My new 1975 Plymouth Duster Custom
Well, it's way overdue for an update.
I've been working along on the Duster since my last installment. I cleaned and detailed the engine compartment and overhauled the carb.
The carb was what has delayed me so much. I rebuilt it and the idle tubes immediately picked up dirt again. So, after going through it again with no luck, I decided to go through it once again and do everything possible to make it work.
I took everything apart again and dumped it in the can of what passes as carburetor/parts cleaner these days(the fact that the basket is now plastic should tell you how weak it is) and let it sit in the hot sun for 3 days.
In the meantime I procured a .040 drill bit and opened the idle tubes up so that they would not block near as readily. I think the recommendation was around 0.032, but I had spare tubes if this didn't work.
FINALLY...it starts up and idles fine..finally. It does not run too rich with the idle tubes drilled out and in fact I think it could stand to go slightly larger.
There was a lot of work to be done elsewhere in the engine compartment. I gave the engine a degreasing, then removed everything that was incorrect, such as the radiator cap, crankcase filter, chrome coil and air cleaner. I then painted, detailed and installed all the correct pieces so that it looks much closer to original than before.
I swapped on some good black plug wires that I saved from another project, and also exercised some creativity with the vacuum lines going from the carb to the osac valve on the air cleaner:
I painted on a red stripe to some new vacuum line for one part of it, then on the other half leading to the distributor, I painted on horizontal red stripes. Not exactly factory correct, but it's neat.
I also repaired the burned engine harness by soldering new pieces in, since I figured I would be waiting a while if I just tried to find another harness.
In addition I repaired a hole in the overflow bottle and removed the oil filter relocation kit.
I still have to do some more painting underhood and detailing of the inner fenders, but it's much better than it was. Have a look:
Well, it's way overdue for an update.
I've been working along on the Duster since my last installment. I cleaned and detailed the engine compartment and overhauled the carb.
The carb was what has delayed me so much. I rebuilt it and the idle tubes immediately picked up dirt again. So, after going through it again with no luck, I decided to go through it once again and do everything possible to make it work.
I took everything apart again and dumped it in the can of what passes as carburetor/parts cleaner these days(the fact that the basket is now plastic should tell you how weak it is) and let it sit in the hot sun for 3 days.
In the meantime I procured a .040 drill bit and opened the idle tubes up so that they would not block near as readily. I think the recommendation was around 0.032, but I had spare tubes if this didn't work.
FINALLY...it starts up and idles fine..finally. It does not run too rich with the idle tubes drilled out and in fact I think it could stand to go slightly larger.
There was a lot of work to be done elsewhere in the engine compartment. I gave the engine a degreasing, then removed everything that was incorrect, such as the radiator cap, crankcase filter, chrome coil and air cleaner. I then painted, detailed and installed all the correct pieces so that it looks much closer to original than before.
I swapped on some good black plug wires that I saved from another project, and also exercised some creativity with the vacuum lines going from the carb to the osac valve on the air cleaner:
I painted on a red stripe to some new vacuum line for one part of it, then on the other half leading to the distributor, I painted on horizontal red stripes. Not exactly factory correct, but it's neat.
I also repaired the burned engine harness by soldering new pieces in, since I figured I would be waiting a while if I just tried to find another harness.
In addition I repaired a hole in the overflow bottle and removed the oil filter relocation kit.
I still have to do some more painting underhood and detailing of the inner fenders, but it's much better than it was. Have a look: