Photos: Jerry Garrison
It’s no secret...
The staff at RPM loves cars with a distinct factory appearance. There’s just something about a muscle car, old or new, that keeps as much original equipment as possible (and practical) in place that gets our attention.
To us, it’s still looks like a “real” production car, so when we find killer pieces like Shiloh Davies’ 1968 Dodge Dart, we jump at the chance to feature them in RPM Mag. After all, it was cars like Shiloh’s that started all this madness!
The date was 1998 and Shiloh and his wife Cynthia had just received the exciting news that they would be
having their first child. At the time, he was driving his 454 Chevy pickup daily, in fact, it was his only source of transportation. The thought of a pickup with a baby created some obvious challenges, so Davies did something about it, he explains: “The opportunity arose for me to trade my truck for a 1968 Dodge Dart. I thought, hmmm, that would be a perfect family vehicle!” Interesting decision Shiloh, very interesting; it’s amazing how our gearhead minds are wired just a bit differently as I am sure 99% of RPM readers would completely agree!
After having the Dart for just a short time you can probably imagine what happened – first headers and then a 4 barrel carb found their way onto the little 273 small block.
Things sort kept going from there as the extra power destroyed the stock trans which led to an upgrade in that department, and why not add a nice stall converter while you’re at it. “I instantly thought we had a race car on our hands!” Davies added with a smile.
“We went to the street legals at Pomona California and made a blistering 16-second pass. I was completely excited, that is until I got the time slip, but I guess it
was at that point the need for speed became a necessity of life for me.”
This new found need left Shiloh wanting more and after “chasing better time slips on a french fry budget”, he decided a little nitrous would provide the best bang for the buck. “That led us out to the streets of LA where we street raced three to four nights a week until the 273 could no longer be repaired.”
The factory steel roof, quarter panels, doors, fenders and floor remain and only fiberglass bumpers, trunk lid and hood have been added.
Next up was an upgrade to a 360 with Edelbrock RPM heads and a 150 shot, which led to more street racing and trying the local Street Legal drags. By 2003, after driving the Dart from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for an event, Shiloh garnered his first 10-second pass, went a few rounds and then drove the car back to Los Angeles. “That road trip resulted in a pretty cool write up in Car Craft about a 10-second Long Haul hot rod.”
After having a ton of fun with the Dart, by 2015 Shiloh and his wife decided to go with a new engine, only this time they wanted an 8-second capable motor that would do so without a power adder. They had enjoyed playing in the NMCA West Ultra Street class and with the West Coast Hot Rod group for a few years and wanted to build something using the famed W series Mopar cylinder head.
Hardtop styling and long rear quarter panels were a trademark of early Darts. Couple that with a low stance, pro stock style hood and slick bumble bee striping and you’ve got a killer looking ride.
This small block is not yourordinary animal...
First, it’s Dodge small block and that alone involves a whole new set of rules to make the sort of power this one makes, not to mention a fatter wallet. QMP Racing took on the task of helping create the 430-incher based on an R3 block with 4.200 bore, 3.880 stroke and 60mm cam tunnel. Brett Miller built the W8 heads and also supplied one of their cast ported intakes.
The end result of that choice is a killer small block Mopar (yes we said small block) that runs au-naturel; AKA, we don’t need no stinking power adders! A QMP Racing machined R3 race block with a 60 mm cam tunnel boasts a 4.200 bore and 3.880 stroke that nets a healthy 430 cubic inches of pure Mopar muscle. And there’s more tricks
in this little bad boy then a magician’s hat, including extra work to enhance oiling. A Bryant crank spins Carrillo steel rods and Ross pistons with Total Seal rings and Trend wrist pins. Those Mopar W8 cylinder heads were worked over by Brett Miller who installed Delwest 2.25 intake and 1.6 exhaust valves with Moldstar seats and guides.
Shiloh Davies’ Small Block All Motor 1968 Dodge Dart
Body & Paint:
The car retains the factory steel roof, quarter panels, doors, fenders and floor. Fiberglass bumpers, decklid and hood along with carbon fiber dash by Unlimited Fiberglass.
Chassis Modifications:
Mini tub In the rear and front inner fender wells removed. Tied the cage into the front suspension utilizing the factory shock mount location and custom-built k member and lower control arms. Roll cage and suspension modifications we’re built by Mike Aiken and Rod McGregor in El Monte, CA.
Suspension:
Rear is Calvert Caltracs with their mono leaf slightly moved inboard for extra tire clearance. The leafspring has been rotated in the car 3 inches to move the instant center further forward in the car. The rear shock is mounted 6 in off of axle centerline as we use the shock to control separation as well as rotation of the housing. Added a total of 2 in of lowering block and topped off the rear with a set of Menscer shocks with super valving. Up front the custom built K-member utilizes the stock upper shock location and a total of 4 in of travel. Eliminated the use of the factory torsion bar and made room for the large headers and in their place added a set of Menscer coilovers with 200 lb springs.
Engine:
Small block Mopar 430 CID packaged in an R3 47-degree race block with a 60 mm cam tunnel (3.880 Stroke × 4.200).
Oiling mods along with keyway lifters 100% of machine work completed by the amazing team at QMP RACING in Chatsworth California.. thank you Brad Lagman and Mike console! A Daily Dry-Sump pump circulates LAT Racing Oil. The camshaft was spec’d by Brett Miller.
