Johnny's Dart repairs

[RobTwin]

I like the factory tips, are they available in the UK, or is that an import item.
Is the guy , I can't remember his name , still importing container loads , and you could ask him to include it in a load ?

Yes Ron Fenton is sill importing (STS Imports) but his containers are being delivered to an address in Barton-le-Clay in Bedfordshire.
Or you could order thru Chris Goodale at Goodale American Speedshop in Wisbech, Norfolk

[RobTwin]

...Anything but wheelbarrow handles stuck out the back with chrome covers to highlight them further!

x2

[Johnny Dart]

I found these up the garden , I think they would look good,
Very Hot Rod!

[Blue]

I believe the company is still bringing in containers (STS imports) though Ron Fenton who used to run it has retired I believe. I don’t think anyone in the UK stocks the correct tips. You will find modern stuff on eBay that just doesn’t look right.

[Blue]

I found these up the garden , I think they would look good,
Very Hot Rod!

If I ever buy another car that has tailpipes like that, I will fit rubber handgrips before cutting them off…

[Johnny Dart]

I guess small stuff , like exhaust tips , can be shipped easy , and cheaply enough.
But I need some front seats , as I don't like the current ones. That was what i was thinking of getting in a container with Ron Fenton.

[Johnny Dart]

This is what I've decided to use at present, with the intention of over axle pipes at a later date.
"The Cow Horns" exhaust system. That will keep the rear tyres warm.

[Johnny Dart]

Today I finished off the exhaust, changed the fuel pipes.
Drained the 10 year old fuel, which quite surprisingly smelt like it was still new. Checked the oil and water., filled up the auto box with dextron ll.
I put a new battery on , redid the battery cable .
It started immediately, a bit tappetty for 5 mins , then quiet.
The auto box seems to work in all the gears and only starts in park or neutral.
I had to buy a new neutral/reverse switch, as I managed to break one of the pins, tying to straighten it
.
Road test next

[Blue]

Sounds like you’ve sorted it!

[Pete]

Great progress - suddenly all in a flash!!!

[Johnny Dart]

Unfortunately I've done nothing for 10 years, it's just been sat in the corner of the barn under a cover.
But now I'm back on it .
I'm redoing some stuff I did 10 years ago when I imported it , that I think I can do better.
I've got some aluminium big valve heads, an air gap intake.
And a 600 vac secondary carb, but I'm thinking of going for fuel injection.
I have a choice of cams, a Hughes whiplash or a comp cams
Cam, not sure with out looking at the box.

[Johnny Dart]

My mission to buy parts 10 years ago.........
I bought a mopar small block Hughes whiplash cam kit.
Lifters and springs.
I bought a comp cams xe268 cam kit. Lifters and springs.
I not sure which to use.
I also have a pair of big valve alloy heads , and a quick fuel 600 vs, and a air gap manifold.
I'm sort of thinking the Hughes cam kit , because I'm not wanting to get involved in high comp pistons.
Any feed back on either choices would be greatly received.

[Blue]

Don’t waste your money on fuel injection, the entry level kits offer no performance increase, if you can tune a carb save yourself a couple of grand. I think it’s a 360 you’ve got?

[Johnny Dart]

It's a 318 I have.
I sort of gone off the injection idea, as I already bought the carb 10 years ago, and as you say the thottle body types don't appear to be quite 100% yet.

[Blue]

Ah 318 ok. You can’t be losing compression with the small engines so ideally the chamber cc of your new heads doesn’t want to be less than your existing heads or you’ll be losing power not gaining it. I’ve not used that Comp. Cam but I have had a Whiplash in a 360. The Hughes cam wasn’t very happy with the stock convertor even though it’s supposed to be a match. I tried what was advertised as a 2000 stall converter and it was hardly any better. It has an aggressive tickover but I found it a bit lacking at higher RPM. Bolt on tuning options for 318’s are a bit limited as compression is low to start with and the small capacity means any improvement in head airflow is likely to cost you low speed drivability. I’d say you need 10.5.1 compression @zero deck as a basis to start making some power.