Bullseye!.........'71 Dodge Dart, right at home @ FBBO

[Ranidart70]

I have one of those too. The swinger special is identified by the vin number and it should start with "LL23". The regular Dart swinger starts with "LH23".

The swinger special was intended to be a very low option car for a very economical price. As far as I know the majority of them were manual transmissions although the auto was available at an extra cost. These cars came with minimal chrome trim. Most I have seen don't even have the drip rail chrome. They were equipped with a slant six or a 318.

Think of it like when a restaurant offers the "special of the day" at a bargain price to get rid of surplus of an item before it goes bad.

The swinger specials were much lower production than the regular swinger. The "special" trim does not typically add value unless its a very rare and sought after Canadian special which was equipped with a 340. After 1970 the dart was not available with a 340 but somehow a Canadian dealer network managed to order a limited supply of factory 340 cars in 71 and 72 which the factory used swinger specials to fill the orders. Those cars will be identified with the 340 engine code in the vin LL23H2R or LL23H1R.

The car I have is a 72 swinger special (last year of this generation of dart) and it started life with a 318/three on the tree combo and is a very low option plain car which I totally dig because these days plain cars are actually considered cool to many and the low production numbers make it that much better now because these are hit and miss to come by.

We are in the works of creating a swinger special registry. The production numbers of the specials from year to year were a fraction of the regular order dart swinger.

- - - Updated - - -

Great to have you here Ranidart! Good eye on those quarter emblem holes. I'm really glad you brought that up and explained it. I had no clue what to think. I thought maybe someone either liked the 1970 look, or there was a VIN swap somewhere down the road. That didn't make much sense either because the body stampings, fender tag and VIN all match. So what's a "swinger special all about?" Factory color on the car is EV2 (hemi orange), which I though was pretty strange. Something to do with it? And you're right, LL23C1 is the beginning of my VIN.

Again, great to have you at FBBO. I have an account at FABO as well, but i'm so use to chumming around with the fella's over here, just didn't seem right hanging the thread over there.

thanks and I know exactly what you mean ....I started the thread for my coronet on fabo because I have been a long time fixture over there. I am still getting the hang of things over here and getting to know who is who. I need to work on my the thread for my coronet build here on fbbo, Its a 68 coronet wagon. I am just getting warmed up to B-bodies in general. I have a ton of questions because I don't know B-body cars very well. My specialty has been darts and dusters for years. My heart is still very much into A-bodies first but I do think my coronet and B-body cars are just adorable.

Thanks again

 

[Propwash]

Careful Prop . . . she'll be asking you to convert it into a convertible ! ! ! ( LMAO )

LOL! You never know Kahn.

Glad to see you are back at it Will. That is a cool project. EV2? You are going back to that shade, aren't you? That with a black rump stripe would be pretty sharp.

Thanks Joel, appreciate it. Not sure on the paint as of yet. Myself, not a big fan of the Hemi Orange, but it won't be me picking the paint.......It will be the wife.

Hey Will, I know this is off subject but did you ever get a time slip for Skellator?

Only had a chance to run twice this year '69. Last run was at WIR in July. Best E.T. 10.61 @ 127. That was with 4.30's in the rear, on MT E/T's. Hoping to get more action next year, and do some improving on reaction time as well.

prop, glad to see you getting back to sheet metal duty sir! why should we have all the fun,i am looking forward to see your dart in completion stage,we know it will be a top of line restoration,we expect no less from you.

Thank you sir! Going to give it my best shot!

I have one of those too. The swinger special is identified by the vin number and it should start with "LL23". The regular Dart swinger starts with "LH23".

thanks and I know exactly what you mean ....I started the thread for my coronet on fabo because I have been a long time fixture over there. I am still getting the hang of things over here and getting to know who is who. I need to work on my the thread for my coronet build here on fbbo, Its a 68 coronet wagon. I am just getting warmed up to B-bodies in general. I have a ton of questions because I don't know B-body cars very well. My specialty has been darts and dusters for years. My heart is still very much into A-bodies first but I do think my coronet and B-body cars are just adorable.

Thanks again

Hey thanks for all the great information! I really appreciate it Ranidart. Sounds like you and I are about the same, just different sides of the spectrum. I've had a few A-Bodies over the years, but love the B-Bodies. Your wagon sounds very cool, and '68's are a great year for the Coronet. I hope you can find yourself at home here at FBBO, just like FABO. The guys around here really are some stand up gent's. Always helpful. Played with my '68 coronet for many years, so if there's anyway I can help, please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks again for the info and we'll see you around the site...here or FABO.

