1973 Duster - From Strip to Street

It's been a while, and I've been lurking, but despite my lack of postings, I've been quite busy!

Prototyped my own gauge cluster, looking for a local machine shop that will put it into aluminum or steel at a reasonable price.

Carpeted the cabin

Installed a Hurst Pro-Matic-2 shifter (much more fun than the column shift)

New alternator, voltage reg, ballast, plugs, plug wires, engine bay wire harness, rewired portions of the cabin (still need to get the cabin lights working. Door switches aren't connected, and my headlight switch gave up it's dimmer function long ago.)

Engine is finally running happily, Fixed some timing issues, purged the fuel lines.

Brakes bled, steering aligned. (Stops like power brakes, steers like power steering. This car doesn't have either one!)

Put in a radio, as the dash was already hacked up for one. Better to have something to fill the hole, than to just have the ugly hole... Playing Rush driving down the highway is always a plus, too!

In sanding down the original paint, I found one more body rust spot on the bottom driver's rear quarter panel, other than that, and the original two spots, it was rust free on the body. The drivers frame rail has some rust through, but not enough to worry me right now, for street use.

Have Duster and Plymouth emblems on the way - Might start looking at MOtorPARts 318 four barrel emblems, too.

Next steps: Tuff Wheel, dash pad and seats recovered, 8.25 rear with 3.55's or 3.73's, and bigger lug pattern(when I get that, I'll pick up some 15"x8" wheels to match the front), kickdown linkage (maybe...), possibly a full manual valve body for the 904. I'd like a go-wing, the one-piece Duster hood scoop, and side/rear stripes, if I can find some in Satin Black. If not, I guess I'll just have to tape and spray them myself, eh? Need to look into a driver side tail light bezel, as mine is corroded somewhat. Not so badly that it's completely unsightly, but enough that one would notice on anything more than a glance. Need to have a body shop take a look at the hood, and repair all the mounting holes.