1974 Duster
OK! Several hours work on the Duster today, some minor nits some major..
1) Adjusted drivers torsion bar 2 full turns to compensate for Mancini leaf springs. Might go another turn, car looks much more level from the rear now. Considering stiff bars, have to mic up the current ones in my spare time.
2) Finally replaced all the carpet in the rear seat area!! This has been an issue since day one with the car. I purchased 3 yards of bulk black loop carpet from Ebay seller vtradingllc. Excellent quality for this sort of work, $12 a yard and they will be happy to send you a sample.
While it doesn't have the stitched edging like the original (which no one reproduces) it looks MUCH nicer than nothing or the beat up original stuff.
3) I'm continuing in my quest to make the car more "modern like" by tracking down rattles and squeaks and making the car more pleasent to drive. While I had the rear tray out (the one over the axle tunnel) I laid down a layer of sound deadner and filled the empty space with insulation, covered the wheel wells with deadner taken from a 1975 Dart parts car, added the same under the "package tray" and rear seat (also from the Dart) and for good measure added a second layer under the rear seat with material scavenged from my 1991 Spirit R/T!
The car while cruising is really sweet, exhaust drone and boom is a fraction of what it was. My next target is the firewall area which seems to be letting in a lot of engine noise while tooling down the highway. RPM reduction will help a lot too when the overdrive gets installed.
4) Added a center seat belt to the rear seat, going to have three kids here this summer! I also have a center set for the front bench too but going to hold off on that option for now.
OK! Several hours work on the Duster today, some minor nits some major..
1) Adjusted drivers torsion bar 2 full turns to compensate for Mancini leaf springs. Might go another turn, car looks much more level from the rear now. Considering stiff bars, have to mic up the current ones in my spare time.
2) Finally replaced all the carpet in the rear seat area!! This has been an issue since day one with the car. I purchased 3 yards of bulk black loop carpet from Ebay seller vtradingllc. Excellent quality for this sort of work, $12 a yard and they will be happy to send you a sample.
While it doesn't have the stitched edging like the original (which no one reproduces) it looks MUCH nicer than nothing or the beat up original stuff.
3) I'm continuing in my quest to make the car more "modern like" by tracking down rattles and squeaks and making the car more pleasent to drive. While I had the rear tray out (the one over the axle tunnel) I laid down a layer of sound deadner and filled the empty space with insulation, covered the wheel wells with deadner taken from a 1975 Dart parts car, added the same under the "package tray" and rear seat (also from the Dart) and for good measure added a second layer under the rear seat with material scavenged from my 1991 Spirit R/T!
The car while cruising is really sweet, exhaust drone and boom is a fraction of what it was. My next target is the firewall area which seems to be letting in a lot of engine noise while tooling down the highway. RPM reduction will help a lot too when the overdrive gets installed.
4) Added a center seat belt to the rear seat, going to have three kids here this summer! I also have a center set for the front bench too but going to hold off on that option for now.