Just sat and read through a lot of this thread. I forgot how much really good tech info was in it.

Greg, do you still have that 6X1 header in the car? You might be amazed at how much a pair of Hookers will pick you up. (I have seen dyno numbers from back to back tests between Hookers and the MP header)

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Thanks Dennis..

Yep I Still have the MP 6x1's On there - Good to know on the hookers -I will have to add those to my wish list! Or find a set at a swap. The 6X1's on Ruster were a $100 Swap find.. Pretty good deal on slant Headers around here.


Greg

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Looks good,I would have cut the whole stricker plate area out and just welded the outside skin of the rear doors on.Think ya left close to 10lbs that doesnt need to bee there.Post area beetween doors needs to bee more Holey.Light Headed OPINION.Guzzi Mark

Oh sure, Tell him after the fact !!!!

Mark, I am leaving that there for now.. I can always cut it later.

With the doors gutted the way they are, I can get to it without too much hassle.

Greg

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Hey Greg, The 318 runs great, I feel kinda bad though,,,,,,,,I don't think you were aware of what you gave up. Turns out it is a roller cam engine with swirl port heads !!. Just resealed the engine, new freeze plugs and a valve job,( 1 bad intake valve found ). New timing chain too. Thanks again,next week smog,insurance and plates.The old truck will be back on the road.

@Romeo, Good For you - I am glad it went to good use - It would not have been doing that well sitting in my yard. You can just trade me some more of your unwanted stuff to make up for it Gotta set of hooker Slant Headers...

Well I Did Get to do some Cutting on the Left Side.. Same as what I did on the right..

Got the LR Door Hollowed out and Also Got all the Spotweld Seams cut off the Doors on the LH side of the car.. All of that was good for 11# off the car - Specifically 11# off the Left of the car Which is where it needs to come off of. Calculated weight is now at 2224.5# Only 25 More Pounds to go and the Car will Be sub 2200# Cant wait to tear into that steering column!

Pics:


LR Door hack / Hollowed Out:










Spotweld Seams Gone:






11# of Metal Removed..


Next - LH Aero Fender / LH Aero Rear Door Window.. Steering Column Lightening.. and Door Hinge Drilling out.


Greg

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You are doing a great job on getting car lighter,will tell you how the best way to get anouther 20lbs or more out of roof if you call me.I type 1 finger and cant explain it in type.Call and I will explain, then you post it.Has do bee done a certain way or it turns out like poop.Guzzi Mark 562 290 2194,,,,Will bee starting a thread mon with pics of my car monday.

My car without driver will bee close to 2150 lbs once I do the other side of car.The next 20-30lbs off your car will bee the hardest,trust me,you will get to the point where if ya get a pound a hour you will bee happy.I have spent 8 hr days for 4 lb reduction lately.BUTT you are gaining hp by the ounce.I enjoy wacking off the car more than anything else,think you are getting real close to my wacking off fetish.Seymour is the only person that wacks off more than you or me.Mark

Well It's Been a while since I was able to really work on Ruster..

I had to replace a gas tank in my duster and put some u joints in on the truck so those projects held me up a bit.
I was finally able to get back into the swing of things..

I Was able to get at least 1# off of the driver's side door... So the car should weigh 2223.5# now.

I also Was able to do some work on my second Torque converter that Had some busted up lugs.. Originally I was going to try to helicoil the busted up threads... Then I was able to find a stock converter to cut some lugs off of.. So I welded them on there.. I also got all the Driver' side door Frames welded up, ground smooth and painted. Now I just need to install the LR door and cut some AL sheet to fasten the window to the car.

Pics:

1# of Stuff Removed from the Driver's Door:



Here is wher I did some Cutting; above the Vent window.



Also removed the inner Metal piece and rubber at the top of the window frame.



All door frames were cut and welded:








After Welding everything was ground smooth(er):






The 3/4" Drill Bit was handy Here:(top Door Hinge)




All Welded and ground areas Got a coat of Falt Black. (drip Rails Removed)







This Donor Converter lost it's Lugs.. It will also be donating it's ring gear.



