74 Duster - My first project.

I hope the new torsion bars settle a little. It has SS springs and stock shackles. I want to end up a little lower (at least an inch) both front and rear. The first pic is a little low (Pre alignment). I may leave it higher till I get some good headers though, the drivers side one is super low hanging and is already beat up some. I intend to accelerate the rear tire wear so I can get some slightly bigger rear tires too. Currently 245/60-15 and I want 275/60-15. With the bigger rear tires on, I'll match the gap between the top of tire and top of wheel well.

Cley

Well I made it to my home town for my Dad's memorial. He passed away a couple weeks ago. I never did get to take him for a cruise in the Duster. He went with me on my crazy road trip to Texas to pick it up. Him and Mom did get to drive it last summer when I left it there for a week. He actually got it tuned up so I could make it to my first show last August. My Mom's Challenger is pictured with it.



I threw in a spare tire for the first road trip. The spare may as well have some style too!



And here is my family enjoying a cruise down to the ice cream stop.



I'm really looking forward to driving this car finally. The only 2 issues I found on this 300 mile round trip were the trunk lock breaking, causing me to have to rescue my beer and luggage by removing the rear seat, and the leaking windshield my son and I experienced while driving through a torrential down pour about an hour from home. There is also lots of potential in the motor that I need to unlock with some better tuning. Anyone want to come help?

Overall, It ran very well! I hit 160 kph while passing a minivan and it felt super stable and in control. That suspension work paid off I guess. Those 3.23 gears are sure nice on the highway.

Cley

Nice trip, nothing like building a cool hotrod and actually driving it.

Cley have fun driving it this summer great job on it. No better feeling for sure Keith.

Sorry to hear about your dad. And yes its a great feeling to drive something you have built.

Thanks guys! I just cant wait to drive it more. I need to get the windshield sealed up and replace the trunk lock after this last trip. I stuffed a bunch of that butyl rope caulking around the windshield but obviously I need to do more. Has anyone ran into this issue? Where did you find leaks at? I will try some type of liquid sealant in a caulking gun tube but not sure what to use. I just need to be sure the chrome trim will still clip in when I'm done.

Cley

I have over 600 miles on it this year and I am loving it! Every time I drive it I notice some small thing that needs to be addressed, but nothing major. The only thing I need to do quick like is get the windshield sealed up. My good deal windshield guy never used any sealant between the body and the rubber so it leaks like crazy. I did end up driving through crazy rain a couple times, but fortunately it only seems to drip on the passenger side!

Anyone in Saskatoon area want to help me tune it up some time? I'm sure it's still going to benefit from a tune up by someone who knows what they're doing. I'm gonna keep driving it anyway!

Cley

And now, My 904 took a dump!

Cley

We have all been there, when something goes too well, something usually happens to back us up...it's never wanted but shows up anyway.

So I replaced my A-904 with an A-998 from an 88 Dodge truck with a 318. I'm not sure how long it had been sitting, but I don't think it was too long. I was in a hurry, so I slapped it is without even changing the filter. Once I got the fluid level right, it seemed good other than a clunk on the 1/2 shift when accelerating normally. It didn't clunk when accelerating very slowly or when I mashed the pedal and really got after it. All I have done so far is to lighten the tension on the kick down cable which may have helped a little. On Friday, I will drop the pan, adjust the bands, drop the valve body and check the accumulator spring. Ill put it together with fresh fluid again, a fresh filter and gasket and hope for the best.

Does anyone know of anything else I should be looking for?

Cley

What is an A-998 trans?

It's a slightly heavier duty version of the 904 with a lower first gear and a lock up convertor.

Cley

89on35s wrote:It's a slightly heavier duty version of the 904 with a lower first gear and a lock up convertor.

Cley

Thanks...food for thought

Great job on the car.

Well, I haven't been on here in a quite a while but I have been busy with my Duster!

I yanked the A-998 and installed an A-500! Overdrive baby!!! I have yet to drive it much and there is still some work to be done to get the controls set up the way I want them but it is drivable again and that is the most important thing!

I also got all my under hood A.C. parts installed. I just need to get that charged up and that will be done too. I installed the compressor and hoses from an 85 Dodge truck with a condenser and drier that are designed for R-134 so I hope it all works like I expect it will. I had to crimp new ends on both compressor inlet and outlet hoses, and build new condenser to drier and drier to evaporator hoses. My goal was to do this all for cheaper than I could get a kit from Bouchillon Performance for but I still need to do the math to see if that was true or not. I never knew a thing about A.C. systems until tackling this project. I did document this job on F.A.B.O. if anyone is interested.

I modified a factory gauge bezel to accept aftermarket gauges and it turned out great for the most part. I moved the wiper switch out of the gauge bezel into the dash and it is in a way better spot to access as well as looking almost factory. This freed up more room for gauges! The indicating lights I used were not right for the application and don't look good at all so I will be redoing that next year for sure. My buddy is getting into 3D printing, so I think I will try and scan a stock gauge bezel and modify it to print out with a solid back plate to cut holes for gauges into. I know you can buy these gauge bezels but I was super surprised how cheap I can get something 3D printed if I do the work to set up the program myself.

I still have lots to do, but it is good for another cruising summer season. I'll try and upload some pictures when I have more time.

Cley

Well welcome back and congrats on all that work...what size engine,seems to me it's a 360.

It is a 360. It has an unknown cam in it and an Edelbrock Performer 318/360 intake, 670 Holley and Patriot headers. It could use a good tune up by someone who really knows what they are doing!
Cley

Cley how is the new tranny working? I have friend that put a 4 sp auto in his 360 motor home but we are having a hard time getting a kit to get it to shift properly. Did you use a kit to make it shift or just manual with switches?

Wow, it's been a long time since I visited this site. Regarding my trans, I used 2 pressure switches off the governor test port to control the overdrive and lock up converter. I also have a vacuum switch for kick down on the OD/LU controls.
This spring I installed a high stall convertor in the OD trans because the old one wouldn't flash any higher than about 1450 rpm. I had a convertor modified by a company called Trans-torq in Saskatoon. He said it will stall between 2500 and 3000 depending on the motor. It is in but not yet tested. The lock up will still work too.
I also installed an 8 3/4 rear with a 4.10 sure grip. I went out to our local drag strip at S.I.R. and now I may be hooked! I still want it to be primarily a street car, and with the 4.10s and OD it should be like 2.96s on the highway with a 3 speed.
I'm sure I'll need better tires to make it hook so some 275/60-15 drag radials will likely make their way on the car.
I'll post again once I get it back on the road. Likely this weekend.

Cley

Did you by a kit for the trans? My buddy is having a problem when his goes into 4th, it jumps back into 3 all the time even though speed has increased. I removed the vacume kick down incase that was causing the problem. If we put manual switched on lock up and 4th it seems to shift ok.

Thanks for the info Cley.

I also like your cruising rpm with those low gears.