A new chapter in the life of an unrestored Hemi Daytona

[white]

I love watching your videos! Thanks for posting them.

[ralley72]

Keep driving them Sir. :2thumbs:I can't believe how happy people get when seeing our old cars out there on the road where they should be.

Mike

[ACUDANUT]

Thanks Steve.

We have recorded several others (3 more I think) on this Daytona, and I expect my son (camera & voice over) will be posting another within the week. I make a mistake or two on each one, I'm sure (like my hood comment in the 1st one), but overall I am trying to provide a visual record of what these cars were like as built. He just took a drone video of it being driven-I am curious what it will look like too-he doesn't allow me to see any in advance!

I think once he is done with this one he wants to do the purple Hemi Superbird-there is some eye-opening information possibly coming on it in a couple of weeks-I am awaiting some final clarification first.

My favorite picture from Alabama is actually not of the Daytona, but of a new form of battlefield armament delivery.

Appreciate the comments.

I was talking about the static photo, One ton with fake munition's.

[69bronzeT5]

Awesome Bob! 

[taxspeaker]

I have been working through some fuel issues on the Daytona and been unable to drive it or even start it since we got back from Mobile in April. Although I had gone through everything at the beginning, including dropping and flushing the gas tank, flushing and blowing out the gas lines, rebuilding the fuel pump, and cleaning the vapor separator and lines something occurred in that trip that caused fuel delivery issues.

In the last month I once again dropped the gas tank and did a 3-step clean/rust prevent/seal treatment; blew out the lines until the 80 gallon air tank was empty, again rebuilt the fuel pump, again vigorously cleaned the vapor separator, again rigorously blew out the lines from pump & separator to carbs, and even sent the carbs up to Brian Brady at CrossRam Connections this time (not trusting myself) and had them rebuilt again. It is once again all back together except the carbs, which I hope to get on this coming week when they get back.

The car is and remains forever unrestored and sits suspended on the lift at the shop so as not to affect the 50 year old polyglass red stripes. Assuming it starts again next week, and assuming I feel reasonably confidant to drive it I will drive it to a local show on July 4. Then it is going to Carlisle for the survivor tent where I probably won't leave its side for 3 days now. If you are going please stop by and talk-the sour taste from this ordeal will be forgotten with some good Mopar discussions. My wife will be staying with the Purple Super Bird in Building T and you can kid her-she is scared someone will ask her a question, and since she told a guy 3 weeks ago that Daytonas don't have rear wings, she is scared of answering questions!

While I had the fuel pump and alternator off I took 8-10 pictures of each so that we can all have a visual reference of the originals. I have attached here 1 picture of each-you can always text or email me if you want pictures from different directions or angles.
Hope to see you at Carlisle-having never been it is kind of exciting!
Bob

[70Sbird]

Bob,
Check the length of the fuel pump pushrod. I have seen these wear and cause low fuel delivery as the pump stroke is reduced due to wear on the tip of the pushrod, I have seen up to 3/8" difference between used and new pushrods. Just something to check if you haven't already. 

[taxspeaker]

Thanks Scott. Yes, i had checked that with a micrometer-measured out exactly. That was before i checked the fuel, and realized that was the problem.
Bob

[Mopar John]

Bob,
If you still have problems after all this I suggest that you trying running the car WITHOUT the vapor separator.
I had problems with our Daytona and some how it was sending the fuel back to the tank and not to the carb!
Once I bypassed it the car ran fine!
MJ

[white]

I had the exact same problem Mopar John on my C500.

[taxspeaker]

Thanks guys. I had not thought about the vapor separator being bad itself. I know there is some type of orifice limiting size in there-it does flow air and fluid through it. I really want to keep the original parts on it, so when I get the carbs on next week I am hoping that solves the final issue. I am out this week working and had to do an earlier flight to get it started, so looks like I won't get back to it until the 28th or 29th now.

[odcics2]

All you need is a 1/2" fuel line and a fuel log.

[DAY CLONA]

I have been working through some fuel issues on the Daytona and been unable to drive it or even start it since we got back from Mobile in April. Although I had gone through everything at the beginning, including dropping and flushing the gas tank, flushing and blowing out the gas lines, rebuilding the fuel pump, and cleaning the vapor separator and lines something occurred in that trip that caused fuel delivery issues.

Had a very similar problem years ago with one of my cars, pulled my hair out cleaning and blowing out lines, rebuilding this or that, but the car would still exhibit hard starts, randomly shutting down, or stumbling,.... it was fuel related, eventually I found the culprit in the gas tank, even though I had pulled it SEVERAL times and douched it out, it was a layer of rust hiding on top of the ECS tube plate welded into the ceiling of the tank, it was only visibly after I cut open and destroyed the tank, but the fine rust particles were plugging up the needle seats on the carb along with various carb orifices causing gremlins, driving made the situation worse, as road vibration would just dislodge more rust particles and suck them up in the pick up/sender unit instantly.... although a tank may appear "clean-rust free" peering thru a filler hole, you don't know what may be hiding on the walls or structures that you can't see... just a possibility in your case....

another possibility is some minute pin holes in the fuel line (suction side) that don't leak, but allow air to be drawn in, starving the carbs of an adequate supply of fuel, vacuum/suction is more tenacious even at low reading than pressure, I've seen lines over the years that can hold pressure, yet leak under vacuum when tested....


