I'm Cummins swapping a '74 Duster, thought I'd share the progress.

-
Daniel Garcia said:
DTM? Who/what is that?
Click to expand...
Messages Image(1902684171).png
 
Well, It's been about a year. The chassis stiffening kit is only partially in the car, I've encountered some issues with the car itself. At some point this particular '74 had been involved in some sort of minor front end collision, the driver side of the car is significantly less straight than the passenger side and I have to work out some issues with shoddy repairs from the previous owner(s). Never the less I haven't given up on the project, I've been hit with some set backs and have been too busy with work to get some solid time with the car.
 
Last edited:
I mean i get it....... but a task like this is for someone who has all the skills or its going to be fkn expensive or have a lot of road blocks. Not sure this is a project you want to be learning to weld on. I would make the parts but get a fabricator to do the welds. I tacked all my k frame stifeners in and then had my fabricator weld it all. Same as the chassis stifeners. I had to scribe them for hours to fit then tacked them and he came in and welded them, that way i know the welds are perfect and as strong as can be also welding thick gauge steel to the thin floor pan isnt easy if you have any rust pits it will juts blow holes.
The weight isnt great however no different to have few heavy blokes in the car.
Brakes wilwoods will be fine but there is better out there, also do a decent rear disk as well. Runa good width tyre probably not the car to run a front runner on lol.
I am sure you realise that this is a huge task and you not even scratched the surface of it. Going to be a long build, staying motivated will be the hard bit
 
Ozyduster said:
I mean i get it....... but a task like this is for someone who has all the skills or its going to be fkn expensive or have a lot of road blocks. Not sure this is a project you want to be learning to weld on. I would make the parts but get a fabricator to do the welds. I tacked all my k frame stifeners in and then had my fabricator weld it all. Same as the chassis stifeners. I had to scribe them for hours to fit then tacked them and he came in and welded them, that way i know the welds are perfect and as strong as can be also welding thick gauge steel to the thin floor pan isnt easy if you have any rust pits it will juts blow holes.
The weight isnt great however no different to have few heavy blokes in the car.
Brakes wilwoods will be fine but there is better out there, also do a decent rear disk as well. Runa good width tyre probably not the car to run a front runner on lol.
I am sure you realise that this is a huge task and you not even scratched the surface of it. Going to be a long build, staying motivated will be the hard bit
Click to expand...
BOLDERDASH...
I welded all that c*** in there.Frame connectors so forth, homemade frame connectors I should say, I'd never paid hundreds of dollars for a straight piece of metal I have to weld in...
Cheap harbor freight flux wire welder...
It's not like the body is going to twist like a big pretzel, it's just going to stop the slight movements...
After years of drag racing with a four speed and slicks, I can still go out there and my welds are just fine...
People like to overthink stuff like they're racing a ten thousand horsepower drag machine... they're not...
With the budget and time given, what kind of horsepower do you think this guy's going to make..?..
Likely all that welding and frame stiffening's only going to gain someone with modest horsepower next to nothing...
 
j par said:
BOLDERDASH...
I welded all that c*** in there.Frame connectors so forth, homemade frame connectors I should say, I'd never paid hundreds of dollars for a straight piece of metal I have to weld in...
Cheap harbor freight flux wire welder...
It's not like the body is going to twist like a big pretzel, it's just going to stop the slight movements...
After years of drag racing with a four speed and slicks, I can still go out there and my welds are just fine...
People like to overthink stuff like they're racing a ten thousand horsepower drag machine... they're not...
With the budget and time given, what kind of horsepower do you think this guy's going to make..?..
Likely all that welding and frame stiffening's only going to gain someone with modest horsepower next to nothing...
Click to expand...
The goal is 600hp, although with a diesel the bigger concern is torque. (Usually with diesels torque is roughly double the horse power, but there are of course factors that change that)
 

j par said:
BOLDERDASH...
I welded all that c*** in there.Frame connectors so forth, homemade frame connectors I should say, I'd never paid hundreds of dollars for a straight piece of metal I have to weld in...
Cheap harbor freight flux wire welder...
It's not like the body is going to twist like a big pretzel, it's just going to stop the slight movements...
After years of drag racing with a four speed and slicks, I can still go out there and my welds are just fine...
People like to overthink stuff like they're racing a ten thousand horsepower drag machine... they're not...
With the budget and time given, what kind of horsepower do you think this guy's going to make..?..
Likely all that welding and frame stiffening's only going to gain someone with modest horsepower next to nothing...
Click to expand...
for starters why are you responding like i was even addressing you, what you have or have not done has nothing to do with my statement. Secondly he stated he has little to no welding experience. And if you have any experience with welding you will know welding a very thick gauge chassis connector to a most likely pitted a body floor is difficult. If you bothered to read he has stated he has purchased chassis connectors from USCT in a non standard even thicker grade.
He will make at least 600hp and will have massive torque. It will also be equivalent of three large men heavier than the standard duster set up. So yes he will need plenty of stiffening, but that stiffening is no good with cocky **** welds.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-
Back
Top Bottom