Gamedog Dave's 1970 "BIG SWINGER" Build Thread
Hey Guys!
So I've been kicking around the idea of putting together a build thread for my car and figured I might as well do it. The aim of the build will be a "streetable pro-touring strip" car that I can drive daily, "swing" around the corners and rip down the strip whenever I feel the urge. Hence the "Big Swinger" name... Well, that and I like how the name leaves it open for interpretation.
The car is a 1970 Dart Swinger that started life as a 225/904/7-1/4" car with factory power brakes, power steering and A/C. I'm the third owner and received the car with a binder full of old receipts and records from the prior owners. Pretty sweet. I bought it off a Marine in Twentynine Palms, CA who was deploying soon and didn't want to pay to store it. The car came with a freshly honed 360 bored .30 over, stock crank, stock SpeedPro Pistons, complete valvetrain, rebuilt heads, pretty much everything needed to get it running like a stock rebuild. Also came with the matching 904 transmission, driveshaft and a freshly rebuilt A-Body 8-3/4" rear with a 2.76 non-posi 742 third member. Got it all for a smokin' deal.
Here it is the first day I bought it and got it towed home:
The "extras" that came with it:
It was driveable, but the brakes were pretty sketchy and I didn't want to chance the 120 mile drive back home.
As soon as I got it back in San Diego, I did a quick check on all suspension components, changed the oil and adjusted the brakes.
Drove it around for a few months this way while sourcing new go fast parts for the motor. I ended up building the motor myself, always wanted to. I built the top end of the 360 I put together for my first Dart, so I figured I'd go for the gold with this build and do it all.
So as I said, drove it for a few months, then this happened:
Then this happened:
After a quick cleaning:
At this point, I considered painting the engine bay black, but ended up keeping the "patina" look.
Here's the stage the engine was in when the slanty gave out on me:
Not quite ready to be dropped in...
At this point, I'd already built the bottom end. I ditched the "stock" rebuild parts and went with a 4.00" Scat Crank, Scat H-Beam Rods, Speed-Pro Hypereutectic Pistons, installed the Isky 485/280 Mega Cam and supporting valvetrain, and installed the heads.
I'm building this car with the intention of it being more of a fun daily driver than a "race car". Having that mindset, I decided to stick with the stock heads and got them ported/polished along with a 3 angle valve job at Arce's Angines in El Cajon, CA (good outfit). If (when) I decide to, I can always get a set of IMM Engine's RHS X Heads or even a set of aluminum heads and just swap over the valvetrain.
While continuing to piece the motor together, I swapped out the old rear with the new 8-3/4. I swapped out the 742 peg-leg third member for a 489 Suregrip with stupid high 4.30 gears (came with the 3rd Member). I'll be switching out the gears to something a bit more streetable in the coming month or so...
Size matters.
Also got the 904 transmission that came with the motor rebuilt by Mike's Transmission in Menifee:
Pretty ain't it? Too bad it'll be under the car and no one will ever see it.
He did a complete rebuild, shift kit, red alto clutches, kevlar bands, the whole 9. All for $525. Stand up guy who does a kick *** job at an honest price. If anyone wants his number, PM me. Would recommend him to everyone. I ended up going with a Hughes 2500 27-25HD converter.
I kicked around the idea of keeping the block orange or changing it up...
Changed it up. "But dude, it's not a FORD!" I know. I like it though and that's what matters.
Here's a picture of my balding brother grinding away at the K-Member to accommodate the Milodon pan:
Because sparks are cool.
After buttoning up the last few bits of the motor, I dropped in the Doug's Headers and slid the motor in:
It was definitely Miller Time when this milestone was reached.
Random Darth Mopar shot:
While finishing up the motor, I kept staring at the ugly as sin brake booster that stuck out like a turd in a punch bowl. Ended up getting rid of it and converted to manual.
At this point, the motor was starting to come together nicely, and the more I looked at it, the more I didn't want the "patina" look anymore. I didn't want to pull the motor and repaint the bay, so I sucked it up and carried on. I did however end up changing the pulleys because A: They were ugly and B: The Milodon HV Water Pump was making the water pump pulley rub against the crank pulley.
The pulleys, along with about $2,000 worth of other random "hard to find" Mopar parts were all sourced from Bob Mazzolini Racing in Riverside, CA. Bob has those rare parts that no one seems to have, and sells them at honest prices. Great guy, always answers and is very accommodating. Last of a dying breed for sure.
Also got the bench seat reupholstered:
Before:
After:
Much better.
While the bench was out, I took the opportunity and installed a new carpet:
Found a total of 3 build sheets. Pretty sweet.
