Father son 73 dart swinger restoration. (making it a 71 clone)

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mr.smockey

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My dad has been teaching me the ways of the mopar on his 68 fastback barracuda since I was old enough to turn a wrench. When I was 15, I got my first car out of a friends yard from his parents for the low low price of "make it run, get it out of our yard".... A 200 straight six 1980 hatchback mustang. After a year or so of dad making me park the "ford abomination" a block from the house I decided it was time to sell the rustang and get a real car. So I sold the mustang for $600 and Bought my very own mopar in 2010 out of salina kansas for $500.

When I got this exquisite example of american muscle, the gas line wasnt hooked up but we got it to drive onto the trailer by dumping gas out of a pop bottle down the poor 318's throat. (It was the rare v7 option. IE: Dead cylinder) the very next day my dad tells me he found a 360 block we can build with the parts he's collected over the years. So we built it. It's mostly stock, put a big cam in it, (492 lift, 282 duration lunati) switched it to a 4 barrel(750 edelbrock), polished and ported the stock heads and steel intake.

After high school I did a lot of nothing for a couple years. I eventually joined the Navy (march 5th 2013)because I needed a decent job if I was going to finish this car.
After boot camp I blew a lot of money partying in "A" school, but managed to save up enough to convert my front brakes from drums to discs.

I'm currently deployed in Bahrain as I type this. I've ordered a lot of parts (like the uninstalled quarter panels below) now I just have to get this pesky deployment over with so I can take some leave and put in the work.


I enjoy feedback, so feel free to post any questions, comments, ADVICE or ideas.
 

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I'm currently deployed. If you possess any body or black interior parts in useful condition, hmu with some pictures and prices. Would be much appreciated. Some things off the top of my head would be bucket seats (color not important) 71 grill, go wing, and parts for a mini tub.
 
Possible parts car, its a 72 not a 71, but thats fine by me. Gets rid of the beak. Its even got bucket seats!
 

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Dug up some more pics of the engine.
 

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Good morning from sunny 110° (at 7am) Bahrain! Dad went and looked at the parts car last night (it was 4pm to him, like 1am for me) he took a few pictures, couple problems with the fenders. Nothing major, it has a front bumper but its got HUUUGE dent in it, But it also has a LOT of parts that I need. So I'm wiring him the money and he's gonna go get it today. (My second very own Mopar haha)
 

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Dad picked up my parts car yesterday, took a little longer than expected. But glad its at home waiting to be picked at.
 

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Dad broke the rule and worked on the car without me. I'm still happy about it thought. Finally lost the beak! Sorry about the order of the pics. Deployment has got me stressed and I'm too lazy and drunk right now too change the order.
 

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Dad threw the bumper on and got the headlights hooked up. Ordered 2800 dollars worth of engine parts yesterday things should start getting exciting soon. Can't wait to finish this tour and spend some quality time working on it.
 

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Nice going there.
My own '73 has had a facelift aswell making it look 2 years 'older' but way better!


Mine's on the right;

20110710-73Dart-IMG_1460.jpg
 
IMO the 1971 was the best year for the Dart.
It had the right grill, the right side markers, the right tail lights.

The 72 grill is good, too, but not as good as the 71, and the 72 and later side markers are sort of stuck onto the fenders, instead of flush like the 70 and 71.
I also like the 71's tail lights better than the 70's.

Just my opinion, of course, but, of the 70-76 Darts, I think the 71 is the best, followed closely by the 70 and 72. Then the early "A" body Darts, and then the 73-76 Darts.
 
Finally some replies! Haha this deployment is supposed to end this winter, possibility of extension though. Protecting democracy and stuff comes before the car. Haha I plan to take leave then, and more leave for Christmas to really get some stuff done/

I do agree that the 71 looks better, but gotta make do with what I can find/afford. I'm only 21 years old, and my navy career has just started/
 
Finally some replies! Haha this deployment is supposed to end this winter, possibility of extension though. Protecting democracy and stuff comes before the car. Haha I plan to take leave then, and more leave for Christmas to really get some stuff done/

I do agree that the 71 looks better, but gotta make do with what I can find/afford. I'm only 21 years old, and my navy career has just started/

Car is looking good, thank you for your service :usa2:
 
Got me some engine shinies. *foreshadowing*
 

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Been a hot minute since I posted anything. Guess I should let people know I'm still alive haha. I've pretty much ordered everything to finish the car that I'm willing to order online. Couple more months until I'm reunited with sheila. Cant hardly wait to start putting her together.
 
While I'm on here, I'm interested in hearing what people think about the performer rpm heads. This is my first restoration, and I don't know much about a lot of this stuff. Just kinda diving in here.
 
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