74 Gold Duster

[Carlb87]

I've been a member since 2013 when i bought my 74 Gold duster. I figured its about time to start a build thread. heres what it looked like when I first bought it.

 

[Carlb87]

First thing I did was a tune up and oil change. Put a new cap,rotor, plugs, fuelfilter and adjusted the timing and valves. I remember the valve adjustment being an interesting experience as I did it by the book with it idling.

 

[Carlb87]

After the tun up it ran a lot better but still not right. I ended up finding the shaft on the carburetor to have to much play and I ordered a rebuilt Holley 1920 for it. it ran much better after that.

 

[Carlb87]

Went to a small car show for the first time with my own car.

 

[Carlb87]

I decided that the flat black roof wasn't what I wanted so I painted it a burgundy brown. Came out a little purpler than planned but better than the faded flat black.

 

[Carlb87]

Took it out for a little photo shoot

 

[Carlb87]

That was about It for the year. Octobter of 2013 my wife gave birth to our first Kid and things got a little busy from there. Poor thing had to just sit all winter.

 

[Carlb87]

2014 didn't sow much progress with the little one taking up most of my time. I did find a set of SBP Rallye wheels on craigslist though. loaded up the wife and baby girl and went on a road trip to pick up the set. almost new tires and nice rings, caps are pitted and the rims need painted but I like them much more than the worn out tires and hubcaps. Really changed the look of the car for the better I say.

 

[Carlb87]

washed her up after driving her to work a few days. I think the baby girl was staking her claim.

 

[Carlb87]

2015. Finally starting to get some work going on. I replaced the rusty old exhaust with a new 2.5" dual kit from Jegs. Put a "Y" in just under the drivers floor board to slit to duals and ran it through 2 Jegs Flowmaster knock offs. sounds pretty good.

 

[Carlb87]

 

[Carlb87]

 

[Carlb87]

Fuel tank ended up springing a leak so I replaced it, the pad, stap bolts, filler neck gasket and the sending unit.

 

[Carlb87]

2016 rolled around and I decided to get the engine bay cleaned up and paint and reseal the engine. This ended up being a few month process for me from January until May.
before

 

[Carlb87]

During

]

 

[Carlb87]

 

[Carlb87]

Decided to go non traditional with the motor paint.

 

[Carlb87]

So before and after

 

[Carlb87]

Just got back from a car show so all cleaned up.

That was about it for 2016 until November when I spotted this ugly beast on craigslist, V8 ac car. I loaded up my wife daughter and 2 month old son and went and picked this up. considering putting in the v8 but for sure planning to swap out the rear end and power disk brakes. Quarter panels are good so will be using them as well.

 

[Carlb87]

2017 didn't hold much for the Duster except for driving it to work quite a bit and working on tearing apart the parts car and attending a car show. I did put a tach in and some new headlights that convert to modern style bulbs and maybe a couple odds and ends. My car fund went to purchase a welder so when I get the nerve I'll be able to replace the quarters.

 

[Carlb87]

Finaly here we are at 2018.
I ended up joining a car club and met a fellow a body lover. This is a replica of the car he had in highschool. It's the white valiant below.

 

[Carlb87]

Decided to finally replace my broken and worn marker lights

 

[Carlb87]

Ended up having to put in a new alternator the old one finally went out. Right before our clubs car show of course.

 

[Carlb87]

A little over a month ago I polled you guys on a rebuild of that rear end out of my parts car and I took the majority's advice and ordered parts. Then I found out that my radiator went bad. It broke the seal on the nipple for the upper hose so it wouldn't hold pressure and leaked. So I mocked up the radiator out of the parts car. It was too rough to use so I found an all aluminum replacement for it.

 

[Carlb87]

I am now working on the rear axle to swap in. Changed the axle seals, cover seal and all new fluid. Cleaned it up and then sprayed with rust converter and painted it. Still have more to do before its ready to go in though.