1972 Canadian H-Code 340 Dart Swinger Special Resto - Finally started!

-
cliff guinand said:
Hey Dave, thanks so much, that would be greatly appreciated. Of these '72 Swinger 340 Specials, we've only found 12 now - out of the approximately 60 or 65 made - and they've all been driven hard and put away wrecked so great to have original references to restore them from. C
Click to expand...

If you are looking for another real 72 340 Dart there was one in mission BC I saw back in 2001. at that time I assumed it was a vin mistake because everyone knew they never made a 340 dart in 1972, lol. Obviously we know different now! I went to look at an FM3 1970 340 duster he had. The place was loaded with mopars and gas station memorabilia. Interestingly a few years ago I was watching the show Canadian Pickers and I realized the same guy was on the show.


If you watch the you tube video starting around 17:10 they go to visit the guy. There are a few mopars in the background as you will see.
 
340duster said:
If you are looking for another real 72 340 Dart there was one in mission BC I saw back in 2001. at that time I assumed it was a vin mistake because everyone knew they never made a 340 dart in 1972, lol. Obviously we know different now! I went to look at an FM3 1970 340 duster he had. The place was loaded with mopars and gas station memorabilia. Interestingly a few years ago I was watching the show Canadian Pickers and I realized the same guy was on the show.


If you watch the you tube video starting around 17:10 they go to visit the guy. There are a few mopars in the background as you will see.
Click to expand...



I spy an FC7 Duster....
 
340duster, you know your way around the Western Canadian Mopar world, don't you. Nice. And yes, don't blame you for thinking the VIN# was a factory mistake, that's how I got in so deep with these Swinger 340 Special, I had to prove mine was real. Wow, what a ride. Haha.
I know who your talking about and I did know about that '72 W1 Swinger 340 Special as well. I did go down to Mission for a visit around 2011, mainly about the '72, but yeah, wow, he's got 'stuff' eh! He just moved from that place in the last year, he must have had to hired semi trucks to move him, haha. Anyway, when I got back to Alberta, I touched base with a friend who was looking for one of these '72 Swinger 340 Specials and before you knew it, he hitched up a trailer and off he went, returning with it. It's now well into the restoration (5th in the works of the 12 found - 1 is fully restored) and, as he's taking his time, it's going to be done right.
Oh, and thanks for sourcing that clip from Canadian Pickers and their encounter with D.G. and his Mopar and memorabilia collections - was great watching it again. Thanks. Say, you wouldn't know of any other '71 and '72 Swinger 340 Specials, would you? I see your out of Alberta, which town/city if you don't mind me asking? Cg
 
Cliff
Glad you enjoyed the video. Well looks like that one is accounted for! I live in Whitecourt but grew up in Regina (not too far from Crestview Chrysler).

A friend of mine here in Whitecourt actually owned one back in the late 70's early 80's. Although at that time it was just another 340 dart. I will ask him some details of it and post them. He was in Stettler at that time. I think the car is crushed, but I will ask him again.

And of course growing up in Regina a buddy of mine who was a partsman at Lakeside Chrysler knew of one there. Again never saw the car and didn't believe him, lol. And he knew they existed.

I am a duster guy, but still love the darts of course.
 
cliff guinand said:
340duster, you know your way around the Western Canadian Mopar world, don't you. Nice. And yes, don't blame you for thinking the VIN# was a factory mistake, that's how I got in so deep with these Swinger 340 Special, I had to prove mine was real. Wow, what a ride. Haha.
I know who your talking about and I did know about that '72 W1 Swinger 340 Special as well. I did go down to Mission for a visit around 2011, mainly about the '72, but yeah, wow, he's got 'stuff' eh! He just moved from that place in the last year, he must have had to hired semi trucks to move him, haha. Anyway, when I got back to Alberta, I touched base with a friend who was looking for one of these '72 Swinger 340 Specials and before you knew it, he hitched up a trailer and off he went, returning with it. It's now well into the restoration (5th in the works of the 12 found - 1 is fully restored) and, as he's taking his time, it's going to be done right.
Oh, and thanks for sourcing that clip from Canadian Pickers and their encounter with D.G. and his Mopar and memorabilia collections - was great watching it again. Thanks. Say, you wouldn't know of any other '71 and '72 Swinger 340 Specials, would you? I see your out of Alberta, which town/city if you don't mind me asking? Cg
Click to expand...

