racerjoe
Well-Known Member
I do like those, especially the price, but they don't offer the backspace I need/want.
12:05 Garage- ’70 Duster build
- Thread starter racerjoe
- Start date
-
I do like those, especially the price, but they don't offer the backspace I need/want.
racerjoe
Well-Known Member
When I decided I was going to paint the bumpers body color, I knew at minimum I wanted to remove the exposed bumper bolts. After staring at the front bumper I realized I didn't necessarily care for the huge indent for the license plate. I wanted to do something to clean it up. I initially thought of just covering it and adding fog lights spread out (between the bumper brackets), but I finally decided against that. This project sat on hold for a while until I finally decided if I really liked what I came up with. Below is ultimately what will get installed on the car. I should have it painted in the next week or so.
The angles are the same as the grill opening. In fact, I used the recess in the fender where the headlight bucket sets as a guide for the angle.
The angles are the same as the grill opening. In fact, I used the recess in the fender where the headlight bucket sets as a guide for the angle.
abodyjim
Well-Known Member
I agree. I'm planning on shaving the bolts and tag pocket on mine. Digging the cutout is it just for looks or something
racerjoe
Well-Known Member
Mostly for looks, but I'm sure more air will get to the radiator with it. I'm going to put some type of mesh or stamped sheet metal behind it.
racerjoe
Well-Known Member
Here's another small project that I probably spent way too much time on, but the end result is pretty cool. I'm sure just about everyone on this forum knows a 70-71 340 air cleaner is stupid expensive, if you can even find one. I've seen some go for over $500. That's just absurd, especially for my car being it isn't a numbers matching, original air in the tires, blah, blah, blah...
So in wanting to keep the "stockish" appearance, I purchased the oh so desirable 2 barrel air cleaner housing for $20 off fleabay. I figured if I couldn't do something cool with it, I would just be out of $20. It turns out the lid seems to be close to the same as the 340 model and will accept a pie pan. That was really the most important part for me. Obviously I had to make it fit a 4 barrel, and I couldn't deal with the single snorkel. So, off came the snorkel and I open the hole up a bit and made a matching one on the other side. The front also had a rather large notch, which I assume was to fit around an A/C compressor. The 340 air cleaner housings have a "half notch". Instead of making the "half notch" I decided to make it completely round on the front. After all, it didn't interfere with my small A/c compressor. So here it is, so progress photos up to completion. Enjoy!
So in wanting to keep the "stockish" appearance, I purchased the oh so desirable 2 barrel air cleaner housing for $20 off fleabay. I figured if I couldn't do something cool with it, I would just be out of $20. It turns out the lid seems to be close to the same as the 340 model and will accept a pie pan. That was really the most important part for me. Obviously I had to make it fit a 4 barrel, and I couldn't deal with the single snorkel. So, off came the snorkel and I open the hole up a bit and made a matching one on the other side. The front also had a rather large notch, which I assume was to fit around an A/C compressor. The 340 air cleaner housings have a "half notch". Instead of making the "half notch" I decided to make it completely round on the front. After all, it didn't interfere with my small A/c compressor. So here it is, so progress photos up to completion. Enjoy!
mopowers
Well-Known Member
Nice! Where's the money shot if it installed?
racerjoe
Well-Known Member
abodyjim
Well-Known Member
I'm going on the record that I might borrow this modification
racerjoe
Well-Known Member
My bro in law came over to help me install the windshield on the Duster and he came over in his 74 Charger. This is a rust free California car he bought years ago (originally a 318 car), he cleaned it up and made it appear all original then sold it. The guy who bought it put a 440 in it and didn't do anything with it for nearly 10 years. Bro in law bought it back and undid all the non factory appearing items on the 440. Now it looks like it was born with a 440. I'm not a huge fan of this era of Charger, but this is a super clean car and its nice to see them out on the road.
Oh, he has an even cooler car than this, a 70 Challenger convertible, 340 with a shaker hood.
Oh, he has an even cooler car than this, a 70 Challenger convertible, 340 with a shaker hood.
racerjoe
Well-Known Member
I painted the front bumper earlier this week and did a little scuff and buff. Here's a teaser pic. Notice the reflection of my phone at the bottom. Man I love freshly polished black! I should have it mounted up this weekend. I'll share some more glamour shots when that's done.
Just read your build. Great job
mygasser
Well-Known Member
Nice job with the bumper, I'll be painting my valiant bumpers when I get there too. The chrome's not good on them and the front needs straightening so....
racerjoe
Well-Known Member
The car is getting close to being complete, I'm just waiting on seats and wheels at this point. And of course I have a short punch list of small items. I thought I would recap everything about the car since I don't think everything is covered in this forum.
Body:
70 Duster, originally a 198ci /6, light green (don't know paint code off top of my head) and a brown interior.
Body mods:
Shaved side marker lights
Completely shaved and smoothed engine compartment
Front bumper mod as seen above.
