1973 Duster - From Strip to Street

[318duster73]

I suppose I'll make this my "Hi, I'm new" thread, too... Well, I'm Alex, I'm 22, and this will be my first real restoration-esque project. I don't dare call it a restoration, because that would imply a return to original condition. I'm not sure I could bear that!

So, not too long ago, I got hold of a '73 Duster that had been mostly stripped out, and converted from a /6 to a 318. Not much body panel rust, but what may lie below makes me wonder.

The plus side: it's a running, driving 318 with 360 heads, Edelbrock 600cfm 4bbl, Edelbrock intake manifold, Edelbrock valve covers, Hooker Competition headers, Magnaflow mufflers, and a 100 amp alternator. Not sure if it's got a bigger cam or not...

The "down" side: original 3sp auto, 7 1/4 rear end, and a lot of interior missing. Most of it, really... Both benches are still there, as is the dashpad, but the front bench and dashpad definitely need a recovering...

Most of the gauges are in working order, minus the speedo. Not to mention all the missing bulbs behind the cluster...

Of course, the poor thing wasn't exactly running, much less driving, when I bought her - A new battery and some carb tuning cleared things up relatively quick... Took me a couple days of tinkering to figure out what needed to happen, but I did an 80 mile round trip in her last weekend, a couple days after towing it home from the previous owners locale! I was quite proud of myself.

So, first on the list of things to get done is pulling body panels, sanding, priming, and, hopefully soon after that, painting. Then the search for a 8 3/4 rear end, and probably a 4 speed transplant..

 

[rumblefish360]

Nice start.

 

[Divenut]

Welcome..and nice project.

Pat

 

[Thunder]

She looks pretty straight. What plans do you have for her? Welcome.:coffee2:

 

[smalblokmopar]

nice car should be a fun build

 

[Dartnut]

Looks like you have a good solid car to start with.

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

Welcome, it looks good and solid.

 

[fanofpetty]

Welcome to FABO! Nice solid car by the looks....and I love dusters, but then I guess I'm a little biased, as you can see! LOL! Enjoy

 

[318duster73]

It's been a while, and I've been lurking, but despite my lack of postings, I've been quite busy!

Prototyped my own gauge cluster, looking for a local machine shop that will put it into aluminum or steel at a reasonable price.

Carpeted the cabin

Installed a Hurst Pro-Matic-2 shifter (much more fun than the column shift)

New alternator, voltage reg, ballast, plugs, plug wires, engine bay wire harness, rewired portions of the cabin (still need to get the cabin lights working. Door switches aren't connected, and my headlight switch gave up it's dimmer function long ago.)

Engine is finally running happily, Fixed some timing issues, purged the fuel lines.

Brakes bled, steering aligned. (Stops like power brakes, steers like power steering. This car doesn't have either one!)

Put in a radio, as the dash was already hacked up for one. Better to have something to fill the hole, than to just have the ugly hole... Playing Rush driving down the highway is always a plus, too!

In sanding down the original paint, I found one more body rust spot on the bottom driver's rear quarter panel, other than that, and the original two spots, it was rust free on the body. The drivers frame rail has some rust through, but not enough to worry me right now, for street use.

Have Duster and Plymouth emblems on the way - Might start looking at MOtorPARts 318 four barrel emblems, too.

Next steps: Tuff Wheel, dash pad and seats recovered, 8.25 rear with 3.55's or 3.73's, and bigger lug pattern(when I get that, I'll pick up some 15"x8" wheels to match the front), kickdown linkage (maybe...), possibly a full manual valve body for the 904. I'd like a go-wing, the one-piece Duster hood scoop, and side/rear stripes, if I can find some in Satin Black. If not, I guess I'll just have to tape and spray them myself, eh? Need to look into a driver side tail light bezel, as mine is corroded somewhat. Not so badly that it's completely unsightly, but enough that one would notice on anything more than a glance. Need to have a body shop take a look at the hood, and repair all the mounting holes.

 

[318duster73]

Picked up an '85 360, mechanically complete, running when pulled, yesterday. Pulled everything I'm not going to be using off(to include a/c, smog stuff, power steering, and the 20 million belts that ran it all), and started cleaning it up. I'm planning to use the 360 head I already have, with the stock 360 intake and Quadrajet, the stock timing cover, MP purple cam, Comp Cams timing set, MP Chrome box, B&M flexplate, eBay oil pan, and an oil pickup tube from one of the local stores.

I'm not really sure if there's anything specially that needs to be done to de-smog the intake and carb, going to have to look into it while I wait on my flexplate and pan.

I'm hoping for a really fun way to blow up the 7.25 that's under the car now, to give me a reason to get an 8.25, or 8.75...

 

[318duster73]

Definitely should have titled this "From Stripped to Street" ops:

Finally got the 360 built and swapped in - Pictures now, story later...

 

[ocdart]

Still looking for stripes? Contact FABO member 'Challenger Gary'. He'll make whatever you want out of vinyl, including custom versions of stock-type Duster stripes.
Oh, and welcome to FABO.

 

[318duster73]

So, over 2 years after I get this poor, rusty creature, there is more progress -

Found some 16" mustang wheels for now, until I can find some flat black 18" FR500's with the right backspace.

Tore apart the front end, pulled the motor and trans, and am working on frame repair.

Once the metalwork is done, I'll be putting in a NV3500 5 speed transmission, and an 8 3/4, all behind a 408. Then maybe tossing a Powerdyne centrifugal supercharger in there, if I can find one.