New Mopar fan, 1971 Dart swinger

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Cope

Cope

Fusing with fire
Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
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Location
San Jose, Ca.
Hello all.

I just got this car as part of a trade for my Toyota Rockcrawler. I know next to nothing about mopar or Darts.

I plan on restoring and upgrading most of the car as my new project.

The car appears to be mostly rust free, Some around the gas tank filler neck and minor around the wheel well under the factory chrome trim. The worst is on the passenger side trans hump. There are a few spots where my screw driver went through. Not bad considering the car had three inches of trash and mud in it...

My plans are to build up the 318 with parts that will transfer to a 360 later. I"m looking at the four speed conversion, and a better rear end, New springs, Ect, ECt, Ect,....This will be my first muscle car build so I can use all the help you got.

Some questions I have are.

My power steering pump seems to be shot. My car pulls hard to the right with just a RCH of right input.

Can I just remove the belt and run the power steering system with no belt?

I want to remove the factory trim from the side, What to i have to remove to gain access to the trim nuts?

I'm also looking to remove the factory cruse control, Is it worth saving or should i just cut the wires and chuck it?

My coil "Ballast Block" seems to not be transferring voltage like it should. I see 12.50 in one side and like 6.20 on the other side. To start the car the the morning I need to jump one side of the ballast block to the other side to get voltage to the coil. (I sanded all the connections between the coil and the block).

Thanks for looking and here she is.

My 1971 Dart Swinger.
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welcome to FABO!! about your ballast resistor you might need to replace it. they go bad quite often. if i were you i would replace it and keep another brand new one in the car somewhere, they like to pooch out at inconvenient times. I'm not sure about the cruise control, i'd probably just cuck it but it might be worth something?? hope that helps and again welcome!!
 
Welcome to FABO from SoCal! You're going to have fun here.
 
Welcome to fabo
I would save all the CC stuff I'd say it's fairly rare in an A-body.
The side trim is often riveted on under the rubber strip .
Later years like My 73 I just got are glued on and are simply shed on a hot day LOL ! The emblems typically have a plastic sleeve and can be gently pried out.I've heard of people removing the P/S pump but that's really not the way to do it .look for a manual box and convert it if that's what you want. The drift problem could be an alignment problem . I had a similar problem years ago where when I started the car the wheel would want to turn to the right.It turned out to be the block on top of the ps box where the hoses attach .I had removed it while the engine was out and it was not bolted on correctly .There's several o-rings under it that seal it up I'd check that connection first.
Looks like a nice car I seldom see cars that have the bumperettes on both ends as typically one bumper would have been replaced due to a minor fender bender at some point in it's life .I see Ca. Plates does the car still reside in California ? Just wondering I live in the S.F. bay area Myself .
Welcome aboard and have Fun with that Dart ! :cheers:
 
..welcome to FABO..this is a great place for advice..

..the factory cruise must be pretty rare..

Grassy
 
well that looks like a gull der dang good project.

Welcome to the site. All answers you will find here.

-RPM
 
Thanks guys!

Jomopar

My wheel turns to the right when I fire up the car, I have to use the seat belt to hold it from going to full right lock and grinding something fierce. I'll have to see about RandR on the PS pump.
Yeah The car now resides in South Lake Tahoe Ca. I just have not had a chance to fill out my profile.

I'm thinking about removing the bumperettes... not to sure on them yet.


74 Scamp 360

Thanks for the heads up on the ballast block. I'll see if I can grab a few from napa.


Dose anyone know what the deal is with the disco light bar in the rear window? The guy I bought it from told me it is factory?... But I've never seen anything like it. It radiates out from the center when the brake pedal is depressed, or will do one side or the other with the turn signal.

No matter what I'm removing the ugly POS, I just wonder if it's worth saving in a box (With the CC) or just round file it?

Today i plan on prepping the hood for flat black rattle cans and perhaps remove the door ding trim so I can do the rear stripe.


I need a factory rear view, Dose this site have a WTB WTS section?

Thanks for all the help and i cant wait to really get started on this project.
She might not be the best or fastest build, but She's mine..:love7:
 
I have never seen a light bar like that stock. I would say chuck it. You cab run your steering without the pump but over time you will burn up the steering box as it won't be lubed. A manual box would be a good choice. Welcome to the site and that looks like a decent dart.
 
Some rattle can up dates.

I started removing some of the 1/4 inch of pain off the hood and sprayed her with some black.

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first rattle can coat on trunk lid.

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Driver side view with painted gas cap and no more rusty rims.

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Cope Thanks guys!

Jomoper

My wheel turns to the right when I fire up the car, I have to use the seat belt to hold it from going to full right lock and grinding something fierce. I'll have to see about RandR on the PS pump.
Yeah The car now resides in South Lake Tahoe Ca. I just have not had a chance to fill out my profile.

I'm thinking about removing the bumperettes... not to sure on them yet.
Click to expand...
Cope sounds like the exact problem I had .Good news is it should be an easy fix .The pressure from the pump is mis-routed through the steering gear box making the wheel turn all by itself.little hard to get to with the manifold in the way .Just make sure to takle it when the engine is cooled down. I can't remember exactly how I fixed it this was like twenty years ago, Dang! I just know I had to unbolt the top of the steering box and re-align everything .There's like 3 bolts holding the cover on that the hoses connect to and 3 o-rings underneath there is also a valve assembly that extends into the unit from the pressure hose I think that's where the problem is. Hope that helps .I'd leave the bumperettes .If you remove them there will most likely be much shinier chrome underneath so it will be obvious something's missing .I didn't used to like all the excess trim but items like that make your car a bit more individual. But it's your car build it how you like! If you do take em off sell em to Me LOL !
 
Dose anyone know what the deal is with the disco light bar in the rear window? The guy I bought it from told me it is factory?... But I've never seen anything like it. It radiates out from the center when the brake pedal is depressed, or will do one side or the other with the turn signal.
Click to expand...


:toothy10::toothy10::toothy10:for us old folk...that was a can tire option..and i suspect sold elseware when the third brake became manditory...'76 perhaps ???

..yes, toss it.

grassy
 
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