jarkka
Well-Known Member
Hellow to all!
After following this forum for a while I think it is time to introduce myself.
Here is some minor history and plans what I'm going to do in the near future.
I'm living in Helsinki which is the capital of Finland. I have own 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger since January 1983. My car had originally a slant six automatic, 7 1/4 rear end. When I bought this car it was Chrysler Blue B5, but according to Broadcast sheet the original color was W1 white. Since that a lot has happened, it has had '71 340cid, Tf-727 and 83/4 rear end for a while in summer 1983. Year 1984 it had '71 440cid engine. Soon after that we made a fiberglass front end to reduce front end weight. This car was built for street, but nearly every summer we headed to the strip. It was not about the professional classes but we had here in Finland so called "Street race" classes "A" (mostly European and Japanese cars under 2 liter engine), "B" over 2 liters but under 4 liters and also turbocharged engine of that size, "C" here was mostly small blocks, had to be under 6 liters (< 366cid) and "D" which were big block engines.
In the beginning the timeslips showed low 14sec ET's. The engine was totally stock, no headers, rear end gear ratio was also very stock 3:23. Next year we tested Nitrous oxide and ET's started with 13sec. Last time I drove my car it was year 1993 and for that summer I made some major rebuilds. Tf-727 got total rebuild, Turbo-Action manual body,10" Fairbanks Slingshot converter. Rear end had a Posi-Track and 4.33 gears and SS springs. The engine was balanced and rebuilded to 0.030 overbore, Six-pack pistons, rods, 10.5 compressions, '452 heads with 2.14 intake/1.81 exh. valves. Heads were pocket ported and combustion chambers polished and balanced. The cam was DC 296/0.557 mechanical stick. For the wheels and traction there was 5.5x15"/9x15" polished Centerlines and tires were M/T. At the track Swinger had MH Racemasters back. That combination was something I really loved! When I hit the pedal Swinger really flied compared to earlier years! Summer '93 the best time at the track was 11.73 sec. There were some obvious body flex according to my friends who helped my at staging and who were watching car going through the strip. Well, that car was then 24 years old. Roads were salted every winter. So that flex was no wonder. My Swinger has been out of streets and strips since that year 93 and last year autumn I began to plan what it takes to make it alive again. It has been stripped down now and
next it will be soda blasted, a lot of sheet metal will be replaced and a roll cage will be installed. As many owners in this list are doing, I plan to make this Swinger to look as original as possible but with the modern technology. Any help finding parts etc. from you list readers is appreciated. Here is some pictures from past years to this moment.
After following this forum for a while I think it is time to introduce myself.
Here is some minor history and plans what I'm going to do in the near future.
I'm living in Helsinki which is the capital of Finland. I have own 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger since January 1983. My car had originally a slant six automatic, 7 1/4 rear end. When I bought this car it was Chrysler Blue B5, but according to Broadcast sheet the original color was W1 white. Since that a lot has happened, it has had '71 340cid, Tf-727 and 83/4 rear end for a while in summer 1983. Year 1984 it had '71 440cid engine. Soon after that we made a fiberglass front end to reduce front end weight. This car was built for street, but nearly every summer we headed to the strip. It was not about the professional classes but we had here in Finland so called "Street race" classes "A" (mostly European and Japanese cars under 2 liter engine), "B" over 2 liters but under 4 liters and also turbocharged engine of that size, "C" here was mostly small blocks, had to be under 6 liters (< 366cid) and "D" which were big block engines.
In the beginning the timeslips showed low 14sec ET's. The engine was totally stock, no headers, rear end gear ratio was also very stock 3:23. Next year we tested Nitrous oxide and ET's started with 13sec. Last time I drove my car it was year 1993 and for that summer I made some major rebuilds. Tf-727 got total rebuild, Turbo-Action manual body,10" Fairbanks Slingshot converter. Rear end had a Posi-Track and 4.33 gears and SS springs. The engine was balanced and rebuilded to 0.030 overbore, Six-pack pistons, rods, 10.5 compressions, '452 heads with 2.14 intake/1.81 exh. valves. Heads were pocket ported and combustion chambers polished and balanced. The cam was DC 296/0.557 mechanical stick. For the wheels and traction there was 5.5x15"/9x15" polished Centerlines and tires were M/T. At the track Swinger had MH Racemasters back. That combination was something I really loved! When I hit the pedal Swinger really flied compared to earlier years! Summer '93 the best time at the track was 11.73 sec. There were some obvious body flex according to my friends who helped my at staging and who were watching car going through the strip. Well, that car was then 24 years old. Roads were salted every winter. So that flex was no wonder. My Swinger has been out of streets and strips since that year 93 and last year autumn I began to plan what it takes to make it alive again. It has been stripped down now and
next it will be soda blasted, a lot of sheet metal will be replaced and a roll cage will be installed. As many owners in this list are doing, I plan to make this Swinger to look as original as possible but with the modern technology. Any help finding parts etc. from you list readers is appreciated. Here is some pictures from past years to this moment.
