I was in the process of rebuilding the suspension in the beater valiant, when I got a call about a green duster a former member was in the process of letting go (too many cars). Being that the BV was a good car, but my main parts stash was geared toward the final revisions of the A-body/duster 73-76, and '67 was just not easy to get parts for (no dipping into the "stash" for parts). So I parted the BV down and transferred the suspension and drive train to this car (cleaned out some items, making room for others).

So:










She's a Gold Duster, one year only color for 1973 (Pale Green).
Her original equipment was benchseat, map light, Gold Duster Package, rear defroster(blower), AM radio, 225/A904, power steering, manual 10" drum brakes, Halo Vinyl Roof.

Original owner had some issues and upon pulling her interior apart it became evident that the car had suffered a massive electrical short in some of the circuits (dome light had about 6" of burned off wiring from the socket back toward the package tray...the headlight switch no longer had it's recetacle either...)

Poor car is now going to be schizo:

All wiring replaced by full intact harnesses from my old 1974 Duster.
Still have a few "1973 only" items to modify to make the package complete.
The front bench was torn and is bad shape, so I replaced all the seats with good black ones salvaged 9 years ago from a 1976 Feather Duster that was totalled...(best $300 I ever spent).
Beater Valiant suspension includes 1976 unitized/fully welded K-framed
New bushings, stock 1973 sway bar, 340/360 T-bars
Disc Brakes and 10" drums in the rear.
8.25" rear end with 3.55 Sure grip from Hpak Duster
Summit Driveline Loop

Converted from Auto to Manual-Floor shift
Pedals and linkage from BV
1974 A-230 3-spd
Spec Clutch Stage 3 disc

Engine is refreshed from the 280/270 Hpak motor I ran last year.
10.3:1 SCR
Erson 280/270LSA111+4
Known good melling pump with hardened gear
#600 Peanut Plug head without AIR
1.70/1.44 SI Valves
Stage 1 port and polish (clean ports and gasket match)
Offy 4-barrel Intake
List#6299 Holley 390cfm carb
#52 jets front/#54 jets rear, 10.5PV, orange pump cam #1 position
#25 shooter
Stock Single exhaust manifold that has been "massaged"
Heat flap removed.
Single tailpipe from 1974 Duster 2 1/4" from manifold to
V-8 muffler then 2 1/4" out to bumper-exhaust tech added
a 340 exhaust tip since he had a spare.

Engine break in went like clockwork and it should be ready to go when I get tires and an alignment. I have a couple of gauges to wire in and I think things are golden for this car...

More Later,

-D.Idiot

Glad to see the Duster doing well... I hated seeing it sitting around.



~~RDE~

_________________
1984 D100 Shorty Custom
Certified Auto Appraiser - RevItUp Classic Appraisals
President - Cherry City Bombers CC
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Sweet car, but watchit or you'll get fined for false advertising on account of that "Gold Duster" decal on what is obviously a green car.

(somebody with a vinyl cutter could have some fun with this…)

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Yup, drop the G in Gold, and than you will pass the fine print test.

_________________
67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Thanks.



-D.Idiot

Nice! I would love to see that paint buffed out.

my cars entire front clip was that color when I got it, it was a hideous looking color on my car because the owner didn't take care of the car and the paint was all stained, but a unique color none the less, I had no idea this was a one year color, now I know what my front end came off a '73 most likely

I like the color of the motor by the way, what is the paint ID, if you remember?

nice buy,

Seth

_________________
Annabelle: 1970 Dodge Dart Hardtop
1991 Nissan 240sx (sileighty) Lots of mods
1974 Dodge Dart *Wrecked*

I actually really like that color on a duster.

Duster is back, alignment done.

Definately set for drag at the moment, nothing like 3.55's and a 3 speed to make things sound great at 45-50 mph...(and 3000 rpm...LOL)...

The car is also different to drive, I equipped the front with the 340/360 bars and used a 1973 sway bar...The manual steering has a little wander to it, but tracks fine...but when you turn a corner, holy cow it sure will carve a corner, no lolligagging or body roll like the hpak duster...

Looks like I have a couple of minor things to touch up, and a couple of carb adjustments to make and it should be good to go.

Test and tune next friday, will have to tell my boss I have a case of leaded fuel poisoning...

-D.Idiot

I am going to have to start busting my butt and get my car together fast... not gonna miss the green dusters first trip down the track!

_________________
1984 D100 Shorty Custom
Certified Auto Appraiser - RevItUp Classic Appraisals
President - Cherry City Bombers CC
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

You wanna go test 'n tune next Friday night?

Trying to get some clutch break in time on the duster...driving 3.55's and a 3 spd is well definately annoying at 55-65 mph (about 3K on the clock with 205/70R14's)...

