Dale’s 1971 Dodge Demon 340 Goes Drag Racing! Back At Bremerton Raceway After Fifty Years 

That’s awesome! My car was there a time or three back then too!

Yep… you’re about right! Dropped tire pressure for second run and then the fuel boiling happened. I can’t wait to try again. I learned after my last filmed burnout that I need to be using second gear. Haha.

@DeadDodgeGarage looking forward to part 2

I’m in my early thirties. When I started collecting in 2008 they were still all over - and really affordable. Now they’re kinda valuable, and appreciated. I’m thinking you’re right - they’re probably all getting restored right now. Haha.

I was amazed to see so many A bodies out at the track. Why was I so excited about a clear coated original paint 1975 Dart Sport? I don’t know but I really was.

@@DeadDodgeGarage I'm 58 and remember not going outside without seeing an A body of some sort, I live in southern Kentucky 30 miles from the Tennessee line, I think most of the ones left around here got bought up and sent to the north and the rest were crushed out of the salvage yards when scrap prices were high.

That’s awesome! What a beautiful car. I love those Barracudas. I owned a ‘67 I never finished… I hope to have another some day. And thanks!

Dale actually told me that quite some time ago, so I know I need to, I just haven’t managed to put it into practice yet. I need to figure out my leave RPM and clear my mind before I’m staged so I’m not doing so much thinking when I’m supposed to be watching the lights.

@@DeadDodgeGarage yeah the anxiety really sets in when i pull up the tree

Awesome! I was tempted to drive mine but rather safe than not at this point. If I can get this thing to leave how it should I ought to be right there with you!

@@DeadDodgeGarage absolutely, mines a stroker 360 automatic with 323 rear gear , I was surprised it went that quick. I've never dragged a stick car , can't imagine the launch would be easy to learn 😆

I drove mine to the track yesterday 30 miles ran 12.64 in the quarter. We could be a grudge match lol.

@@bobstephens8851 hell yeah dude

@@wormswiggleinn Not at all, but apparently I'm expected to be Big Daddy Garlits my first time out or something. Lol. The track guys watched me roll up shifting gears, and Myles overheard them being amazed that it was a stick shift from the stands.

My thoughts exactly. Already talking to a local guy who can build me exactly what I want for less than it would cost me to order the Proform center body and a pile of parts to bolt onto it.

Yes, Dale had actually told me exactly that beforehand. Obviously I didn't quite grasp that my first time out. My other big mistake was bumping all the way in, then trying to decide what RPM I was going to launch at and bring it up. I should've already been at leave RPM and bumped in with the clutch. There is a learning curve... But I know what I will do differently next time.

@@DeadDodgeGarage 4 speed ads more head game into the whole deal. I’m sure before long you will be hitting every gear like Ronnie sox! Cheers from Northern Ontario Canada my friend! Keep the cool videos coming… and for goodness sakes shift that small block at at least 5700-6000! Lol.

Nice! I can’t wait to go back once I get a few things sorted on the car. I had an awesome time - everybody was super cool. And lots of a bodies!

Nice. Yes, I’ve had the ‘66 almost nine years now. It has been through several mechanical iterations. I just finished (well, mostly finished) a four speed swap on that car in my series ‘The Three Pedal Solution.’ We’ve also got a ‘66 Coronet wagon that now has 440 power. I did have a ‘73 Challenger, original 340 4 speed but swapped to a 400. I sold that one a few years ago. I would love to have a ‘68 Charger, or other B body. That’s on my short list for sure.

That sounds amazing. I don’t suppose you’re anywhere near the Pacific Northwest… haha.

@@DeadDodgeGarage Unfortunately not, I’m around Oklahoma City.

The car came with an Atomic EFI kit in a box… tempting… but I’ve been down that road. I think I prefer the simplicity of the carb. I’ll get it where it needs to be… eventually…

@@DeadDodgeGarage the reliability of EFI can't be beat. Worth a shot.

A friggin /fast/ doodle bug… I didn’t see him lose any races out there. I don’t know what’s in it but it’s got a two step and an automatic.

