70 duster: updating, and a no-dough pro-touring makeover
so, its been a really good day.
this morning, my little girl and i ran some errands and did some yard work. by about 11, i was able to get in the shop. started draining the radiator, disconnecting hoses, electrical, etc. the worst part about the job was the 12 point ARP manifold bolts i used. what was i thinking? had to use all sorts of odd wrenches to get the manifold bolts off and on.
a fresh set of 1213 gaskets, tube of RTV, two rolls of paper towels, and a can of carb cleaner later....
pic of the polished lifter valley, indybrock heads, and solid roller
pic of the gasket matching on the victor jr.
pic of it all back together.
cleaned it all up the best i could, but this POR 15 is really stained. when i painted the block this time, it went badly. last one i did, back in high school, never stained, chipped, discolored, etc. i think that i didint mix it properly this time, or stir it enough, or something.
one of these days i will re-do it. probably go hydraulic roller at the same time.
also, i removed the carb spacer. it actually runs much better without it. crisper throttle response, and more power.
treated it to fresh antifreeze, and 7 quarts of 15-50 synthetic mobil1.
after it was back together, my best friend came over to help and hang out. we decided to do the lowering of the car, see where the stance and wheel/tire fitment was.
to lower the rear, i purchased 1 inch aluminum blocks from autozone. 30 bucks, included u-bolts that i didnt need. we had to drill the register for the leaf spring pin a bit deeper, and file down the top locating pin some. about 1 mins worth of modifying the universal blocks. they went in with my old u-bolts, no problem. also, as a benifit, they made my rear sway bar line up better than ever before. my links are actually perpendicular to the arm now.
we turned the front t-bar adjusters 4 full turns each. this resulted at a 1 inch drop at all 4 corners.
it sits right now. also, the is a VERY small scrub over major dips in the road, but only from the right rear corner. plenty fo ground clearance for steep parking lots and speed bumps.
the lowering also had a benifit that i was not expecting. somehow, by some miracle of geometry that should not have happened, it made the car drive better. there is still no stering wheel return, but the turn in is much crisper, the cornering is much more precise, and the car is more stable and less twitchy at hihway speeds and above.
on our test drive, we pulled into the closed dodge dealer here in town to take a picture. its the best o can do right now.
next purchase will be new tires for these wheels. im looking at the federal 595's. i can get a set for 420 out the door. supposedly a pretty good tire. its actually the spec tire for the legends racers at CMS. my theory is that i dont need a super grippy tire for this car. it just doesnt need it. it needs a quiet, dependable, decent wet weather tire. the federal supposedly will do all that. if anyone has experience with the, please let me know.
thats all for now. grand total at the moment is 457.
michael
so, its been a really good day.
this morning, my little girl and i ran some errands and did some yard work. by about 11, i was able to get in the shop. started draining the radiator, disconnecting hoses, electrical, etc. the worst part about the job was the 12 point ARP manifold bolts i used. what was i thinking? had to use all sorts of odd wrenches to get the manifold bolts off and on.
a fresh set of 1213 gaskets, tube of RTV, two rolls of paper towels, and a can of carb cleaner later....
pic of the polished lifter valley, indybrock heads, and solid roller
pic of the gasket matching on the victor jr.
pic of it all back together.
cleaned it all up the best i could, but this POR 15 is really stained. when i painted the block this time, it went badly. last one i did, back in high school, never stained, chipped, discolored, etc. i think that i didint mix it properly this time, or stir it enough, or something.
one of these days i will re-do it. probably go hydraulic roller at the same time.
also, i removed the carb spacer. it actually runs much better without it. crisper throttle response, and more power.
treated it to fresh antifreeze, and 7 quarts of 15-50 synthetic mobil1.
after it was back together, my best friend came over to help and hang out. we decided to do the lowering of the car, see where the stance and wheel/tire fitment was.
to lower the rear, i purchased 1 inch aluminum blocks from autozone. 30 bucks, included u-bolts that i didnt need. we had to drill the register for the leaf spring pin a bit deeper, and file down the top locating pin some. about 1 mins worth of modifying the universal blocks. they went in with my old u-bolts, no problem. also, as a benifit, they made my rear sway bar line up better than ever before. my links are actually perpendicular to the arm now.
we turned the front t-bar adjusters 4 full turns each. this resulted at a 1 inch drop at all 4 corners.
it sits right now. also, the is a VERY small scrub over major dips in the road, but only from the right rear corner. plenty fo ground clearance for steep parking lots and speed bumps.
the lowering also had a benifit that i was not expecting. somehow, by some miracle of geometry that should not have happened, it made the car drive better. there is still no stering wheel return, but the turn in is much crisper, the cornering is much more precise, and the car is more stable and less twitchy at hihway speeds and above.
on our test drive, we pulled into the closed dodge dealer here in town to take a picture. its the best o can do right now.
next purchase will be new tires for these wheels. im looking at the federal 595's. i can get a set for 420 out the door. supposedly a pretty good tire. its actually the spec tire for the legends racers at CMS. my theory is that i dont need a super grippy tire for this car. it just doesnt need it. it needs a quiet, dependable, decent wet weather tire. the federal supposedly will do all that. if anyone has experience with the, please let me know.
thats all for now. grand total at the moment is 457.
michael