Rotating Assembly is a Bryant center counter weighted crank, Carrillo steel rods and Ross pistons with Total Seal rings and Trend wrist Pins. Clevite rod /main bearings. Balanced by Qmp Racing in Chatsworth California.
Cylinder Heads are Mopar W8 cylinder heads designed, ported and set up by Induction Specialist Brett Miller. Equipped with 2.25 intake and a 1.6 exhaust valves by Delwest, and Moldstar seats and guides. Machined by Randy and Jeremy Harshman. The valve springs, retainers, keepers and lash caps come from Joe Hornick Enterprises with a set of Jesel rocker arms.
Induction & Fuel Delivery:
Ported Brett Miller cast intake and spacer which was designed to work perfectly with 2.350 carburetor. Quick Fuel 427 pump and Aeromotive regulator.
Power Adder:
All motor, baby!
Transmission:
727 3 speed auto with an A1 7in 8400 stall converter utilizing LAT transmission fluid.
Rear Differential:
Ford 9-inch with Moser axles, spool and center section with 5.29 gears and LAT gear oil.
Brakes:
Combination of Lamb and Wilwood brakes.
Tires & Wheels:
Billet wheels by Weld, 3.5 ×15 fronts with Mickey Thompson tires, 15x12 with 28 inch Hoosier in the rear.
Interior:
Racepak, A.R.T steering wheel and column, PPP shifter, DJ seat belts. Data collected by a Sportsman Racepak and MSD Grid ignition system.
ET & MPH:
1/8th mile is 5.06 at 134mph
Thanks To:
A very special thanks to Brett Miller for this killer induction system.
Kirk Bouchard who has put in countless hours on engine assembly and dyno tuning and race day tuning.
Crew chief Justin Davies who is always there making the right call on race day.
My beautiful wife Cynthia Davies for your dedication and race day support.
Our entire race crew: Kirk Bouchard, Jr Ernie Sandoval, Ronnie Wilson, Mike Aiken, Rod MacGregor and Kirk Bouchard Senior.
MEZIERE
Valve springs, retainers, keepers and lash caps come from Joe Hornick Enterprises and a set of Jesel rocker arms were also used. The camshaft was spec’d by Brett Miller and he’s also responsible for the ported cast intake that is topped by a CFM billet-bodied carb. Fuel delivery comes via a Quick Fuel 427 pump and billet regulator.
The Dart’s suspension is a pretty trick animal, too, even though it still rides on leafsprings and traditional design shocks.
Calvert Caltracs with their mono leaf are moved inboard while the leafspring has been rotated in the car 3 inches to move the instant center further forward in the car, and the rear shock is mounted 6 inches off of axle centerline to control separation as well as rotation of the housing.
The transmission has been upgraded to a tricked-out 727 3-speed auto with an A1 7-inch 8400 stall converter which transfers power back to a Ford 9-inch with Moser axles, spool and center section, and 5.29 gears.
Original door panels and some trim are about all that remain from the original Dart interior. A race seat, shifter and collection of wiring that include the MSD Grid are affixed to the passenger side firewall area. A Racepak Sportsman system sends vitals to the Racepak dash and a carbon dash replaces the heavy OEM steel unit.
Up front, the stock inner fender wells and torsion bar setup were tossed in favour of a custom K-member that uses the stock shock location with a set of coilovers. The chassis and suspension modifications as well as the roll cage we’re completed by Mike Aiken and Rod McGregor.
As for the Dart body, Shiloh is proud to say that it is still mostly OEM Mopar. In fact, the factory steel roof, quarter panels, doors, fenders and floor remain in place and intact and only fiberglass bumpers, decklid and hood have been added. But that’s not to say that Davies hasn’t added some little tricks to take weight out of the stock parts like lightening the doors.
Given the fact that the original steel body and floor remain, Shiloh has tried to save weight wherever possible, including getting rid of the rear seat, gutting most of the heavy interior and adding the carbon dash, but most all, if you have a really close look at the bottoms of the steel doors you will notice they have been lightened, the old school way!
Inside the Dart, original door panels and floor give off an old school vibe and are complimented by a carbon dash, Racepak display, single race seat with harness and wiring tucked neatly in the passenger side firewall area.
With the car completed and their desire to race naturally aspirated growing day by day, the Davies family decided to join West Coast N/A Racing Series. The series runs in the Match Race Madness and RJ Muscle Car Shootout and hosts the fastest naturally aspirated small tire cars in the western United States, and well beyond.
Shiloh has a lot of tricks up his sleeve, including the suspension work completed on the Dart. Remember, it still rides on a leafspring/conventional shock setup out back, and by the looks of the launch and time slips, it works!
Shiloh Davies ‘68 Dodge Dart
Shiloh gets support and help from family and friends and won the 2021 WCNA series championship and did so with his mom and dad in the Winner’s Circle!
“The class has drawn competitors from as far away as Washington, Oregon, Canada, Nevada and Arizona, and in 2021 we captured our first WCNA series championship and did so with my mom and dad in the Winner’s Circle!” Exclaimed Davies. And incidentally, although you might see N/T ( meaning No Time) on the Dart’s windshield, Shiloh did say that the car has run 5.06 at
134mph in the eighth, but that might not necessarily be the fastest it’s gone.
While Shiloh Davies’ 1968 Dart may not have turned out to be the “family car” he imagined back in 1998, it has definitely become an exciting activity for the whole family, not to mention a far cry from that 16-second, 273-powered beast he traded his truck for.
