SP450andLE Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Discuss: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/30773-sp450andles-dads-daimler-sp450/ So I've been putting off starting this thread for a while, as not much has been happening with Dad's Dart. But recently I've had a boost of enthusiasm, and have started doing more bits and pieces on it. So here's the specs... >Originally an auto 1962 Daimler SP250 Dart. >Engine converted (by Hans Ording from Mangonui) to the 4.5 V8 from the Daimler Majestic Major. These produces around 260 bhp from the factory, and 384nm of torque. But the the bhp is officially stated as being 220, because the Daimler dynamometer only went up to 220 bhp! >Toyota Celica 5-speed gearbox >Ford 9" rear diff >XJ6 hubs in the rear >14" steelies up front, 15" steelies at the rear The car was raced by the previous owner (Jim Gilchrist from Birkdale) at Meremere, and used to get mid 12's to low 13's on street crossplies, and in full street trim, and would drive it to and from the track. Recently I have been tidying it up, replacing all the yucky old bits, and we are getting closer to getting the engine started now. I cant be bothered typing up what I have done so far, so I will leave you with some pics and a vid of the car... G3BXDDwSDYo 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP450andLE Posted September 16, 2011 Author Share Posted September 16, 2011 Right, so... The interior is now pretty much fully stripped. After some sanding down, I will coat it all in primer, and repair the occasional patch of fibreglass. Dad and I have decided it will be neat to skim all the interior with bog, to make it all smooth and fancy looking. I can get the proper flexy stuff used for fibreglass cars through my work, so I don't have to worry about it cracking. After that's done, we can paint all the inside properly. After we have fixed the rusted steel supports under the dash Photos to come when I can be bothered putting them up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP450andLE Posted September 16, 2011 Author Share Posted September 16, 2011 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP450andLE Posted April 19, 2012 Author Share Posted April 19, 2012 Discuss: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=29191 Woo, update! I finished stripping the interior last weekend. Dash is all gone, and Dad will talk to his woodworking one about making a new one up, from solid (probably native) wood. Should be sweet. Interior is now all ready for prime and paint Oh and I picked some marine fuel hose up after yesterdays meet, so can stick that on, don't really trust the stuff that's on it atm. Anyway, pics for kicks: Surface rust to kill: Strengthening to replace: Dash to be gooooone soon: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP450andLE Posted April 23, 2012 Author Share Posted April 23, 2012 Small update. I replaced some of the fuel hoses, but gave up in the end, because I had to take the rear wheel off to get to the rear connection. I couldn't get the wheel off 'cos the wheelnuts are bigger than your standard wheel brace sizes. And I didn't have all of my tools there. And I'm fairly sure I have no socket the right size anyway. So poos. I also had a quick look underneath, and the chassis is getting a bit surface rusty. So will need to somehow fix all thast later on when it's not blocked in by an ugly R12 wagon. No pics 'cos I'm slack. Oh also, some mice have decided to make a home in the lhs sill(?) of the body. You can see them by the door hinges when ou open the door sometimes. Damn things won't go away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP450andLE Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 Discuss: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/30773-sp450andles-dads-daimler-sp450/ Oh my, an update (with words AND pictures) I dragged this thing to the Ellerslie Concourse yesterday. Here's a wall of text (that I've copied and pasted from an email I sent someone lols): The show was just yesterday, and I had brought the 450 down on Friday. Dad was excited to have something happen with the car, and as he put it, he hopes it'll help to get his "mojo" back. After a quick wash and clear out of most of the parts laying around inside it, it was ready. So on Sunday morning I towed it to the show. Within 10 minutes of arriving in the showgrounds, I had had two people asking if I was going to sell it - the reply to both was a firm "no". Being sat next to 4 tidy darts, among the numerous fully restored cars of various makes, the 450 really stood out. I had grabbed a bit of wood from home, covered it in black vinyl and written the specs of the car on it in a white paint-pen a couple of nights ago. I simply sat this board up against the right front tyre (where most people seemed to stand to look at the car), and it really worked as a way of letting people know it isn't just your standard dart. The whole day was fantastic - brilliant sunshine (resulting in brilliant red sunburn!), brilliant cars and a brilliant crowd - it really was something to remember forever. So many people would come looking for the owner of the 450 (which for the day was me, as Dad wasn't feeling well enough to make a day trip down for the show), all with various tales to tell. The most exciting thing was when a woman came up to me and said that she used to live with Jim Gilchrist, the previous owner of the car. She's going to give him my details and tell him to call me, which would be very interesting as he used to drag-race the car and did the conversion to the 5-speed Celica gearbox, something I'm keen to learn more about. All in all it was worthwhile making the effort to turn out for the show, it was all that I expected and more. So yeah, picture time: Discuss: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/30773-sp450andles-dads-daimler-sp450/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP450andLE Posted February 12, 2013 Author Share Posted February 12, 2013 I tried to turn this over this today... I got it cranking over by hand. Then by rolling it in gear. But no luck with the electrics. The starter motor just makes a whirring sound and does nothing I guess I'll have to pull it out and rebuild it unless anyone else has any suggestions? Discuss: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/30773-sp450andles-dads-daimler-sp450/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP450andLE Posted February 14, 2013 Author Share Posted February 14, 2013 I got this turning over properly today. No luck starting it though, I'll check if it has spark or not tomorrow if I have time. I got a quick vid but I'm too lazy to upload it atm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP450andLE Posted December 11, 2017 Author Share Posted December 11, 2017 Wow its embarrassing how long it has been since the last update This car has been in and out of various storage places, but is finally somewhere that I can actually work on it inside. I made an effort to clean up all the shit around the various cars in the shed so I could rearrange things and have this by the door. A couple of years ago I managed to get this running, but it was misfiring and being a general fuck about it. But last weekend I got stuck back into it and made an effort to get it working. I went along with a big bag of bits from my work that I was potentially going to use, but only ended up using the push button starter, as the dash wiring is still a big mess on the floor. My $50 fuel pump which I thought had fucked itself magically worked after a two year rest, so I chucked some fuel in a coffee tin, switched the ignition on and turned the thing over. After a little while I realised the two wires had come off the coil, so I put those back on and it started up like a dream. Once it was warm it was happy as to idle and rev. The motor seems ok, a bit smokey and rattly but that's to be expected. I still have to give it a proper oil change at some point. Next step is to get the car driving. The front calipers were rebuilt a few years ago, so I fitted those up on the weekend. It also has new master cylinders, but I'm guessing the clutch slave will need replacing. I just need to figure out if its the Toyota one or not. Then I can bleed up the brakes and clutch and hopefully it should be able to roll under its own power! Although I should probably reassemble the dash first to avoid any electrical fires... I'm hoping to get a video of the car running on here soon. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SP450andLE Posted April 28, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 28, 2019 Skids for the kids Finally got this old girl driving for the first time in about 15-20 years. We've got a long road ahead, pulling off the body and fixing up the chassis. There's now a time restraint too as my brother wants it as a wedding car! Enjoy and discuss: 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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