71 Dart Swinger project Street Machine

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Moparnutt340

Moparnutt340

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2014
Messages
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Location
SW Ont Canada
New member here from SW Ontario

I just picked up my 71 Dart last spring. Drove it for a few months then put it away early fall to do some upgrades. about 10G's later, its ready for the street/strip once again. It don't look much different from last summer but its completely done on the underside includine mini tub and spring relocation.

I have a couple pics from last summer and 4 new pics from this month.......

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Thanks 68 !

When I relocated the springs I also moved the rear-end back 3/4" to make room for the taller tires. I went from 26" to 28" tall tire.
I removed the 16GAL gas tank, cut out the spare tire well and boxed in a 20GAL aluminum fuel cell.
While I was under there I also welded in a set of frame connectors from US Car Tool

I'm currently working on a progress website that has step by step pics of the entire process. I see so many people asking questions on the mini tub and spring relocation process so the site is basically going to be a "how to" kinda thing. I hope it helps some people because it was all new to me when I went into it.
 
i look forward to seeing your site when ready. im very interested in seeing what you did with your fuel cell.
thanks for sharing
 
Your car looks awesome with the new meats but- I have to say, that was a sweet lookin car with the ralleys.
 
fez440 said:
i look forward to seeing your site when ready. im very interested in seeing what you did with your fuel cell.
thanks for sharing
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Here's a link to the pics of the fuel cell setup; FUEL CELL PICS

I drilled out the welds across the front, cut the floor along the top of the frame rail so the welds are all hidden from under the car. Then cut across the back, there is a lip there as well that you can weld onto.

For the new floor I used a 4x4' Sheet of 18ga steel, bent it into shape and welded the corners shut.
It was then welded into place as one unit. Tight fit, alot of trimming, and may require the rear ledge welded in seperate under the trunk latch brace.

The spare tire well always sticks out under these cars and looks messy from behind. I sunk the fuel cell in 4-4.5" into the floor so it sits up about half inch higher than the bottom of the rear valance panel. Makes for a cleaner look when you can't see it from behind.

Once in place I just bent up some alluminum straps, put a strip of sticky foam and put them over the cell. I have bolts in the floor for the straps and fasten them in with wing nut's.

I hope this helps, pics are not so great in a dark shop........
 
Really neat looking car!! love those 71 darts. that rear end work looks nice, wish i had the know how to go at my scamp like that...
 
Nice...to me you cant get much better than that..71 darts,twin scoops[mine has rear spoiler]...and the color is fantastic...I removed the vinyl top on mine but the more I look at them with the black against the red the more I like it....
 
74scamp360 said:
Really neat looking car!! love those 71 darts. that rear end work looks nice, wish i had the know how to go at my scamp like that...
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Don't be affraid to try it man. I was so scared to start cutting but my buddy kept telling me go for it. I couldn't afford to pay someone else to do it. My buddy said he will help me, he brought over a welder for me and away I went. I had never done anything like this before, no body work at all actually.
I researched all this tub work online before and durring the process. Once I got started it was a piece of cake. I ended up doing it all myself without needing my buddy to help. He gave me a crash course in welding and I took to it like riding a bike. I measured everything several times throughout the process.
I am working on a website right now for it. I have a ton of pics of the whole process and eventually I hope it will be enough detail to help guys like yourself to tackle the job at home.

Click this link to my site, under construction but the pics will help for sure

Also, if you have any questions along the way just ask
 
Moparnutt340 said:
Don't be affraid to try it man. I was so scared to start cutting but my buddy kept telling me go for it. I couldn't afford to pay someone else to do it. My buddy said he will help me, he brought over a welder for me and away I went. I had never done anything like this before, no body work at all actually.
I researched all this tub work online before and durring the process. Once I got started it was a piece of cake. I ended up doing it all myself without needing my buddy to help. He gave me a crash course in welding and I took to it like riding a bike. I measured everything several times throughout the process.
I am working on a website right now for it. I have a ton of pics of the whole process and eventually I hope it will be enough detail to help guys like yourself to tackle the job at home.

Click this link to my site, under construction but the pics will help for sure

Also, if you have any questions along the way just ask
Click to expand...


thanks for the advice, not sure whether it'll happen to my current car or not but i'm definitely interested in learning, neat website can't wait to see the rest!! i'm in sw ontario area too, maybe see your car around sometime
 
CUDACOX said:
Those rear meats look great! Nice stance as well.But please tell us....What powers that beast???
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Currently, its just a worn out old stock 340 with a mild cam. Prob pushing about 200HP
I've ran out of funds for now but the body and paint needs to be redone before the engine. I had planned on doing a stroked 340, looking for between 450-500HP

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What size tire and rim are you running now that you have done the mini tub and spring relocation? The car looks awesome. Those big meats out back looks so mean.
 
70408dart said:
What size tire and rim are you running now that you have done the mini tub and spring relocation? The car looks awesome. Those big meats out back looks so mean.
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I assume your asking just about the back.
Weld 15x10 7.5"BS
Nitto 555R Extreme Drag Radial 325/50R15, they are 28 tall & 13.2" wide

The Tires are slightly bigger than what most guys use but with a bit of massaging in the wheel tubs, they fit perfect. I have 1" clearance on each side of the tire.
I also moved the rearend back 1/2" to be able to fit the taller tires
 
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