Miss Maylene

[03JeepJeep]

Hello all, well after a few people told me to make a build thread so I figured I would since I got my pictures uploaded.

So this is Maylene, figured it would be a good name for her haha. Shes a 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger with a 318/904 and a 7.25 rear with 2.91 gears. Has A/C with power steering and power brakes and 56k on the clock.

This is the first picture I saw of the her


So my dad and I went on a road trip to check her out and bought her for $3500. Not a great deal but I think shes worth it.

So the next weekend we went and picked her up. Had to use my dads truck, don't think my jeep would have pulled it haha

All Loaded up and ready to go home!

Somethings following me home :glasses7:


We stopped for gas on the way home and had some guys come and talk to me about her.
Once she was home and I was out of school I cleaned her up and had a photo shoot


Then added a free licenses plate I got at work

I added a custom sticker and kinda messed it up.....but its a play on words kinda. My nickname is Hootie and so was my grandfathers.

A few days later I fixed it and it looks better in my opinion

 

[1970Duster]

Nice car! What are your plans for it? If it were me, I'd start looking for a bigger rearend. I've seen a quite a few go boom.

 

[66340SEDAN]

Very cool, nice looking car too :glasses7:

 

[03JeepJeep]

Next thing I did was clean and rebuild the carb cause she wasn't running right. Still trying to figure out what is wrong with it.

Ah! Dirty! Dirty!

Next the passenger door wouldn't open so I took the panels off and fix that but while the panels were off I figured I would paint the trim back chrome/silver


While the paint dried I went about getting the seat belts figured out. The seat wouldn't stay forward so I kinda rigged it


Got this back into place

Taking a break and saw a cool shot

Stuff I found under the seat

My puppy Ted "helping" out

I gotta do something about these exhaust pipes....


Crap I cleaned out of the door

And panel back on!

My window crank with to loose...

and some of this

Little of this

and perfect

To dirty for me to put back on.....even though no one will see it

All clean!

Back together!

 

[03JeepJeep]

Nice car! What are your plans for it? If it were me, I'd start looking for a bigger rearend. I've seen a quite a few go boom.

Thanks! Plans so far are get it running good and add 4 barrel/intake. Yes a rearend is in the plan....just gotta find one haha

Very cool, nice looking car too :glasses7:

Thanks, its pretty decent. The paints a little rough but it could be fixed.

 

[03JeepJeep]

So the current fix right now, while I save money for some parts, is the grill! Which is my favorite front end.
Its broke!

Looks kinda mean lol

Glue what I can


The headlight buckets....there different colors well I can fix that!

Scrub a dub dub!

Well then my mom ask me to go to town with her so I got some paint! The main color of the grill

And a test spray

I also got this to fill the gaps and what not



Works pretty good

Time for some paint!


And as the sit... wait for tomorrow to paint some more

 

[rlevs]

nice car keep the work going

 

[03JeepJeep]

nice car keep the work going

Thanks I will try too!

 

[03JeepJeep]

Few Updates!

Thats what the filler looks like now. Not to bad!


Taping...............I hate taping.......


And first bit of color. Im digging it!



Ted coming to help some more


Grill after glue and patching



Then a bit of primer



And bought me a Harbor Freight timing light. Works pretty good!


and melted it a bit on the exhaust manifold


Last bit of color sprayed. I LOVE IT!



And this SWEET! 72 I saw at Monster Mopar Weekend, kinda gives me some thoughts on what to do with mine

 

[03JeepJeep]

Howdy again

Well my boss gave me a few days off so I decided to go fishing with my dad. So I had some time to post a little more about me and the build.

My names Anthony or Tony or as a few who have meet me call me Hootie. I'm 22 with some repair background my dad used to have a few different cars growing up. He's a GM guy though..... My grandfather built transmissions for Chrysler till the late 90's. I just got out of college with a degree I really I don't know what I'll do with so I've been thinking about going to learn body work and painting but who knows! I work at a local gun shop as a gunsmith/sales person. It pays the bills.

But enough about me!

The car is kind of a tribute car to my grandfather. He always told me about these mopar when I growing up and he loved a 68 charger but I don't have the money for one so I picked something we both would like. My grandpa passed away almost two years ago and he is my hero so I think it's only right.

I've done a lot of looking at darts from different years seeing what was popular. I really like the factory steel wheels in black with dog dish caps. I just think that's a pretty cool look. I also like the old style Rocket Racing wheels but to buy new ones I'd have to switch to 4.5 bolt pattern.

Other plan is to lower the front by half an inch. Just using the torsion bar method. Also add front and rear sway bars for some better handling. Probably also redo all the bushing on the front and rear. One thing I need to do is add new shocks all the way around! I want a little bit of a rake but not a monster drag car look.

With the body I would like to fix any rust and all the dents. After that it probably will need paint. I thought about a dark maroon color, figured that would look good or black cherry, plays in the light which is cool or the factory color which was white, looks good with black accent but I don't want the vinyl top back on it, or a charcoal kinda color, plays in the light as a black/silver or lastly the same kind of a metal flake blue. Then rechrome the front bumper. I might add a tail strip depending on the color. Like my dad says it ain't a mopar with out a black hood. So flat black the hood and maybe add dual scoops or I kinda like the snorkel scoop myself. Not sure what original would be, I've seen both.

Interior, I'd like to keep mostly original. I like the bench seat it's pretty comfy and I love the pattern! That vinyl with the checkered inserts. So I'll probably get new covers for the front with new foam. It has AC which works pretty well since we recharged it. I'm still trying to figure out how to do the radio still, I might put a hide away unit somewhere. We will see, plus I want to pull the seat and carpets to check the floor pans then coat them. Also needs new weather striping. I would also like to change out the gauges with a unit I found in classic industry. Updated gauges will add a bit more enjoyment I think.

