Finally getting to it!!! 1970 Duster 340

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I still have those original Cragars..................and those original J60-14 tires!
 
jabdusty57 said:
If you are looking to restore it to factory condition, I have a 70 thumbwheel style radio I'll give you. I never checked to see if it still works when I took it out but I can do that.
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is a 70 the same as a 69 ???(barracuda) I'd be interested !!!!
 
Got a text from the body man today that the Duster is back from blasting. I will meet him tomorrow to evaluate where we stand. I will post pictures.
 
Went over to the body shop yesterday to look at the car. He and I went over all the "repairs" that were done by the previous body man. Metal patches were done crudely and there was evidence of rust pin holes that had simply been covered over with body filler along the window channel, and floor pans. A couple of inner fender plug welds broke when the shop was pushing the car around on dollies. Upsetting but not very surprising.
 
Wow,more issue's hiding as well from the previous bodyman that we didn't see when we picked up the car. Well it's in better hands now Kevin.
 
Here are some pictures of the crude work done by the previous body man. This work was covered over with bondo before blasting.

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I agree John. I haven't spent much time with my Millermatic 211, but my welds look better than those. The Duster has been epoxy primered. Waiting for some sheet metal to arrive before the shop starts in.
 
I stopped by the body shop today to see my car up on the jig. Good news is that the frame seems to be spot on to factory specs. This week, they should begin mocking up the rear of the car. I'm hopeful that things will progress in a timely fashion.

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FJRdoc said:
I stopped by the body shop today to see my car up on the jig. Good news is that the frame seems to be spot on to factory specs. This week, they should begin mocking up the rear of the car. I'm hopeful that things will progress in a timely fashion.

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Good bro! Let's hope this is the charm. Glad to know the frame was to specs. Keep us posted.
 
I'll post more pictures as I get them.It will be fun to watch the car come back to form.
 
Thanks Dave. Gary and I will be making our annual pilgrimage to Carlisle on Friday. Will you have a car at the survivor tent?
 
Nice to see these guys doing it right with it up on a jig, I shutter when I see some builds with a ton of metal removed with very little accurate support. A shame you have to go thru this but you're on the way to a super build now, I'll be watching with interest.

Dan
 
Thanks Dan. Unfortunately, I have gone through a lot of aggravation and money to get to where I am now. I'm wiser but significantly poorer. The first body man filed for Chapter 13. I'm not sure how the legal proceedings will shake out in the end.
 
Spent about an hour at the body shop today. Last week, they spent time mocking up the panels of the Duster and got some metal welded in. I was pleased to see as much work was done since I was at the shop last time. Front floor pan is in, rear floor pans repaired, trunk pan welded in along with the spare tire hold down. I'm having trouble downloading pictures. I'll see what I can do later.
 
Glad to see it getting done right! Education is not cheap. I know I have had a lot of it!
 
My brother Gary and I made our annual pilgrimage to Chrysler's at Carlisle. Both of us look forward to the event every year. It's a great chance to look at lots of parts and some really cool Mopars. Best of all, we get to spend some quality time together.
I bought a couple odds and ends for the Duster however......I don't need much. I purchased some muffler/ exhaust pipe hangers from Accurate to replace my rusted originals. The new hangers are made of stainless steel for durability. I felt that they looked almost too "new." I decided to dull them down a little by applying muriatic acid. The treatment helped to take most of the shine away and give it a little bit of an aged patina. I like the look.
I probably will be going with a stainless steel exhaust system when the time comes. I might consider giving it the same treatment.

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The acid dip was a good idea Kev, gives it just the right patina.

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Mine wasn't really pitted just a light surface rust and should clean up nicely but its good to know that they're being reproduced although mine has an angle to it so there must be a small difference.

I neglected to notice that we both got our cars almost exactly the same time and same age and managed to hang on to them, not a whole lot of us managed to pull that off, lol. Keep feeding us bodyshop pictures, love to watch the progress.
Dan
 
I did notice that there are some differences in the brackets from the originals. The angle that you mentioned and the fact that the new ones have 4 mounting points not 3. I can live with the differences since I believe that original brackets are difficult to source.
My body man should be getting back to work on the car now that Carlisle is over. I expect to post some more pictures in the near future.
 
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