1970 Duster project in Sweden
This first year I had the 273 set up the same way as it was when I bought it. I just cleaned it up, repainted it and new filters etc. Nothing fancy. I got a S6 to 273/318 conversion kit so I could bolt up the engine to my existing K member. My Duster had the 7 1/4 rear axle with 2.76 open gears. It had to stay that way the first summer. Finding a 8 3/4 for an abody is hard in Sweden. So I shortened the drive shaft and installed everything. Had to make some brackets for linkage and make some trans cooling lines, but other then that it pretty much bolted right in. I bought a dual exhaust kit from jegs that worked swell with my cheapo Hooker headers. Its quite amazing that it was cheaper to buy it from the US even with customs and shipping, then having one maid in Sweden. I don't have the skills to weld one myself. I also upgraded the breakes and cooling system.
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This was the combo the first summer:
273 Commando - 1965
Cam: 268/276 duration and 429/444 lift Hydralic
Edelbrock D4B intake / Edelbrock 600 Performer Carb
Pertronix Ignitor
Hooker Headers
2.5" Dual Exhaust from Jegs
7 1/4 with open 2.76 ratio
727 auto / Shift Kit
245/60-14 Rear wheels
The 7 1/4 axle held up, probably because I had no traction with the open diff. But it was a dog with that gearing and I wanted to go 8 3/4, so I finally found a complete one from a Barracuda. Unfortunately it had an open 3.23 ratio. So I went over it and changed out all bearings and and brake parts and painted it. I then sold the 741 house that it came with and got parts to put together a 742 house with 3.31 gearing and a clutch diff. I managed to put it together and it worked out great. I wanted a 3.55 ratio, but I could not find one at that point. After taking out the 7 1/4 I sold it and installed my renovated 8 3/4. I also ditched the turbo mufflers from Jegs and installed a set of Flowmaster super 44s. It was a way more fun car to drive after this with the sure grip and new gearing.
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