A 1974 Duster - My 2nd one, 41 years later!

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As time permits, more things are being straightened and covered in epoxy.

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IMG_4318 by Alexl5280, on Flickr

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IMG_4315 by Alexl5280, on Flickr

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Passenger door flat and straight blocked with 180, ready for epoxy coat.

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IMG_4322 by Alexl5280, on Flickr

It is amazing how "not straight" this new welded in Quarter panel is. Needed some All-Metal filler here. It will be straight after sanding...and sanding. I am NOT happy with the way the 1/4 panel body line, lines up with the door body line , don't like the rear gap either. You can see in the above pic that the front gap is just a bit pinched or tighter in the front down low. I will see if I can raise the door slightly and also move it back slightly, see what that does. Otherwise I will be cutting into the 1/4 panel to move the body line down just slightly and welding it back. Gotta get some primer on it so I can see whats going on exactly. It's always something.

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IMG_4321 by Alexl5280, on Flickr
 
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I just read through all 36 pages of this and your progress and ability to document it is awesome! I took so many screen shots and bookmarked a ton of websites! What gun did you use to spray the engine bay before you got your new one? And do you know if that bumper swap would work for a dart?
 
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Thanks the complement Scott! I just used the Harbor Freight purple gun that many others have used. I really don't see why the bumper swap wouldn't work for you as well. If you are fabbing up your own brackets seems like you would be able to make it work. I have kinda changed my mind slightly...I think I will be installing light weight fiberglass front and rear bumpers. You can install them with the factory brackets or they sell light weight brackets. I will be painting the bumpers the same color as the car body.
 
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I think body work is the most time consuming part of any project.
 
Took a break from body work today, cleaned the shop....mopped and then mopped again. Much better! So...you had to have a 4 speed did ya, klown??? Well yes I did, guilty as charged, lol! So your stock Z bar is NOT going to fit with headers....ya ya.....you need to mod. So here is what I did. The Z bar had to go in and out 3 or 4 times until I knew exactly where Mr. Welder was going to burn it into place. I needed to first remove the inside lever so I could turn it around. Once turned around it looked like I needed a slight bend. Ain't gonna bend 1/4" steel very well...so I cut a channel a little more than 1/2 way through...oh yes much easier to bend this way. To be filled in later. .....and a lil' paint of course...Anyways...heres the pics:

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IMG_4330 by Alexl5280, on Flickr

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Big block and fender wells, and it slips right in.:poke:Looks good Alex. You see the get together post in the western region?
 
Big block schmigg block...408 small block. LOL! Yup saw the post, thanks. Higgs and I were hoping to do a bar-bee-que at my shop. If it works, I'll host.
 
3 coats of base....3 coats of clear. A few beers as the paint gets to flying' n' dryin'! Good ole' Higgs came by to supervise the paint mixing' and times between coats! I'm using PPG Deltron and The Wet Wet Plus clear. First pic is just base, no clear.

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IMG_4336 by Alexl5280, on Flickr

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IMG_4338 by Alexl5280, on Flickr

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IMG_4337 by Alexl5280, on Flickr
 
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Back to body work. Really needed to fix this bad body line off the new 1/4 panel. Took a long time today but I am winning! To start Wire wheel to metal for good adhesion and then All-Metal filler to start with. Fixing door rear gap will be next.

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IMG_4342 by Alexl5280, on Flickr

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You are doing such an incredible job in EVERY aspect Alex, bravo.
I finally used the package shelf template today that you sent me. Only took me 2 years to get to it but I did! Thanks again.
 
A day and a 1/2 of cutting, welding, grinding, back filling with All-Metal filler. My body line is lined up, door gap fixed. Getting closer to spraying the whole car in 2k!

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IMG_4366 by Alexl5280, on Flickr
 
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Which 1/4 panels did you end up using, I also ended up with a set that is missing the lower body line.
 
All I can say is wow Alex the car look great so far can't wait to see it finished. I can only wish my 75 looks good when I'm done with it.
 
Thanks Mike!

Sireland, I think it was a Goodmark. If I were to do it again, I would get an AMD panel.
 
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