Original hemi dart information

[Frito]

Originally Posted by Charlie A

So.......Who is the background Dart?

Charlie A, I was waiting to see if anyone responded. The owner/driver of the Dart is Eddie Smith of West Virginia Hemi fame. As a matter of fact this car is lettered West Virginia Hemi on the door.

[hemitime]

Originally Posted by Frito

Charlie A, I was waiting to see if anyone responded. The owner/driver of the Dart is Eddie Smith of West Virginia Hemi fame. As a matter of fact this car is lettered West Virginia Hemi on the door.

Also owned by Max Hurley after Smith, now restored and sold at auction couple years ago.

[Charlie A]

Originally Posted by Frito

Charlie A, I was waiting to see if anyone responded. The owner/driver of the Dart is Eddie Smith of West Virginia Hemi fame. As a matter of fact this car is lettered West Virginia Hemi on the door.

Love this site for just that reason. Seems like we are still finding some history on these cars.
Just never know what's coming next or where it's going to be found.
Thank you sir!

[Frito]

Originally Posted by hemitime

Also owned by Max Hurley after Smith, now restored and sold at auction couple years ago.

Ant pictures of it when Eddie owned it?

[Liteweight]

Originally Posted by LO23

So , my Dart is getting closer to being ready for its maiden voyage to the track. My shop just updated me with the latest dilemma- what to do for front brakes? They said that the front Kelsey-Hayes rotors are unusable due to being severely warped and irregular, and they can't find a Kelsey-Hayes replacement (and they know I would like to stick with as many original or original-style parts as possible). The part number is 59157. I could go with an aftermarket setup like Wilwood, etc. but that won't look very period-correct behind my Cragar rims. On the other hand, I might be trapping 150+ mph and will need to slow the beast down in time.

Would love to hear your advice or opinions!


Btw, this Photobucket thing really sucks. Think of all of the wasted time spent posting photos.

Hey Clint.

just some things to consider with your LO23 before you put it onto a race track:

NHRA mandates any car traveling faster than 10.00 must have the safety equipment to do so. There is quite a bit of stuff when you hit this point including a roll CAGE that must be up to date and certified. If you go over 150 mph you require a parachute. And lets not forget that you will require a competition license to go faster than 10.00. Best to get a rule book so you can see all the requirements before showing up at the tech line and putting your car back into the box rather than on the start line.. And remember those requirements are for your safety!!!!!!!!

Next are those Cragars. If you inspect how the aluminum spokes are attached to the steel bell you will see a very small piece of steel that is cast into each spoke and then welded to the bell. Not alot holding the center to the bell, specially when your talking big tire , big motor and bite. A very minimum procedure would be to drill and tap each spoke to accept grade 8, 1/2" bolts from the bell to each spoke. My 12" Keystone Klassics are done this way.

Front ends on these cars are sketchy at best when your talking bumpsteer, if it has not been corrected. They can have up to an 1" of bumpsteer due to the K member being dropped 1/2". Very scarey at speed, specially when your at the top end of the track with the front suspension extended, then you hit the brakes and the suspension goes to compression. My LO23 had 15/16" of bumpsteer before I corrected it. Make sure you have an alignment done and it is checked for bumpsteer from full extension to full compression. If the front end guy looks at you funny, find another front end guy that knows more than what the screen is telling him to do.

As far as the front brakes go.You will be at speeds where you don't want to rely of 50 year old parts. Do yourself a favor and put on some aftermarket stuff like Wilwood or equivalent.
As far as getting rotors for your original stuff, I believe 68 SCJ Mustangs use the same Rotors. They sure look like it. Check it out and let me know. but, as far as braking goes I would shelf your OEM stuff.

I will see if I can post some pics of my updated front end stuff later

liteweight

[Charlie A]

Originally Posted by Frito

Ant pictures of it when Eddie owned it?

Looking for some. Found this shot of the Dart in the background:

[Charlie A]

Was this the Max Hurley Dart in the above pictures? Or was there another one?

[rhinodaert]

I owned the Max Hurley Demon about 9 years ago, had to sell it to buy the Poison Dart. Here is a pic when I owned it, still had the Motorwheel Fly's on it!

[Charlie A]

Originally Posted by rhinodaert

I owned the Max Hurley Demon about 9 years ago, had to sell it to buy the Poison Dart. Here is a pic when I owned it, still had the Motorwheel Fly's on it!

Waaaaay Cool sir!
Good reason to sell it.
Can you reveal where it went or if it is still alive?

[Frito]

Max had more that one Dart. Not sure what one was Eddie's. He must have repainted the one he got from Eddie Burl as soon as he took delivery.