Finally getting to it!!! 1970 Duster 340

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I received notice from Carlisle events that my car was not accepted for display at the Chrysler's National. Seems that I got my application in to late. All building spots have been filled. I'm OK with that as I was feeling a lot of pressure to get things ready for the show. I will enter the Duster for invitation next year and plan on showing her whether I get an invitation or if I will need to show her out on the field.
 
FJRdoc said:
I received notice from Carlisle events that my car was not accepted for display at the Chrysler's National. Seems that I got my application in to late. All building spots have been filled. I'm OK with that as I was feeling a lot of pressure to get things ready for the show. I will enter the Duster for invitation next year and plan on showing her whether I get an invitation or if I will need to show her out on the field.
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Put her on the show field??
 
I'm only going to be able to go on Friday. If I put her on the field, my brother and I won't be able to check out all the vendors and spaces.
 
FJRdoc said:
I received notice from Carlisle events that my car was not accepted for display at the Chrysler's National. Seems that I got my application in to late. All building spots have been filled. I'm OK with that as I was feeling a lot of pressure to get things ready for the show. I will enter the Duster for invitation next year and plan on showing her whether I get an invitation or if I will need to show her out on the field.
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same / same with the freshly restored Butch Leal / California Flash / Direct Connection B/MP Hemi Duster. Easily completed by then, it wasn't in their cards for this year. I hope it works out for all next year.

For us, I'm heading to Good Guys in Columbus, Ohio that weekend. one door closes, another opens.....life is that way and I love every minute of it.
 
yes, only a couple hours away..... but the downside, you won't be there.
:)
 
Finally got the windshield and back glass fully installed on Friday. The installer had troubles with getting the lower trim piece to snap on the clips. In the end, he actually had to remove the windshield and install new clips to finish the job.
I'm in the process of getting the front end aligned. I'm decided to try doing the alignment myself. It's taking me longer than I expected to get my numbers dialed in. Fortunately, some other FABO members are trying to help me out on another thread.
I received my Antique registration for the car this weekend. This will allow me to use my 1970 PA tag.
 
Haven't updated my thread in a while so I thought I would have a cup of coffee and do it this morning. I finally was able to get the front suspension aligned with my home made slip plates. I still might tweak the numbers a little bit more after I drive her a little bit. I should finish restoring my front Rallye trim rings this weekend. I got all the dings out and now in the process of buffing.
The other weekend, I decided that my wife and I should take her for a maiden voyage to the local ice cream shop. Unfortunately, the 727 makes no power in reverse and doesn't upshift out of first. I contacted the man who rebuilt the transmission and came over with a flatbed to pick the car up last week. Hopefully, she'll be back home and ready to run around town soon.
 
That's unfortunate about the transmission. I hate setbacks. I hope he gets you back on your feet soon!
 
Today was a big day. I talked to my transmission man yesterday and he told me that my car was finished. My wife and I drove over to York, PA to bring the Duster back home. I put 34 miles on the old girl to get her back to my house. I still have a couple bugs to iron out but overall the trip was good.....but I must say I was very nervous.
I still have some tweeking to do on the front suspension. I stopped at a local gas station to tank up. When the gas nozzle shut off, I had gas spewing from the filler neck/ gas tank seal. Once the gas drained beyond the filler neck all was good. Not environmentally friendly but it is what it is.
 
I’m still working on bugs a year later Kevin, the first time I filled mine up when I got home it was leaking gas all over the floor as well, turned out it was the rubber gasket that seals the sending unit. You’ll get there eventually.
 
FJRdoc said:
Today was a big day. I talked to my transmission man yesterday and he told me that my car was finished. My wife and I drove over to York, PA to bring the Duster back home. I put 34 miles on the old girl to get her back to my house. I still have a couple bugs to iron out but overall the trip was good.....but I must say I was very nervous.
I still have some tweaking to do on the front suspension. I stopped at a local gas station to tank up. When the gas nozzle shut off, I had gas spewing from the filler neck/ gas tank seal. Once the gas drained beyond the filler neck all was good. Not environmentally friendly but it is what it is.
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Yay! Great news! Glad you got to take a nice ride.
 
I've been taking some time away from the car. I will need to get the alignment dialed in better but I went to start it last weekend and NOTHING! Lights and radio work. Checked to make sure that it wasn't the neutral safety switch but that didn't work. Did I tell you all that I hate electrical Gremlins.
 
