My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head
So having a fleet of Mopars, I check Craigslist and classifieds and pretty much every auction site there is to keep my Challenger running and my Dart equipped with parts for the rebuild.
Which is good usually, as I come up with a lot of parts and things that are hard to find or really expensive for not too much money.
Of course, the bad news is every now and then I see something I really want that I don't need. Or, in this case, need like I need a hole in the head. :banghead:
But a little over a month ago I came across an ad for a '74 Duster. Nothing too spectacular, 91xxx miles, /6, 904, stock as a clock. But supposedly running, with the current owner being the third, and with the 2nd and 3rd owners being in the large minority of ownership time. Here it is as pictured in the ad...
Nothing crazy, but the price was right. So I went down to take a look. MISTAKE. I know better. This poor thing is in a TERRIBLE neighborhood. And the current owners match the surroundings. Little old lady owned it forever, finally sold it to a neighbor, who sold it to the current owner. The last two transactions only being a year or so apart. It runs pretty rough, but it runs. "carb issues". I take it for a drive, pretty interesting. Won't idle, but surprisingly enough it goes under its own power. But the body is completely original, no rust at all. NONE. Few dents and dings, old lady car. Dash pad isn't even cracked, doors close solid and don't sag. Oh boy. Ok. Mistake #2, I talk the guy down and buy the car.
But I don't get very far trying to drive it home, I push it into the nearest gas station. :eek:
Yeah this was a good idea...
Thank you AAA, it gets delivered home.
After some investigation, I remember why you can't buy anything that doesn't run right. You can only troubleshoot it so far, and a "carb issue" can be nearly anything. In this case, for example, my /6 is actually a /5. :BangHead:
Super. Soooo.....
But when you're a mopar addict like I am, you have a few things laying around. Like, a V8 K frame from a '74 Dart I parted out. And, well, just about everything else. So, the K frame is fully welded, reinforced, gusseted, you name it. Firm Feel would be proud. Box the LCA's, adjustable strut rods (thanks Kyle!), poly bushings and greasable pins, offset UCA bushings, 1" torsion bars, 11 3/4" rotors, yeah, we're going overboard. :steering:
Toss in a "running" '86 318 with 302 heads for $250, match it up with the 904 out of that parts dart. Add some cop rims and tires, plus a wash and a wax...
Oh yeah, we're in DEEP.
So far, the water pump seal won't seat all the time and the radiator leaks. And although that 85k 318 runs strong, it smokes the blue smoke of death. Valve guides and seals. But it drives straight, stops great, and actually pulls pretty strong despite the blue cloud. That 7 1/4 won't last long, 8 3/4 on the way (thanks John for the A-body 8 3/4!!!).
No turning back now!!! :D
So having a fleet of Mopars, I check Craigslist and classifieds and pretty much every auction site there is to keep my Challenger running and my Dart equipped with parts for the rebuild.
Which is good usually, as I come up with a lot of parts and things that are hard to find or really expensive for not too much money.
Of course, the bad news is every now and then I see something I really want that I don't need. Or, in this case, need like I need a hole in the head. :banghead:
But a little over a month ago I came across an ad for a '74 Duster. Nothing too spectacular, 91xxx miles, /6, 904, stock as a clock. But supposedly running, with the current owner being the third, and with the 2nd and 3rd owners being in the large minority of ownership time. Here it is as pictured in the ad...
Nothing crazy, but the price was right. So I went down to take a look. MISTAKE. I know better. This poor thing is in a TERRIBLE neighborhood. And the current owners match the surroundings. Little old lady owned it forever, finally sold it to a neighbor, who sold it to the current owner. The last two transactions only being a year or so apart. It runs pretty rough, but it runs. "carb issues". I take it for a drive, pretty interesting. Won't idle, but surprisingly enough it goes under its own power. But the body is completely original, no rust at all. NONE. Few dents and dings, old lady car. Dash pad isn't even cracked, doors close solid and don't sag. Oh boy. Ok. Mistake #2, I talk the guy down and buy the car.
But I don't get very far trying to drive it home, I push it into the nearest gas station. :eek:
Yeah this was a good idea...
Thank you AAA, it gets delivered home.
After some investigation, I remember why you can't buy anything that doesn't run right. You can only troubleshoot it so far, and a "carb issue" can be nearly anything. In this case, for example, my /6 is actually a /5. :BangHead:
Super. Soooo.....
But when you're a mopar addict like I am, you have a few things laying around. Like, a V8 K frame from a '74 Dart I parted out. And, well, just about everything else. So, the K frame is fully welded, reinforced, gusseted, you name it. Firm Feel would be proud. Box the LCA's, adjustable strut rods (thanks Kyle!), poly bushings and greasable pins, offset UCA bushings, 1" torsion bars, 11 3/4" rotors, yeah, we're going overboard. :steering:
Toss in a "running" '86 318 with 302 heads for $250, match it up with the 904 out of that parts dart. Add some cop rims and tires, plus a wash and a wax...
Oh yeah, we're in DEEP.
So far, the water pump seal won't seat all the time and the radiator leaks. And although that 85k 318 runs strong, it smokes the blue smoke of death. Valve guides and seals. But it drives straight, stops great, and actually pulls pretty strong despite the blue cloud. That 7 1/4 won't last long, 8 3/4 on the way (thanks John for the A-body 8 3/4!!!).
No turning back now!!! :D