For the drive train, my dad says 340 because that's what everyone wants. I personally think the 318 will be fine for what I'm going to do with it. I want to wake it up right now and do a intake with a 4 barrel carb. I was looking at an eddy performer or maybe an air gap with a holly 600 cfm. Around the same time I want to do headers or something like that and do full dual exhaust. Still trying to pick a muffler to do. Maybe a thrush weld or glass packs. Eventually I will add around a 340 spec cam or maybe a size bigger and heads, found some at Aero Head racing and there pretty reasonably priced. I would like to put a 4-speed in but I'm not sure I'm able to for awhile. So I probably will do a shift kit in the 904 trans and have it run through. For a rearend I've been looking for a 8.75 but no such luck yet with a decent one. I'm thinking 3.55 gears with a sure grip or similar set up. Time will tell all!

The point of stuff I want to do is update the car and add a bit more comfort to it so its more of a joy to drive. That's the whole thing! Drive it! My grandfather would want to see it drive the most it could. It's not original but not over the top. Sorry for the long post but I hope you guys and gals enjoy!

 

[03JeepJeep]

Well I finally got off my lazy butt and got the grill finished!
Taped the turn signal covers

I hate taping......

First spray of primer

First spray of color

Taped off the main body....did I say I hate taping

First spray on the main body

The bezels all done!

And the main body is done! WOOOHOOOO!

Installing it was going easy till I went to put the nuts on and I couldn't get hold onto them so I came up with this!

It worked for the most part...

All done!

Then I did a photo shoot...I like to think I'm decent

Here's two more just showing the color in different light

Over all I like it. If darked the grill down and gave it a bit different look!

After this week I should be able to get my intake and carb!

 

[plum crazy dart]

:happy1:

 

[03JeepJeep]

It's kinda slow plum lol your popcorn might get stale...

 

[03JeepJeep]

Well I've just been looking and thinking about the future of this build. Heres some of the thoughts!
I found a color chart from 72

While there a few color on there I really like that are original but I want this dart to stand out......Even though there aren't a lot of them around haha
here are 4 colors that Im considering
Root beer....Im not sure why I like it. Kind of a stockish color. I don't think it would to good with black accents....but would like great with white steelies with half moons

Second: Butterscotch again kind of a stocker color but its different and would look good with black accents

Third: A maroon color, I think it looks sharp

Forth: Black Cherry. Gives it kind of a darker look and very sharp with chrome

Something that would come quicker is wheels! Been looking a couple choices
I really like steelies with half moons! Im not sure way been looking at Wheel Vintiques 15x6 up front and a 15x8 in the rear

Kinda like this courtesy of Metallidart

Other I like is Ansen Sprints also

Then I found this car on craigslist for sale...its strange for rallyes but then I thought they would look good with that graphite paint I put on the grill. Thoughts on that?


The last thing I was thinking about is exhaust... I really like glasspacks but Im not sure its them or summits mufflers. Not sure. I would like to do headers but I know there hard to install the cheaper ones and the good ones are pricey....I was looking at the Heddman headers, I have heard good reviews about them on here. Heres a couple videos!

Glasspacks
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMChyJzndew"]1970 Dodge Dart Glasspack Dual Exhaust - YouTube[/ame]

Summits
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHD14tmML8E"]1973 dodge dart summit exhaust - YouTube[/ame]

Let me know what you guys think

 

[goldfish65]

Nice job Tony. You got more than your money's worth in enjoyment with your Swinger, your Grandpa would be very proud. Take your time deciding on paint color.

 

[03JeepJeep]

Thanks GoldFish, that means a lot!

 

[03JeepJeep]

Just spent almost $800! But I got a lot and have some money left over.

Holly 600 cfm vac secondary with a electric choke. It has the dura shine finish
Eddy performer intake with gaskets
Chrome themostate neck
14 inch chrome air cleaner with element
RPC electronic distributor to replace the points
And braided fuel line

Not bad at all I think. The speed shop I went to is close to home and they knew my dad so they older guy and I were talking and he said that he had a 340 block probably. If I was interested. It would just be the block but is been machined already and check. So I might be getting a 340 to build!

 

[1970Duster]

Nice! 340s are awesome

 

[03JeepJeep]

I gotta pick everything else up in the morning and check out that block but here's a few pictures!
Holly!

Intake!

 

[03JeepJeep]

Nice! 340s are awesome

That's what everyone says lol I have never driven on. My daily is a inline 6! Lol

 

[1970Duster]

They are a kick in the pants. Big bore small stroke=fun

 

[03JeepJeep]

They are a kick in the pants. Big bore small stroke=fun

Well it'll be a project to build over the winter! Ill just swap it in during the spring. If I get it that is. Should give me a decent price on it I would think

 

[03JeepJeep]

Got the dart I'm the garage and started tear down

Then had to stop to take the lady friend out for her birthday

 

[memike]

Congratulations on this great MoPar you are enjoying Tony :cheers: I enjoy watching a thread like this :thumbrig: You are moving forward Tony and the grill sure turned out looking great :thumbrig: make that two :thumbrig:
Yes! You have to spend time with your lady friend so she don't feel jealous of you Dart :mrgreen:

 

[03JeepJeep]

Congratulations on this great MoPar you are enjoying Tony :cheers: I enjoy watching a thread like this :thumbrig: You are moving forward Tony and the grill sure turned out looking great :thumbrig: make that two :thumbrig:
Yes! You have to spend time with your lady friend so she don't feel jealous of you Dart :mrgreen:

Thanks MeMike! Hopefully it'll keep moving along so you don't get to bored haha. Oh yes you have to keep the ladies happy because everyone is happy then! Plus a chance to get a nice steak dinner!