Ky to west Mo roadtrip.

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75slant6

75slant6

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Tomorrow, I take my Duster on it’s first “long” roadtrip. I’ve put about 12,000 miles on the car in the past 4-5 years but it’s all been within 2 hours of home. Tomorrow, we’ll be leaving Logan county, Ky and heading out to western Missouri to the wife’s family. Got new tires put on this week and changed the leaking radiator. Still need to change rear brakes (optional), bleed front brakes and hopefully get some insulation in the doors and get the door panels/arm rests installed. Was hoping to pull the seats and console and install more insulation and my new carpet but it’s been a busy couple weeks and I’m just not gonna get to it this time.
I’m not in the mood to go through St. Louis, so I think we’re gonna go out 60 through southern Missouri, the north from Springfield.
 
75slant6 said:
Tomorrow, I take my Duster on it’s first “long” roadtrip. I’ve put about 12,000 miles on the car in the past 4-5 years but it’s all been within 2 hours of home. Tomorrow, we’ll be leaving Logan county, Ky and heading out to western Missouri to the wife’s family. Got new tires put on this week and changed the leaking radiator. Still need to change rear brakes (optional), bleed front brakes and hopefully get some insulation in the doors and get the door panels/arm rests installed. Was hoping to pull the seats and console and install more insulation and my new carpet but it’s been a busy couple weeks and I’m just not gonna get to it this time.
I’m not in the mood to go through St. Louis, so I think we’re gonna go out 60 through southern Missouri, the north from Springfield.
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Good idea. The scenery is much better on the lower side of Missouri. What your destination?
 
I've takin a few road trips in classic car's and it's the greatest time imo.flew out to Phoenix and drove a 67 barracuda untested all original 273 back to Kenosha wi. Drove my Duster from racine to lacrosse and back and most recently we drove my wife's 50 dodge Wayfarer on the same trip amazing.
 
MrJLR said:
Pics or it never happened. ...just saying! !!!
(Videos are cool too!)

Jeff
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I’ll try to remember to take/post pics.


67dartgtgo said:
Safe travels and keep the sun at your back.
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Keeping the sun at my back would actually be nice! I badly need to get my new windshield installed. Driving into a low sun makes it dang near impossible to see out without the windshield at times.


'73red-duster said:
Good idea. The scenery is much better on the lower side of Missouri. What your destination?
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I’ve driven both routes multiple times and the southern route is definitely a nicer, more relaxed drive. As for final destination, we’ll be going to the Richmond area, north of Higginsville.
 
Heck yeah, Caleb! Sounds like a blast. Carry some protection and yall be careful!
 
Well, I didn’t have the car done to leave as early as I was hoping to, but around 11:30 we finally were ready to leave.
Marge was impressed at how spacious the trunk is.
E73A4D64-5F86-4C70-A1C2-69460DB2D42B.jpeg

Marge was in the car and ready to go when I snapped this picture, little did I know this is the last picture I’d take of the car with all its original sheet metal in good, functional condition.
67E77AF9-A7D3-4B26-A1F4-84752C91F1BE.jpeg


We then pulled out to the end of the driveway and I stopped to get out and get the mail. I made the stupid decision to not turn the car off and put it in gear to keep it from rolling backwards, and instead, pressed the brake and had Marge hold the linelock button as a parking brake. As I was half ways across the road, I heard the linelock solenoid click and I instantly knew her finger slipped off the button. I ran after the car, almost made it to the door but as I reached my foot in to hit the brake, I lost my balance, fell, nearly getting run over. I spun around and jumped up in time to see the car angle off the driveway and see the open drivers door catch the bank, crumpling the door and almost bending it all the way to the fender. I broke down in the middle of the driveway, Marge got out of the car absolutely hysterical since she first thought I got run over, then realizing the damage done to the car. She apologized over and over and was really beating herself up over it (once things calmed down and we both had a few hours to process, I made sure that she knew it was NOT her fault and I’m in no way angry at her or blame her) I backed the car up to the house and and tried “massaging” the door with a BFH yo at least get it where it was at least functional. After awhile I’d give up, go calm down awhile, then figure I’d try again. After 3 or 4 times of doing this, I finally got the door to where it’ll actually close when I give it a good slam. I took these pictures right before we actually left, around 2:40.
0FD23574-F3A8-4299-A15D-A8C789618E5C.jpeg

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I’m pretty I went through the 5 stages of grief already. First it was denial. It literally felt like if I concentrated hard enough, I could go back and do things differently. But obviously I can’t.
Then there was anger. Oh, was there anger…. I split my knuckle open by punching the metal side of my shop.
I didn’t go through much of a “bargaining” stage.
Then an hour or two of depression.
And now I’ve moved to acceptance. While it still makes me sick, it is what it is. I didn’t get run over, Marge is ok, the door can/will be fixed even if it won’t match the rest of the car. It is what it is.

