Started on the 72 swinger

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72SwingerJosh

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I finally started taring down my swinger to start it’s complete restoration and /6 to 416 engine swap. I’ve acquired most of the parts for it over the last 4 years. The car has 44,000 original miles and was a southern car so it’s really solid and won’t require any body panels to be welded in. The bolts all came out easily to which is a plus. I’m not sure how I shut the mouse in the door. I noticed him hanging there in 2019 haha I left him there as a warning to other mice to stay out of the car
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Better there than in the headliner. That's where I found mine...Mummified.
 
Better there than in the headliner. That's where I found mine...Mummified.
Luckily I have the cardboard headliner so it’s still like new. I need new seat covers and a carpet and dash. The rest is still pretty good. Legendary wants $850 for each seat so I’m not to sure what I’m going to do there. I might see if an upholstery place can do it cheaper than that.
 
Got the windows out and all the chrome off around them. Tore off the old vinyl top off.
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Also got the rear bumper off and the trunk lid. Tore the doors down too. The interior will all be coming out next.
 
I got the interior out of the dart today after work. It’s nice to see how solid this car is. It has no rusted out metal. Not even under the old vinyl top

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Looking good! Are you planning on getting the car blasted? Or just changing the interior color?
 
Looking good! Are you planning on getting the car blasted? Or just changing the interior color?
I’m keeping the color the same. The gaskets where all dry rotted and so was the interior so it all had to come out. It will make it easier to paint too and will look nicer I think.
 
Looks like a great starting point. I am subscribing as we have a 71 swinger that we will be tearing into next year for my son.
 
Nice car . I was wondering what engine are you putting in the dart?
I bought a 1972 duster V8 front k frame with welded on washer and with Kelsey Hayes disc brakes for $300 at Carlisle three years ago to use and I have a 1972 340 I traded a shot gun for that I had turned into a 416 stroker I’ll be putting into it.
 
Cool car, cool color and cool engine choice! In the process myself with a 69 swinger. 414ci going in mine. What kind of documentation did you get with your car?
 
I have the broadcast sheet and fender tag. I had the original title and when I transferred it to my state they documented the 44,000 original miles onto it so I have the 44,000 original miles documented on title.
 
I bought a 1972 duster V8 front k frame with welded on washer and with Kelsey Hayes disc brakes for $300 at Carlisle three years ago to use and I have a 1972 340 I traded a shot gun for that I had turned into a 416 stroker I’ll be putting into it.

Must've been a helluva shotgun
 
Nice work! That's on my to do list with my 72 here in about a month. Was hoping I didn't have to cut the floors out and looks like I wont have to.
It can be installed without cutting the floor. You can get a spot weld cutter and cut all the spot welds from up top. Then use a air chisel to separate it from the side of body and the frame rails. Getting the new on in is a pain you have to cut those ears down to a 1/4” so it will fit. Then we will fill in the plug welds up top and stitch it in underneath. We didn’t clean off under the car so we have nice lines to match up to for when we install it. We will get it welded in today and I’ll post some more pictures.
Nice work! That's on my to do list with my 72 here in about a month. Was hoping I didn't have to cut the floors out and looks like I wont have to.
 
Got the new crossmember welded in. The new one fit ok but it’s not as good as the original. All in all it will work good. I also cold galved all the welds and bare metal so it won’t rust and will etch primer it before shooting the paint.
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I got the torque boxes and my rear spring relocation brackets today in the mail. I will start getting all these parts prepped and ready to weld in this weekend. The torque boxes were pretty expensive I think but nice quality.
 
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