Swapped to Muscle - 75 Duster Daily build
Got a bit of work done on it yesterday.
Go the new radiator hoses and some coolant and threw in the new radiator. The Champion radiator fit really snug. For those that are curious, its the Champion part# CC526B. A bit too snug at the top but was able to to get the bolts in the stock location. After getting the old radiator out though, I noticed that it was the "pick-n-pull" radiator. It was labeled with some paint, 77 Volare 6 cyl. Taking a closer look, I can definitely see why the lower radiator hose was leaking... its like 1/2" too small of an inlet for the hose that was supposed to be there. Super glad that I swapped that out.
Since the car was jacked up for the exhaust install, I decided to take the wheels off and check some bushings on the control arms and better inspect the balljoints. Not good. The bushings in the control arms are virtually gone. That is probably why when driving it, it would kinda jerk a small amount to a side and steering really funny. Thinking about what the best option is... Also took a look at the strut bars and the rubber is really dry-rotted out as well, similar to most of the other suspension. Really leaning towards to swapping the uppers out for some of the PST upper controls or the QA1's with the QA1 strut bars for now and just replace the lower control arms with new balljoints.
On a similar topic, I was playing around with some wheels that I had to move from the 14's that are currently on it. Tires and wheels are definitely something that I need to address soon as the current tires are really weather-checked. My current options are some factory 15x7? steel wheels that I can clean up and paint or I also have a brand new set of Vision 85 soft 8's that are 16x8 0mm/4.5 in offset.
Here is the specs of the Vision's - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M8KKZ8T/?tag=fabo03-20
I am really leaning towards the 16's and get new tires for it. I was thinking for the tires, I would get g-Force Sport COMP-2 Front: 225/50ZR16 Rear: 255/50ZR16 but not sure on the fitment in the rear. I threw the 16's (with 235/70's) on the front and cycled the steering and didnt hit or rub anything.... granted the suspension is at full droop at the moment.
But here is the conundrum that I have.... No matter what option that I go with, I have to swap the rear to go to the 4.5 BBP. I am really leaning towards Dr.Diff Stock axles. But if I go that route, I have to get new brakes. I have read that any backing plates from a 8.25/8.75 with the BBP will drop right in. But I am also looking at the rear-disk swap (10.7"). This is such a spiral effect.
Got a bit of work done on it yesterday.
Go the new radiator hoses and some coolant and threw in the new radiator. The Champion radiator fit really snug. For those that are curious, its the Champion part# CC526B. A bit too snug at the top but was able to to get the bolts in the stock location. After getting the old radiator out though, I noticed that it was the "pick-n-pull" radiator. It was labeled with some paint, 77 Volare 6 cyl. Taking a closer look, I can definitely see why the lower radiator hose was leaking... its like 1/2" too small of an inlet for the hose that was supposed to be there. Super glad that I swapped that out.
Since the car was jacked up for the exhaust install, I decided to take the wheels off and check some bushings on the control arms and better inspect the balljoints. Not good. The bushings in the control arms are virtually gone. That is probably why when driving it, it would kinda jerk a small amount to a side and steering really funny. Thinking about what the best option is... Also took a look at the strut bars and the rubber is really dry-rotted out as well, similar to most of the other suspension. Really leaning towards to swapping the uppers out for some of the PST upper controls or the QA1's with the QA1 strut bars for now and just replace the lower control arms with new balljoints.
On a similar topic, I was playing around with some wheels that I had to move from the 14's that are currently on it. Tires and wheels are definitely something that I need to address soon as the current tires are really weather-checked. My current options are some factory 15x7? steel wheels that I can clean up and paint or I also have a brand new set of Vision 85 soft 8's that are 16x8 0mm/4.5 in offset.
Here is the specs of the Vision's - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M8KKZ8T/?tag=fabo03-20
I am really leaning towards the 16's and get new tires for it. I was thinking for the tires, I would get g-Force Sport COMP-2 Front: 225/50ZR16 Rear: 255/50ZR16 but not sure on the fitment in the rear. I threw the 16's (with 235/70's) on the front and cycled the steering and didnt hit or rub anything.... granted the suspension is at full droop at the moment.
But here is the conundrum that I have.... No matter what option that I go with, I have to swap the rear to go to the 4.5 BBP. I am really leaning towards Dr.Diff Stock axles. But if I go that route, I have to get new brakes. I have read that any backing plates from a 8.25/8.75 with the BBP will drop right in. But I am also looking at the rear-disk swap (10.7"). This is such a spiral effect.
