Finally got my project car! Restoration Thread

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Ryno49

Ryno49

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Joined
Apr 2, 2018
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Location
Washington State
Hello all, I purchased a 1973 Duster in order to have a project over the years that my boy and I can work on as he grows up. It's GOLD everywhere, bumper to bumper, top to bottom! Slant 6 with the 7.25 rear and 3 speed auto. It's a strong runner with only 41,000 miles on it. Hoping to one day drop a small block and bigger rear end in it. The wife loves plum crazy purple. I really like this forum, new to MOPAR, and a novice car guy. This site is a life saver.

Just torn between driving it and enjoying it for a while versus parking it and diving right in.

1973 Duster.jpeg
 
Ryno49 said:
Hello all, I purchased a 1973 Duster in order to have a project over the years that my boy and I can work on as he grows up. It's GOLD everywhere, bumper to bumper, top to bottom! Slant 6 with the 7.25 rear and 3 speed auto. It's a strong runner with only 41,000 miles on it. Hoping to one day drop a small block and bigger rear end in it. The wife loves plum crazy purple. I really like this forum, new to MOPAR, and a novice car guy. This site is a life saver.

Just torn between driving it and enjoying it for a while versus parking it and diving right in.

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If that is as solid as it looks, then I'd just drive the crap out of it. Maybe at the most do driving upgrades such as shocks, brakes, tires etc.
 
I sure would tag and ins it right away, drive it to get to know it before you make any plans on where to spend your money :steering:
You may learn that you would rather keep it the color it is :) and just think of all the money you can spend on upgrades.
I drove mine for 6 years and I am so glad I did :thankyou: before making any big changes, learned a bunch here, and she is now in the shop here at home getting changes made.
I vote you should make some memories with it as is and drive the wheels off of it, do some detailing on it and let folks and friends see a true Mopar :thumbsup:
 
Welcome aboard, nice clean car to start with. Make a list of all the things you want to do to the car, what will you end goal be? Then slowly work towards it, collect parts then change as you go.
 
dukeboy_318 said:
If that is as solid as it looks, then I'd just drive the crap out of it. Maybe at the most do driving upgrades such as shocks, brakes, tires etc.
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It really is a solid car. Hardly any rust, just two golf ball sized spots in the rear quarter panels. It was only a 2 owner car before I bought it. It fires right up and I drove it 45 miles home when I bought it with no problems! Been driving it to work every once in a while.
 
memike said:
I sure would tag and ins it right away, drive it to get to know it before you make any plans on where to spend your money :steering:
You may learn that you would rather keep it the color it is :) and just think of all the money you can spend on upgrades.
I drove mine for 6 years and I am so glad I did :thankyou: before making any big changes, learned a bunch here, and she is now in the shop here at home getting changes made.
I vote you should make some memories with it as is and drive the wheels off of it, do some detailing on it and let folks and friends see a true Mopar :thumbsup:
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I think I'll have to do that!
 
Fisher said:
Welcome aboard, nice clean car to start with. Make a list of all the things you want to do to the car, what will you end goal be? Then slowly work towards it, collect parts then change as you go.
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A co-worker of mine told me it would be fun to beef up the slant 6 before dropping in a small block, but I'm not sure if that would be a waste of money if I'm just going to be swapping motors in the future. I have quite the list started already! Starting with free elbow grease work first and then $$$.
 
Enjoy this cool ride :thumbsup: elbow grease and getting to know your mopar , you can enjoy that slant six as is for a long long time :thumbsup: Brakes first then ignition up grades.
 
Welcome. I’d drive it. I bought a non-running 1970 Duster six years ago and it’s nowhere near road ready. To do it over, I would buy a driver and gather parts before I really tore into it.
 
pauly said:
Welcome. I’d drive it. I bought a non-running 1970 Duster six years ago and it’s nowhere near road ready. To do it over, I would buy a driver and gather parts before I really tore into it.
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I think after reading everyone's opinion I'm definitely going to enjoy driving it for a bit and slowly knock off stuff on the want list.
 
I agree as well.
Get to know it. don't put money into something that you intend to upgrade. I've seen a lot of cars get started, then cost overruns, busy life and loss of interest leaves a project in pieces . A 340 would be awesome in it though. Make a list, keep your eyes open and ask the FABO gang for help and parts. We'll all enjoy seeing the transformation.
 
I agree with all of the above. Drive it, plan your build, save parts and rebuild as you drive it... Also.... more pictures!
 
Another vote here to drive it and enjoy it for now as is.
You might even find that the slant 6 in it now is not bad really, and leave it in.
With 41,000 miles, it should be good to go for another 100,000 miles if it's taken care of.............
 
I fondly remember a Duster or 2 in the 80s with a slant motor and N 50 15s in the jacked up rear. They looked tough even if the tires stuck way out! Drive it while you fix things. Accumulate parts for the upgrades. If you tear it apart- life could very well happen and your Duster could sit torn apart for too long.
 
Ryno49 said:
Hello all, I purchased a 1973 Duster in order to have a project over the years that my boy and I can work on as he grows up. It's GOLD everywhere, bumper to bumper, top to bottom! Slant 6 with the 7.25 rear and 3 speed auto. It's a strong runner with only 41,000 miles on it. Hoping to one day drop a small block and bigger rear end in it. The wife loves plum crazy purple. I really like this forum, new to MOPAR, and a novice car guy. This site is a life saver.

Just torn between driving it and enjoying it for a while versus parking it and diving right in.

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Welcome onboard!
 
Welcome. Nice, nice car. I too agree with the advice. Remember, these old cars are meant to be driven, and not sit on jack stands in a garage for month, years, decades!!!!!
 
Sounds like a good driver. My opinion is to drive it but make it safer like adding disc brakes if it has 4 wheel drums. No need for power brakes on these cars even with front discs. Power brakes do NOT improve braking performance.
Drive it and the car will tell you what it needs. And why does everyone automatically want to put a v8 in a /6 car? I won a 2nd place trophy last year in a class of 20 cars at a big Mopar show last summer with my /6 Valiant. It beat a lot of V8's.
 
KosmicKuda said:
Sounds like a good driver. My opinion is to drive it but make it safer like adding disc brakes if it has 4 wheel drums. No need for power brakes on these cars even with front discs. Power brakes do NOT improve braking performance.
Drive it and the car will tell you what it needs. And why does everyone automatically want to put a v8 in a /6 car? I won a 2nd place trophy last year in a class of 20 cars at a big Mopar show last summer with my /6 Valiant. It beat a lot of V8's.
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At my advanced age and the age of some younger people, the slant is maybe a better choice!!!!! LOL
True, 95% of slant cars give up their engine for a SB v8!!! An original well kept survivor or restored car will get a lot of attention. Everyone over 35 has memories of some kind of the slant, be it theirs, dads, grampa's !!! or uncle Archie's
 
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