1974 Dart Swinger VS. The Evils Of Rust!
I purchased a 1974 Dodge Dart Swinger a few weeks ago for $500 and finally got it home over Memorial Day weekend. Overall it seems to be a really solid base for a project. It will need new rear quarters, left side trunk extension, and at least a few patches in the trunk pan. There are also a few holes in the floor pans, but I wont know how bad they are until I take out the interior. Here are a few pics from the day I bought it.
I got the car from my Uncle who took it on a trade and saved it from what I call a "redneck restoration" that was in progress by the previous owner. I will have to clean up red, spray bomb, over spray from most of the chrome trim and windows. The exhaust was completely custom made from what appears to be fence posts, a glass pack, and a length of chain for a hanger. The car runs and drives, but when my Dad and I decided to rebuild the carburetor we discovered that the previous owner stripped out the threads that the fuel fitting goes into and used JB weld to hold the fuel fitting in place. So the first thing on the list is to replace the carb... With that being said, the car really isn't that bad for being 38 years old. Everything works, with the exception of the gas gage and power mirror. It has a/c and there are only 76,*** original miles on the car.
As of now the plans are to attack the floor pans and interior after I get the carb replaced and make the car road worthy. I would like to convert the interior color to black and keep everything period correct. The car will stay red and get a black vinyl top. I have already upgraded to Cragar SS rims and tires that I found on craigslist. I think the /6 is a really cool motor so I will keep it in the car and add some performance parts down the road after the body work is finished. This will most likely be a slow restoration because, as with most projects, time and money are a limiting factor.
More pics to come shortly....
I purchased a 1974 Dodge Dart Swinger a few weeks ago for $500 and finally got it home over Memorial Day weekend. Overall it seems to be a really solid base for a project. It will need new rear quarters, left side trunk extension, and at least a few patches in the trunk pan. There are also a few holes in the floor pans, but I wont know how bad they are until I take out the interior. Here are a few pics from the day I bought it.
I got the car from my Uncle who took it on a trade and saved it from what I call a "redneck restoration" that was in progress by the previous owner. I will have to clean up red, spray bomb, over spray from most of the chrome trim and windows. The exhaust was completely custom made from what appears to be fence posts, a glass pack, and a length of chain for a hanger. The car runs and drives, but when my Dad and I decided to rebuild the carburetor we discovered that the previous owner stripped out the threads that the fuel fitting goes into and used JB weld to hold the fuel fitting in place. So the first thing on the list is to replace the carb... With that being said, the car really isn't that bad for being 38 years old. Everything works, with the exception of the gas gage and power mirror. It has a/c and there are only 76,*** original miles on the car.
As of now the plans are to attack the floor pans and interior after I get the carb replaced and make the car road worthy. I would like to convert the interior color to black and keep everything period correct. The car will stay red and get a black vinyl top. I have already upgraded to Cragar SS rims and tires that I found on craigslist. I think the /6 is a really cool motor so I will keep it in the car and add some performance parts down the road after the body work is finished. This will most likely be a slow restoration because, as with most projects, time and money are a limiting factor.
More pics to come shortly....