FredP
Well-Known Member
Hi folks, this thread to share the WIP on my 70 Duster with it's 318/904 combo.
As I said in my presentation, my goal is to have the car running "as is" for the next 4 years or so, and then to restore it from ground (once I retire). This is why I'm not calling this a restoration, but more likely a restarting process.
This car was sold to a French guy 6 years ago, it was imported from Oregon state. At that time, paint was shiny (it allways will on pictures!), and so was the engine bay.
This car sat for 6 years in a barn in northwestern France -close to Mont Saint Michel in Normandy-, and was driven for only short trips: 4000 miles in 6 years. Local weather and humidity left some visible damage on the car: a little bit of rust here and there, aluminum parts (intake/carb/head covers) began to oxydize, a strong musty smell inside...
So I drove it back home a week ago, driving my 1300 km / 800 mi journey in only 2 days. Imagine that I spent less than one hour with former owner including paperwork before I started my trip! Drive it like youstole just bought it! 
Driving at night, under heavy rain, with a car you don't its history was a great adventure but come on: it's a Mopar, so it's a good car!
(Skip that next paragraph if you don't like grumpy old men
) I had time yesterday to have a deeper look and I will always be amazed by the real state of cars supposedly restored by owners who ultimately only do a crude make-up. I found small pieces of sheet metal held together with pop rivets, strips of sheet metal intended to hide the misery, a lot of fiberglass, makeshift repairs. But everything is hidden under a layer of shiny paint that looks the part from a distance. The engine was repainted red (the paint is flaking and does not hold), but the entire lower part of the engine remained blue: who wants to paint an engine without even cleaning it of its grease? Without taking it out to detail it properly?
When you start a restoration project, I thought that you did it above all to have a base free of all reproach and that the paint finish was only the final step in a long process... it's a shame to paint over the misery, right?
It's got the fender plate, it also has the windshied area VIN plate, the door sticker.
To start, here's what I know about the car: it was produced for the Canadian market, had a radio, and that's about all I could decode from the fender tag.
I did a good inspection of the chassis, the engine bay and the drivetrain. Now I'm finding myself with a list of issues to solve before I can have it inspected...
Beside these "mandatory" works, I also ordered a wing mounting bracket set and I'll try also to install the two hood scoops.
=> Fun fact: hood scoops inserts are metric: way easyier for me to get M6 bolts and nuts!
I'll try to update this thread as soon as I'll make some progress: parts are on the way but it may take up to 4 weeks before delivery, and I have little time to spend on this project.
Stay tuned
As I said in my presentation, my goal is to have the car running "as is" for the next 4 years or so, and then to restore it from ground (once I retire). This is why I'm not calling this a restoration, but more likely a restarting process.
This car was sold to a French guy 6 years ago, it was imported from Oregon state. At that time, paint was shiny (it allways will on pictures!), and so was the engine bay.
This car sat for 6 years in a barn in northwestern France -close to Mont Saint Michel in Normandy-, and was driven for only short trips: 4000 miles in 6 years. Local weather and humidity left some visible damage on the car: a little bit of rust here and there, aluminum parts (intake/carb/head covers) began to oxydize, a strong musty smell inside...
So I drove it back home a week ago, driving my 1300 km / 800 mi journey in only 2 days. Imagine that I spent less than one hour with former owner including paperwork before I started my trip! Drive it like you
Driving at night, under heavy rain, with a car you don't its history was a great adventure but come on: it's a Mopar, so it's a good car!
(Skip that next paragraph if you don't like grumpy old men
) I had time yesterday to have a deeper look and I will always be amazed by the real state of cars supposedly restored by owners who ultimately only do a crude make-up. I found small pieces of sheet metal held together with pop rivets, strips of sheet metal intended to hide the misery, a lot of fiberglass, makeshift repairs. But everything is hidden under a layer of shiny paint that looks the part from a distance. The engine was repainted red (the paint is flaking and does not hold), but the entire lower part of the engine remained blue: who wants to paint an engine without even cleaning it of its grease? Without taking it out to detail it properly?When you start a restoration project, I thought that you did it above all to have a base free of all reproach and that the paint finish was only the final step in a long process... it's a shame to paint over the misery, right?
It's got the fender plate, it also has the windshied area VIN plate, the door sticker.
To start, here's what I know about the car: it was produced for the Canadian market, had a radio, and that's about all I could decode from the fender tag.
I did a good inspection of the chassis, the engine bay and the drivetrain. Now I'm finding myself with a list of issues to solve before I can have it inspected...
- there is some rust on the rear fenders (between wheels and bumper), need to cut/weld,
- the rear leaf spring brackets were somewhat "incorporated" to the chassis with lots of bad weldings and need to be replaced,
- rear frame rails have some holes that will be "patched",
- there is a hole between the trunk center section and the right trunk extension floor (patch will do the job),
- another hole in the far right rear side of the trunk extension floor,
- the wheel studs will be replaced because some were replaced with incorrect diameter ones: 20 studs/20 nuts ordered,
- the brakes will need a good maintenance: hoses, shoes, drum rectification, power booster refurbishment,
- I'll change the engine mounts because they look "tired"...,
- I need to work on the headligths adjustment screws: so rusty that they broke when trying to adjust the look-my-feet-lamps (new set in approach),
- I'll try to have the 1406 Edelbrock carb ultrasonic cleaned,
- need to check also ignition timing, carb settings, plugs, wires, etc.
- I'll add a mirror on the right side because my wifes plans to drive it too,
- I need to clean everything/everywhere, get rid of oil in engine bay, remove surface oxidation on carb,
- the horn won't blow: maybe the copper friction track (because I hear crunchy bad noises when turning the steering wheel),
- the ammeter & the water temp gauge do not work: I need also to check lectricity/dashboard,
- the wiper motor only works on low speed,
- both light and wiper switches will be replaced,
- a small exhaust leakage
Beside these "mandatory" works, I also ordered a wing mounting bracket set and I'll try also to install the two hood scoops.
=> Fun fact: hood scoops inserts are metric: way easyier for me to get M6 bolts and nuts!
I'll try to update this thread as soon as I'll make some progress: parts are on the way but it may take up to 4 weeks before delivery, and I have little time to spend on this project.
Stay tuned