Hey Danny. What was wrong with your fuel filler neck seal? I still need to sort out that issue as well.
PS Your inbox is full
 
I’ll have to empty that box, mine was around the fuel sending unit seal, when I removed the sending unit it all looked normal. The new gasket that came with the tank seamed the same thickness and the locking ring seemed fine so the only fix I could come up with was something I would not normally try was to double up the gaskets, I still had my original one. When I locked that in placed the two gaskets seemed to work and it’s not been a problem since.
 
I got the Duster running again this afternoon. Ignition switch would not work but I could jump the starter relay and get the car to turn over. I crawled under the car to find that the neutral safety switch harness plug popped off. Finally an easy fix!
 
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Haven’t seen any updates in some time Kevin, how are you making out with the last of your gremlins? Looking forward to seeing some pictures and video of it all done this summer. I forgot to update you on what my overheating problem was, it turned out to be the used fan clutch. I had never used one before and it seemed to have plenty of spinning resistance that was until I felt what a new one spun like, so it just wasn’t pulling enough air thru the rad. Hope your making progress.
 
Hi Danny
I've been dragging my heels on fixing the last couple of gremlins on the car. I need to get out in the garage and get working on it again. You have me wondering if my fan clutch is working properly. I did notice that the temp gauge was creeping up when I had the car out on a hot day.
I'll certainly keep you all posted once I get things dialed in on the car. I'm hopeful that she gets invited to Carlisle this year.
 
The COVID-19 lockdown has given me time to wrap up some loose end here at home. I removed the fuel filler tube from the Duster yesterday and replaced it with a Detroit Muscle Technologies seal. I drove the old girl over to the local gas station and filled the tank. I'm happy to report that she did not spew gasoline all over the ground! I'm still trying to track down the source of my electric issue. When I turn the headlight switch on to the running light position, I keep blowing the 20A fuse. I believe that circuit includes the running lights and the cigar lighter. I disconnected the rear light harness, the front pigtails and the cigar lighter and I still blow the fuse. Looks like I'll need to cram my old man neck up under the dash.
I finished another side project over the weekend. I have my first motorcycle...1980 Harley Sportster that I've owned since 1987. Last summer, I rewired the handlebars and did some other things to her. This year, I had the gas tank cleaned, rebuilt the carb, installed new intake manifold gaskets, flushed the brakes, adjusted the clutch and chains. I took her for a ride yesterday. She runs like a champ! There's nothing like the vibrations of an old Ironhead Harley. I'm certain that all my dental fillings are firmly attached to my teeth!

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Well, I am happy to say that I solved the blown fuse mystery. I spent much time under the dash inspecting all wires.....found nothing. I then realized that my problems started to develop after I moved my horn from the lower mounting location up to the correct single horn location. The captive washer for the horn bolt pinched the wiring harness to the right front side marker light. Problem solved! I hate electrical Gremlins but it does feel good when you defeat the enemy.
 
FJRdoc said:
Well, I am happy to say that I solved the blown fuse mystery. I spent much time under the dash inspecting all wires.....found nothing. I then realized that my problems started to develop after I moved my horn from the lower mounting location up to the correct single horn location. The captive washer for the horn bolt pinched the wiring harness to the right front side marker light. Problem solved! I hate electrical Gremlins but it does feel good when you defeat the enemy.
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Thats great news. Sweet Harley!!
 
I really regret selling my 70 340 FC7 Duster in 1993. It had the same base interior only options were P/S, AM radio, 4spd and 3.55:1 surgrip. It was in bad shape needing quarters and extensions, nner rockers and inner wheel housings. Air cleaner and manifolds were missing as well as original Bench seat. What a fun car it was to drive .
 
FJRdoc said:
Well, I am happy to say that I solved the blown fuse mystery. I spent much time under the dash inspecting all wires.....found nothing. I then realized that my problems started to develop after I moved my horn from the lower mounting location up to the correct single horn location. The captive washer for the horn bolt pinched the wiring harness to the right front side marker light. Problem solved! I hate electrical Gremlins but it does feel good when you defeat the enemy.
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That's good to hear you found your electrical issue Kevin and nice Harley too.
 
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