Hey Guys!
So I've been kicking around the idea of putting together a build thread for my car and figured I might as well do it. The aim of the build will be a "streetable pro-touring strip" car that I can drive daily, "swing" around the corners and rip down the strip whenever I feel the urge. Hence the "Big Swinger" name... Well, that and I like how the name leaves it open for interpretation.
The car is a 1970 Dart Swinger that started life as a 225/904/7-1/4" car with factory power brakes, power steering and A/C. I'm the third owner and received the car with a binder full of old receipts and records from the prior owners. Pretty sweet. I bought it off a Marine in Twentynine Palms, CA who was deploying soon and didn't want to pay to store it. The car came with a freshly honed 360 bored .30 over, stock crank, stock SpeedPro Pistons, complete valvetrain, rebuilt heads, pretty much everything needed to get it running like a stock rebuild. Also came with the matching 904 transmission, driveshaft and a freshly rebuilt A-Body 8-3/4" rear with a 2.76 non-posi 742 third member. Got it all for a smokin' deal.
Here it is the first day I bought it and got it towed home:
The "extras" that came with it:
It was driveable, but the brakes were pretty sketchy and I didn't want to chance the 120 mile drive back home.
As soon as I got it back in San Diego, I did a quick check on all suspension components, changed the oil and adjusted the brakes.
Drove it around for a few months this way while sourcing new go fast parts for the motor. I ended up building the motor myself, always wanted to. I built the top end of the 360 I put together for my first Dart, so I figured I'd go for the gold with this build and do it all.
So as I said, drove it for a few months, then this happened:
Then this happened:
After a quick cleaning:
At this point, I considered painting the engine bay black, but ended up keeping the "patina" look.
Here's the stage the engine was in when the slanty gave out on me:
Not quite ready to be dropped in...
At this point, I'd already built the bottom end. I ditched the "stock" rebuild parts and went with a 4.00" Scat Crank, Scat H-Beam Rods, Speed-Pro Hypereutectic Pistons, installed the Isky 485/280 Mega Cam and supporting valvetrain, and installed the heads.
I'm building this car with the intention of it being more of a fun daily driver than a "race car". Having that mindset, I decided to stick with the stock heads and got them ported/polished along with a 3 angle valve job at Arce's Angines in El Cajon, CA (good outfit). If (when) I decide to, I can always get a set of IMM Engine's RHS X Heads or even a set of aluminum heads and just swap over the valvetrain.
While continuing to piece the motor together, I swapped out the old rear with the new 8-3/4. I swapped out the 742 peg-leg third member for a 489 Suregrip with stupid high 4.30 gears (came with the 3rd Member). I'll be switching out the gears to something a bit more streetable in the coming month or so...
Size matters.
Also got the 904 transmission that came with the motor rebuilt by Mike's Transmission in Menifee:
Pretty ain't it? Too bad it'll be under the car and no one will ever see it.
He did a complete rebuild, shift kit, red alto clutches, kevlar bands, the whole 9. All for $525. Stand up guy who does a kick *** job at an honest price. If anyone wants his number, PM me. Would recommend him to everyone. I ended up going with a Hughes 2500 27-25HD converter.
I kicked around the idea of keeping the block orange or changing it up...
Changed it up. "But dude, it's not a FORD!" I know. I like it though and that's what matters.
Here's a picture of my balding brother grinding away at the K-Member to accommodate the Milodon pan:
Because sparks are cool.
After buttoning up the last few bits of the motor, I dropped in the Doug's Headers and slid the motor in:
It was definitely Miller Time when this milestone was reached.
Random Darth Mopar shot:
While finishing up the motor, I kept staring at the ugly as sin brake booster that stuck out like a turd in a punch bowl. Ended up getting rid of it and converted to manual.
At this point, the motor was starting to come together nicely, and the more I looked at it, the more I didn't want the "patina" look anymore. I didn't want to pull the motor and repaint the bay, so I sucked it up and carried on. I did however end up changing the pulleys because A: They were ugly and B: The Milodon HV Water Pump was making the water pump pulley rub against the crank pulley.
The pulleys, along with about $2,000 worth of other random "hard to find" Mopar parts were all sourced from Bob Mazzolini Racing in Riverside, CA. Bob has those rare parts that no one seems to have, and sells them at honest prices. Great guy, always answers and is very accommodating. Last of a dying breed for sure.
Also got the bench seat reupholstered:
Before:
After:
Much better.
While the bench was out, I took the opportunity and installed a new carpet:
Found a total of 3 build sheets. Pretty sweet.
