cruiser
Well-Known Member
Good evening fellow Moparites. I hope you enjoyed the first two installments of Bob's Component Resto and are sleeping well after reading these posts before going to bed. Tonight we feature the resto of the fender tag for my 1974 Gold Duster. Perhaps replacement would be a more apt description of tonight's installment. I've also thrown in an added palate cleanser for those of you who enjoy restoring old stuff, so be sure to read until the end. When I first contacted the individual selling this car, I inquired about what was on the fender tag of the car in the ad. The person who answered was completely oblivious to this topic and didn't even know what a fender tag was. Turns out that the fender tag was missing on the car, and the original owner had no idea as to where it went. After I bought the car, I made a priority of replacing the missing fender tag, and as such contacted Dave Wise at MMC Detroit. They make very nice replacement fender tags and require rock solid documentation to create a correct one for your car. Since my Duster came with the original broadcast sheet, bill of sale and window sticker, there was no problem with them creating a new one for me. The first photo is what engine compartment looked like when I bought the car. Note the missing fender tag on the left inner fender. The next photo is of the new fender tag in place but not yet painted. The third photo is of the replacement tag painted in three coats of JY9 Tahitian Gold Metallic paint, mounted in its final position. I found two correct original screws to fasten it to the inner fender with, and also incorporated one of the often discarded factory inspection stamp tags fastened to the left screw. The inspection tag is very thin and flimsy. The remaining ones that you may come across are often about to fall off. I attached mine to the inner fender with double sided trim tape underneath to provide strength and rigidity, and I think it looks great. I found evidence that at one time the factory original inspection tag had been attached under the left fender tag screw, so that is why I located it there. Now, my Duster will live forever with all of its documentation complete and correct. And now for the palate cleanser for all of you resto junkies out there! And no, this resto has nothing to do with cars. Back in the day I was a pilot in the U. S. Navy. Before I went to flight school, I was temporarily assigned to an operational squadron in Jacksonville FL for five months prior to reporting for flight training. The squadron parachute rigger (PR) shop made me a helmet to wear when I'd fly in the back seat of the TA-4C aircraft assigned to my base. I also used this helmet when I was a student in flight training, but never used it after I left the Navy. I eventually donated it to an air museum in Farmingdale NY, but regretted that decision later and was able to get it back. When it came home it was in pretty rough shape, so I spent a great deal of time fixing it up and replacing all the missing components. So if you're wondering, this is what a Navy pilot would wear when flying operational missions back in the 1970s (please refer to photos). Here are the details for you detail junkies. Helmet: Type APH-6 aviator's helmet with tinted visor and extra night (clear) visor in a felt sleeve. Oxygen Mask: USN Type MS-22001 oxygen mask with butterfly fittings. Boom Microphone: Type M-133/U dynamic microphone on swivel fitting. Survival Strobe: Type SDU-5/E survival strobe light, attachable to visor assembly via Velcro patch on visor cover, with lanyard. So there you have it. Tonight's installation plus an extra resto bonus to help you fall asleep. PS to any shipmates out there: Any Navy guys out there who served in the PR rate back in the day? Remember these helmets? This one is from VA-87 at NAS Cecil Field, flying the A-7E. Please weigh in. Thanks!
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