The 70 Duster......

Just left a message for the machine shop to work up the price on having either a 340 or 360 built for the Duster. Both motors have been disassembled and cleaned by them already. I ended up picking them up from the machine shop when the Duster project stalled. Mainly because I knew it would give me time to save money for a late model Hemi swap. I spent some time calling around and asking others trying to find a shop that was willing and able to do the swap. It was either, "we can do it but never have", or "drop us off the car without the motor and leave us a blank check". The only real quote I could get was about $25k plus the crate motor. However, I am not willing to spend that kind of money and I am ready to get the car buttoned up.

So the K-member was powder coated a couple of years ago. The rest of the front suspension is at the powder coaters now. The front suspension kit should be in mid-week. Then the shop that is working on the Charger is going to assemble the front suspension for the Duster. If I can get the motor and transmission built in time. I will have those sitting on the K-member and ready so that when the painter gets ready to have the suspension put back in place. We can lower the car down onto the motor, trans and front suspension that will be used. Then I won't have to worry about either pulling the K-frame again, or lowering the motor into place over fresh paint. The rear end was also built a couple of years ago along with the rear springs have already been rearched to factory specs. I just need to order a rear brake kit so that it will be complete when it goes in.