front are 15x7 with 205/65R15's and the rear wheels are 15x8 (with 3.75 backspace) the rear tires were 245/60R15. They're now 255/60R15's (not pictured).
1974 Duster build
- Thread starter Cuprum-74
- Start date
-
front are 15x7 with 205/65R15's and the rear wheels are 15x8 (with 3.75 backspace) the rear tires were 245/60R15. They're now 255/60R15's (not pictured).
66340SEDAN
FABO Member #3649
Looking good
03JeepJeep
It's a hoot!
Nice! Love it!
gerty
Well-Known Member
Do you have a source for the high stall lockup converters?
I will have to get with the guy who originally rebuilt my transmission. But I wouldn't recommend the shop he went to, they welded the weight on the wrong side. I just went ahead and converted the A999 to a non-lockup and used a weighted flexplate.
Me and the wife took the duster on a 1200 mile Anniversary road trip of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming.
Getting at best 17.3 mpg, the worst was 15.5 mpg freeway.
First stop was at Louisville CO. To visit the In-laws.
Here she is at 12,000 ft above sea level, She was burning a little rich but no adjustments really needed. We only averaged 15.5 mpg on this leg.
Stopped by at the Greek Streak in Price UT to eat: (Good food, if you don't mind the wait)
Scenic Highway 191 From Castle Gate to Duchesne UT.
Getting at best 17.3 mpg, the worst was 15.5 mpg freeway.
First stop was at Louisville CO. To visit the In-laws.
Here she is at 12,000 ft above sea level, She was burning a little rich but no adjustments really needed. We only averaged 15.5 mpg on this leg.
Stopped by at the Greek Streak in Price UT to eat: (Good food, if you don't mind the wait)
Scenic Highway 191 From Castle Gate to Duchesne UT.
Sedanman
67-9 Valiant specialist
What push rods did you end up using? I have the same set up and need to figure out what rods to use with roller rockers. Did that A999 trans have a solenoid on the valvebody? I have one and it turns out to be a LU with OD with an 88 casting date. Is (Comp Thumpr Hydraulic Roller Tappet 20-601-9 ) your cam #?
What made you swap out cams?
What made you swap out cams?
Last edited:
Comp Mutha' Thumpr cam was a cool sounding cam but a pain to tune and therefore just barely streetable for me but enough to be a little annoying. I was only able to get 9 lbs of vacuum from it. So the Vac advance on the distributor was nearly useless. I replaced it with a (part# 20200711) Lunati Voodoo Hyd Roller, which in my opinion is a much better cam for a hot street setup.
Stats:
- Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 270/279
- Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 219/227
- Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .515/.530
- LSA/ICL: 112/106
- Valve Lash (Int/Exh): Hyd/Hyd
- RPM Range: 1800-5800
I converted it to non-LU because it makes the trans a little stronger and there are better and cheaper Torque Converter selections.
Also note: A-999's are 3 speed non-OD. The OD version of the A-999 would be the A-500.
The push rods I ended up using are these: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mel-mpr-351/overview/ even though they are shorter than stock pushrods (stock is 6.78" long these are 6.6" long) with adjustable rockers it doesn't matter as much since you can adjust accordingly.
However these are better, stronger but more expensive: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/isk-rn-003/overview/ They're slightly longer however again with adjustable rockers they can be compensated in easily.
However folks, stay tuned for an A-500 update coming soon, after of course I get a rear end upgrade with 3.55 gears or maybe even go 3.73's.
Last edited:
mopar65
Well-Known Member
Just run a Mopar starter, like one for a magnum 360 dodge in a dodge truck.they don't use that part for the starter
Done boss...
I already replaced the dinosaur starter with one for a 1990's Dodge Dakota, fit much better especially with headers.
Naw, you're good. I really do appreciate the feedback though.
Looks great!
Fisho
Well-Known Member
Car looks great! Did you end up doing the a500 conversion?
Not quite. I found a shell of a cancered out 74 Duster that had a manual trans in it. I'm thinking of converting it to manual. Once that is done, the A500 conversion might be done on the wife's satellite.
Fisho
Well-Known Member
Are you parting out anything off of the shell?
Just the trans hump, hood and maybe one of the doors. Fenders are cancered, and so are the quarters. The floors are gone as well.
It has good doors, Hood, trunk lid, trunk floor, manual trans hump.clutch pedal, z-bars (for slant 6) and decent bumpers.
All I care about is the manual trans stuff, hood and maybe one of he doors.
All I care about is the manual trans stuff, hood and maybe one of he doors.
Another update: Still weighing on whether to do an A500 trans swap (I did acquire an A500 trans for 150, needs rebuild), or putting in a manual transmission (I did acquire a rotted out shell of a S6 manual duster but no tranny).
I'm leaning more to the A500 swap.
I've been daily driving this thing everywhere. Averaging 11-12mpg around town, 17 to almost 18 on the freeway by keeping it just under or at 3000 rpm (70 mph).
Best was 17.7, but that was with a 45-50mph tailwind. Go figure, It was on I-80 in Wyoming.
I'm leaning more to the A500 swap.
I've been daily driving this thing everywhere. Averaging 11-12mpg around town, 17 to almost 18 on the freeway by keeping it just under or at 3000 rpm (70 mph).
Best was 17.7, but that was with a 45-50mph tailwind. Go figure, It was on I-80 in Wyoming.
It looks great. I love my A-500 swap. It's really straight forward to do as well.
Cley
Cley
-