These pics illustrate the Donor Lugs being transplanted onto the green 8" converter.


















Greg

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Well I was able to get the LR door Mounted and the Piece of AL sheet made and installed... I also began cutting the LF fender for it's aero Treatment.


Pics:

LR Door Reinstalled..






I am reusing the template that I made for the Piece on the RR door.. I flipped it and traced it onto the AL sheet.. then cut it out.



AL Aero Piece for the LR door. The piece replaces the 4# upper door frame whilst improving Aero at the same time.






Began Hacking / Cutting the LF fender to match the Angle of the hood.. I will be using the same method as i used on the RF fender - The sheet metal will match the rake(angle) for the raised hood and then an AL piece of sheet will be riveted on to fill the 3" gap.







I will also be taking ~1# off the Driver's fender and I have my eye on lightening the 4 existing door hinges more as well as cutting some of the RF inner fenderwell... Maybe I can Get another 10# out
Greg

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I wacked off a little on my car today.Trying to finalize my nitrous system.My local guy that is a rep for my system first told me I need just over 5lbs fuel pressuer out of nozzels flowing.Had questions cause after resurch that didnt jive.Was told you couldnt go by dead head pressue one day, then the next day something different.Called the tech line and he told me 10lbs.Called Jeffries and he did a little figureing,and thinks 5 1/2 would bee right.So beeing me,I didnt listen to anyone and set it a 6lbs.Guzzi Mark

More rivets on traileing edge of rear window frame,needs to bee smooother.MY opinion.Mark

Got Lots of work done today:


Hers's the rundown....

I began today with The Cut Fender top.. it will get raised to Match the angel / rake of the hood... About 3" high in the rear and stock in front.



A Little sanding / Grinding where welding will be done... Half the length of this cut will be filled with weld and then ground smooth and painted flat black.






Beginning welding.. Since I am filling a largeish gap... It will look boogery at first.












Now the weld is ground down with a grinding wheel and then 36 grit disc and then 50 grit disc.. Some holes show through and I fill them and repeat... No filler here..



Made Supports for the fender to sit up.. Welded them in.



I reused the template from the Right Side front fender Aero Treatment... I flipped it over and reversed the fold to make a mirrored piece for the left.. Traced it to the AL sheet. (did not use the antenna Hole cutout.)



This is the crap you have to do when you want to make a simple fold in some sheet w/o a Sheetmetal Brake.. 2 clamps.. 2 Bricks of steel and a dead blow hammer on the bench edge get it done.. I should have used this technique when I did the right side..



The Weld on th LF fender is Finshed and Painted... Ready for the AL piece to get rivited on.



LH Fender aero Job Complete:









View from the Rear showing the Raise and Arc of the Fenders / Hood:



I got in the Mood to Lighten More...
so I removed more of the RH Inner Fender.



Here is the Driver's Side Upper Door hinge Before any cutting... I already had Drilled the 2 3/4" Holes while it was on the car.




And After cutting... I had to put a bead of weld on the bottom on the door pin to keep the lower section of hinge from falling... I cut it apart from the upper.




Stock Lower Hinge:






All the Bits I could remove:



Lightened Hinge:









Today I way able to get 7# of stuff off The front of ruster..


I was shooting for 10.. only 3# short..

Tomorrow will be Passenger Side Door Hinge Lightening.. Hopefully I can get 1.5#'s there.. and if time Aero Improvements..

I would still like to take the Pinch Weld off in the Cowl area.. Maybe sometime.. Could be worth 2#'s or so..

I will be digging into that steering column soon as well... I am sure there is a bunch of weight to shed there!

Current Calculated weight of Ruster is 2216.5#




Greg

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FrankenRuster! Greg all you need is a white lab coat. Very cool thanks for taking the time to document this.

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66 Lil' Red Piggie Valiant (Mater Crusher) - Thanks Zilla!!!!! 72 Demon (Number 1 Son's)