I have recently acquired a 1968 dodge dart with a 225 SS from a relative who has passed on. The car is completely original except for some cragar rims I recently purchased. I have read through your forum for a couple of days now and have a few questions before I move through my engine project. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Goal: weekend driver with more power and a better sound.

I am trying to get the most power with the least amount of fiddling and frustration. Money is not an issue as long as I stay under 4K or so. Here is what I would like to do.

Dutra exhaust system with split 2.25" pipes and dual flowmasters

Which intake system will fit and work the easiest with the DD setup and which carb is the easiest install with it.

Does a 4bbl car give me a great deal more power or give any other benefits for future upgrades I may be overlooking.

Electronic ignition

If I could find a new camsahft from someone other than clifford which appears to be a nightmare to deal with I would consider it. The comp shafts appear to have some problems associated with them.

Anything else I am missing which would increase power but doesn't require extensive modification.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

It's hard to go wrong with a super six (2bbl) conversion and Dutra Duals. I just made the switch myself, and it's a night and day difference.

You didn't mention whether you have a manual or auto transmission. If auto, kickdown linkage has to be considered. If you go with a 4bbl, you'll have to convert to a Lokar cable kickdown or fabricate something.

Also, 2 1/4" pipe for duals is a lot for a slant, and a lot harder for the muffler shop to bend up. My shop had a hard enough time squeezing 2" pipes, although I have stock super six kickdown (Lokar cable KD would provide more room).

As for Flowmasters, I hope you want it really loud. I've got cheap $20 Thrush mufflers (temporarily), and it's WAY loud (just like everyone on this board, including Mr. Dutra himself, said!). I'm planning on switching them for Dynomax Super Turbos ASAP, for the sake of my family, neighbors, and local law enforcement.

Can't help with the cam, but from what I understand, a cam and cylinder head work go hand-in-hand (one without the other is of little benefit). I'm sure others will chime in to correct me.

Hope this helps!

VM

Ditto on what was said above. With dual exhausts on a stock slant six I would never go bigger than two inch pipes. In fact, if you aren't going bigger than a two barrel carb and aren't changing valves I say keep your current stock exhaust and just have a duplicate line made up for the front three cylinders. This will effectively cut your exhaust restriction in half. It will cost less too since you are only having one line made up at the exhaust shop.

As far as cams go, why not switch to the stock 72-up Mopar cam? It is a good step up from the stock cam in your 68 motor right now. They are plentiful in boneyards, just make sure you grab the lifter that came with the cam and install them back in their original locations. Avoid cams from 1981 and later vehices, these are hydraulic. They can be made to work in your motor but are a more involved swap. While you are in there also change the timing chain and gears.

For a street motor I say don't waste your money on a four barrel. A well tuned BBD will be more than enough for your slant six until you start getting radical with cams and valves.

Thanks guys, I do have an automatic so i am considering the linkage.

Good advice on the pipes. The guy at my exhaust shop suggested the size but he really doesn't know these engines. I will also reconsider my muffler choices.

Thanks again, a great site.

Personal observation, here. I cannot, for the life of me, understand, why anyone would consider, using a junkyard cam. Even if you got the cam for free. It is a fair amount of work to remove the cam and the lifters, at the junkyard. This will be a high mileage piece, in who knows what condition. Then the wotk to install it, for hardley any noticible gain. There are many inexpensive new cams available, that will give a very noticible improvement.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Good point. Cams are cheap enough that it is worth it to just buy a new one.