RaceDay2! Making progress on our new combo! 1968 Dodge Dart drag car

Making progress drag racing our small block Mopar stroker in our 1968 Dodge Dart drag car! Racing again at western speed way we have made some improvements since the last time out. In this video we are working on our trans brake 727 torqueflite launches use a MSD 2 step to lower the rpm at launch. It helped us get our best e.t. Our best 60 foot and most MPH ever out of our 68 Dart! It worked so good we broke the exhaust!

[@racebiketuner]

I enjoy watching you make progress with this beautiful car. Thanks for posting.

[@josepenate7367]

Love that Mopar,,,,,good driving champ,,well get better👍👍😎😎❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@4ondflor]

Can’t beat a tried and true carb. I’ve heard that from a lot of people, sometimes the carb that’s worked in the past is just the best option.

[@HorsepowerDr]

B & M Megashifter fits nicely in those Consoles .. looks good in it too

[@craigcontofalsky4387]

I told you to grind away the shifter stop for 2nd gear. Just make it a ramp from 1st gear to 2nd gear. Easy Peasy and works great! I never missed 2nd gear in my Super Stock 71 Duster 340. It ran low 11's at 122mph with a 9" J converter and no trans-brake. That was in 1975. Try it. You'll like it!😀

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Yes a few guys have suggested that. Will do soon!

[@mdvener]

Sweet looking car. Hope you continue to keep moving forward.

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@A-BONEpickup]

WHEEL'S UP, yeah buddy.

[@bdogjr7779]

Awesome Joe《☆》Wow Seeing daylight under the left front tire now👍🍺🍕Good progress Brother🖖😎☮

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 thanks bro! Need more air time tho!

[@MSH-el2yz]

Ill say the same thing I said last year. "You make Ford proud!!"

[@yobigpapa]

Agreed on the shifter bro. Hurst Pistol Grip Quarter Stick and you wont be sorry.

[@pyromedichd1]

It's been a lot of years since I had my 1970 340 Duster but circa 1975 I installed a B&M ratchet shifter that eliminated the problems you're having with the stock shifter. I don't know if B&M still is around or even makes that shifter anymore but it might be worth looking into. The only thing I didn't like about it was that it operated through a cable and the feel was mushy. I fabricated a linkage to make it operate using the stock shift rods and it worked great after that; very precise shifting and no running past the gear I wanted. I ended up removing the stock console (like yours) to save some weight and used the small B&M tower console that came with the shifter. The B&M console was narrow and had a trans temp gauge at the front end. The B&M ratchet shifter was designed so it could be used for either the standard shift pattern or reverse pattern. Just though I'd put that out there to give you some ideas. Also, maybe it was a glitch in the video (around 8:38) but during one of your tire warm ups it appeared that the right rear tire stopped spinning momentarily. Maybe is was the Limited Slip differential doing it's thing or maybe you have a problem with it. Can't say. If you still have the stock 8 3/4 diff you're getting into horsepower ranges that challenge it which is why Chrysler put the Dana behind the Hemi and 440 cars.

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Dana with a spool. Sounds like a good shifter you had back then 👍🏻 thanks for watching

[@puddleduckist]

Gettin er dialed, sounds so good!!

[@teagank2826]

LOOKING GOOD! Just for reference on my 72 I had the same shifting problem. I switched to a Hurst Promatic 2 ratchet shifter. It fit under the factory console in the slot and didn't look half bad. I used threaded nutcerts to fastened it to the the shifter floor pan and them shimmed the 4 corners of the promatic 2 with washers to make it fit just right in the factory shifter slot. You may not be about to used the factor shifter stick, but just thought this may help you, the ratchet helped me a lot at the track, could focus on other parts of the car instead of feathering the shifter.

[@adamdelangen8820]

Great vid thanks for the update

[@jwise7114]

Strange track . We run 9.80s in the 1/4 with heads from the early 70's. You guys are really on to the future.lol

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Enjoyed!! 👍👍

[@firebird70]

Great progress, so good to see you finally making fwd progress & enjoying the new combo - thanks Ben for the vid work - wicked 🤘

[@thomasward4505]

I use a factory slapstick shifter which never messes up but you have a reverse valve body so that won't work. Cable shifters aren't as great as people say because the cable is always in the way of something

[@fr.rustymatheny7707]

Still shot: Rear tires look fine from that place in the run. Car will 60 in the high 40"s to very low 50"s if you can adjust shocks. If you study that slow motion shot, you can see the car "bounces up", rather than everything working together smoothly. Front shocks need to extend and , stay extended. Rear shocks should appear to push tire into the ground while body moves upward ( seperation) . There is a 1.49 -1.51 60 ft in your near future, with chassis attention, you can probably get into the 1.46-48 range. Sweet Hotrod man. Get her dialed in and then you can start cutting some lights. Great Job buddy, great job.

