74 Swinger, wish me luck!

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Jimmy

Jimmy

74 Swinger
Joined
Apr 22, 2010
Messages
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Location
Vancouver
well here is she is, picked her up this last weekend (Sunday April 18th for documentation). Unfortunately it's my uncles lot and I will only be able to spend time with her on the week ends and when I play hooky but it will be worth it. the engine in it is a fine running 318 but the 360 on the hoist is whats going in after it's been rebuilt. By the way you ever try moving a V8 on gravel? Wouldnt recommend it.:banghead:
The one at the bottom right is a photoshop of hopefully the end product, minus the rust, front bumper and Nerf bars.

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we only had two foot long planks, but we inched it there, I just figure Ill park closer next time! Great day, had my son and buddy out (no labor like free labor).
Day 1 Progress:
-tapped out all the old bondo
-gutted the interior, removed rear window without cracking it
-ground all the rust, applied neutralizer
-removed bumpers (what 100 lbs each?) and all the connecting crap
-decided what gets welded, braised, fiberglass and what just gets bondo
-started cutting tin, picked up brass rods
-replaced the coil fuse, recharged the battery and the thing runs great

Surprise's:

Rear fender was fiberglassed in the worst way, a touch of the grinder tore a 8 inch patch of who the hell knows what outta one side, too much trouble to weld for a drag car, to much area to recreate the lines with bondo, thinking riveting a piece or fiberglass but still trying to figure it out, other side is brutal as far the shaping goes so that's a head scratcher as well

was a soft top but there seems to be odd patching and dents in the roof like maybe it rolled or is that how they looked underneath?

rear struts not at all connected just slipped on to a post, cant see a way to fasten them either, just bizarre

Decided to start with the 318 so while I rebuild the 360 I can still have some fun and most of the aftermarket stuff I need for the 360 will fit on the 318 and I can blow it up knowing that a better one is in the wings for basically no extra cost.

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I cant believe how much more fun Mopar is compared to tuners! I'm having the time of my life with this, I think I'm gonna go sell my BMW and just throw it all into a crate Hemi! If my wife is reading, I'm just kidding......:angel9:
 
Didnt get much done this weekend, raining, couldn't work on the body at all. Spent most of the day tearing out the dash, worked on the engine a bit, sounds like new car up front so smooth and quite and like a Harley in the back, love it, the 318 is truly an amazing engine. I rented a garage near my shop so I can get to work on the 360 ( will be posting lot's oh tech questions soon!) and finer points of the swinger on a more regular basis, but I have to get all the body work done while it's still outside so it was a setback. I'm gonna miss the drunkards 4x4ing all around me though......:drinkers:

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Jimmy said:
I cant believe how much more fun Mopar is compared to tuners! I'm having the time of my life with this, I think I'm gonna go sell my BMW and just throw it all into a crate Hemi! If my wife is reading, I'm just kidding......:angel9:
Click to expand...


If my wife is reading, I'm just kidding......:angel9:[/QUOTE]

no he's not:toothy10::toothy10:
 
Great week end!
1:picked up a year one floor panel and windshield for $150 (found dart heaven!)
2:cut the old floor out (nicked the frame but not too bad)
3:sucked up the bumper got rid of nerfs, plastic, 5 inches and about 80lbs.
4:finished the bondo/fiberglass with the exception 2 small holes too big for bondo and too small for glass so weld next week
5:fabricated the pieces for the dash and the wheel wells

During the week I need to find some plastic seats and harnesses, a steering wheel and some other odds and ends.

Next week is all about welding the floor panel, a patch for the rear 1/4, wells and a couple small holes. Primer the whole thing, bomb the the inside, then install the windshield and rear glass and bring it on back to my garage for the less messy work! Hooray!

newwndshield.jpg


floorpan.jpg


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lftside.jpg


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I almost feel guilty for posting in the restorations section, I mean I'm just building a fun toy for the strip so it doesn't have to be perfect, in fact the roughness is half the appeal for me. When I look at what most of the guys are doing here it's insane, the attention to detail, the craftsmanship all top shelf. My son, my buddy, me, were total hanks but were loving it and I appreciate everyone's support and feedback.:thumbrig:
 
