well, first off i got lucky... it wasn't the battery, it was a "new" fuse link that fell apart. i really try not to let the little stuff bother me so much, because thats where i learn more about this car. i do need to get a parts manual for this car though, because the dealer doesn't even have one. so, i take it i can use either a small "degree wheel" or a large one. i will buy one either today or tomorrow and hopefully get to check it out Sunday. i really DO appreciate all the help you guys give me, but if it seems like i'm moving a little slow at times it's because i work too much, don't have parts, water seeping thru the ceiling (last week), and i have to help my mother with my father who has cancer and is going down pretty hard. i don't mean to whine... just don't want you guy's to think i'm taking you for granted. thanks, again!

440 Magnum: well, i finally got the double roller chain and gears, gaskets ect.... and now i actually have some time. gotta tell you, this is not for the faint hearted! everything i've had to take off is REALLY stuck on, i kept thinking i must have missed a bolt. anyway, i finally got the timing cover off and the big gear looks to be nylon like you said, but it looks fine. if the chain skipped a tooth it did it without hurting the nylon gear. what i did find is exactly what you said... the chain has about a 1/2" of slop. i might need to take the a/c condenser off so i can see the marks on the gears to line them up right. looking down i seem to be at too much of an angle to be sure. i'm going to try to get the gears on the car now. thanks!

I just started reading this thread earlier this morning, and I gotta say again WOW! Props to 74scamp for the persistance and continuing effort, and to everyone who has been coaching and coaxing him along. Looks to me like he's finally on top of the prob, hopefully the new timing set will go in smoothly and fix the problem, and I'll be checking in later today to see the good news!

Synpathy, too, scamp for your dad, your mom, and yourself. I lost my dad to Cancer in 1970, my stepfather in 2000, and my mom last year. They all smoked cigarettes. I quit ready made cigs in 1970 and the "funny" ones in '93, so maybe I've got a chance to croak from something else!!! After all, like Ol' Hank said back in '51 "No matter how I struggle and strive, I'll never get out of this world alive".

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'64 Dart GT convertible, 64 Dart 170 2-door post sedan in faded blue and rust (the Az Dart) & a sixty THREE Dart 170 2-door post sedan in faded blue and rust. (future project)
Early Dart Disorder (EDD) is real, and I've got it!

64ragtop: Welcome to the forum! also, thank you for your support! i also am fairly new and i have learned a lot from this forum. these guys really know their stuff! i also am sorry to here about all your losses! sadly, it seems that nowadays everyone has lost someone to cancer. as far as working on this car... most of what i have worked on i have never tried before, but most of these guys (it seems) know a whole lot more about cars than i probably ever will. what i do is just read the forum as new subjects come up and just read some more. i always learn something new. half the time it's over my head, but it's cool to see how much these guys are into their cars and how much they know! i doubt that you could find this knowledge at any garage or shop unless you looked for a long time or just got lucky. well, i gotta get going for now. thanks, again!

Well, the 1/2 inch of slop is enough to *possibly* let it jump over a tooth- especially if the teeth on that nylon gear are starting to get rounded-off. Best to get that piece of junk OUT of there! Hopefully this will get things back on track!

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440 Magnum: i definitely think you were right about the timing chain. i decided to put a h/p cam in being it's all apart. i have a couple of post asking for help on selection. now i'm just waiting to see which cam to go with. once the cam is in, i want to start it up to see where i'm at. hopefully, all i'll need to do is adjust the carburetor.

well, a little slow on the learning curve, but i haven't broken anything YET. i decided after i put the timing chain in to just "button her up" and find out where i'm at. she fired right up, but not without shooting a cloud of gas out first. so... i took the carb. (#1945) off and found a torn accelerator plunger but the replacement (runs better) but didn't cure the problem. the idle on the carb. still has to be set at about 4 1/2 turns out. if i use about 1/2 throttle when starting she starts a little better (less spitting). good news is: she is now set at 950 rpm's and drops to 650 rpm's in "drive" or "reverse" (instead of 1400 rpm's down to 650 rpm's) and does not die. but, now she sounds like there is a little knocking going on (detonation?) that is there at 0*tdc all the way to 10* btdc. i took her around the block and the lower end torque is MUCH better (i know... go figure), she idles pretty smooth, and runs much better. i am going to order cam, lifters, springs, Dutra duals, 2bbl. carb., intake manifold, ect.. but i want to be able to drive her and i'm thinking of getting the 2bbl. carb. with an adapter to get me by till i have all the parts and time to do the work. i did not degree the cam being the timing set is unadjustable and i will do that when i get the new cam. thanks!