70 duster: updating, and a no-dough pro-touring makeover
this weeks update is definately more positive than last week.
got my new window in. i had some reservations after reading about the quality of the AMD glass on the forums. but i was pleasantly suprised by what arrived. i had read about splotchy ting, incorrect shape, wavyness in the glass, etc. found NONE of that with my glass. seems a little thinner than the origonal, and the edges are not nearly as nice and beveled, but i only noticed that after really looking HARD at the origonal on the other side. all in all, money well spent. (and yes, i know its really dirty in the pics. i didnt have any paper towels to clean it with that night.)
i also took the opportunity to clean, adjust, and relubricate everything in the door per the factory service manual. the window operation isnt perfect, but its a far cry better than any other time in my history with this car. it was almost pleasant to put it all back together. for the rubber spacers on the bolts that go through the glass, i cut down some vacuum tube that i had laying around. worked great. still need to really test drive the ar and see if i have any whistles or new noises going down the road, make some anti ratte covers for the door lock and latch rods, re-soun ddeaden the door, and reinstall the interior side. but that will wait until after the higher speed test drive.
the etching was a really nice detail. its not on any of my other glasses, but it probably should be.
i also finished the weatherstripping reinstall, gluing, and adjustments etc on this door. still have to do the passengers side the same way. maybe tomorrow, but im only doing one door at a time.
i had no luck finding a good picture of how its supposed to be, but did get to look at a survivor car the other week so i was able to figure out how to fix mine. took decent pictures for reference when someone else needs the info.
and also started mocking up my console ideas. ive been looking to see if i could find a console with an armrest that was the right height and shape to fit the style of car that this is. i managed to be given a pair of 1979 AMC AMX consoles, one with the optional rallye gauge packages. im doing all my mockups and tweaks with the junk one, and will do my final version with the good one if i like it.
so, heres pics.
the shifter hole will line up perfect wheen i do the five speed swap, as that will put the shifter outlet in the center of the trans tunnel. still cant figure out what 4 gauges i would run down there, though. maybe vacuum, AF ratio, oil temp, and nitrous pressure? dunno. decision for another day, i guess.
the leading edge of the console by the dash still needs to go towards the center of the car, but i cannot do that right now due to the current shifter location. i think for this junk console, im going to cut that side out, build a temporary plate to fill most of the hole, and build a side for it around the factory shifter. then all just refinish ans swao in the other one when i do the five speed.
what do you all think?
michael
this weeks update is definately more positive than last week.
got my new window in. i had some reservations after reading about the quality of the AMD glass on the forums. but i was pleasantly suprised by what arrived. i had read about splotchy ting, incorrect shape, wavyness in the glass, etc. found NONE of that with my glass. seems a little thinner than the origonal, and the edges are not nearly as nice and beveled, but i only noticed that after really looking HARD at the origonal on the other side. all in all, money well spent. (and yes, i know its really dirty in the pics. i didnt have any paper towels to clean it with that night.)
i also took the opportunity to clean, adjust, and relubricate everything in the door per the factory service manual. the window operation isnt perfect, but its a far cry better than any other time in my history with this car. it was almost pleasant to put it all back together. for the rubber spacers on the bolts that go through the glass, i cut down some vacuum tube that i had laying around. worked great. still need to really test drive the ar and see if i have any whistles or new noises going down the road, make some anti ratte covers for the door lock and latch rods, re-soun ddeaden the door, and reinstall the interior side. but that will wait until after the higher speed test drive.
the etching was a really nice detail. its not on any of my other glasses, but it probably should be.
i also finished the weatherstripping reinstall, gluing, and adjustments etc on this door. still have to do the passengers side the same way. maybe tomorrow, but im only doing one door at a time.
i had no luck finding a good picture of how its supposed to be, but did get to look at a survivor car the other week so i was able to figure out how to fix mine. took decent pictures for reference when someone else needs the info.
and also started mocking up my console ideas. ive been looking to see if i could find a console with an armrest that was the right height and shape to fit the style of car that this is. i managed to be given a pair of 1979 AMC AMX consoles, one with the optional rallye gauge packages. im doing all my mockups and tweaks with the junk one, and will do my final version with the good one if i like it.
so, heres pics.
the shifter hole will line up perfect wheen i do the five speed swap, as that will put the shifter outlet in the center of the trans tunnel. still cant figure out what 4 gauges i would run down there, though. maybe vacuum, AF ratio, oil temp, and nitrous pressure? dunno. decision for another day, i guess.
the leading edge of the console by the dash still needs to go towards the center of the car, but i cannot do that right now due to the current shifter location. i think for this junk console, im going to cut that side out, build a temporary plate to fill most of the hole, and build a side for it around the factory shifter. then all just refinish ans swao in the other one when i do the five speed.
what do you all think?
michael