Arizona Swinger

[bmaudlin]

Hoping to be driving by Christmas! Send me some info.! Thanks, Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

Managed to get the right door plastic weather barrier installed, along with the door panel and arm rest, etc. Now on to those pesky quarter windows, and trying to assembly everything and not have the quarter windows binding up on the window fuzzies!

Also had the fuel tank show up today! Just need to coat it with some zinc coating and install!

The OEM throttle cable has been on back order for a couple of months, so I decided to use the cable that came with the six pack installation kit I picked up from the dealer. Had to alter the gas pedal where the cable attaches, by making a square hole out of the round one used on the original. Also had to shorten the inner cable about two inches to take up the slack. Works very well and saved me 50.00 which was the price of the factory style replacement cable!

Also had to do some altering on the rear valance. This valance got literally ripped off of the car, when the car was originally delivered to me. It caught on the lip of the trailer as it was being unloaded. Thought we had it correct when we were roughing in the rear quarters, but I failed to install the quarter extensions when doing that, and it came up with some gaps I didn't like. It's being corrected and should be just fine when completed! Ben.

 

[jomoper]

I am amazed with the build quality every time I check out this thread. Keep up the great work!

 

[bmaudlin]

I am amazed with the build quality every time I check out this thread. Keep up the great work!

Thanks!! Getting ready to send the car to the upholstery shop on Monday, for the headliner and sail panel install, and carpet and the seats installed, which have already been re-upholstered. Will post some pictures when the car gets back at the end of next week! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

A few things finished up before heading to the upholstery shop......installed the door rubbers and quarter end caps. Went on smoother than I thought! Did require a little bit of the black weatherstrip adhesive in a few select spots, but not too bad at all to install! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

On its' way to the upholstery shop!! Hopefully will be back in a couple of days with the headliner, carpet and seats all installed! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

Not too much going on this week since the car is still at the upholstery shop. Did manage to rebuild the power steering pump, and have it ready to install once the car returns. Also picked up a 70 Dart jack assembly from one of the members here, (oldcarnut), and am really happy with the condition it came to me. Some repaint on selected pieces and it should really shine! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

Got a few shots from the upholstery shop....was hoping for some shots of the seats, but my driver forgot to take them! Looking forward to getting the car back and getting it finished over the holidays! Ben.

 

[74DartSwinger360]

Lookin good Ben. Wish my car was 1/2 the car yours is

 

[bmaudlin]

a few more pictures from the upholstery shop. Seats still need to be assembled and installed in the car. Also had to use some Duster sunvisors, until I can come up with some Dart ones! Ben.

 

[74DartSwinger360]

You can also use 68-70 charger visor which dont have the corner next to the rod cut

 

[bmaudlin]

tow truck is heading to the upholstery shop this morning! Stopped by and looked at the car yesterday, and am very happy with the work done by the trim shop. Have never seen so many shades of green in my life, but they all seem to compliment! Now if I can get the chrome shop to find all of the seat trim I sent them, I'll be able to finish up the front seat and install the headrests. Will post some pictures later today. Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

back from the upholstery shop....still some more trim pieces need to be installed, as well as the rear side panels, which needed to be out of the way in order to install the headliner. Once the headrest chrome trim pieces and the seat back release trim are located at the chrome shop, we will be able to get the headrests installed. Also waiting on the rear package shelf to arrive, as well as having the windshield and back glass installed, and the shifter installed to mostly finish up the interior!

Then on to the lock-out linkage, exhaust system, gas tank, radiator and shroud, fan and clutch, some misc. wiring, etc. The list seems to be getting shorter! Ben.

 

[76orangewagon]

Again, top notch details....I will be referencing your build pics when I start assembling my dads 70' Swinger in a month or so. I'm assuming that the seat is all the way forward and won't be a problem with the shifter...cause it looks a little tight in the pic.

