Just wondering if anyone had installed these and could give me a few tips.
Do i need to raise engine as car has elephant ears, also do i need to take starter out.
69 Dart,440 auto,man brakes,steering, mini starter.
"Somebody told me it was frightening how much topsoil we are losing each year but I told that story around the campfire and nobody got scared"
You will have to take the starter out for sure, You will need to raise the motor and tilt it for each side to go on also. Get the car raised up as high as you can so the headers aren't hitting the ground as you are trying to work them into position. If the heads have studs for the headers you will need to take them out. You might need to disconnect the steering centre link for clearance. That's about all I can tell you, mine were a very good fit with no dinging or bashing needed although I don't have stock suspension or steering so I have more room. You will find they fit very close to the pass. side inner wing so plug changes are more "fun" than usual.
Blue , the colour of your suspension clashes with your body colour , i think you should take it all off and sell it realy cheap to somone with a purple duster
I was wondering about the centre link , i presume i slide the headers in then fit the starter before bolting headers up. Looks very tight. By the way how do i get the attachment up.
Mick
Blue, are you having to use a rear (truck) sump to clear that rack and pinion kit?
That does it, I want to do what you have but for my RHD Charger! Can we speak about this further since my car is now coming off the road after the Nats?
The front end kit that Blue has used is a LHD specific kit, BUT..Andy has then working on a RHD vesion for Tweety using a Holden R&P set up that a mate of mine sourced for him, speak to him about what is involved, I can get Jeff to try and find you a rack or get the details if you decide to go ahead..
surely to convert to a right hand drive will only require a suitable rack& pinion . this wont help with header clearance but if you are going to these lengths with the car why not have the headers custom made.
Trev it makes a huge difference to header clearence as the rack mounts forwards of the sump rather than having all the links behind, also it helps a huge amount losing the K frame, the thing is the rack mounts that are on the Xtube are specific for a LHD rack and they have to be re jiggedto fit a different rack, now Andy has got a rack to Bill, he will make a specific kit for RHD cars using the Holden set up.
Yes that's right, only the rack would need to be changed to go RHD, Andy and Bill Reilly who makes it have it all figured out as Tweety is at Bill's as we speak being converted. Of course the plan has changed and it's getting a full strut front end now ..... You can use any oil pan you like with an Alterkation kit, front, rear, centre whatever, even a full dragster pan as long as you notch it at the front. If you want to call me about it then no problem, I have the comprehensive manual that comes with it that I can copy if you want, it should answer all your questions. With this front end fitted I would imagine even LHD headers might then fit a RHD car, as you take out most of the parts that are in the way, this has the best exhaust clearance you are likely to find on any A body! Check out thes before and after pictures to see what I mean...
One thing that worries me a bit about taking out the considerable K frame is the resulting lack of torsional rigidity at the front. It is a problem? And where does the motor now mount?
The alterkation "H" frame is a beefy piece, at least as strong as a K frame so no problem. I ordered mine without mounts as I use a motor plate, but they are normally welded to the "H" frame, any flavour you like small block, bigblock, hemi, whatever!
And the modified coilover suspension mounts to the H frame too? It looks like it does I'm just not certain.
Yup, definately interested in this setup for mine. Just gotta convince the other half! Blue I'll call you when the craziness of my exams is over. I'd like to take a look at that manual to see how it all works, are the kits saftey assessed? I imagine insurance companies will be quite scpetical about this modification (resolution of forces etc)?
Sorry to hijack the thread Mick, mods feel free to move all this to another thread.
Yes everything is mounted off the frame, unlike the other tricker looking conversions that use the original shock mount that was never designed to take the full weight of the car. Bill has destruction tested the componenets so you know they won't fail. This is the only kit I know of that fits, works and has aftersales service should you need it. ALL the other kits out there have issues with geometry (no ackerman) some are awful to deal with and some have failed. I have never heard a bad word said about this setup and there is loads about how crap and overpriced the competition is. These kits are now available for B&E bodies too, can be had with an anti roll bar and power rack is an option too. It uses a modified mustang 2 spindle so brake options are as good as it gets, from lightweight drag to all out roundy round large. There is more info on Bills site bigblockdart.com
