Starting a BB Duster project

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AndyF

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I have this '72 Duster that has been sitting in my shop collecting dust for 5 years. I picked it up from a friend of mine who hit some tough times but I just never had much time to work on it. I put it up for sale on Craigslist for $4900 which I thought was a super good price but not a single offer. The car is super straight, no rust and it has a brand new Strange S60 rearend with new gears, axles and a Detroit locker. It also has new Centerlines all around, 4 wheel disc brakes and a split mono leaf Cal Trac setup.

So since it didn't sell and I didn't want to just give it away I decide to drop the 470 engine from my Car Craft articles in it. I already have a radiator, 727 trans, fuel cell, battery box and some other stuff sitting around in the shop. I'll need to buy a torque converter, driveshaft and some headers. I'll have to wire and plumb the car since it is gutted but I should be able to handle that. I'm going to shoot for the end of summer to have it down on the ground and running but I might hit a snag and it will turn into a winter project.

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Nice, but I thought you gave up drag racing. ha ha ! I understand, it's hard to do when it's in your blood.
I'm looking forward to follow to the Duster's finish.
 
I do not have any interest in serious drag racing. I do not want to invest in a tow rig and a trailer and travel around to point meets and stuff like that. But, I only live 20 miles from Woodburn which has a decent NHRA track so if I build the Duster correctly I can drive it to the track and make some passes and then drive it home. I'm willing to do that.
 
Cool, then your looking forward to some 9 sec passes in a street car I guess.
 
451Cuda said:
Great car for the swap - it's practically done.
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Yeah it had a BB in it before so the tabs and the motor plate are already in place. The car had fenderwell headers in it which I gave away since they were pretty well used up. I'll probably just buy some TTI headers for it and build an exhaust.
 
fishmens67 said:
Cool, then your looking forward to some 9 sec passes in a street car I guess.
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If the car hooks it should have enough power to run high 9's but I'll probably dial it back a bit. I do not want to build a 9 second legal car. Too much extra cost and hassle. I think I'll set it up to run low 10's. I can easily pull power out of the engine by changing cams. It is a pump gas engine that made 700 hp with a big Comp roller but that turns into 600 hp with a smaller cam pretty quickly.
 
Hard to believe it didn't sell at that price! Looks killer, keep us posted, I personally appreciate the info the top shelf engine builders post like you sir!
 
Looks like a nice project.

Whats the deal with the engine cradle, haven't seen one like it before.
 
I'd love a sweet solid roller to slam dunk a drivetrain into! Turning green here.
 
440 Mike said:
Looks like a nice project.

Whats the deal with the engine cradle, haven't seen one like it before.
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I used to sell those engine cradles but I got tired of making them and I had a lot of people complain about how expensive they were. So now I just make them for myself and local guys who buy them from me. They have 5 inch casters on them so you can push a fully loaded engine around really easy.
 
rumblefish360 said:
I'd love a sweet solid roller to slam dunk a drivetrain into! Turning green here.
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I had the car for sale on Moparts but nobody was interested. I just wanted the car gone so I could focus on other projects. I figured $4900 was a killer deal. I was willing to throw in all of the stock interior parts and the spare hood, spare bumpers, dash, etc. But no takers so I'm going to put it together and run it and then try to sell it again.
 
AndyF said:
I had the car for sale on Moparts but nobody was interested. I just wanted the car gone so I could focus on other projects. I figured $4900 was a killer deal. I was willing to throw in all of the stock interior parts and the spare hood, spare bumpers, dash, etc. But no takers so I'm going to put it together and run it and then try to sell it again.
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Yea, well, getting it here is the flip side there my sorry ***' lack of funds.
I just did what I wished for, for the wife.
Oh so nice it is!

Looking toward the project!
 
SWEET!! sometimes when stuff doesn't sell - it's a blessing in disguise! psst - I have a used TurboAction "5300" TC I would sell - works 100%, I just decided it was a bit much for my needs...
 
AndyF said:
I used to sell those engine cradles but I got tired of making them and I had a lot of people complain about how expensive they were. So now I just make them for myself and local guys who buy them from me. They have 5 inch casters on them so you can push a fully loaded engine around really easy.
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Oh what a surprise! People bitching that a quality hand made easy to roll around engine cradle is to much. (Punks!)

uNfrrrreakingBeileveAble!

I hate the tiny wheels on the mass produced stuff. Gets tripped up on a leaf and jamms you up.
 
440 Mike said:
Looks like a nice project.

Whats the deal with the engine cradle, haven't seen one like it before.
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You haven't seen my engine dollies before? I used to make them for Hemi, SB and BB engines.

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AndyF said:
I used to sell those engine cradles but I got tired of making them and I had a lot of people complain about how expensive they were. So now I just make them for myself and local guys who buy them from me. They have 5 inch casters on them so you can push a fully loaded engine around really easy.
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I own four of them. Or is it five? I'll have to search around and recount. I'd have more if Mancini Racing was still selling them when last I checked.
 
Cool project!! I can't believe nobody jumped on that for $4,900! That will be one mean street/strip car. Good luck!
 
IQ52 said:
I own four of them. Or is it five? I'll have to search around and recount. I'd have more if Mancini Racing was still selling them when last I checked.
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I have a couple of them on the shelf if you need one. BB only. I don't think I'm interested in making the Hemi or SB ones anymore.

Bob Mazzolini told me that he was going to start making them once I stopped doing it so there is a chance that he has them for sale. I haven't checked his website but I know he was pretty serious about getting some made.
 
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