Dodge added the Swinger model to the Dart line-up in 1969 to inject some sportiness into an otherwise boring compact (except for the GTS). The ploy worked, and Plymouth would replicate the 2-door hardtop in 1971 as the Valiant Scamp. The seller’s ’74 Dart looks to be a cosmetically solid roller whose Slant-Six engine is no longer in the mix. Located in Kent, Washington, the Mopar is available here on craigslist for $2,500, and a 360 cubic inch V8 is offered at an extra cost. Barn Finder Scott found this nice tip for us!
When I first read the ad, I thought this was quite a bargain, a nice Dodge with a spare motor and transmission for low bucks. Then it hit me that the price quoted is for the car only. The tuned 360 isn’t part of the deal and neither is the rebuilt TorqueFlite automatic. The seller is willing to make a package deal out of it, but doesn’t indicate how much the complete assortment will run. Unless I’m mistaken about this, the seller should really clarify.
From what we can tell, the body, paint, vinyl roof, and interior are all good. So, if you bolt in an engine of your choice, you might have a driver after a couple of weekends of work. The seller apparently planned to do that, but “life” has gotten in the way. The mounts for the V8 upgrade will go with the car which the seller may be able to deliver.
The powerplant has no doubt been tricked out as the truck it came out of turned the quarter mile in less than 14 seconds. If you already have a Chrysler V8 to drop in, this seems like a good find. Do any of us see the buyer going with another Slant-Six even those were sturdy little workhorses?
Looks like a great project if you already have an engine and trans. That could be a pretty stout 360 and I wouldn’t hook it up to a stock 6cyl drivetrain. I’d rather build my own engine for it.
Hopefully that youngster sitting on the fender has an opportunity to get in on a rebuild of another car project..
At this price, this would be a candidate for the low mileage 5.7 HEMI, transmission and under hood parts my buddy has-along with an improved brake system-if the six is gone.
Yes the 360 is period correct (?) but will the car be more valuable with it? Only to someone that wants it that way as this won’t really bring the money they have invested into it at days end.
Had one exactly like it same colors. Mine had the 318 and was a fun little car. My parents bought in new and i got in 1988. I added the factory mopar rally wheels
Had one with the slant 6 same color back in 92 pain in the but to put points in but always started
I had a swinger, bare bones 6 cylinder, 3 speed, no radio. I loved it, them my son took it over and he loved it. I,m afraid if I talked with the seller I would go home with the whole thing and then grab my son and say lets get to work! This is going to be the car we always wanted ours to be.
Not a bad asking price for the car body.
A little wheeling and dealing and you can probably take the entire project off their hands.
That’s a Magnum V-8 out of a pickup truck, so the “trick“ carbureted intake has to be there if you’re not going to run the factory Multi-Port Injection.
This isn’t a bad thing as the Magnum heads easily out flowed the LA series heads. The Magnum exhaust manifolds breathe far more freely than any LA series exhaust manifold. The serpentine belt drive also required less HP. So you have More HP and More Torque and better fuel economy. And salvaged MPI engines rarely need the piston rings replaced due to ring wash (due to extra fuel to keep the engine running when the choke is lessens the airflow when the engine is cold).
To complete this swap you will need an electronic ignition kit and a throttle body fuel injection kit with an electric fuel pump and oxygen sensor to make it run well since there’s no heat under the air gap intake to atomize the fuel from a carburetor). You might even want to add an electric fan for the radiator to give you more HP & Torque at the crankshaft.
I don’t see a downside to this engine swap into a lightweight “A” bodied Mopar.
Any squarebore carb will work just fine on that manifold. A new distributor comes with the motor. The only downside to the engine/transmission package I see is no front accessories.
My brother had a car just like this except it was green with top & came with a 318, 2 barrel carb. He drove it stock for a while then rebuilt the 318 with 340 parts. That car would really move! Quite the sleeper that surprised a lot of people at the stop light drag race. Then his 14 year old son took the car out while Dad was working and was showing off to his friends. You know the drill: smoking the tires, burning donuts, then lose control and skid sideways into a big oak tree. Sad end to a very nice car.