1970 Duster 318 with assorted parts, help

[duster318]

Where do I begin... I picked up a nice 70 Duster w/318 as a project car for my son and I.

Seemed like a great idea but driving it one day the brakes went out, to the floor nothing. I found that the front end came from another car, so I decided to pick up some disk brakes from a local auto dismantler who said the front end I got came from a 73/74 Duster and would just drop in.

After some weeks, lots of money at a mechanic the brakes were rebuilt and I went to assemble them. I have a shop manual and it appears that the lower ball joints are reversed, the brake calipers are on the front side of the car. the shop manual shows them on the rear. Is this possible, the mechaic says it will work don't worry, thats when I began to worry.

Does anyone have pictures of how it should look?

Also loooking for pictures to see how the Power steering pump mounts. I think I have the wrong style mount for this engine the water pump goes over the timing chain cover and there seems to be a bracket missing.

I would appreciate any help just trying to get this car back to stock instead of all the different types of parts it now has.

Thanks SM

 

[DesertRat]

Time to find the shop manual for your car. It will be very informative. I got mine at Year One. I just did a disc conversion on my Comet and the calipers go to the rear of the car. It is a common error to reverse them and I do not believe it will work. Good luck with your car.
Rat

 

[duster318]

Thanks for advice. I have since found a web site and got this bit of information:

"3. Replace Front Spindles with donor set, being careful not to mix up the left and right sides
(calipers to the front, steering arm/balljoint to the rear) "

Now I am more confused. Off to Doge dealer in the morning and see what they have to say.

SM

 

[Orionsax7]

73+ disk brake spindles are symmetrical. If you install them on the wrong side, meaning that the calipers would end up in the front instead of the back, there is no harm but you may have some problems trying to get the stock sway bar back on(if equipped).

From www.moparts.com:

"geometry is fine, the knuckles are symmetrical. The problem is the brake hose. Some people have found solutions that work for them but it depends on which caliper you use.

If you don't rear-mount the calipers on a '67-'72 sway bar car, it will hit and take a way some steering range. Rear Mounting is easy...

If you are going to mount to the front, just use '76 Duster Calipers and Hoses, but for the rear, use the '80 volare stuff!"

I did this conversion on my 71 Demon. I used all 73 Dodge Dart parts. I mounted the calipers on the front and had no problem(i had no factory sway bar). They mention the hoses might be a problem but I had no difficulty installing mine. HOWEVER, in order to bleed the brakes, you will have to bleed them while they are NOT mounted to the spindle. When you put them on the front, the bleeder screw ends up towrds the bottom, making it impossible to get all the air out. It took me a while to figure that out. I had to hold the caliper in my hand with the bleeder screw up while my buddy pumped the brakes for me. After bleeding them, I installed them back on spindle. Worked like a charm.

I recently added an aftermarket sway bar from Firm Feel, Inc. (www.firmfeel.com) They make sway bar kits for cars that originally didn't come with sway bars. IT FIT GREAT and cleared the front mounted calipers.

-Alex

 

[duster318]

Alex,

Thanks for the information it did help. Today I went to the wrecking yeard and found two cars similar enough,(I'm told) one a 74 Dart the other a 73 Satellite. The Dart has the calippers in the rear and the Satellite in the front.

So to avoid any hassles I will leave well enough alone and providing the hose reaches OK it is fixed.

Now I notcice that when I unstalled the exhuast manifolds back on there is interference woith the steering actuator,. I guess I am back to the yard again and find a smaller power unit.

SM