1972 Swinger long time thread lurker

-
B

boostownsme

Member
Joined
May 7, 2020
Messages
11
Reaction score
18
Location
Greensboro,NC
So I’ve been a lurker on the forums for a while and learned a lot already so figured I should go ahead and introduce myself. Me and my dad picked this 1972 Dart Swinger up before I was ever in high school. The plan was to make it a project to finish before I graduated. Well plans change and it’s spent the last 20 years in various sheds around the house. The car is a factory 318 car, and for how long it had been out in the weather with a vinyl top it seems to still be in really good shape. Theres only a little body rot in the rear trunk areas and a little near some sealer on the front left inner fender area. Once we finish the body work plans are to paint it Vitamin C Orange, then put in a 340/416 stroker 6 pack, a 4 speed with Gear Vendors O/U, 8 3/4 rear with 3.91 gears and a home built straight axle conversion. Most all the parts are already sourced and have been just waiting to be put on. Finally got serious and started the tear down, with me working on the envious job of stripping the old undercoating off now. Forgot to take true before pictures but heres a few of where we are at now. Look forward to learning more on the site and sharing progress.

IMG_0724.jpg

IMG_0992.jpg
IMG_0999.jpg

And a little throw back picture to my original project I had to let go and have always regretted due to lack of funds and time:
ClintsCarPics001.jpg
 
Looking forward to getting active again in documenting the work I've gotten done since my last post, which has admittedly been quite a while. Lucky for me I have been taking photos.
body damage rear bumper.jpg

body damage rear bumper 2.jpg
body damage sail panel.jpg

old bodywork rear trunk damage.jpg

Some of the bodywork issues I've been clearing up. Overall the car was in good shape as it's been under a shed the last 20 years or so.
 
Right quarter bodywork.jpg
Left quarter bodywork.jpg
Engine bay prep 1.jpg
Engine bay prep 2.jpg
B Pillar bodywork.jpg


I'm new to a lot of the bodywork things such as high build primer, blocking, bondo work etc. but I've been blessed with some folks that are local and giving me pointers and tips. Overall I've learned a lot and gained some new appreciation for people that do bodywork for a living.
 
Last edited:
Engine bay paint 1.jpg
Engine bay paint 2.jpg
Front fenderwell Undercoating.jpg


New wheel fitment 2.jpg

I went with SEM Hot Rod black for the engine bay and was really happy how that turned out. I finished undercoating the underside and fender wells using Herculiner bed liner. So far I have been really happy with the results and it was relatively easy to prep and apply. I also couldn't help myself and we had to test fit our wheels, give us a little extra motivation.
 
New K Fram painted 2.jpg
New K frame painted.jpg

Me and my dad were lucky and located a late model A body in a nearby junkyard and were able to grab the V8 K frame out from under it. I picked up a Hellwig swaybar for it and it all cleaned up pretty nice. The original plan was to do a straight axle front end but we decided in the end to keep it more traditional. I've got a set of disc brakes to put on it which I'll throw some pics up of at a later date.
 
Door soundproofing.jpg
Rear End Resto.jpg
Rear End Resto2.jpg


After reading up on different routes people took I decided to KilMat the doors and also add some undercoating for additional sound deadening. The KilMat fit two panels per door almost to a T. We freshened up an 8 3/4 we had laying around and after putting a new set of large drums on it it was ready to go.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top