That's our buddy Rod from WhiteCourt Cliff, Kev and I still need to make a little road trip and check out his really nice Duster.
 
Hi Rod. Glad to meet you - here on FABO :)- If you could follow up on those couple leads - at you leisure, that would be great. Ask Danny and Kev, I'm always on the hunt. My brother had a Duster, '74 with a 360 and 4sp, who would make that poor little car just about come apart with every speed shift, and for a 12 year old in the passenger seat, that never leaves you!!! That's why it's Mopar, or no car to this day!
 
Swinger340Canuc said:
Curious if anyone has seen this blue paint mark on their right lower control arm, wondering if this might be an assembly line mark put on to identify Right or Left or some other reason. I never used any blue paint in the years that I've owned the car. Only on the right side.

View attachment 1715023476

View attachment 1715023477
Click to expand...

Got some confirmation on the show GraveYard Carz that these blue paint marks were a factory assembly line mark, the only difference was they were discussing them on a AAR Cuda. Not a lot of original marks still visible but these marks and the coloured marks on the torsion bars were so I'll reproduce them.

IMG_3864_zpsonz4k7uk.jpg


IMG_1781_zpsdwqd1jw9.jpg


IMG_1779_zpse900u0ps.jpg
 
Last edited:
Danny, yup, ours definitely had them too. Kevin applied to mine, nice and sloppy - just like they did at the factory. Remember, if you have questions, let me know, I should have the answer. I know, it's always fun doing the detective work but if your not sure, bounce it off of me/us. C
 
dmoore said:
Ha! Your welcome brother! Anything you need, just say it!
Click to expand...
Hi Dave. Might take you up on this... was your car undercoated? It's hard to tell with your car being black, and undercoating being black.
These '72 Swinger 340 Specials, Crosstown versions - Danny and Joel, your's might be different, but they just had the rear wheel wells and on the front, there was a taped-off swath of undercoating on the inside fenders that went up to where the fender and apron were bolted together - which I have reference for but it's the area behind the upper a-arm that I don't know exactly how they applied at the factory? I know it wasn't the full wheel well, just the area behind. If your car was as described, could you give me some pointers? Would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
 
cliff guinand said:
Hi Dave. Might take you up on this... was your car undercoated? It's hard to tell with your car being black, and undercoating being black.
These '72 Swinger 340 Specials, Crosstown versions - Danny and Joel, your's might be different, but they just had the rear wheel wells and on the front, there was a taped-off swath of undercoating on the inside fenders that went up to where the fender and apron were bolted together - which I have reference for but it's the area behind the upper a-arm that I don't know exactly how they applied at the factory? I know it wasn't the full wheel well, just the area behind. If your car was as described, could you give me some pointers? Would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Yes it was Cliff...J55 Undercoat with hood pad....did your car have the hood insulation pad?
 
Ahh, no, these '72 Swinger 340 Specials from Crosstown Motor City didn't. And interesting that you'd get the under hood pad with undercoating, eh. These had the factory holes for fresh air with the dual snorkel scoop - so needed the air to enter the engine bay. I'll have to do a little more research, but thanks (stand by for more questions, haha. Just got the car back from paint so at Kevin's/scatpacker's shop for assembly). Cg
 
cliff guinand said:
Ahh, no, these '72 Swinger 340 Specials from Crosstown Motor City didn't. And interesting that you'd get the under hood pad with undercoating, eh. These had the factory holes for fresh air with the dual snorkel scoop - so needed the air to enter the engine bay. I'll have to do a little more research, but thanks (stand by for more questions, haha. Just got the car back from paint so at Kevin's/scatpacker's shop for assembly). Cg
Click to expand...

Sounds like your moving right along. Sounds like those cars didn't get the hood insulation pad by default....
 
scatpacker said:
Dan, did you manage to get some of the brake and fuel lines to fit?
Click to expand...

