Rear suspension:
NHRA Super Stock rules forbade postfactory wheeltub and fender tire clearance modifications well into the early '70s. So all Hemi A-Bodies came with special offset spring shackles and hangers, which gained 3/4-inch of sidewall clearance. You can still buy this kit from MP. At present, the Dick Landy car exhibits minitubs, a narrowed axlehousing, and leaf springs moved in-line with the rear frame longitudinals. We say bring it back to stock. The Dana 60 rear axle packs 4.10:1 gears; originally, equipment cogs were 4.88:1 (4.86:1 in automatic cars equipped with the 83/4 rear axle).
Brakes:
While four-piston Kelsey Hayes disc brakes were a regular factory option on '68 A-Bodies, they had the small 5-on-4-inch bolt pattern. Hemi A-Bodies got specific 11-inch Bendix 5-on-4.5-inch-bolt-pattern discs from the fullsize C-Body parts bin. The rear brakes are 10-inch drums with the big car 5-on-4.5-inch bolt pattern to match the front. The master cylinder mounts to a specific 1-inch offset aluminum block to make room for the Hemi. Clearance is so tight, flexible brake hoses connect the master cylinder to the body so the valve cover can be removed for valve lash adjustment without breaking into the hydraulic brake circuit.
Wheels/Tires:
As delivered to the customer, original Hemi Darts came with an unusual blend of 14- and 15-inch rollers: 14x5.5 black steel wheels with D70-14 tires up front and skinny, 7.75x15 tires mounted on oddball 15x6 rims out back. The rear hoops had a ton of inboard offset and look like-but are not the same as-later Dodge Dakota pickup truck rims. Dick Landy was a Cragar S/S man, and that's what Pat has on the car now. The front tires are vintage Goodyear 6.70-15, just like the originals. The slicks are 30x12-15 Goodyears-way bigger than anything ever used on the car. The surviving automatic Dart is not tubbed-let's make it a pair!
Transmission:
An original Hemi A-Body cast-iron four-speed sits under the floor. This is one special transmission because it combines the short A-Body tailshaft with the Hemi-specific 18-tooth input shaft and case. All other A-Body four-speeds used the weaker 23-spline input shaft. Wayne Brewer supplied a bunch of N.O.S. Chrysler clutch and flywheel parts under there, too. A vintage Hurst Competition Plus shifter with remote reverse lockout sprouts between the buckets.
Interior:
Bostrom bucket seats mount to factory-issue aluminum seat brackets. A textured cardboard panel covers the space left by the rear seat deletion. Speaking of deletes, the dash face has the super-rare heater and radio delete panel. Daryl Klassen kept the original wood-grain steering wheel, so Pat installed a restored duplicate-minus the Landy DNA.
Trunk:
Chrysler told Hurst to spritz gloss black paint in the trunk compartment (and engine bay) for its ability to hide stains. A massive 135-amp Super Stock battery occupies the right rear corner. Its 105-pound weight helps offset the Hemi's impact on front-rear weight distribution.
Body and paint:
Hurst Hemi Darts have standard-weight steel body shells with no sound deadener or undercoating. The rear-wheel openings of the Plymouths were large enough for slicks without trimming. The smaller Dart openings were radiused with a reciprocating saw and template. Because the cutting was done by the manufacturer, it was NHRA legal. The front fenders and hood are fiberglass replicas, and the front bumper and doors are chemically milled (i.e., acid dipped). Remlinger & Son applied the '67 Mercedes Silver, '65 Mustang Poppy Red, and '67 Dodge blue to the body.
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