Plum Crazy 74 Dart

[standup303]

Super excited to be starting my first classic car build. I’ve always been a bike guy in the past owning everything from dirt bikes to road race bikes and Harleys. Now with a 3 year old I’ve sold off the bikes and picked up my 74 Dart Swinger.

I purchased the car 7/18/22 in Colorado Springs. It has a Plum Crazy Purple 5 foot paint job, new vinyl top, some new seat covers, and runs/shifts fairly decently. It’s a 225 slant six with 54k miles. I really wanted a Dart Swinger in good overall condition with ready to roll body, interior, paint so I can focus on the fun performance aspects.

My immediate plans include:
-Change oil and coolant
-New air cleaner
-New spark plugs
-New muffler and get a few pinholes in the pipe welded at the same time. Going to fake it till I make it and get a Flowmaster 40 installed.

In the next few months:
-Convert to power brakes
-New pads/drilled slotted rotors up front, new shoes out back
-New shocks all around

Starting to research V8 swaps, looking heavily into a 360 swap and what all is involved.

Thanks for looking!

 

[Dave 74 Dart]

Sweet ride! Welcome, this site has so much info and helpful members that you will be able to get any tips to " make it your own". ENJOY !

 

[H22A4]

Congrats on joining the 4 wheel club! Glad to see another late model A body getting some TLC. Keep us updated on the progress.

 

[Dartnut]

Nice car and good luck with your build!
I love the '73 to '76 A-Bodies.
At least the cosmetics are already done, that's the hard part...

 

[dusterbing the peace]

Nice! What side of Denver are you on?

 

[missing linc]

from

Good looking Dart you found. Your plans seem pretty realistic and sensible. A 360 swap isn't overly difficult, lots of room in the engine bay and these cars are really quite simple to work on. If you can find a K frame from a 73 to 76 Dart, Valiant, Duster, etc. V8 car, you'll be well on your way, though conversion mounts for the /6 K frame are available. keep us posted on your progress and ask questions, lots of good people here who have a great deal of knowledge and experience and are willing to help out.

 

[standup303]

Nice! What side of Denver are you on?

We actually just moved from Littleton to Castle Rock.

 

[standup303]

from

Good looking Dart you found. Your plans seem pretty realistic and sensible. A 360 swap isn't overly difficult, lots of room in the engine bay and these cars are really quite simple to work on. If you can find a K frame from a 73 to 76 Dart, Valiant, Duster, etc. V8 car, you'll be well on your way, though conversion mounts for the /6 K frame are available. keep us posted on your progress and ask questions, lots of good people here who have a great deal of knowledge and experience and are willing to help out.

Awesome thanks for the advice!

 

[standup303]

I have been busy working on the Dart! So far I have knocked out the following:

-Install new aluminum master cylinder
-New In-line tube brake lines
-New stainless steel brake hoses
-Rebuilt rear drums with new shoes
-Replaced seals on front calipers
-New drilled slotted rotors
-New pads
-New air cleaner
-New fuel filter
-Adjusted valve lash
-Change oil
-New spark plugs
-New plug wires
-New Pypes muffler

The car is running MUCH MUCH better. I do have a slight low idle issue since doing the above work. Going to be Seafoaming the car this week and see if that helps.

I have 2 very small leaks at the distribution block. I did not realize how sensitive the new brake lines were to perfect centering on install. I have been cranking them down pretty tight to get them to seal. Hoping I don’t have to get new lines, again.

I’ve also been slowly removing the old undercoating and some surface rust. For now I’m planning on going RustBullet but not sure on top coat, I do not like the gloss black top coat they offer so looking elsewhere. Possibly Eastwoods Chassis Black top coat.

Next up going to get some non adjustable Hotchkis shocks and researching the best leaf springs. So far I like the ESPO +1” springs.

Oh, and I picked up a 440!

 

[SNKEBIT]

Gen 3 hemi would be easier than putting that 440 in there.

 

[standup303]

Decided to lay under the car for days on end and wire wheel just about every square inch. Very fun if you find yourself bored. Then hit it with 2 coats of Rust Bullet followed by 3 coats of bed liner. Came out great!

With the undercarriage cleaned up I installed some ESPO +1 leaf springs and Hotchkis shocks. Riding much better.