Posted By: OhioMopar
1970 Dodge Dart Swinger 340 - 08/12/12 04:50 PM
Many know I traded my last project car for a running project car. My '69 Coronet R/T for a Top Banana 340/4-speed/3.91 Dart Swinger.
As mentioned, it is running, driving, stopping, and for the most part complete. There are a few appearance, and functional items as well as some performance changes and upgrades I would like to make. Haven't figured out the order of the list yet, but I can hit some of the basics and lay out the list for you and document what I have done and how. Never really started a thread like this because, well, I do a crappy job of taking pictures or documenting anything. Maybe this will help.
The list(front to back and as I remember things.):
Bumper(s). I had a '70 Dart before that was all primer black including the bumpers. Like the look. The bumpers on this one are very nice, so I'm still up in the air on whether or not I want to do body colored 'glass bumpers or leave 'em chrome.
Left inner fender. Right at the core support had a rust hole directly under the battery tray. Not uncommon, but also not terrible. Other than that the inner fenders are very nice.
Front suspension. Lots of dry rotted/cracked bushings and boots. Not going exotic, probably poly uppers, rubber lowers, and probably put the stock sway bar back. New torsion bars, tie rod ends, adjusters, strut rods, (maybe lighter) etc.
Engine bay. Looks decent. Would like to move the MSD box to somewhere other than the drivers side inner fender. Maybe a new engine/light harness, and clean up all the extra wiring for the MSD. Lots of crimp connections.
Engine. First I want to find out what is in it. Would like to add a little bigger cam, ceramic tti headers, paint the thing up a little nicer, replace the abused oil pan(or at least beat it back out), put a set of RHS iron heads on it. Port the intake to the heads, etc. Not gonna mess with the bottom end if I don't have to. All the stroker stuff will be put on my GTS. New bellhousing, the starter locating hole in mine is broken out, different clutch kit and flywheel. Starter is handled as of this weekend.
Exhaust. Tti 2.5" all the way back with tips. The one on it now may be original, but the connections to the headers are not done well, and they leak.
Transmission. Probably nothing. Speedo pinion leaks, so I need to get a new o-ring for it. Also need the right pinion to make the speedo closer.
Windshield. Needs replaced. Has large stone chip and lots of scratches.
Dash. Cluster, trim, all could use a restoration. Plans are to pull it when the windshield comes out. Restore it, then put it all back in together.
Pedal assembly. Squeak like mad. Pull when dash is out.
Carpet, seats, headliner, etc. Plan is to do the interior with the dash, or shortly after. I have the original seat belts and radio to go back in, want to mount a disk player with mp3 input in the glove box.
Doors. They both have some issues. Drivers side needs adjusted, wing vent doesn't touch the roof at the top, and nether does the rest of the window. Window isn't secured to the front of the track on the drivers side, ether. Opens and closes fine, but obviously needs adjusted. Locks don't work properly in either door, and key won't go in passenger side very far.
Out of order, but wheels and tires. I like the car with Rallys on it. Would like to add 15's in small bolt all around, with a taller tire in the rear and a little taller in the front. The lug nuts all need replaced, they look terrible. Haven't checked, but drivers side to be converted to right hand thread if it hasn't been done already.
Front to back, brake and fuel lines replaced with stainless.
Fuel level sending unit. Doesn't always work. The tank doesn't seem to leak, but it may get replaced while it is out.
Rear end. 3.91's are supposed to be new. So after checking it out, probably just replace seals and go through the rear brakes/hardware.
Go wing. I like it. I want to add one, I'm getting opposition from the kids/friends.
Shifter/handle. It had a '71-'72(I think) b-body pistol grip in it. It's okay, but I really would like to put a ball shifter in it, and also I think the box itself needs rebuilt/replaced.
Body. Will be tackled probably after I get another car on the road. There are some small spots in the passenger floor that need fixed. Trunk floor looks good. Bubbling over rear quarters, in front and back, and a spot in the drivers door that is bubbled. Also on the deck lid.
That's all I can think of. I'm going to tackle this project in a way that when I go to replace something, I have everything I need for the job waiting in front of me. No taking it apart and waiting, while not driving it, for parts to come in. Things like the dash will be done over the winter, so I have the time to do it.
Lastly, as much of the work as I can do, I will be doing myself. Brakes, suspension, engines, transmissions, wiring, and adjustments I can handle myself. Body, interior, trim, dash cluster, I have never tackled. May send the cluster out. May not. We shall see.
So follow along and please, please, PLEASE feel free to correct me, guide me, and help my along the way if you see anything that I could do differently.