 

[69 GTX]

Great ET !!! Will

 

[Propwash]

Great ET !!! Will

Thanks Man! I had a good friend/co-worker help dial the car in. I had the Cal-Trac's set all wrong, and I had a real tough time getting the launch right, but I learned a ton from the guy during the process. I couldn't believe how ignorant I was and still am when it comes to all the variables of racing. He run's a '68 Barracuda in Super Steet class. I walked away with a slip in the 10's, feeling 10 foot tall and bullet proof......That was until he destroyed my E.T. with his 340 A-Body. That will deflate a guy pretty quickly....lol. I know it's all Apple's and Oranges in the end. Hoping to spend more time with him at the track next year. Like mentioned, I know I need/can improve on my reaction time and 60ft. One things for certain.........very addictive!

 

[BigBlock61]

10's are respectable, don't care who you are. It will be fun to see how fast it is when you learn how to drive it. Was that time all motor and not bottle fed or did you use nitrous?

 

[Propwash]

10's are respectable, don't care who you are. It will be fun to see how fast it is when you learn how to drive it. Was that time all motor and not bottle fed or did you use nitrous?

Thank you sir! Yes...it was all the 512 cubes on their own, no bottle sucking.

 

[69 GTX]

I may have to pick your brain on the Cal tracs as I will be instaling mine very soon. Did they threaten to kick you out for running faster than 11.50 with out a bar?

 

[Propwash]

I may have to pick your brain on the Cal tracs as I will be instaling mine very soon. Did they threaten to kick you out for running faster than 11.50 with out a bar?

The first run this year, I ran the Real Street Drags at Union Grove..I got nicely asked to vacate, but I had no idea what my E.T. was going to be prior, so I was playing the ignorance card in an honest manner. I had no clue that running 11.49 or faster meant roll bar, SFI 16.1 restraints and special jacket. Heck, I though open drags meant open drags...lol WIR open drags they let me run 4 passes, but i'm guessing that's because my co-worker/friend knows all the folks at the track real well, and I was there more for dialing in & not really competition. Kinda torn, cause I like running the car, but I do not wan't any sort of roll bar and 5 point harness in the car. I don't mind the cut off switch, driveshaft loop and SFI flywheel being on the car. So it's either going to be me ditching the drag's and being happy with the current E.T.'s, or make the leap to be on the heavier side of drag, with my street/strip car.

 

[69 GTX]

That's kinda why I stuck with the 440 theme, I want to race it quite often and am trying to get it to run the 11.50 # I didn't want a bar in mine either. I do know IHRA tracks are a lot more lax than the NHRA boys.

 

[Ranidart70]

according to my book I use to reference (standard catalog of Chrysler) in 1971.....

the dart swinger LH23 (2 door hardtop) production total = 102,480

The swinger special LL23 (2 door hardtop)production total = 13,485

Yea ......you see what you are dealing with here.

 

[747mopar]

Pretty impressive numbers Prop, I'd be pretty proud of that too. I've got a couple buddies that are always trying to get me to go to the drags with them but I think that's one can I'd rather leave unopened (money pit)......... I'd be embarrassed anyhow.

 

[Gpuller]

Good to see the progress on the Dart!

Nice "440 Six Barrel" banner on the wall. Good to see it displayed proudly!

 

[satman72]

Funny thing, I was about to start reading "War and Peace" but I think I'll just follow this thread instead. Way to go Will, here comes another 100 pages!!!!

 

[Propwash]

That's kinda why I stuck with the 440 theme, I want to race it quite often and am trying to get it to run the 11.50 # I didn't want a bar in mine either. I do know IHRA tracks are a lot more lax than the NHRA boys.

Decisions decisions eh?

according to my book I use to reference (standard catalog of Chrysler) in 1971.....

the dart swinger LH23 (2 door hardtop) production total = 102,480

The swinger special LL23 (2 door hardtop)production total = 13,485

Yea ......you see what you are dealing with here.

Wow...Thanks Ranidart! Did the dart specials have a swinger emblem anywhere? I don't see any holes in the quarter for that.

Pretty impressive numbers Prop, I'd be pretty proud of that too. I've got a couple buddies that are always trying to get me to go to the drags with them but I think that's one can I'd rather leave unopened (money pit)......... I'd be embarrassed anyhow.

You'd have absolutely zero to be embarrassed about Dev. I'm sure a lot of folks would love to watch your Dodge motivate down the track. But you're right, open that door and you're going to want faster and faster. Heck, even if you tag along and don't race, it's just cool checking out everyone else's rides and ideas.

Good to see the progress on the Dart!

Nice "440 Six Barrel" banner on the wall. Good to see it displayed proudly!

You bet Reed! Plenty of compliments on it as well. Looks awesome!

Funny thing, I was about to start reading "War and Peace" but I think I'll just follow this thread instead. Way to go Will, here comes another 100 pages!!!!

