1972 Duster , starting to tear into the build

[72dustervs]

Getting more done , got my 340 from a friend and tore it down and sent block in to machine shop to be checked out , also leaf springs from ESPO finally arrived , after 2 months , will be pulling old rear out soon and installing the new 8 3/4 posi with new springs very soon ,,as soon as block checks out and find out bore needed for new pistons , then I have x-heads that have been sitting for many years , will have them checked ,

 

[72dustervs]

Block is a 73 so may look at a forged crankshaft perhaps , unsure yet , want to find a six pack intake, money in short supply lol

 

[Captainkirk]

Block is a 73 so may look at a forged crankshaft perhaps , unsure yet , want to find a six pack intake, money in short supply lol

Forget that, then...six pack inductions running $2500.00 and up these days...even for scroaty old ones needing complete rebuild.

 

[72dustervs]

Forget that, then...six pack inductions running $2500.00 and up these days...even for scroaty old ones needing complete rebuild.

Yea there getting ridiculous but just look for now , nothing comes along in reason will shift to something different

 

[72dustervs]

Got the old rear end out , now cleaning an painting underneath before getting new one installed

 

[72dustervs]

Held off installing new trunk pan until get the new rear end installed , welded on some areas in rear wheel well as couple small places needed attention , got to do some cleaning under neath and get some por-15 applied on the bottom side , rear frame rails look solid and overall solid underneath , only replacing drivers pan and installing 4spd hump

 

[Captainkirk]

You are hammering this thing! Keep the ball in play!

 

[Wvbuzzmaster]

72Dustervs, you are knocking this out nicely. Any chance you know what shade of green your Duster was repainted over the original puke green? Only reason I ask is my 72 Duster is painted the exact same green over the exact same puke green... lol. See a pic below. Are you planning to keep that same green?

 

[72dustervs]

72Dustervs, you are knocking this out nicely. Any chance you know what shade of green your Duster was repainted over the original puke green? Only reason I ask is my 72 Duster is painted the exact same green over the exact same puke green... lol. See a pic below. Are you planning to keep that same green?

View attachment 1715717699

No I dont know what it was called

 

[Wvbuzzmaster]

No I dont know what it was called View attachment 1715717725

I find it quite interesting that two 1972 Dusters in factory puke green were repainted the exact same shade of a different non Mopar green. Two people with good taste for sure. What is your end color goal for your Duster?

 

[72dustervs]

And no not staying green , unsure yet , but I installed a fold down seat and using bucket seats , thinking of white seats with black carpet and that setup inside , may go with a nice Red with white stripe if so ,, but haven't ruled out a nice yellow exterior black stripe and black out interior , still debating this lol

 

[Wvbuzzmaster]

Ah yes, the greatest debate of color. I ended up going full black interior with black buckets in mine. Going to keep the same green on mine and try to match it later if I ever do the body work it deserves... let’s just say I can hang the trouble light from the rocker panels when working under the car up on the lift lol.

I actually prefer this non Mopar green, gets a lot of comments!

 

[mpgmike]

Could have been an Earl Schribe standard color of green.

 

[oldpunko77]

Did you saved the old package tray? It has

Just starting to tear into the build , have most interior out but still need to pull dash , but going to install hardware for a folding seat first and finish up drivers floor an weld in 4 spd hump later today I hope

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Did you saved the old package tray it has serial number vin number to match all the numbers.

 

[72dustervs]

Did you saved the old package tray? It has

Did you saved the old package tray it has serial number vin number to match all the numbers.

No that's long ago scrap metal

 

[72dustervs]

Well small progress , have rear floor back to trunk cleaned up and rust preventive paint and the new 8 3/4 rear and new espo springs installed , had to order lower shock mounts that I neglected to get before now but progress is progress , and the old magnum 500 wheels from my challenger have a use for awhile until I get some new wheels,,might sell the magnums after that

 

[Captainkirk]

Looking good!

 

[challengergary]

Could have been an Earl Schribe standard color of green.

Was thinking something similar. It was probably one of the factory pack shades of green available at the body shop/paint store at the time.

 

[72dustervs]

Finally got trunk floor welded in with new extensions also rear quarters patched , today will be doing tail panel , have to tweak a little on passenger side as I pulled lower quarter in tight down low but shouldn't be to much trouble as its the only area to tweak , everything else lined up good

 

[72dustervs]

Things to try an get done today , front lower quarter on passenger side has an issue as well as just under rear of door on rocker has an area , nothing to big will just graphed in a patch for both areas , drivers side was clean just small crease in front of rear quarter behind door ,,also will be repairing the mount for trunk latch , its will be easy as its only lower areas to repair , going to use metal plate little thicker than sheet metal , also hope to get tail light mounts welded in today , if I get all this today then from doors back will be done , amazingly the rear window area is very clean and may not even pull glass , seal looks good and just cant decide if I should remove or not , part of me wants to but would be a waste as solid as it looks, guess I need to see if glass will clean up an look good, if not then I will order new glass , from there I will focus on drivers floor pan an 4spd hump next week and cleaning underneath the pans an coat with por-15 , then I will be left to front only firewall forward and converting the drums to disk

Of course I may get lazy next week and wait for my vacation the week after

 

[72dustervs]

Did get block back from machine shop , he told me it was very rough , had to fix the deck area as it had issues and bored .030 and he said it had been very hot once as the main bearing caps had issues , he had to heat an a knock them with a hammer once to get them to flex back out to seat properly yo the block , fortunately they didn't break , but its all good and he line bored with the new pistons to match and reconditioned the rods and installed cam bearings and freeze plugs , so good thing engine was free ,,new pistons and rings an rod an main bearings were $800 , oil pump an pick up tube and complete gasket set $200 an found a reconditioned steel crank for $400 and machine work was $730 , , still need to buy timing chain and cam an lifters , any recommendations on this ?

 

[72dustervs]

well here is what I cut out , wished they reproduced this area as a patch panel but have never found one,,will hold off patching until I do more prep on the inner side

 

[Captainkirk]

You're making good progress!

 

[72dustervs]

Had to cut little more off front quarter as the bottom was thin as well in that area , but inner part had slight pitting but will clean and add por-15 to seal but will have to fab up a patch as as I cannot find a repo panel for that area , and lined up tail panel and trunk fits perfect so its coming along

 

[72dustervs]

repaired trunk latch mount , replaced both side legs and front plate as it was rusted out out contact points to trunk floor