As mentioned, it is running, driving, stopping, and for the most part complete. There are a few appearance, and functional items as well as some performance changes and upgrades I would like to make. Haven't figured out the order of the list yet, but I can hit some of the basics and lay out the list for you and document what I have done and how. Never really started a thread like this because, well, I do a crappy job of taking pictures or documenting anything. Maybe this will help.
The list(front to back and as I remember things.):
Bumper(s). I had a '70 Dart before that was all primer black including the bumpers. Like the look. The bumpers on this one are very nice, so I'm still up in the air on whether or not I want to do body colored 'glass bumpers or leave 'em chrome.
Left inner fender. Right at the core support had a rust hole directly under the battery tray. Not uncommon, but also not terrible. Other than that the inner fenders are very nice.
Front suspension. Lots of dry rotted/cracked bushings and boots. Not going exotic, probably poly uppers, rubber lowers, and probably put the stock sway bar back. New torsion bars, tie rod ends, adjusters, strut rods, (maybe lighter) etc.
Engine bay. Looks decent. Would like to move the MSD box to somewhere other than the drivers side inner fender. Maybe a new engine/light harness, and clean up all the extra wiring for the MSD. Lots of crimp connections.
Engine. First I want to find out what is in it. Would like to add a little bigger cam, ceramic tti headers, paint the thing up a little nicer, replace the abused oil pan(or at least beat it back out), put a set of RHS iron heads on it. Port the intake to the heads, etc. Not gonna mess with the bottom end if I don't have to. All the stroker stuff will be put on my GTS. New bellhousing, the starter locating hole in mine is broken out, different clutch kit and flywheel. Starter is handled as of this weekend.
Exhaust. Tti 2.5" all the way back with tips. The one on it now may be original, but the connections to the headers are not done well, and they leak.
Transmission. Probably nothing. Speedo pinion leaks, so I need to get a new o-ring for it. Also need the right pinion to make the speedo closer.
Windshield. Needs replaced. Has large stone chip and lots of scratches.
Dash. Cluster, trim, all could use a restoration. Plans are to pull it when the windshield comes out. Restore it, then put it all back in together.
Pedal assembly. Squeak like mad. Pull when dash is out.
Carpet, seats, headliner, etc. Plan is to do the interior with the dash, or shortly after. I have the original seat belts and radio to go back in, want to mount a disk player with mp3 input in the glove box.
Doors. They both have some issues. Drivers side needs adjusted, wing vent doesn't touch the roof at the top, and nether does the rest of the window. Window isn't secured to the front of the track on the drivers side, ether. Opens and closes fine, but obviously needs adjusted. Locks don't work properly in either door, and key won't go in passenger side very far.
Out of order, but wheels and tires. I like the car with Rallys on it. Would like to add 15's in small bolt all around, with a taller tire in the rear and a little taller in the front. The lug nuts all need replaced, they look terrible. Haven't checked, but drivers side to be converted to right hand thread if it hasn't been done already.
Front to back, brake and fuel lines replaced with stainless.
Fuel level sending unit. Doesn't always work. The tank doesn't seem to leak, but it may get replaced while it is out.
Rear end. 3.91's are supposed to be new. So after checking it out, probably just replace seals and go through the rear brakes/hardware.
Go wing. I like it. I want to add one, I'm getting opposition from the kids/friends.
Shifter/handle. It had a '71-'72(I think) b-body pistol grip in it. It's okay, but I really would like to put a ball shifter in it, and also I think the box itself needs rebuilt/replaced.
Body. Will be tackled probably after I get another car on the road. There are some small spots in the passenger floor that need fixed. Trunk floor looks good. Bubbling over rear quarters, in front and back, and a spot in the drivers door that is bubbled. Also on the deck lid.
That's all I can think of. I'm going to tackle this project in a way that when I go to replace something, I have everything I need for the job waiting in front of me. No taking it apart and waiting, while not driving it, for parts to come in. Things like the dash will be done over the winter, so I have the time to do it.
Lastly, as much of the work as I can do, I will be doing myself. Brakes, suspension, engines, transmissions, wiring, and adjustments I can handle myself. Body, interior, trim, dash cluster, I have never tackled. May send the cluster out. May not. We shall see.
So follow along and please, please, PLEASE feel free to correct me, guide me, and help my along the way if you see anything that I could do differently.
I really like the 70 Dart 340 Swingers. Here is my sons 72 we cloned like a 70 Dart Swinger but it has a 400 in it and runs 11.40's. Ron
Ron