It stops really nice, but I'll need to get the steering box reconditioned it's got a bit of a wander...and boy once into a corner the sway bar and 340 bars realllly like to get the car around the turn...

The 1974 electrical system has a mind of it's own...so far in the last month I've never had the dash lights work...I went to turn on the heater fan and the dash lights came on but no heater fan...if you turn the fan switch to high the lights get brighter...

One more thing to chase down before winter approaches...

I got on it on our bypass road this afternoon, I thought I had a hive in the cowl vent and cheezed off the bees living in there...2 seconds later I was treated to several handfuls of "salad" out both floor vents....(time to get the shop vac out....)

I think the duster is mad it's a conglomeration of 73,74, and 76 parts.

-D.Idiot

Well at least you know the vents are cleared out now

[quote]Trying to get some clutch break in time on the duster...driving 3.55's and a 3 spd is well definately annoying at 55-65 mph (about 3K on the clock with 205/70R14's)...

It stops really nice, but I'll need to get the steering box reconditioned it's got a bit of a wander...and boy once into a corner the sway bar and 340 bars realllly like to get the car around the turn...[/quote]

DI, get that steering box rebuilt, the car will be a real sweet driver.

My car now has 0.941â€￾ bars, front anti sway bar, sub frame connectors, six leaf springs out back, all new bushings, and freshly rebuilt firm PS box. It corners like a new car, very predictable. Now with freshly rebuilt K-H brakes it stops real nice as well.

As for 3.55 and little tires, I hear yea man. That 3000 rpm thrashing at speed is a bit much, I have the same gear, but with 20 year old duel Sonic Turbo mufflers filled with African Killer Bees. I use ear plugs when driving any distance, the drone at 2400-2700 rpm is too much. Too bad there isn’t a cheep easy to install overdrive solution for these cars.

Last fall a fellow car show attendee followed me home for 30 miles. I wound the carp out of that thing with a lot of second gear 5000+ rpm running up hills. He said that was the loudest most obnoxious sounding car he had ever heard. I love it. LOL

_________________
67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Got about 50 miles of road time on the car, until Thursday night...

Left work and was heading home plugging along at the speed limit (but boy it sounds fast with drag gears in "direct"...)...
Rounded the corner on the highway and spotted a ford truck 100' ahead piled with furniture blocking both lanes of the road, backing into their yard slowly...
I hit the brakes and slowed a bit, but they weren't moving...then I landed on the brakes hard they locked and the car made a quick decision to steer a bit right...missing a 20' deep culvert, avoiding T-boning the Ford Truck and putting it front first into that guy's overgrown 8' tall laurel hedges...

About the time I unbuckled and bailed out the passenger side door, the truck backed into the yard, and a bunch cars in the oncoming lane finally blew past...none stopping to be a witness and say "hey, that dude was blocking traffic on a 2 lane highway with no spotters or someone to flag down traffic!..." The neighbors were nice enough to call 911...No, i wasn't hurt...but my car an pride were not in good shape either...The county mounty failed to measure the single skid mark I left before exiting the road (I rough paced it out at 71')...took the Ford Driver's statement who yelled "He had the hammer down and was accelerating at me! He never stopped! He could have hit me!"
So the cop turned around and took my information, then proceeded to make some bizarre comments like "By looking at the skid marks over there you must've been going over 85 miles an hour! How fast were you going?"...I was doing 55 mph, the speed limit, my tach said 2600 rpm (2600rpm with P205/70R14 and a 3.55 rear ratio is about 55-56 mph in ideal conditions-it was a dry sunny day on asphalt)..."Are you sure? I have a driver back there that said he was behind you doing 85 mph and you walked away from him!" I didn't have anyone behind me after the Clow Corner cut off, I was doing 55 mph... "Are you SURE!?!?"...Yes Officer, I was sure...He then took some more info, then gave me a case number and had the contact info for the driver, property owner, etc...Then asked if I was going to be filing and insurance claim..."You do have insurance, right?" Yes, you already took the info when you had my card and registration, and will be filing a claim....

Called for a tow from one of the better tow companies (that took the care to pick the poor duster out of the bushes without destroying the gas tank, or ripping it up needlessly).

Car looked to be 80% intact, it still would run and drive...but compromized the radiator, driver's side fender, grille, headlight bucket,
and driver's side mirror...

Appraiser was out today to look at it, next they want to take it to a salvage facility to determine if the value of the car is a total...

I think the worse part about the whole affair was a local Lawyer was cruising by 10 minutes after everyone left. Stopped, rolled down the window and asked me "What happened to the little old lady that was in it?"

So much for racing next weekend, and for the season probably...this really does compromise my trust in the local law enforcement to provide an unbiased assessment of the accident...

#&*%(%*@!!!!!!!

-D.Idiot