Arthur’s Duster
I didn't notice this right away but the car has had a spring relocation. I am sure this was done before Arthur owned the car because he had planned on using the 14X5.5 and 14X6.5 Rallye wheels.
Interestingly enough, whoever did it kept the stock location leaf spring pads on the housing so now it has 4 leaf pads. Also, when you do a leaf spring location you cannot run the exhaust like the factory did and mini-tubbing usually accompanies a full inboard spring relocation. Arthur had bought this exhaust, ?Accurate?, and was pretty proud of it. He was really excited when he told me he found factory bent exhaust pipes and that he could use OEM style tips. This is something I remember well.
It turns out that this was right at the end and he had a "hole in the wall" muffler and wheels shop put the pipes on. They put them on while it was on a lift and let her down and loaded the suspension. When the weight of the car came down on the leaf springs they pinched the new pipes between the gas tank and the leaves on the right side. Left side is fine. I don't think Arthur ever caught this and I don't think the muffler shop would have told him. When they had the car they knew he was sick and I was buying it.
Some of you may remember a thread I posted that went on for days about buying an 8 3/4 rear to replace this 8 1/4. One of the reasons I wanted to replace the 8 1/4 was to do the 3/4" - 1/2" MP or Doctor Diff spring relocation and I would need to move the spring pads. If I did it with this 8 1/4 that would make for 3 times pads were welded on these tubes. It also needs a gear change.
I found a 3.23 geared 8 3/4, from a member here, at a local swap meet as a rebuilder. Turns out the only thing salvageable was the 489 case, pinion snubber, and the brake backing plates. I won't go into how I think the guy knew this was not a good rebuilder and intentionally left out the fact that the rear had been exposed to the elements for a long long time!
Anyway, I am going to have a C-body housing cut down and build this 489 case up. I will do the Dr Diff 1/2" relocation. The exhaust pipe is salvageable and there is only a small dent in the gas tank.
Arthur wanted this car to be original and loved that it is numbers matching so the only deviation from the factory components will be things that could have been available in 1973. He would have stuck with the 8 1/4 but it's a single leg and the gears are 2.71 (IIRC), it has four leaf spring pads, and I do want to maximize the rear tire width.
I didn't notice this right away but the car has had a spring relocation. I am sure this was done before Arthur owned the car because he had planned on using the 14X5.5 and 14X6.5 Rallye wheels.
Interestingly enough, whoever did it kept the stock location leaf spring pads on the housing so now it has 4 leaf pads. Also, when you do a leaf spring location you cannot run the exhaust like the factory did and mini-tubbing usually accompanies a full inboard spring relocation. Arthur had bought this exhaust, ?Accurate?, and was pretty proud of it. He was really excited when he told me he found factory bent exhaust pipes and that he could use OEM style tips. This is something I remember well.
It turns out that this was right at the end and he had a "hole in the wall" muffler and wheels shop put the pipes on. They put them on while it was on a lift and let her down and loaded the suspension. When the weight of the car came down on the leaf springs they pinched the new pipes between the gas tank and the leaves on the right side. Left side is fine. I don't think Arthur ever caught this and I don't think the muffler shop would have told him. When they had the car they knew he was sick and I was buying it.
Some of you may remember a thread I posted that went on for days about buying an 8 3/4 rear to replace this 8 1/4. One of the reasons I wanted to replace the 8 1/4 was to do the 3/4" - 1/2" MP or Doctor Diff spring relocation and I would need to move the spring pads. If I did it with this 8 1/4 that would make for 3 times pads were welded on these tubes. It also needs a gear change.
I found a 3.23 geared 8 3/4, from a member here, at a local swap meet as a rebuilder. Turns out the only thing salvageable was the 489 case, pinion snubber, and the brake backing plates. I won't go into how I think the guy knew this was not a good rebuilder and intentionally left out the fact that the rear had been exposed to the elements for a long long time!
Anyway, I am going to have a C-body housing cut down and build this 489 case up. I will do the Dr Diff 1/2" relocation. The exhaust pipe is salvageable and there is only a small dent in the gas tank.
Arthur wanted this car to be original and loved that it is numbers matching so the only deviation from the factory components will be things that could have been available in 1973. He would have stuck with the 8 1/4 but it's a single leg and the gears are 2.71 (IIRC), it has four leaf spring pads, and I do want to maximize the rear tire width.