Took me like 4 days to get those damn crossover tubes off and the pistons out of my calipers Kev, then I gave Inline Tube a call and talked with them and shared some pictures to see if the thought it was safe for me to make the few corrective bends and twists. Chuck at Inline thought that I should have not to much trouble and to let him know if I have any problems, haven't taken the time yet to try still waiting for the seals and boots for my calipers then I can put them back together and put the tubes on them and see if they will twist into position.
 
cliff guinand said:
Hi Dave. Might take you up on this... was your car undercoated? It's hard to tell with your car being black, and undercoating being black.
These '72 Swinger 340 Specials, Crosstown versions - Danny and Joel, your's might be different, but they just had the rear wheel wells and on the front, there was a taped-off swath of undercoating on the inside fenders that went up to where the fender and apron were bolted together - which I have reference for but it's the area behind the upper a-arm that I don't know exactly how they applied at the factory? I know it wasn't the full wheel well, just the area behind. If your car was as described, could you give me some pointers? Would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
Click to expand...


Mine just had undercoating in the wheel wells and inside the fenders - to a point, I don't think the outer half of the rear wheel well had very much on it and I didn't take a pictures of it. None anywhere else on the pan except where some overspray hit.

IMG_1847_zpshnpewpni.jpg


IMG_1852_zpsjf35jmfb.jpg


IMG_1853_zpsgwcvtzql.jpg


IMG_1854_zpsqeecbkiv.jpg


IMG_1855_zpsfjtivfgo.jpg


Haven't decided if I'm going to put it back or not.
 
Hey Danny, nice reference pics - thanks. Found and attached a pic of mine... I'm probably going to go with the wheel well undercoating, but will have to assemble a fair bit more before I do so - like the factory did. Lot's of the coating got on things, wiring, bolts from the engine side poking thru, back sides of plastic wire looms, splash shield etc. Not looking forward to doing that (Kevin says I have to do it, haha). They say a good product is Pro Form PF 718 or something like it. Cg

B5-Front-Fenders.JPG
 
cliff guinand said:
340duster, you know your way around the Western Canadian Mopar world, don't you. Nice. And yes, don't blame you for thinking the VIN# was a factory mistake, that's how I got in so deep with these Swinger 340 Special, I had to prove mine was real. Wow, what a ride. Haha.
I know who your talking about and I did know about that '72 W1 Swinger 340 Special as well. I did go down to Mission for a visit around 2011, mainly about the '72, but yeah, wow, he's got 'stuff' eh! He just moved from that place in the last year, he must have had to hired semi trucks to move him, haha. Anyway, when I got back to Alberta, I touched base with a friend who was looking for one of these '72 Swinger 340 Specials and before you knew it, he hitched up a trailer and off he went, returning with it. It's now well into the restoration (5th in the works of the 12 found - 1 is fully restored) and, as he's taking his time, it's going to be done right.
Oh, and thanks for sourcing that clip from Canadian Pickers and their encounter with D.G. and his Mopar and memorabilia collections - was great watching it again. Thanks. Say, you wouldn't know of any other '71 and '72 Swinger 340 Specials, would you? I see your out of Alberta, which town/city if you don't mind me asking? Cg
Click to expand...
The paint is still curing on the W1
 
After Reading your thread I must admit that you are doing a very good job on your car. I love your attention to details. After going this extra way you will keep your car as it was from day one! I will follow your restoration.
 
65dartcharger said:
After Reading your thread I must admit that you are doing a very good job on your car. I love your attention to details. After going this extra way you will keep your car as it was from day one! I will follow your restoration.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the kind comment 65dartcharger, hope you enjoy future posts. Since it's a back to factory restoration it's not the sexiest or maybe the most interesting but these particular cars need to go back to original since there are so few of them, at least in my opinion. Now I just need to get something accomplished.
 
Picked up my bumpers and shifter stick from the Chromer's today and I was pretty nervous about what I was going to receive, there are very few chrome shops around here anymore and they got you by the short ones so the best strategy is to be "REALLY" nice to them and have lots of room on your credit card your going to need it, lol.

IMG_3889_zps366flji2.jpg


I used Canadian Bumper Recyclers and it turned out they did a pretty nice job, the front one had a significant dent in it and area isn't quite perfect but certainly acceptable. More importantly there isn't any detectable grinder marks and are pretty smooth so I wish it wasn't so expensive but I'm happy with the way they turned out,

IMG_3893_zpsk3mvb6ca.jpg


And my shifter stick looks great so thanks a lot scatpacker (Kevin) for giving me one of your spares!

IMG_3897_zpsarqonzd2.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top