MikeG

[426HemiChick]

All you need is a 1/2" fuel line and a fuel log.

Hi odcics2,                 21 June 2021

Noticed the days are already getting shorter.

Great idea but doesn't keep the Daytona original. Our experience is a problem like this has a cause and the solution is usually something simple . . . . once found.

Love your Daytona, a masterpiece more beautiful than a Rembrandt, has a Hemi, goes faster and sounds better.

We hope to see it one of these days soon.

Take care.

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks

[odcics2]

Thank you!  23 years of fun.

Hopefully, things like the carbs being refreshed won't be over restored.

When I did the Dominator on DC-93, I left the outside as original as possible.
The late Gary Congdon supplied me with all the loose parts and we chose jetting based on
intended usage so the engine wouldn't load up.

On the dyno at Pettys, we ran it without a log at first.
It was starving and made 525 hp.
With the log we saw the 575 that Larry Rathgeb said it made
for the 200 run.  The cam is the recommended Racer Brown STX-24.

[tan top]

 crank up the sound    good video Bob ,           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k654Q9xIVG4
cant wait for the next ....   

[taxspeaker]

Got the carbs back on yesterday. Started car let it warm all the way up to operating temperature without issue, although it is still cold natured.

Today I started it again without issue and drove it on local roads for about 5 miles to put some racing fuel in and see how it did after 40 years of no driving! Kept it under 35 because of the tires. 10 gallons of 110 Octane should help everything. The guys video taped the start and drive-not sure what they are going to do with it.

We then did a new video on the purple Hemi Superbird which I think they will post tomorrow. There is an incredible piece of news in that video-I will be curious to see what they do with it. Once again I am sure I said something wrong, but what the heck.

Hope to see you at Carlisle.
Bob

[taxspeaker]

at the pump

[hemi68charger]

at the pump

   

Fill'er up !!!! Now, make sure there are no leaks now..... it's an old car.... 

[426HemiChick]

at the pump

   

Fill'er up !!!! Now, make sure there are no leaks now..... it's an old car....  ;D

Hi Hemi68Charger,               30 June 2021

No, she's not old, just reawakened from a 45 year hibernation. She's in the best of hands. Thanks Bob. She is looking mighty fine and Happy you are her Pappy. She will never let you down.

Took as close of a look as possible of the pump; hope that doesn't say Diesel.

Take Care.

Dena and Christine

[69bronzeT5]

Awesome!!! As promised, here is the published article on the Daytona! 

https://moparconnectionmagazine.com/finders-keepers-bob-jennings-incredible-1969-hemi-dodge-daytona-survivor/

[tan top]

Awesome!!! As promised, here is the published article on the Daytona! 

https://moparconnectionmagazine.com/finders-keepers-bob-jennings-incredible-1969-hemi-dodge-daytona-survivor/

  nice job Cody ! good story !  nice article 

[tan top]

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbqT73cSjx0   

  nother awesome video !  thanks for sharing Bob !!!      looking forward to the next   
never realised you got the original Hemi back ! wow  thats fantastic 

[426HemiChick]

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbqT73cSjx0   

  nother awesome video !  thanks for sharing Bob !!!      looking forward to the next   
never realised you got the original Hemi back ! wow  thats fantastic 

Hi Tan Top, Bob and All the Fine Folks on This Site,          03 July 2021

Thanks Tan Top for the links, we did enjoy the entertainment.

Just a quick comment on your video Bob. As we were watching, dogs started barking. Well our pups are always here with us and when the barking started ours joined in while running around looking for those unexpected visitors. They enjoyed the ad lib entertainment and we enjoyed watching them have some unexpected fun.

We do miss your Daytona, but we are extremely happy you are her new Parent. We know she will be well cared for, for many years to come. It's hard to express in words how much we appreciate the care you give Her and all of Her siblings.

Best Always, God Bless.

Dena and Christine the 426 Hemi Chicks

[Stevetona]

What brought you to Thesalon in the Daytona? That's a small town. The Chapleau highway is pretty windy. I drove it at night once in the pouring rain. Lucky I didn't hit a moose!

[426HemiChick]

What brought you to Thesalon in the Daytona? That's a small town. The Chapleau highway is pretty windy. I drove it at night once in the pouring rain. Lucky I didn't hit a moose!

Hi Steve,                03 July 2021

Never saw Moose up there but did meet up with a few bear, big and small. First trip in 75 we did some work on the Chapleau Highway upgrade project. Our work was unauthorized; once the work crew had headed north to their camp, we cranked up a couple of their dozers and commenced moving dirt. Quit before they returned; they heard the dozers running. Amazing how far sound travels up that-a-way. They came over to the camp and asked around if anyone knew who was messing with their equipment. Not a rat in the Pack.

Our Guess was a good one.

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks