Project Riddler's Ride - 1976 Plymouth Duster

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Thanks....

I'm in the process of getting estimates for body and paint. The car is ready to go for that and I'm hoping it'll go soon. So far everyone has told me my driver's side fender is garbage and I should find a new one. Sourced one out of California for $140 shipped, rust free. Should help me out.

In the mean time I'm sourcing power door lock actuators and working on power windows. I'm hoping to have that stuff soon.

The AC is ready to go and only needs a few things to be buttoned up when the car comes back from paint.

Riddler
 
Out of curiosity, were these cars available with power locks/windows from the factory? The last Mopar any of my family owned (besides my Neons) was my grandparent's Monaco. And I think it had power locks and windows.

Jay
 
JayinMI said:
Out of curiosity, were these cars available with power locks/windows from the factory? The last Mopar any of my family owned (besides my Neons) was my grandparent's Monaco. And I think it had power locks and windows.

Jay
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Not in any A body. I heard it was an option for the larger cars but I've never seen it.

Riddler
 
Here's the newest update. I know it's been a while but I haven't done much other than buy parts and check out paint shops. The car left a couple of weeks ago as I found a small custom hot rod shop that I really liked. They really only do old muscle and custom paint jobs. In fact they just finished a 67-68 Cuda in order to get the Duster in.

Also in the shop is a 67 Charger with a 5.7L hemi swap. I'll get pics of that next time.

Here's what's going on now.
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They didn't like my small patch panels and we agreed on cutting the firewall out and welding in a full size patch.

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Just some minor body work. The original lead was left but a quick skim of mud over it to seal it and get it ready for tons of block sanding.

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The driver's side fender was way too banged up. The door at one point was out of align and just crushed the fender. This one came from California and is getting chemical stripped and cleaned up.

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Finally this is how the car looks during body work.

I've also now purchased the entire fuel system and brake system. When the car comes back from the paint shop with the engine bay and jabs painted I'll install everything needed to get the car running and stopping and then the final paint will be sprayed.

I'm looking at Gunmetal colours but haven't picked one out of the rest yet.

Riddler
 
The two colors that keep coming to mind are the dark gray from the '08-13 body style GMC Sierra or Chevy Silverado and the darker gray from the 2013 Mustang GT500.

Looks like they're making good progress. Unline many stories I hear of "paint and body jail."

Jay
 
Always great to see progress on this hot rod.....I like the route you are thinking on color
 
Here are the colors I've got that I've seen in person and really like.

Tungsten Metallic 2012 Challenger Paint Code (PDM)

Granite Crystal Metallic 2013 Challenger Paint Code (PAU)

Pepper Grey 2015
VW Tiguan Paint Code (LD7R)

Smokey granite Mica 2014
Lexus IS300 Paint Code (1G0)

I'm still not sure which one it'll be yet.

Riddler
 
PDM is what my stripe color is...I went through mostly all of those colors you mentioned trying to decide..looking forward to your selection.
 

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Lol you might of just took PDM out of the line up. Lol. I've been told already I'm copying you as it is.

Riddler
 
Great job Riddler. Love how well your documenting and sharing photos if how you keep track of things. Wish I would have used plastic baggies and a sharpie when I disassembled my instrument cluster and dash..my pie tin worked till I knocked it over! That car is going to be AWESOME...love the hood scoop and shifter-keep it coming!
 
Riddler said:
Lol you might of just took PDM out of the line up. Lol. I've been told already I'm copying you as it is.Riddler
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I think that would look nice on the whole car. Mine going to be Pitch black with the Mineral Grey(PDM) accent stripe outlined with a 1/8" viper red pinstripe. Keeping it a Mopar colors.
 
i found your build on protouringmopars.com. looked over the whole build. i also noticed that you are the riddler from neons.org as well lol. i grew up on that forum. i hardly ever go on that site now but it is really cool to see someone from that site building a new project. your neon was always so clean and this duster is looking to be the same. loving the build. can not wait to see the finished product.
 
jw97neon said:
i found your build on protouringmopars.com. looked over the whole build. i also noticed that you are the riddler from neons.org as well lol. i grew up on that forum. i hardly ever go on that site now but it is really cool to see someone from that site building a new project. your neon was always so clean and this duster is looking to be the same. loving the build. can not wait to see the finished product.
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Thanks. Yup same car and if you look close the seats are the same ones from the Neon. The rest of the car was parted out and then I crushed the shell. Didn't think I could take seeing ti driving out without me owning it.

Riddler
 
The white has been passed on. Wife thinks its a girl color as all her cars have been white. I really like what but my heart still longs for my last car and I'd like a shade of that. Here's a picture of my last car I built.

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Riddler
 
Here's the newest update from the shop. The car's had a little more work done and I took some pics just to keep myself up to date.

Here's the passenger side fender with one of the corner covers Ross sent me. This is going to make it look much cleaner under the hood. I bought billet hood bumpers from Fesler Engineering to clean it up just a little more.
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The engine bay is getting a total smooth look. It took a little more putty than I wanted but I was told this still needs many hours of block sanding down.
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Here you can see where I cut and welded the frame rail back for the alternator on the 6.1L Hemi.
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The smooth firewall is looking much better. The shop cut everything I did out as they said it would of needed too much bondo. Here's the final look now...
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The last two pictures are of the passenger side which is much further along than the driver's side. I pointed out a few spots and the shop is taking car of it.
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My little guy photobombed the last pic. He's just as excited as I am.

Riddler
 
Second update in one day? Can it be? While the car is off getting body work and paint I've been busy with small parts here and there.

Here's how the T56 transmission sits waiting to be mated to the 6.1L Hemi.
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I cleaned it up and sanded it down. Took about 4 hours total for that and another hour for painting. I made sure to tape everything off. Installed all new seals and parts while I was at it.

Riddler
 
Here's the newest update. The car should be back sometime in November with the engine bay, door jams and under the trunk lid painted. Might be difficult as I haven't chose a color yet.

Here's where the car is at...under the hood getting nice and smooth.
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Passenger side of the car is ready for primer which was shot after I left.
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Driver's side is being worked on now. The door has been an issue to get lined up.
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I've also taken the dash with the Peaks Dash insert in and they panel bonded the aluminum insert to the steel dash frame. I then asked them to fiberglass the dash so it looks like one piece. I'm going to color match below the dash pad to the outside color and from the dash pad to the windshield will be flat black.
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Riddler
 
I just wanted to stop in and say I love what you're doing with this car. Really really like that fiberglassed dash too! Looks very clean ans smooth!
 
Riddler.....I love watching innovators like you....Ross...and a few others. Gonna be a trick hot rod, eh?
 
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