[@JayGuitars1]

@Joe mate I gave up on those shifters 25yrs ago, got a pro ratchet, and never looked back. Longer travel shocks in the back, and 90/10’s in the front, I reckon is your next step.

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Got 90/10 upfront and shift Lee upgrade or mod coming

[@JayGuitars1]

@@SimpsonsSpeedShop well bud, I still reckon the back ones need to be longer.

[@48northphotography5]

Nice work. Thanks for the new video. Awesome watching you dial in the Mopar Beast.

[@elmandalorian6671]

Was great to see some air under the front tires...those are the cool 😎 wheels up shots...I like the B&M shifter from the 70's...you just ram those shifts as it springs back for the next shift...great for manual valve body setups...looking forward to seeing a full 1/4 mile pass...keep those great videos coming...

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

This is the way

[@victorwilburn3498]

Joey: The car is beautiful and all your tweaks are steadily improving your results. With a aftermarket shifter, you will hit your goal and then some👍.

[@nevillejohnson8316]

Have a Hurst vertical gate shifter in my Aussie Valiant auto, once you put in forward gear, it's litteraly bang bang. No button to push for shifting and accurate. Only drama was the cable which failed rather promptly. Adapted a B&M cable to fit, only difference was the size of the hole where the cable attaches to the shifter, being that the B&M cable has a larger hole. Made a sleeve for it and job done...😎

[@JustMoparJoe]

Thank you for sharing your progress and tribulations! Plenty of armchair quarterbacks will have something to add. There will be some helpful suggestions in there. Proud for your progress!

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Thanks bud! Ya lots of opinions, as I know, you know. Stiffen the shocks, loosen the shocks lol. All good thanks for watching bro!

[@rjecsn]

Nice job ! Getting quicker each time. Can't wait till you go out the next time! Into the 10's!

[@guidosarducci3047]

Everyone's giving advice as if they're experts. I think you're doing great, but mostly glad you're having fun out there. P.S. my car won't pull the wheels of the ground and it aint no slouch. Excellent work. I thought it was impressive and fun to see. Thanks for sharing your day at the track.

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Thank you bro. You nailed it. Lots of experts out there. I’m just out here trying my best. Thanks for watching. Improvements on the way!

[@k5wxp22]

Man, you've got some serious iron at that track! Glad to see you getting her dialed in again!

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

That is awesome! Great job... Making progress is ALWAYS a good thing

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 thanks bud!

[@michaelforsch3306]

Should try to stiffen up the extension in the rear for more pitch Rotation instead of the hopping. Worked for me (68 valiant).

[@Steve69SS396]

Glad to see you are making progress! Also happy you talked to your transmission builder and he suggested leaving at a lower RPM. I have not run a transbrake yet but have gone 1.36-1.38 sixty foot off the foot brake with no two step. My car's a street car that I race with full exhaust. I would reduce the launch RPM even more, loosen up the front end and stiffen the rear shocks. I like my converter to flash to 5,500 but I would only leave at 2,000-2,400. You only dropped 1,000 rpm on your launch from your previous video. I would try some lower launch RPM's.

[@jcnewbee8124]

What Steve said....And get a haircut.

[@JonnyMopar]

Way cool man.

[@budlanctot3060]

Junk the CalTraks and goofy springs. Put some a-body SS springs and a pinion snubber on it. Quit trying to reinvent the wheel. Fergawdsake, just try backing off the front shocks upper mounting nuts to give the front end some travel. It doesn't cost you a cent and when you leave the track just tighten them backup. Easy-peazy.

[@dougpendleton1266]

I had a B&M shifter that stretched and toasted my (reverse manual) torqueflite. My tranny guy had seen that before and strongly suggested that I go with the Cheetah shifter. I did and never had any more shifter problems.

[@jeancharlesrabaux5658]

Y love it the cars

[@steveburlingame1935]

Good runs soon u will be 10 al day

[@Torquemonster440]

Hell Yeah!!.. I know you can taste that 10.99 !! Nice work. 👊

[@1friplease]

A Dodge nut love 6869 Dart got attitude they scream attitude I do love the 60 and 9 Roadrunner I've had about every kind of mopar but I don't have one now besides my 91 250 Ram pickup truck what's 80,000 MI just got rid of a diesel 92 Dodge 250 extended cab diesel always be Mopar nut to have a 2019 Dodge Ram 2500 but the old school is the best thanks for video nice car Mopar Nats are coming up Columbus Ohio where I live in Columbus I don't know if you'll shoot that way or not LOL I don't know where you're from peace come to National Trail Raceway and pulling wheels off the ground

[@1davepatter]

One of the best damn looking cars I've ever seen!! Runs sweet! Once it's dialed in would like to see a hood on it!

