'66 Dodge D-Dart at Mecum auction

[Jason Oldfield]

I don't know if this was already posted, but I found this on a website from another thread:

[ddartdude]

Originally Posted by Jason Oldfield

I don't know if this was already posted, but I found this on a website from another thread:

Jason,
I currently own Ted's old D/Dart. Bought it off of Al Adam 7 years ago.
Alan

[Paul Ceasrine]

Alan,
Thanks. I'll have to search for that bulletin.. Your Dart "The Politician", did that have 6-leaf springs in it (Heavy-duty towing package) or modified 65' Super Stock springs.
As for cooling improvement bulletins. Besides the fluid fan drive unit, I think (memory jog) there was a recommendation for a station wagon
H.D. radiator, a fan mount-spacer kit (moves the fan 1" closer to the radiator), and deep grooved pulleys.
Hurst Model #'s started out as DP-FX-65 which were used on the 67'
RO/WO factory Hemi Super Stock cars. But these units were not shipped with the D-Darts. Still searching for the correct DP# unit.
Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

Ken,
The D-Dart would have been classed in F/S at the 68' Winternationals
(10.50 - 10.99 wt/hp). Yes the 340 was factory rated at 275, but NHRA re-factored it to 300. The 68' 340 Cuda's were classed in E/S.
Jim McFarland won E/SA with a 68' Cuda prepped by Sox & Martin, and was Runner-Up in Stock Eliminator. F/Stock cars out there were running 12.70's to 12.90's. Not sure if anyone ran a 66' 273/275HP D-Dart out there, or at the 68' Springnationals in June. Too little cubes to match up with the 67' 390 Comet Cyclones/Fairlane GT's.
Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

Ken,
The Super Stock classes went from SS/B thru SS/F in 68'. The D-Dart was classed in F/S with the 65'/66' 289/271HP K-Code Mustangs.
Local tracks it would have been somewheat successful with the right
tweaks, but at Points Meets or Regional Events, unfortunately not a
champion. In 69'/70', the D-Dart would have been classed up to G/S, though some tracks did put them in H/S (11.00-11.49 wt/hp break). Not sure on how that happened, unless NHRA did a mid-season re-factoring,
which was not uncommon, as to allow some cars a fair break against the newer factory purposely underrated HP cars.
As for Super Stock, don't think anyone with a D-Dart in 69' or 70' would be crazy enough to run in SS/J, against 69' 428 CJ Ford Fairlane Fastbacks. You would have to run 12.00's back then.
Paul

[ddartdude]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Alan,
Thanks. I'll have to search for that bulletin.. Your Dart "The Politician", did that have 6-leaf springs in it (Heavy-duty towing package) or modified 65' Super Stock springs.
As for cooling improvement bulletins. Besides the fluid fan drive unit, I think (memory jog) there was a recommendation for a station wagon
H.D. radiator, a fan mount-spacer kit (moves the fan 1" closer to the radiator), and deep grooved pulleys.
Hurst Model #'s started out as DP-FX-65 which were used on the 67'
RO/WO factory Hemi Super Stock cars. But these units were not shipped with the D-Darts. Still searching for the correct DP# unit.
Paul

Paul,
In the SS&DI article on my car, it said that Ted was running 7 leaves on the right side. The rear spring number on the D/Dart broadcast sheet is 804. I think the entire P/N is 2403804. When I had both D/Darts, I had Eaton make a set of new springs for the Mecum Auction car. Kept the originals just in case I want to restore "The Politician" to as delivered condition. It currently has a set of the original SS springs on it -- P/N 3412002-3. No "P" in front of the number. They also have an "X" number on them. I believe they were on the car when Jon Rasbach and Tom Flynn bought it from Ted.
Alan

[Paul Ceasrine]

Alan,
Ted's car did sit nicely. Especially in some of the photos with the tall front tires, to improve off-line roll-out.
Have been to some Mopar events, and see some guys claim they have a D-Dart, or a 273 Commando G. Look underneath, and see a 4 1/2 band leaf-spring unit.
Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

I think the D-Dart thread can be extinguished now.
Last bit of info for you D-Dart historians.
The 273/275HP car came through with a factory modified dual-point
distributor. No vacuum advance and centrigugal advance re-calibrated.
PC

[D.Holly]

Amen!!!!