My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head

72bluNblu said
Thanks guys! I appreciate the kind words! Although to be completely honest even my car is pretty heavily based on a few earlier builds, like Steve @autoxcuda 's barracuda, or @72BBSwinger 's "blue blur" Dart. Some of it was definitely a "next step" from my '72 Challenger build, although that one took cues from the Green Brick, and some help from Firm Feel and @DoctorDiff.

That Duster is awesome @JBrian , and it's great to see you getting it out there at the events and kicking ***. One of these years I'm going to have to actually start taking mine to stuff, it always seems like I'm at work for any of the big events though. I may have to paint it eventually too! :rofl:

Not a lot in the update department, at least not in terms of my car. My new shop building has been the priority lately, although that's getting a lot closer. Had 30 yards of concrete put down a couple weeks ago, with a new 30'x42' building on the way. I did finally get around to putting the DoctorDiff 13" Viper kit on it though, so that was a nice improvement in the stopping department even from the 13" Cobra style kit that was on there before.

The old 13" cobra style kit

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The new rotors. Same overall diameter, but

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Much thicker rotors, lots more meat on these
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The new caliper brackets with the aluminum DoctorDiff hubs
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The MUCH larger GIII Viper calipers
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I'm pretty sure for any road or autocross, those 13" rotors will stop with my 14.25" rotors. I do have a Hydroboost as well. A couple of other things to consider with our builds. I'm a little bit older than you and this was my last build. I was green lighted by the boss to do whatever I wanted to do. I assembled this car in my little 20x22 garage over about 2 years of weekends. I did use your Duster as inspiration, just kind of when all in, and added the warmed over 6.1 Hemi, EFISource Goldbox, American Autowire harness, Vintage A/C kit with my own design Sanden 7176 brackets seen above, a Passion 5-speed, flawless body work by a friend in Conroe, TX that is now deceased, rolled all four fenders for clearance, a 67 B-Body rear so I can run modern offset wheels, and the modern Challenger gas cap along with a murdered out triple black V24 rendition.

The car can be driven (like you!), drag raced, abused on an autocross and when I become a better driver (autocross forces you to become a better driver than most couldn't comprehend) on a road course. My goal was to make it look tasteful, and as stock as possible inside and out. I also apologize and don't mean to hijack the best thread on building a tossable A-Body anywhere!

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