The Great Pumpkin - '71 Duster
Have not been on here much lately, figured I'd update just 'cuz. Thing is - I got no updates!
I will be honest, I have not been doing anything with the Duster lately. I still need to seal the intake to the block but the engine is pretty much done. After that, the rest of the external stuff needs to go on then fire it up and break it in. The trans has been done since the end of summer. I did some brake work when I finished the trans but other than that, there is nothing new to report.
I feel kinda bad about it frankly. See, I bought a truck a few months ago and it's been taking up all my time since it needed a bunch of work. I actually got pretty deep into it, like it became a mini restoration. Had to rebuild the entire rear end including axle bearings, re-seal the diff, all new brakes and lines, an almost complete re-wire, interior stuff, some front-end work... like, I can't believe how much crap I've done to this silly truck in the three months I have had it. I figured it would need some attention but not this much.
I believe I needed to take a step back from the Duster for a while though. I had been working on it for almost an entire year only to have have setback after setback at each step. It was getting frustrating to tell the truth. It seemed like everything I did needed to be completely re-thought or physically re-done after some screw up. I was starting to feel it a little bit, like what else is going to go wrong - everything was just kicking my ***. Guess I needed to put it down for a while and work on the truck to feel like I was succeeding at something.
Maybe it is appropriate to be updating today since I finally got the truck running again. I should be wrapping it up now so perhaps I can finally finish the 416 for real and break it in so it's ready for next season. It's been really warm here so luckily I have been able to work out in the garage comfortably when normally it'd be too cold.
I guess sometimes there are low points during car projects where the work stops and you take a break for a while. Maybe it helps to gain a little bit of a different perspective and come back with some new fire.
What I won't do is start piling things up on the car. Or pirate parts to use on the truck. (there have been a few instances where I could have but didn't) I also won't compromise anything just to get it done.
Forever on jack stands.
I am starting to rust.
What lies underneath.
More to come.
Have not been on here much lately, figured I'd update just 'cuz. Thing is - I got no updates!
I will be honest, I have not been doing anything with the Duster lately. I still need to seal the intake to the block but the engine is pretty much done. After that, the rest of the external stuff needs to go on then fire it up and break it in. The trans has been done since the end of summer. I did some brake work when I finished the trans but other than that, there is nothing new to report.
I feel kinda bad about it frankly. See, I bought a truck a few months ago and it's been taking up all my time since it needed a bunch of work. I actually got pretty deep into it, like it became a mini restoration. Had to rebuild the entire rear end including axle bearings, re-seal the diff, all new brakes and lines, an almost complete re-wire, interior stuff, some front-end work... like, I can't believe how much crap I've done to this silly truck in the three months I have had it. I figured it would need some attention but not this much.
I believe I needed to take a step back from the Duster for a while though. I had been working on it for almost an entire year only to have have setback after setback at each step. It was getting frustrating to tell the truth. It seemed like everything I did needed to be completely re-thought or physically re-done after some screw up. I was starting to feel it a little bit, like what else is going to go wrong - everything was just kicking my ***. Guess I needed to put it down for a while and work on the truck to feel like I was succeeding at something.
Maybe it is appropriate to be updating today since I finally got the truck running again. I should be wrapping it up now so perhaps I can finally finish the 416 for real and break it in so it's ready for next season. It's been really warm here so luckily I have been able to work out in the garage comfortably when normally it'd be too cold.
I guess sometimes there are low points during car projects where the work stops and you take a break for a while. Maybe it helps to gain a little bit of a different perspective and come back with some new fire.
What I won't do is start piling things up on the car. Or pirate parts to use on the truck. (there have been a few instances where I could have but didn't) I also won't compromise anything just to get it done.
Forever on jack stands.
I am starting to rust.
What lies underneath.
More to come.