1973 Dodge Dart Swinger

[Pompis]

This thread will show you my progress on my Dart that i'm going to restore. Here are some pics started in December and the goal for now is to get it in running condition to this summer. It has a 318 with a A-904 trans and the rear is a 8.25. The interior is black with bucket seats and console. The floor have rust holes that i'm going to fix soon. The car didn't run when i bought it but i cleaned the carb because the previous owner said it was fuel related problem. After the carb was cleaned up it didn't start up any way so i found out that the firing order was the problem... More info and pics coming soon.

 

[Saetun]

Yes!!! Another '73 coming back to life. Good luck on your project, should be a nice car.

 

[txstang84]

Cool find-can't wait to see more pix!

 

[Pompis]

The firing order was sorted and now the car started up. It did not run right so a I took the distributor apart to check the pick up clearance and it was way off. When the clearance were right the car runned pretty good. But the second time I started the car it ran good and i took it around the street. When I left the car on idle it suddenly stopped and since then it will not start. The ballast is cracked and the wiring harness is a mess so for now I waiting for a new ballast. Going to sort out all of the wiring and replace the wiring harness. The first pic shows how bad the cables runs.

My old glove box was bad and I got an idea because we have a lot scrap aluminium sheets just lying around at work. So I made a new glove box out of it. The old one off of paper can fold so it pops into place but my can't so i must mount it from behind so i have to disassemble the dash. Will dress it in some black fabric. This one will last better then the old one.

 

[Saetun]

I keep a spare ballast in the car at all times. Cheap insurance, ya know?

 

[Pompis]

That was a good idea with a extra ballast.

The "Hazard" button was of so I got a donor column for free that I used to repair my "Hazard" button. Made a puller for the steering wheel to take the column apart to salvage the parts I needed. To repair and replace the damaged button I was forced to remove three small rivets to take the bad button out. Used 2 component glue to put i together and used steel wire instead of rivets because I did not find the right rivets. It became better and steadier than I would thought. Painted the thing in the last pic is it a key light?

 

[QuintinMotorCompany]

coming along nice

 

[Pompis]

The fender tag decoder showed me that it was a high class car with vinyl top, fender turn signal, drip rail moldings and body side moldings. My car missing all of that and the front and rear window trim so I plan to restore those things. Thanks to Moparparts on FABO he selled me the rear window, drip rail and vinyl top moldings in very good shape. But I still miss front window, a-pillar and the right body side moldings. Even hunts the fender turn signal.

 

[Evildart]

Nice save. How difficult is it hunting down parts in Sweden?

 

[Pompis]

Thanks, got it cheap for being in Sweden to. It is hard if I compare this forum how much there is here instead of Sweden.

 

[Pompis]

Today I have replaced the wiper pivot gaskets. Pretty straight forward job and it's feels good to come one step further to get it waterproof. Now it's the drip rails left to get the interior water and rust free.

Bad shape. Maybe time to replace?

The other wiper pivot had a different gasket.

Ready for caulk.

Caulk, keep it cold before apply it.

Ready to wipe some window!

 

[dennday67]

Amazing work so far. :thumrigh:

 

[Pompis]

Thanks! Forgot this picture. Managed to damage the paint when I removed the old gasket remainings but it's going to get new paint anyway.

 

[Saetun]

Looks good, man. Just did wiper seals myself. Glad I won't have to worry about that anymore. Keep up the good work.

 

[340_dart_power]

Nice work and documentation thus far.
All that snow in the photo reminds me of why I live in the South...

 

[Pompis]

Thanks! Find some more pics from this winter. The console became very nice I think. Cleaned it with mild cleaning product then used some metal polish and vinyl care. The console had been in the trunk for at least 2 years.

 

[Saetun]

Console came out nice, I'm working on the exact same thing myself right now. Are the holes on the console face where a tach was once mounted?

 

[Pompis]

I saw yours console and it looks great. I think it's old tach hole. My plan is to mount in that place with this tach i've bought.

 

[340_dart_power]

Console really came out well, nicely done Sir.

 

[QuintinMotorCompany]

console came out really nice,

 

[QuintinMotorCompany]

oh,just realized that 340 dart power just said that LOL

 

[Pompis]

Thanks for the comments.

I have mounted a trunk lock.

Something is missing.

We try to cover the hole with this thing then.

Maybe too long for my taste.

Looks way better than the hole.

 

[Saetun]

It's amazing how the little details like lock cylinders dramatically affect the look.

 

[Pompis]

I agree with you it became much better. Here is another picture before and after. Have cut down the protruding rusty tailpipes in the second pic also. Think that became much better too.

 

[Pompis]

Here are some progress so far. Have changed carb and intake to a Street Demon 625cfm and Edelbrock Performer 2176. Waiting for some new parts to arrive: Comp Cams XE250H and lifter kit CL20-220-3, 901-16 springs, Comp Cams double roller timing gear set and a engine gasket kit. Going to take the engine out the car because it's leaking from one of the freeze plug. At the same time I'm going to clean the heads and then paint the engine original blue.

Had to do some modification to make the 2 bbl linkage fit the 4 bbl carb and intake. Here are a thread I have posted how I did. http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=241049

Are in the process to change the window felt fuzzies and at the quarter back window the regulator didn't work right. Some previous owner had repaired the big sprocket. First they had cut out the existing bad part then cut a similar size part from some other regulator sprocket then welded the part together. The bad was the radius was wrong from the donor sprocket part so the window didn't run all the way down. I cut the repaired part out and aligned it better than it was and then welded material on so I could grind new sprocket teeths. Now the window works all the way down.

I have installed a EZ wiring harness in the car. Here are a link to the installation. http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=235066