Go on there to 3.4 seconds watch it to 10 more seconds and look to your left and you will see a doodlebug it's taking off like a bat out of Hades

That’s pretty close to what the conversion chart I looked at said. I don’t have my slip handy but… Not good 😅

For sure! If I wanted to go fast I’d have an automatic. I want to have fun. Haha. There are a lot of little things I need to go through that will help. For one thing, the pinion snubber is run all the way up against the floor, for starters. Dale said it left the best that way but I’m not totally sold.

Awesome! Well what I really needed was a bigger accelerator pump squirter for an Edelbrock. Haha. But I think I will solve that problem a different way. Oh and a little more talent might help... Thank you. It was a pleasure meeting and losing to you! I’ve got a few things to sort out on the car first - and then I’d love to join.

Think so? I should have pulled a plug or two after a run the other day. I was too absorbed in trying to get it down the track to think of that. I tried taking away pump fuel and that made it worse, so that’s why I’m thinking bigger nozzle there. As soon as the mains come in it’s all party. But the first set of plugs were extremely black so I’ll bet you’re right.

Apparently the 904 is the way to go once you add some beef. Light weight and all. When I put together a dedicated drag machine it will probably be an automatic. But I do like having fun. The younger guys running the track the other day were practically shocked when I rolled up shifting gears.

He won...lol how couldn't he? Don't look like you are trying so I'm done responding other than saying learn how to drive =launching, shifting (at correct rpm) Don't lift and it must be 600ft your going. Which my dad gave me car!!!!!!

@@dano7480 Did I miss something? Lol. I feel like I missed something. I wish my dad hadn't died 26 years ago and left me nothing. And if you missed it my latest Demon video answers some questions regarding my ability to drive

A lot is different. Haha. He set it up for street driving and car shows, but the engine definitely has some poop. I need to tweak it back toward track performance - and I need to learn how to drive. But I’m having fun!

@@DeadDodgeGarage it’s a very cool car and the history makes it even cooler. Sticks can take some time to master. I’m a bigger fan of the automatic transmission.

It just so happened my fastest run was next to him, and I felt pretty good about that… but his 12.05 dial in was written on his window. That’s a bracket car - and you know how bracket cars win, right? By being dead consistent. I didn’t see his times but I bet that’s his game!

73+ Dart nose, and that stripe that starts at the fender and curves up around the quarter windows and over the roof is Dart Sport only.

Yes, that’s where I was at - Bremerton Raceway. About two hours from where I live.

Yeah, I know I’m shifting way too soon. I say so on video - in this one, and in the driving videos I have done. As a guy who has been playing with mostly stock 318s and 360s for a decade, and daily drives a magnum (5000 RPM limiter) with a four speed behind it, it just sounds right to me. Need to get my head wrapped around the screaming small block. I’m also keeping the tired original transmission in mind. Dale turned around a 7.70 at Forks some time in the 2010s - I think I can get there. There is a real tuning problem at the hit. It has appeared after switching from race gas to premium. Even without a load, if you stab the throttle the car falls on its face. I will iron that out, fix the oil leak and be back at the track. If I don’t do you proud next time, well, I might have to hang it up.

@@DeadDodgeGarage I wish you had a Holley, as I know them and could really help you with it. The Edelbrock carb has limited adjustability on the accelerator pump circuit. Just put it where you get the most pump shot (I think you already did that), besides that all you can do is adjust the secondary air valve opening. If it is bogging no matter what the launch is, you will need to add tension to the secondary air valve so that it opens slower. People love to remove tension from the secondary air valve as they think that the car will go faster, but all they end up doing is getting a bog on hard acceleration. Before you do that, you need to get your timing right first, and then test on the carb 🙂

@@72442conv Funny, I also know Holleys and was thinking the same thing. I have a friend who custom builds them and will put together what I want for less than I can buy a Quickfuel 650 at the local parts store for. Dale says Holleys are easy mode. Haha.

@@DeadDodgeGarage I agree with Dale, Holley carbs are much easier to tune, and have way more tuning options.

Original owner and driver says 6500. I am taking it easy on the worn out original transmission and learning the car. Second and third synchros aren’t great. I’ll get there. According to an 1/8th mile to 1/4 conversion chart I’m about 2.4 seconds off of the car’s fastest time in the day, so I’m not going to cry about that on my first drag strip run.

Yeah… only mildly sickening. The ironic part really is Dale had a general aversion to putting anything chinese on the car, but he used that dipstick and it went to shit.