[@vrm86gt]

great job with a new combo! always a learning curve!

[@imken2392]

I noticed that the camaro squats and lifts the fronts. Yours is still hopping and spinning the tires...they're lifting off on the launch but bounce twice before the hookup..still a bit stiff in the booty. You got me beat. My 68 Barracuda runs 11.63's at 118.

[@dougjackson8059]

you need to wakeup at thegreen😮

[@kurtpoblenz2741]

Getting better 👍🏻👍🏻. Nice job , slowly dialing it in. You’re going to have to change out the shifter though 😞

[@billevans7936]

Pretty Darn cool ...sounds great

[@roadrunner4404]

New sub. Nice Dart. I was thinking your shocks may need adjustment but the tire pressure helped so much

[@dtruth5769]

Definitely looks better off line. What was your best 1/4 with old motor compared to new motor. Any plans on a full 1/4 run? Thanks for video!

[@pockets5628]

Tighten up the front and rear shock extension on both. For a shifter I would suggest a B&M Pro Stick. NOT a ratchet shifter.

[@tonyharlin1997]

I have a hurst quarter stick in my 68 GTS and it works great …. Reverse manual valve body

[@tmackinator]

Ha, I was just about to post a question about the movement in the exhaust when you said the hanger broke! Your car looks like it leaps forward with not much lost motion. Isn't that a good thing? I'm vicariously racing through you. I still love that car!

[@gregchristopher1019]

Getting a aftermarket shifter will eliminate some of your headache. Being able to bang the gears are is where it's at. Where is this track located I would like to bring my nova up there and try the track out. I live in New Jersey.

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

We are very far away. West coast Canada

[@quartermiler66]

Gorgeous paint........local painter/bodywork ?

[@garyhopkinssr8561]

I meant a pinion snubber opinion snubber worked good on all the Dodges I raced

[@kevinnobody3052]

The car doesn't squat in the back at all. When you apply torque at start it seems like the back end is too stiff.

[@fr.rustymatheny7707]

Your car is doing what we call "porpoising" . Front shock "extension" is too loose. Rear shocks need to be tightened up on compression. Rea tire pressure should be as "HIGH" as you can run without spinning.

[@derekalexander4030]

How far is your nearest quarter mile track? You need to make some runs there to see if the numbers translate or if you would run out of gear at the top end. If you’re only going to run at this track you could run a much higher gear but it would be tougher on the street. Great runs and congratulations on the personal bests.

[@smilsmff]

real nice runs. glad for your progress, I am wondering if you will run 50cc accelerator pump and a bigger squirter to feed that beast off the line? also seems most start with 90/10 front settings and 50/50 rear shocks

[@lastfanstanding999]

the question is... what do your neighbors think about your time !😂

[@TheMajictech]

New shifter next season? Hell no change it now.

[@itroy3039]

Major impromemts Happy days

[@zombieprinting2670]

Whicked stuff man, still getting some hop it seems hey? Regardless, you're out there bangin gears bro! Awesome stuff!

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Yes still a bit. Still working on it!

[@raysmopar1]

Looking good bro you may wanna lower that front end just a tad To transfer wait better

[@PastorOverall]

Love your car but I think it's time for a new shifter. You will see that 490 for sure. From then to now, Kudos

[@gtdart970h]

Gettin there 🤙🤙

[@stankennedy398]

Just curious- what rear-end are you using. Is it a Dana 60? And what ratio. Love your car

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Dana 60 4:30 gear. Lots of vids on it on the channel

[@mjs28s]

@6:43 You son of a.....!

[@garyhopkinssr8561]

Try opinions number worked on all the Dodges I raced

[@johnwilburn]

Move over Air Jordan…. We now have Air Joe!

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Lol 👍🏻

[@circletrack7538]

I was shocked to know that your car weighed almost 3500 lbs. ! I thought it would be around 3200 ! Is that the weight of the car with you or without ???? I guess I was spoiled by my Vega 2750 with me and I was 200 lbs by myself !!

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

That’s with me and a half tank. I should re weigh it tho.

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

That’s with me and a half tank. I should re weigh it tho.

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

That’s with me and a half tank. I should re weigh it tho.

[@circletrack7538]

@@SimpsonsSpeedShop What are you using for fuel !!! I think you said 11.4 to 1 comp. ??? That's like 106 octane on the compression chart !!!! What are the restrictions in Canada for that ???? Unless you change to alcohol !!! You'd never have to worry about overheating anymore !!!! I'm sure that's not practical !!!

[@fr.rustymatheny7707]

Can i make a couple suggestions? Do you have adjustable shocks?

[@MikeS-ci5qw]

Moving forward Joe! One question, I know you installed the split mono spring but believe you never added the slider. Just curious if Calvert Racing would suggest it with the slight bounce of the rear? Love the vids!

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

That is a good question my man! I do plan on adding the sliders soon! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@teknoaija1762]

why not run just 60 ft or just stage and say that is a solid 6 sec run on quarter?

[@johnnybrigham8154]

Double check pion angle check with john from cal tracks he knows what you should he at joe call him. On them hollow tubes can you pls send info thank you.

[@racim86]

Does your Girlfriend/ do anymore camera work Great vids diehard Mopar guy. Keep up the great work 👍🏻

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

No she just films for me on race days! But she wasn’t filming this one for I had a friend out. Thanks for watching

[@racim86]

Keep up the great progress I had a 1970 Duster 340 in 70 when a freshman and raced all through high school so much memories the Duster ran 11:01 on a 11 flat record for SS/IS AT 123 and then a 70 T/A 340 six pack Challenger that I ram in SS RAN A 9.89 @ 138 so fast Iam 67 now but the 70’s were a great time to grow up Live your Dart beautiful! Keep on making videos love to watch them 😎👍🏻

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

@@racim86 sounds awesome! Right on bro!

[@PoorBoysGarageUSMC]

Love the car bro! What fuel are you running in that beast?

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Yo bro! I seen your channel amd watched some of your vids! Not sure if we have talked yet, sorry if I forgot, she runs on 94 at the pump here in 🇨🇦

[@PoorBoysGarageUSMC]

@@SimpsonsSpeedShop oh hell yeah! Well thanks for checking us out. Yeah man I’ve been watching your channel for some tips and motivation. Right on man thanks for getting back to me. Keep on Rip N!

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

@@PoorBoysGarageUSMC hell ya brother let’s stay in touch, I talk to a bunch of guys doin no names as well 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@PoorBoysGarageUSMC]

@@SimpsonsSpeedShop Done deal!

[@hotrod8026]

Stiffen the rear shocks.

[@bradhardy2629]

Is that a straightaway of a circle track your racing on ? Looks like its about a 10th of a mile lol. Keep up the hard work. Anyway

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Yes it is.

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Yes it is.

[@driver4237]

Damn no buybacks?

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Only on special events

[@jeancharlesrabaux5658]

Un filtre sur un systheme injection directe ok après il ce demande pourquoi elle demare pas un filtre à sur une injection directe mais nonñ

[@ArthurSperotto]

What was the tire pressure that worked well?

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

We got them down at 9. Next race I’ll start them there and go down to 8

[@bryanzabolotniuk7595]

Cope racing ctr shifter gate convert your stock console shiter to manual reverse shift patern slap stick 65 bucks and according to the website about an hour labor

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Check my new vid out! Did it for free.

[@wallygator5479]

How long is This track

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

I say in this video and every video.

[@wallygator5479]

@@SimpsonsSpeedShop Sorry I missed it

[@wallygator5479]

I just watched the video again I didn't hear you say it

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

@@wallygator5479 dude literally write on the screen. The track is 384 feet.

[@wallygator5479]

@@SimpsonsSpeedShop OK thank you very much for the info sorry to bother you

[@59vaughn]

That's...a weird track....better switch to lawn mowers....

[@theariesexperiment4642]

WTF!!!! Ticket???? I'll show you the ticket he said!!!! And then you go red ???? WTF!!!!! Get your camera game lined out boys. That's pathetic.

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Pathetic?!? I’d like to see you try

[@theariesexperiment4642]

@@SimpsonsSpeedShop I could run that camera and never miss a shot. Guaranteed hot rod. Matter of fact,....I could literally run circles around your "cameraman". Missing one run??? OK. Mistakes happen. Missing 2???? And it being the best to date??? Inexcusable. Period. I'd love to "try". I can promise you one thing. There would NNNNNEVER be a missed run that car makes. NNNNNNNNEVER!!!!

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

@@theariesexperiment4642 it was his first time. We are not pros. Take a chill pill spaz.

[@markharris1473]

You said you had a 950 on that!? Damn we had a 950 on our BBC truck but we were producing around 1000+ hp too. The carb you have now is all but perfect for your combo or maybe an 850. But a 950 is way too much for an almost 600 hp engine. You do have a really nice car and sounds good too

[@SimpsonsSpeedShop]

Watch the dyno vid it did make the lost power on the 950 it was just not good down low lol 👍🏻👍🏻