Engine/Trans:
360, w/ 4" stroke crank
Eagle H beam rods
Diamond forged pistons
Indybrock heads with 2.08/1.65 valves and larger intake runner volume requiring offset rocker arms (1.6 ratio)
Custom ground Lunati solid roller cam
M1 intake modified for EFI
SRT8 fuel injectors I think they are around 48lb/hr
Megasquirt MS3X with full sequential spark and ignition control
Customer EFI harness made my me
TTI step headers
Full 2.5" TTI exhaust
Tanks Inc EFI gas tank
Tremec TKO-500 5 speed
Centerforce clutch
Pro-5.0 short throw shifter
Suspension/Steering/brakes:
fully gusseted and welded K-member
solid motor mounts
gusseted LCAs
tubular UCAs
solid aluminum tie rod sleeves
QA1 adjustable strut rods
sway a way 1.08 t-bars (*still need to order these)
KYB shocks (these will be replaced with QA1, Hotchkiss, or Bilstien non-adjustables.)
Borgenson steering box
Stock 74 and up front discs (will be replaced with Dr. Diff cobra kit)
Mopar "circle track" leaf springs
8-3/4" rear with 3.91s (I will eventually go to a 3.55 or 3.23)
11" cobra discs on rear
KYBs
Offset spring hangers
Interior:
TMI front buckets
Stock repop door panels and carpet
smoothed dash board
modified gauge cluster as shown in this forum
Custom console as shown here as well
Wheels:
Those are coming soon so I'll share some photos when I receive them. It won't be the ET-III like previously mentioned due to limited bacspaces for the front.
Body:
70 Duster, originally a 198ci /6, light green (don't know paint code off top of my head) and a brown interior.
Body mods:
Shaved side marker lights
Completely shaved and smoothed engine compartment
Front bumper mod as seen above.
Engine/Trans:
360, w/ 4" stroke crank
Eagle H beam rods
Diamond forged pistons
Indybrock heads with 2.08/1.65 valves and larger intake runner volume requiring offset rocker arms (1.6 ratio)
Custom ground Lunati solid roller cam
M1 intake modified for EFI
SRT8 fuel injectors I think they are around 48lb/hr
Megasquirt MS3X with full sequential spark and ignition control
Customer EFI harness made my me
TTI step headers
Full 2.5" TTI exhaust
Tanks Inc EFI gas tank
Tremec TKO-500 5 speed
Centerforce clutch
Pro-5.0 short throw shifter
Suspension/Steering/brakes:
fully gusseted and welded K-member
solid motor mounts
gusseted LCAs
tubular UCAs
solid aluminum tie rod sleeves
QA1 adjustable strut rods
sway a way 1.08 t-bars (*still need to order these)
KYB shocks (these will be replaced with QA1, Hotchkiss, or Bilstien non-adjustables.)
Borgenson steering box
Stock 74 and up front discs (will be replaced with Dr. Diff cobra kit)
Mopar "circle track" leaf springs
8-3/4" rear with 3.91s (I will eventually go to a 3.55 or 3.23)
11" cobra discs on rear
KYBs
Offset spring hangers
Interior:
TMI front buckets
Stock repop door panels and carpet
smoothed dash board
modified gauge cluster as shown in this forum
Custom console as shown here as well
Wheels:
Those are coming soon so I'll share some photos when I receive them. It won't be the ET-III like previously mentioned due to limited bacspaces for the front.
Last edited:
great job!! Your car should be the poster child as to what can be accomplished with Duster born slant car! Lve the air cleaner yo made!!
Great example of hotrodding!!!!
Great example of hotrodding!!!!
That rascal is beautiful!!! I have had 2 black ones, and boy ate they hard to keep clean, but so beautiful! I love the look of those wheels, reminds me of the mini lites. I admit I generally do not like the looks of the 18 inchers.
racerjoe
Well-Known Member
I wanted mini lites, but unfortunately no one offers an offset that would work well on the front. 18s weren’t my first choice but I needed something to clear bigger brakes and wheel and tire choices for 17” plain suck. I’ll admit I was apprehensive at first, but I’m super happy with it. I will need to lower the back a tad to get it sitting right. They are new springs so I hope they settle in a bit.
I love the black bumpers with that black also!!
daves66valiant
68 Dart 340/727:66 Signet Vert 340/5spd: 68 D100
Nice build. Nice touches.
racerjoe
Well-Known Member
Pictures above are the first time the car has moved under its own power since I started this rendition of the car. I have to say I'm extremely pleased with the look. I need to get the *** end down a little so it sits level. I'm also waiting on some brackets so I can mount the front seats. I wish I had them because I would have driven around the neighborhood so I could mess with a tune a little.
I also installed the tail panel stripe ( sorry no pics of that) and cleaned up the trunk and got the mat trimmed around my battery box. Yes, the battery is in the tool box.
I've seen plastic covers for the tail light housing once in my life. Has anyone else seen them? Anyone know if they are reproduced? I think it would clean it up if I could cover the taillight housings.
I also installed the tail panel stripe ( sorry no pics of that) and cleaned up the trunk and got the mat trimmed around my battery box. Yes, the battery is in the tool box.
I've seen plastic covers for the tail light housing once in my life. Has anyone else seen them? Anyone know if they are reproduced? I think it would clean it up if I could cover the taillight housings.
racerjoe
Well-Known Member
I finally received all the brackets to mount the TMI buckets seats and of course the bolt pattern on the bracket that bolts to the floor is about an inch to wide. So, I pay nearly $300 for a set of brackets to allow these seats to be a bolt in and they don't bolt in. FML! I sent the sales guy a note, but I'm not even waiting for a reply. It's nothing a cut off wheel and a welding machine can't fix. Thankfully, the seats are great. Maybe they should stick to upholstery and keep the mechanical things to others.
-