Rainy week end, but still managed to get some stuff done,

1: Found and installed steering wheel
2: Painted floor
3: Installed racing buckets and harnesses
4: Finished rear 1/4 (Fiberglass and bondo from shadow line down, never want to touch fiberglass again.
5: Build up of left fender
6: Installed stainless throttle cable
7: Relocated Battery to the trunk
8: Took cheesy pictures (The one with the glasses is me FYI)

Next week

1: install intake manifold 4 barrel non egr, carb (Carter AFB Competition) on the 318 (Have RPM air gap for the 360, still trying to decide on carb)
2: finish left fender, roof
3: secure bumpers
4: swap out hood for 68 gt, fabricate grill, install snorkels
5: run nitrous lines
6: replace thermostat, install electric fuel pump
7: Install rear glass

left fender.jpg


leftrearqtr..jpg


mike.jpg


kalem.jpg


seats.jpg


seatsteeringwheel.jpg
 
:sign3:
What did I say I was going to do this week, last week? So young and DUMB!
"1: install intake manifold 4 barrel non egr, carb (Carter AFB Competition) on the 318 (Have RPM air gap for the 360, still trying to decide on carb)
2: finish left fender, roof
3: secure bumpers
4: swap out hood for 68 gt, fabricate grill, install snorkels
5: run nitrous lines
6: replace thermostat, install electric fuel pump
7: Install rear glass"

Well I got #1 done and found a front clip for 68GT (Hood, Grill, Bezels, Bumper) so I don't have to do #4. Finally got my cousin to do some welding pressure washed the engine bay and that's about it but oh well, Dream big and achieve mediocre I always say!:king:
So here are some progress shots (The color sections are the areas of rust that have been fixed so far) and pics of my new (to me) LD4B!!!

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:read2: When I figure out the ignition I'll let you know! :help:
It's supposed to be on par with the rpm only better because it has the 318 ports, I'm trying to figure out the rest of the combo if anyone wants to help out with some
suggestions for the 318 build up (keep in mind it's just strip but street legal so 13's is the goal.
-11" Torque Converter (Need identification help!) just need to take the 360 weights off
-Cam = 0.450 lift (approx.) 290 duration? (from allpar article, good for strip bad for street = perfect) Ive heard the stock 340 is a good choice, but I'm willing to be more exotic.
-Gears = Richmond 3.9 or 4.1
-Fuel Pump = Mechanical or Electric? series? Brand?
-Nitrous kit 150hp = delivery? Brand?

so far
-Headers 1.625" 5116HKR Super Comp (I know hookers will hit, working on it tho, cut and weld, can't afford dougs or tti's till I finish the 360!)
-LD4B
-Carter AFB Competition 650cfm
-904 w/ trans go
-8 3/4 sure grip 3.55 rear
-about 2800 lbs with driver
Wheels are stock 14" but probably go to 15's
:help: :-D
 
Yup so leaps and bounds this week, got her primed so we can do the finishing body work, my son did a great job of painting the trunk, ceiling and the rear interior. Put the nitrous in to measure the lines and because just having the bottle back there adds 20hp!:^o
Worked on the electrical, hopefully diagnosed the ignition problem as the starter solenoid.

maskedandprep.jpg


primed.jpg


no2.jpg
 
Thanks, now that the car isn't red I'm starting to be ok with the front clip, I already put a depo on a complete 68 GT clip tho. I'm hoping the snorkel works on a flat hood.
 
70DartMike said:
Hows this project coming? Good to see someone else from BC. I'm just a little ways from you, across the water on the island.
Click to expand...

:thumbrig: howdy neighbor! Nice collection, found a nice 67 dart GT for $2600 if your interested Ill pm you the link, no engine or trans but it's been tubed, frame connectors, springs relocated, 7 leaf springs, 4 speed, 8 3/4. I want it bad but I'm all tied up in the swinger, I would like to see it go to someone on this forum so I could watch it come back to life.

Anyway the project is coming along great, installing msd ignition and wiring the No2 right now, slowed by a couple broken VC bolts (I love my son but sometimes....:violent1:).:-D
it was a good excuse to replace the valve covers with nice chrome ones and to install studs and fasteners to avoid this situation again. Put in a new radiator and a viscous fan, noticeable improvement with the fan, took it on it's first run to the new garage and made it pretty far before I realised the valve cover was leaking and it started to back fire and burn oil on the manifolds. Ha. At least it died on a nice street.
And I think I win for smallest work space!! Look what $150 a month gets you in Vancouver... unreal, voltage inst even enough to run a hobby welder!

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