72 Dart Swinger rescue and revival

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Triple pickle

Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2021
Messages
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Location
Kentucky
Hello to everyone!
I’ve been messing around with Mopars since I was a kid and have probably owned equal amounts of A and C bodies. I’ve been a member over at the C bodies forum for a year or two.
I don’t do any full on restorations anymore but, I still rescue cars from the crusher or the derby or, from just plain old retuning to the earth. I’m a sucker for lost causes sometimes too!
My latest rescue is this Triple Pickle Dart. I’ve made a couple of YouTube videos about it and I figured a few folks here might enjoy them.
I’ve posted it in the classifieds here as well.
The videos show the beginnings of a restoration project and the progress made in less than a weeks time.
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Welcome...cool videos! Awesome the car was saved, it looked really bad in the brush, but cleaned up nice and it runs! Great project and pretty complete, looks way better with all the black paint off the firewall. How did you get the black paint off, pressure washer? The work you are doing on that look fun....and yes it’s satisfying watching the pressure washing!
 
Welcome...cool videos! Awesome the car was saved, it looked really bad in the brush, but cleaned up nice and it runs! Great project and pretty complete, looks way better with all the black paint off the firewall. How did you get the black paint off, pressure washer? The work you are doing on that look fun....and yes it’s satisfying watching the pressure washing!
Thank you! I pressure washed the black paint after scrubbing it with Dawn. That did nothing. I couldn’t stand to look at it so I rinsed it down, and while it was still wet I sprayed aircraft coating remover from Advance on it lightly.
I let that set for 5 minutes and hit it with the pressure washer, which is just a small,cheap electric job. It came off pretty quickly then and didn’t further damage the original paint. After painting the engine I soaked everything in WD-40 to do it’s thing and, make it shiny!
 
Looks to be in pretty good shape considering where it came from. I would drive her just like it is.
 
Just rivit a stop sign in the floor pan :) Speed limit signs work well too.
Who has my 70 duster with the speed limit sign in the floor pan?
 
The brakes need help on this poor thing as could be expected.
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One rear drum needed replaced so I made the rounds with the Mopar guys in my area. No luck on a drum but I scored this cool intake!
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I couldn’t figure out how to bolt it on the engine so I got started gathering parts for the brakes.
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Got the rear on,, waiting for a drum..
Not a big fan of brake work!
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All I need now is Frame connectors,k-frame, torsion bars, 8.75 differential, disc brakes on all 4 corners, 440 engine, 727 transmission, actual tunnel ram carbs and linkage, radiator, wheels and tires, and new wiper blades!
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Here’s the extent of the rust on the floors.
I have this car in the classifieds for 3500 asking price. I’m flexible on that price, and I realize it’s not worth that much as it sets. But, soon I’ll have it ready to drive anywhere anytime.. I’ve went through the brakes with new factory equivalent stuff if not better. I’m taking serious offers.

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I welded a front drivers floor patch in the old girl.
I think I’ll name her Patty. I got the patch from eBay, made in USA for about $70. I must say it fit absolutely perfectly. I can’t say the same for my welds but I went around it with some “peel and seal” flashing tape I purchased from Lowe’s.
I followed that with some gloss black.
I fumbled around and knocked the can over then had to mop it all over the place quickly over areas I really wasn’t ready to paint yet but,,, it’s better than it was.
Go ahead and take a moment to think about how impressed you are as you gaze upon these pics.

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Also, I scored a set of these bad boys that are probably more at home on a Charger but, I love these ugly SOB’s !
I’ve got some new 195/75r14 whitewalls on the way as well. (I think that’s the size she rolled out of the factory on)

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A few pics I took while watching paint dry. I found what I think is the original battery hold down hardware, and some Mopar belts of unknown application and questionable integrity..,

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Correct me if I’m wrong, but, the seat and upholstery in this thing must have been the fancy-shmanciest option available. I wish it was a more basic interior package. I’m probably going to daily drive her until it sells so my solution is a Mexican blanket.

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This just in! Not a “Triple Pickle”!!
She had a white top from the factory!
I cleaned the fender tag with a wire brush and went over it with a red sharpie to help me see it.

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