LMAO!! Don't think I have enough rust on this one to make 100 pages amigo. Of course I could sponsor some pretty in depth posts on cleaning terminal connector's and valve stem comparison's, to fatten up the thread a bit...lol

Should find some time in this long holiday weekend to keep pegging away at spot welds. Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and find plenty of time to spend with your family and friends.

 

[Ranidart70]

Wow...Thanks Ranidart! Did the dart specials have a swinger emblem anywhere? I don't see any holes in the quarter for that.

the "special" emblem goes on the fenders.......the reason they put the "dart" emblem on the 1/4 is because it would simply be too crowded on the fender to have "dart" "Swinger" and "special" all together. On a regular order dart swinger (LH23) would have "dart swinger" on the fender and nothing on the 1/4 for 71+

I will warn that the "special" emblem is extremely difficult to find, even I have been on multiple treasure hunts after that emblem. There is supposed to be a cat in Arizona who supposedly has a stock of N.O.S. ones ....if I manage to hunt him down I will definitely share.

This is a pic from my car to show what you are looking at.

 

[tallhair]

Only had a chance to run twice this year '69. Last run was at WIR in July. Best E.T. 10.61 @ 127. That was with 4.30's in the rear, on MT E/T's. Hoping to get more action next year, and do some improving on reaction time as well.



Thank you sir! Going to give it my best shot!

Damn that's fast Will. Congratulations!

 

[daytona kid]

Just now looked at this thread.. Kinda like the 71 Dart, very nice.. I've got a bud with one that was his dad's street/stripper and has been sitting for about 20+ years. He wants me to help get it going again. I'm looking forward to that now since this thread fired me up.. Btw it looks like this red one at the first of this thread, very cool!

 

[tallhair]

View attachment 223250

the "special" emblem goes on the fenders.......the reason they put the "dart" emblem on the 1/4 is because it would simply be too crowded on the fender to have "dart" "Swinger" and "special" all together. On a regular order dart swinger (LH23) would have "dart swinger" on the fender and nothing on the 1/4 for 71+

I will warn that the "special" emblem is extremely difficult to find, even I have been on multiple treasure hunts after that emblem. There is supposed to be a cat in Arizona who supposedly has a stock of N.O.S. ones ....if I manage to hunt him down I will definitely share.

This is a pic from my car to show what you are looking at.

Thanks for sharing Raini .. I never knew the significance of the "special" badges although I've seen a few with that on them

 

[Propwash]

View attachment 223250

the "special" emblem goes on the fenders.......the reason they put the "dart" emblem on the 1/4 is because it would simply be too crowded on the fender to have "dart" "Swinger" and "special" all together. On a regular order dart swinger (LH23) would have "dart swinger" on the fender and nothing on the 1/4 for 71+

I will warn that the "special" emblem is extremely difficult to find, even I have been on multiple treasure hunts after that emblem. There is supposed to be a cat in Arizona who supposedly has a stock of N.O.S. ones ....if I manage to hunt him down I will definitely share.

This is a pic from my car to show what you are looking at.

Hey thanks again for the great info Ranidart! You're one heck of a good resource for info on these cars. I really do appreciate all the great info!

Damn that's fast Will. Congratulations!

Thanks Man! Sucks I already had to put the bird to bed for the winter, she's an absolute blast to drive. I've come up with some of the most ridiculous excuses just to fire it up and cruise into town.

Just now looked at this thread.. Kinda like the 71 Dart, very nice.. I've got a bud with one that was his dad's street/stripper and has been sitting for about 20+ years. He wants me to help get it going again. I'm looking forward to that now since this thread fired me up.. Btw it looks like this red one at the first of this thread, very cool!

Thanks Kid. Been sold on the B-Bodies most my life, but always had a soft spot for the late 60's to early 70's Dart's. I probably wont be saying that by the time I get done skim coating and blocking the 4 body lines down the sides..lol Hope you and your buddy have a good time bringing his back, and can't wait to see your Charger rolling down the street!

BTW......That Dart looks awesome in Red!!

 

[Propwash]

Well.........I officially have a Dart Special with one heck of a Special Sun Roof option now....



Finally weeded through all the spot welds. Seen some of you other fella's have issues with the Blair Spot Weld Cutters, but mine keep cutting holes through rotten panels like a champ. Don't know if it's because I always use a lot of the Rotabroach lube & machining oil, or just getting lucky. Either way, after drilling out a good hundred of them, i'm quite sick of looking at them.







So on deck for tomorrow is, have a little bit of fun dicing the old roof up into bite size pieces with the plasma cutter. After that i'll be dragging the donor roof inside, so I can start this wonderful process all over again.