A-Bodies...Big Motors / New Hemi Duster - FINAL ASSEMBLY

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Great weather finally in Ohio.....drove the 90 miles down to Good Guys in Columbus. The Mariott off 161 hosts the show crowd with a great barbecue and music. Met a FABO reader or two for some great B.S. and bench racing. What a blast. The Duster likes to go any speed......mostly 65 @ 2300 rpm. Joining me, was Brother Weeb in the 383 Duster. We headed back to Findlay around 10pm for a great nigh time cruise home.....and we have the bug spatter to prove it.

Only had one small issue....as I made the final turn to the Mariott, the 1st/2nd rod retainer clip somehow removed itself off the shifter leaving me locked in first to drive the (luckily) remaining 500 feet into the Mariott parking lot. I borrowed a floor jack from a trailed ride, verified the issue and used Brother Johns car to drive to Jegs a few miles down the interstate for a package of retainers. Back in business for the return trip later in the evening in less than 30 minutes.

Oh yeah....I left my blue chair in the Mariott packing lot. Hopefully Big D Hoosh (he lives less than 10 miles away) will drive over and retrieve it for me and bring it to The Nats.

I heard a story when you where at the parts store about a "Jesus Clip." LOL
 
I pulled the #1 hole spark plug after the 180 mile trip....I'll try to get John to post a couple of photos. I cannot believe how clean it is burning.

by far, the best it has ever ran.
 
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not at all.....barely on the first mark....180, right with the thermostat. I verified temp a while back with an infra red heat gun. I do like the chocolate colored electrode. 99% interstate running 65-70 MPH @ 2300-2500 RPM with a few blasts to 100 mph just to check acceleration and vibration. Smooth as a babys butt.

If it got hot anytime, I would already be making it richer.

Comments are more than welcome.
 
not at all.....barely on the first mark....180, right with the thermostat. I verified temp a while back with an infra red heat gun. I do like the chocolate colored electrode. 99% interstate running 65-70 MPH @ 2300-2500 RPM with a few blasts to 100 mph just to check acceleration and vibration. Smooth as a babys butt.

If it got hot anytime, I would already be making it richer.

Comments are more than welcome.
With today's tuning technology and equipment those plugs may be spot on. ihmo
 
No EFI....old school with two Eldelbrock 1406...front without choke, rear with. Different needles and jets in almost every hole, but the balance is good, all plugs look the same.

Progressive linkage, so runs (crispy) on rear carb until you stick your foot in it.
 
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With today's tuning technology and equipment those plugs may be spot on. ihmo

no new technology on the Ghost Missile....timing light, tachometer, vacuum gauge, seat of the pants (pucker factor) acceleration meter
Hot Rod 101....always look for improvement. Might get frustrated, walk away for a day or two.....but never give up and shove it in the corner.

I love this forum, the grins, motivation, knowledge and tips I pick up here .......priceless. You guys ROCK!
 
Pictures of the new Winters Performance aluminum Dana 60 differential with Strange axles for the silver Hemi Duster. This will complete the aluminum intensive drivetrain in this car which already includes an aluminum Griffin radiator, an all aluminum 426 Hemi, a Passon aluminum cased A833 4 speed trans, an aluminum Gear Vendors O.D. and an aluminum Denny's drive shaft. Note: the ends won't be welded on until the 4-link brackets & shock mounts are slid on to the axle tubes.

This rearend, which is rated for 1500 HP and contains a 4.56 ring and pinion, was held up for a couple of months due to Winters designing an supplying it's own proprietary center section after deeming that a Tru-Trac wasn't strong enough.

You might recognize the Winters name as a major supplier of quick change rearends over the years for midgets, sprint cars, champ cars and street rods. Winters also offers complete rearend packages for stock cars such as ARCA and NASCAR.

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I know this is old thread but just found this. Wow I never saw a aluminum dana 60,gotta call them.
 
no, only room for one Duster in the trailer for the 7 hour haul. The Flash got the nod.

The silver Duster is poised in the shop next to the Flash for tomorrow nights cruise. Just need to apply a little tire jizz and its ready to go.

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with the Nats cancelled, I decided to adapt the shifter arm mod (pictured) Butch requested for his 72 ghosted California Flash street build to the silver Duster. I never cared for the "factory " spaghetti shift linkage. For both Dusters, the Super Shifter linkage modification is pretty simple, all it takes is a HDK aluminum adapter plate and the arms (Ford Top Loader). Of course, the Flash (post above) already has the bracket, so all I had to do is copy it and figure out the reverse linkage on the street cars.

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while I'm waiting for some shifter arms....thought I would address my 8-3/4 differential.

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Denny you should write a book. It doesn't have to be professional, just photos of some of what you've done over the years and "outline style" comments and captions.
 
Denny you should write a book. It doesn't have to be professional, just photos of some of what you've done over the years and "outline style" comments and captions.

Thanks for that...building hot rods is fun, but if you guys could peek behind the curtain, you would laugh your *** off.

Lifes' been good to me so far (Joe Walsh / The Eagles)
 
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DAMN, over 9 years ...same thread....called

"New Hemi Duster - FINAL ASSEMBLY"

When is the latter coming? ;)


 
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