was in 4th grade, and now that I just finished the #7 cylinder, she's enrolling in college Paul

12-18-2009, 09:16 AM	#5
ddartdude Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 57 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: '66 Dodge D-Dart at Mecum auction Paul, They had the hour glass lifters in it. The original owner said he broke a couple of them while racing and replaced them with the solid ones, so there were 13 hour glass and 3 with solid bodies in it. The cylinders had no ridges in them at all when I opened it up. For an engine with over 100,000 miles on it, it looked fantastic. He drove it 75,000 miles with the 4.86 gears in it. That helped a lot. Alan

12-19-2009, 12:53 AM	#6
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: '66 Dodge D-Dart at Mecum auction Paul asked: "Where are you going, and how fast do you want to get there?" Answer: to the finish line, and, ASAP. I have had a couple of races in my time, and the A-engine/A-Body cars I've owned have always acquitted themselves amirably in the smallish venues I've tried my hand in.... particularly, with regard to racing against big blocks. Still, I know I'd probably be better of with a 383/400 with a turbo than this 360/centrifugal blower. Day after tomorrow, I'll be 71.... This 360 probably will provide all the fun I should have, at my age... LOL! __________________ Bill

12-19-2009, 06:12 AM	#7
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: '66 Dodge D-Dart at Mecum auction Alan, Thanks for restoring my memory. Another weak-link in the 273, that could have easily been corrected. Hour-glass shaped lifters. Yes, good for increased lubrication, but shaky for racing purposes (above 6000 RPM). Hard to believe the D-Dart had those units, to go along with stock push-rods. We bent many a stock pushrods, while utilizing stock valve springs (210 lb. rated w/valve open), and broke (split) numerous lifters. I just wonder how many guys with the D-Dart ran into valve train component problems with those high-rated tension valve springs. Bill, Happy Birthday to a young 71. But don't do it. Stay with the small block, and just try to improve the performance. I still have nightmares of working on the big-block in my Cuda. I wake-up, with (8) spark-plugs looking at me at the end of the bed, singing "Changes" by David Bowie Paul

12-20-2009, 08:11 AM	#8
X-TECH MAN Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lake Placid, Florida Posts: 3,203 Likes: 1,047 Liked 235 Times in 110 Posts	Re: '66 Dodge D-Dart at Mecum auction [QUOTE=bill dedman Day after tomorrow, I'll be 71[/QUOTE] HAPPY BIRTHDAY to an old fart from another old fart.............LOL.

12-20-2009, 12:47 AM	#10
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: '66 Dodge D-Dart at Mecum auction Thanks for the well-wishes, guys! I feel lucky to be here.... remember, I was 18 years old when the first A-engine was introduced.... (1956 Plymouth 277), 24, when the first Maximum Performance Wedge motor (413) showed what it could do in '62, and a ripe, old, 32 when the Duster 340's first showed up! No wonder I can't remember anything; it was too long ago!!!!!! Insofar as my Valiant is concerned, I will likely continue down this ill-advised path until it sheds it's head gaskets, or ring lands, or piston tops.... In that vein, I have a new 4" crank lying on the floor in the living room, a new set of Eagle rods in a box on the couch (the wife's in re-hab, probably permanently {stroke}... what she doesn't see can't hurt me..). and a second (as in, "additional") Vortech blower sitting in my bedroom closet... I'm not gonna give this up without a fight... Now, all I need is a set of forged pistons and a better set of heads... __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 12-20-2009 at 12:49 AM.