On a more positive note, there was a beautiful sunset this evening.
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Due to leaving later and not wanting to get there super late, we decided to go through St Louis after all, since it’s almost 2 hours shorter.
 
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Sorry about the accident, but don't sweat it. Yall are all ok and that's all that counts. and......what's to match? Just do the body work, leave the filler exposed....a little rust here and there and it'll match perfect.
 
Well, we made it around 11:15. I’m gonna do a once over of the car tomorrow, but she ran flawlessly as far as I could tell!! One obvious thing it needs is new weatherstripping and more insulation to cut down on wind/road noise. Other than that, this may be the best roadtrip vehicle we have, and that includes our 2016 Chrysler 200!

Since posts are worthless without pics, here’s one I took the second time we stopped for gas. I’ve had the LED headlights installed for over a year but I finally wired up the halos/running lights this morning.

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Life...chit happens. Like already said, everyone in healthy. All is good.
Its just like my wife looking over my newest paint job and pointing out my flaw (flaws). I ust smile and say itc an all be fixed.
Then I hand her the DA!!!!
 
75slant6 said:
Well, I didn’t have the car done to leave as early as I was hoping to, but around 11:30 we finally were ready to leave.
Marge was impressed at how spacious the trunk is.
View attachment 1715841815
Marge was in the car and ready to go when I snapped this picture, little did I know this is the last picture I’d take of the car with all its original sheet metal in good, functional condition.
View attachment 1715841810

We then pulled out to the end of the driveway and I stopped to get out and get the mail. I made the stupid decision to not turn the car off and put it in gear to keep it from rolling backwards, and instead, pressed the brake and had Marge hold the linelock button as a parking brake. As I was half ways across the road, I heard the linelock selenocysteine click and I instantly knew her finger slipped off the button. I ran after the car, almost made it to the door but as I reached my foot in to hit the brake, I lost my balance, fell, nearly getting run over. I spun around and jumped up in time to see the car angle off the driveway and see the open drivers door catch the bank, crumpling the door and almost bending it all the way to the fender. I broke down in the middle of the driveway, Marge got out of the car absolutely hysterical since she first thought I got run over, then realizing the damage done to the car. She apologized over and over and was really beating herself up over it (once things calmed down and we both had a few hours to process, I made sure that she knew it was NOT her fault and I’m in no way angry at her or blame her) I backed the car up to the house and and tried “massaging” the door with a BFH yo at least get it where it was at least functional. After awhile I’d give up, go calm down awhile, then figure I’d try again. After 3 or 4 times of doing this, I finally got the door to where it’ll actually close when I give it a good slam. I took these pictures right before we actually left, around 2:40.
View attachment 1715841812
View attachment 1715841819

I’m pretty I went through the 5 stages of grief already. First it was denial. It literally felt like if I concentrated hard enough, I could go back and do things differently. But obviously I can’t.
Then there was anger. Oh, was there anger…. I split my knuckle open by punching the metal side of my shop.
I didn’t go through much of a “bargaining” stage.
Then an hour or two of depression.
And now I’ve moved to acceptance. While it still makes me sick, it is what it is. I didn’t get run over, Marge is ok, the door can/will be fixed even if it won’t match the rest of the car. It is what it is.

On a more positive note, there was a beautiful sunset this evening.
View attachment 1715841813
View attachment 1715841814

Due to leaving later and not wanting to get there super late, we decided to go through St Louis after all, since it’s almost 2 hours shorter.
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On a more positive note, you're not in ICU with a last rites person. Happy Motoring.
 
Well, I do have an extra door I was going to offer to you... However I then realized It's off of a 74' so the inside sheetmetal is different... Unless there is a way to use the outside skin?
 
Cuprum-74 said:
Well, I do have an extra door I was going to offer to you... However I then realized It's off of a 74' so the inside sheetmetal is different... Unless there is a way to use the outside skin?
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Thanks. I’ve got a buddy that’s checking one of his parts cars for me today to see if the drivers door is still good.
 
There used to be a Mopar shop in Lexington. You might check with them. I don't have any 2-door stuff or I'd hook you up since you're only an hour from me.
 
There used to be a place in Lexington, MO called “Harden’s Muscle Car World” they specialized in Mopar parts.

Sounds like you made it up here with no issues. Safe travels!
 
mopardude62 said:
There used to be a place in Lexington, MO called “Harden’s Muscle Car World” they specialized in Mopar parts.

Sounds like you made it up here with no issues. Safe travels!
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Dang! Sucks that they closed! Lexington is 30 minutes from my in-laws, we drive right past it every time we visit.
 
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