Jhenry70
Well-Known Member
Hey FABO family! I've posted a few times in other forums and I figured it was about time I started a build thread. Especially since I've actually started doing some work instead of just hunting for parts.
I got the Duster a few months back, bought it pretty much as a shell, 2 owners back had bought it because it had a rear coil over ladder bar suspension he wanted for another project and started parting out. Wish I had grabbed it before most of the parts were gone! The passenger door, interior, grille, gauges, tail lights, bumpers, hood, rear end, etc were sold so its been a bit of fun trying to find parts to put her back together.
It's been Back Halfed with an Alston chassis kit and tubbed. The cage has been started and the chassis has been tacked into place and the tub and sheet metal work is about 70% fabricated. It came with a Slant Six still in it and a 3 speed manual trans which I just pulled this weekend.
So far I've bought some parts from members here on the forum, sourced parts from local collectors, and crawled through the pick n pulls... I've purchased the following parts.
Hood, rear bumper, gauge cluster, passenger door, parking brake lever, pedal assembly, grille and bezels, door sill plates, kick panels, misc interior trim, interior door handles, engine bay wiring harness, rear light harness and a dome light assembly.
I've also picked up an 8.8 rear end with disc brakes and 4:10 gears which will be shortened soon. I've also grabbed the steering knuckles and caliper brackets off of a 77 Aspen Wagon for the front disc brake conversion. All new ball joints, tie rod ends and bushings as well as the tapered adapters for the upper ball joints so the stock UCA will work with the 77 knuckles.
I'm sure I forgot something in there somewhere... Anyway, my plan is to get her stripped down, cleaned up and slowly start putting her back together as a good rolling chassis and the start working on the body and paint. I'm not going for show but I'm looking to have a nice fun ride to cruise around town in. I've got a 318 and a904 that I'm going to stuff in her for now.
Paint will more than likely be Sassy Grass with Satin Black hood.... Maybe a dual snorkel scoop?
Haven't really even thought about wheels and tires just yet.
I'm sure I will have plenty of questions for you all as this will be my first A-body build (always been a 69-72 chevy truck guy) and I'm hoping to keep it on a tight budget.
I got the Duster a few months back, bought it pretty much as a shell, 2 owners back had bought it because it had a rear coil over ladder bar suspension he wanted for another project and started parting out. Wish I had grabbed it before most of the parts were gone! The passenger door, interior, grille, gauges, tail lights, bumpers, hood, rear end, etc were sold so its been a bit of fun trying to find parts to put her back together.
It's been Back Halfed with an Alston chassis kit and tubbed. The cage has been started and the chassis has been tacked into place and the tub and sheet metal work is about 70% fabricated. It came with a Slant Six still in it and a 3 speed manual trans which I just pulled this weekend.
So far I've bought some parts from members here on the forum, sourced parts from local collectors, and crawled through the pick n pulls... I've purchased the following parts.
Hood, rear bumper, gauge cluster, passenger door, parking brake lever, pedal assembly, grille and bezels, door sill plates, kick panels, misc interior trim, interior door handles, engine bay wiring harness, rear light harness and a dome light assembly.
I've also picked up an 8.8 rear end with disc brakes and 4:10 gears which will be shortened soon. I've also grabbed the steering knuckles and caliper brackets off of a 77 Aspen Wagon for the front disc brake conversion. All new ball joints, tie rod ends and bushings as well as the tapered adapters for the upper ball joints so the stock UCA will work with the 77 knuckles.
I'm sure I forgot something in there somewhere... Anyway, my plan is to get her stripped down, cleaned up and slowly start putting her back together as a good rolling chassis and the start working on the body and paint. I'm not going for show but I'm looking to have a nice fun ride to cruise around town in. I've got a 318 and a904 that I'm going to stuff in her for now.
Paint will more than likely be Sassy Grass with Satin Black hood.... Maybe a dual snorkel scoop?
Haven't really even thought about wheels and tires just yet.
I'm sure I will have plenty of questions for you all as this will be my first A-body build (always been a 69-72 chevy truck guy) and I'm hoping to keep it on a tight budget.