 

[bmaudlin]

while having an automatic, especially on the column makes for a more comfortable, smooth ride and shift..... there is nothing quite like having a 4 speed stick taking up residence in the middle of that floor in front of that bench seat! Seems that area of the floor must have been made for such an option! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

Again, top notch details....I will be referencing your build pics when I start assembling my dads 70' Swinger in a month or so. I'm assuming that the seat is all the way forward and won't be a problem with the shifter...cause it looks a little tight in the pic.

seat was all the way forward.....later pictures show the seat all the way back with the shifter and boot installed! Ben.

 

[76orangewagon]

Aaaahhh,
Now that looks right. I knew there wasn't a issue, but the pic was mis-leading.

 

[bmaudlin]

we accomplished what I have been dreading for awhile! Not that installing the front and rear glass is all that difficult, I just didn't know what to expect from the aftermarket rubbers for the front and back glass. Have had some real problems in the past with the rubbers not laying down in the channels properly and curling up out of the channels. Either that or the chrome trim could not fit properly. I'm glad to say that both the front and rear rubbers fit like OEM!

Back glass was pretty straight forward. Install the rubber around the perimeter of the glass, install a small cord in the groove that seats in the window opening, use some soapy water to lube and simply pull it into place.

The front glass was a different story. We had to install the rubber into the windshield frame opening on the car first, then put the glass into the lower part of the rubber and then set it in with both a cord and sharpened paint stirring sticks. Set the outer rubber channel into the inner to put a finish seal on the rubber, then install the chrome mouldings.

One other note......you'll see 3 or 4 guys trying to install this glass.....my question to them was when I have had other rubber set glass installed by a mobile glass man.....he did it all by himself! There answer was 'you get what you pay for'! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

Quite a busy day today! Managed to get the power steering pump and hoses installed as well as the windshield and back glass. Also got the roof rail weatherstrips in their final position and glued into place. Maybe I'll be able to get the gas tank and exhaust installed over the weekend?! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

Settling in to do some afternoon installations. Hopefully by the end of the afternoon the exhaust will be installed, as well as the gas tank! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

Got all of the exhaust installed! Have to say when you have a standard transmission and all of the accompanying linkage, starter, steering linkage and lock out linkage on the 70 model, I'm having a difficult time figuring out how you could also manage to feed a set of headers into the confined area on the drivers' side! It was difficult enough feeding that small header pipe into that area. But everything in the Accurate Exhaust system fit as it should, although at times it seemed some of the pieces were not going to cooperate! But if you are patient enough, one person can install the system, although I still think a minimal amount of welding will be necessary to keep things in place.

Installed the aftermarket gas tank, and am seriously thinking of finding another one. It does not fit like the OEM tank.....the filler tube is slightly off, as well as the flanges on the side of the tank seem to be awful close to the tailpipes.

The tank I purchased was steel with no finish on it. Would like to find a tank with the zinc type finish on it that fits better than the one I have. I see lots of them advertised on EBay, but the generic pictures leave a lot to desire. Does anybody have a recommendation for a good, quality tank? Thanks, Ben.

 

[340sFastback]

I bought mine from gastanks.com fits good but its not coated I don't think any of them are. The metal on the corner of the tanks that is close to the tail pipes you can bend it a little to get some more clearance. I bent mine slightly and it didn't cause any problems.

 

[bmaudlin]

I bought mine from gastanks.com fits good but its not coated I don't think any of them are. The metal on the corner of the tanks that is close to the tail pipes you can bend it a little to get some more clearance. I bent mine slightly and it didn't cause any problems.

THANKS! for the recommendation! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

some end of the year work done on the Dart. Got the exhaust installed and the gas tank also installed. Looks like I might be able to get by with bending the flanges on the tank for tail pipe clearance.

Was going to work on new years' eve, but the wife did not have to go to work so we decided to take a 'day trip' to sights in southern Arizona rather than sit around the house! Made it to Tombstone, old Bisbee, which is just a few miles from Mexico (and still has snow on the ground!), and then the ghost town of Harshaw before going to the border town of Nogales and back home. Nice to get out! All work and no play make Ben a very dull boy! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

.....and a couple more pics. Ben.