Saturday, June 20, 2009
Weekly Dart update
I'm going to see if I can get something done on the Dart every week. Maybe not spectacular, but I figure if I keep the momentum going I'll get through this project eventually.
I've been wondering about how the Spectre intake piping is going to hold up under boost. The tubing itself is pretty stout looking heavy gauge aluminum, but it's smooth with no beads to hold it together under boost. I had originally been thinking I might as well try it as an experiment, just to see what happened, but this week I decided I won't run the piping as is under boost. So I took it to Suwanee Welding and had them weld the sections together into one solid piece, with beads welded to each end so that the silicone coupler won't slip off them. It may not look as good anymore, but it's definitely worth the peace of mind. And I'll probably get the thing powdercoated at some point - probably the same red color they used on the stock engine.
I've been wondering about how the Spectre intake piping is going to hold up under boost. The tubing itself is pretty stout looking heavy gauge aluminum, but it's smooth with no beads to hold it together under boost. I had originally been thinking I might as well try it as an experiment, just to see what happened, but this week I decided I won't run the piping as is under boost. So I took it to Suwanee Welding and had them weld the sections together into one solid piece, with beads welded to each end so that the silicone coupler won't slip off them. It may not look as good anymore, but it's definitely worth the peace of mind. And I'll probably get the thing powdercoated at some point - probably the same red color they used on the stock engine.
Labels: Dodge Dart
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sounds like my kind of car show...
The latest issue of Hot Rod arrived today, and they mentioned a car show that would actually be an appropriate place to show off my Dodge. No, not the Dart... the D50.
Well, there is one thing about it that would make it less than an appropriate place, and that's that my D50 probably couldn't be trusted to make it all the way to California. I'm not sure if I should enter it in the "Soul-Sucking Japanese Appliance, 1970-current" or "Rust Belt American Junk, '64-current" category - or it might have a shot at "Most Effluent," awarded to the entrant that pollutes the most. Seriously, these are real categories in the show - the complete list of categories has to be seen to be believed. Some of the other classes include cars that have been kicked out of other shows, a category for cars from Malcom Bricklin's many failed efforts at importing things that didn't fit American tastes, bizarre special edition cars (it appears that counterfeiting even weirder special editions that never existed is encouraged), and a class specifically for all K-car based vehicles.
Maybe they'll have one closer to Georgia if this is a success - the same guys' 24 Hours of LeMons has inspired a nationwide series.
Well, there is one thing about it that would make it less than an appropriate place, and that's that my D50 probably couldn't be trusted to make it all the way to California. I'm not sure if I should enter it in the "Soul-Sucking Japanese Appliance, 1970-current" or "Rust Belt American Junk, '64-current" category - or it might have a shot at "Most Effluent," awarded to the entrant that pollutes the most. Seriously, these are real categories in the show - the complete list of categories has to be seen to be believed. Some of the other classes include cars that have been kicked out of other shows, a category for cars from Malcom Bricklin's many failed efforts at importing things that didn't fit American tastes, bizarre special edition cars (it appears that counterfeiting even weirder special editions that never existed is encouraged), and a class specifically for all K-car based vehicles.
Maybe they'll have one closer to Georgia if this is a success - the same guys' 24 Hours of LeMons has inspired a nationwide series.
Labels: Automotive Awefulness, Cool Cars
Friday, June 12, 2009
Turbos aren't the only way to make a slant six fast
This video is pretty impressive - even though it fails to show the Valiant's e.t., which is somewhere in the 11's.
11 second slant six Valiant on YouTube
Found this one where Big Dad posted it on Bangshift, where he also posted a link to MoParts with some pictures. This Valiant is a naturally aspirated, tube framed, Lenco equipped drag monster. Wish I could find more details on it. There's custom parts all over this Valiant; even the valve cover is not an off the shelf item.
11 second slant six Valiant on YouTube
Found this one where Big Dad posted it on Bangshift, where he also posted a link to MoParts with some pictures. This Valiant is a naturally aspirated, tube framed, Lenco equipped drag monster. Wish I could find more details on it. There's custom parts all over this Valiant; even the valve cover is not an off the shelf item.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
There's a first time for everything....
And today was the first time I've ever welded together anything I was planning to put on my own car, namely, the start of the turbo support bracket for my slant six. I haven't welded anything since one time I tried to fill in a couple gaps on a machine cover at Amada, and before then the last time I'd tried welding anything was in shop class in college. Luckily, we've got a pretty good Miller MIG at the shop at work that we've mostly used for exhaust work on our in house project cars. It won't win any Riddler awards, but it looks like it ought to hold up. I'll have pictures once the bracket is complete.
Labels: Dodge Dart
Saturday, June 06, 2009
A Dart update
No, I haven't forgotten about the Dodge Dart with the turbocharged slant six. I've kind of had a hang up about figuring out how I'll support the turbo. Yesterday I decided I just had to do something to get around that, so I unbolted the turbo. And then I decided I could cut one bit of angle iron to extend from the turbo flange forward to the same plane as the water pump bolts. And another bit of angle iron going sideways. That kept up and I now have four bits of angle iron to weld together to make a bracket. It's a start.
Labels: Dodge Dart
