My Duster Adventures
Well, today (14th) was my birthday. Unfortunately I had to work and didn’t get home until around 7 but I did end up working on the Duster for 3-4 hours. First, I took out front and rear seats, all the front seat belts, and the rubber floor mat. Then I started wire wheeling the floor pans in preparation for some rust repair and the subframe connectors but my drill battery died pretty quick (need to get a corded drill or a wire wheel for the grinder). So I vacuumed out the interior and decided to see about mocking up the seats and console. And I’ll be dipped if the seats are gonna take less work to fit perfectly than what I thought they will. I’ll post some detailed pics of how I do the mounting to the floor once I get to that point but for now, here are some pics.
here’s the drivers seat and console set in about where they’ll be going. I hooked up a battery to the drivers seat so I could get it in the ideal spot for me. I also had Marge come out and sit in it and adjust it to where it works for her. I’m 6’4” and she’s 5’1” and I was able to get it to where it fits me perfectly and fits her well enough and if we get a wedge pillow for her to sit on, it’ll be prefect for her as well.
As can be seen here, I’m gonna have to modify/fab up a new shifter to fit the console. The current shifter design won’t even let the trim bezel fit in place.
Here’s a similar example as to how I’m gonna have to build the new shifter. Might even go pistol grip instead of the ball. Opinions?
Here’s the room to get in the back with the drivers seat slid way back...
And here’s slid way forward. Look at all that room!! With the seat positioned where I have it, the seat back just touches against the steering wheel when it’s folded and slid way forward like this.
I also got the passenger seat set in place. It’s seat back is straight up to keep it from falling over backwards. Once again, I drug Marge out of the house and had her sit in the passenger seat get it ideally located. I’m pretty dang happy with how it’s turning out!
Unfortunately, we’re gonna be gone this weekend so I wont be able to get anything else done until Monday afternoon/evening. That said, I told Marge that since I had to work today, I’m going to take a day off for my birthday and I’m going to work on my Duster All. Day. Long! I’m looking forward to it!
Well, today (14th) was my birthday. Unfortunately I had to work and didn’t get home until around 7 but I did end up working on the Duster for 3-4 hours. First, I took out front and rear seats, all the front seat belts, and the rubber floor mat. Then I started wire wheeling the floor pans in preparation for some rust repair and the subframe connectors but my drill battery died pretty quick (need to get a corded drill or a wire wheel for the grinder). So I vacuumed out the interior and decided to see about mocking up the seats and console. And I’ll be dipped if the seats are gonna take less work to fit perfectly than what I thought they will. I’ll post some detailed pics of how I do the mounting to the floor once I get to that point but for now, here are some pics.
here’s the drivers seat and console set in about where they’ll be going. I hooked up a battery to the drivers seat so I could get it in the ideal spot for me. I also had Marge come out and sit in it and adjust it to where it works for her. I’m 6’4” and she’s 5’1” and I was able to get it to where it fits me perfectly and fits her well enough and if we get a wedge pillow for her to sit on, it’ll be prefect for her as well.
As can be seen here, I’m gonna have to modify/fab up a new shifter to fit the console. The current shifter design won’t even let the trim bezel fit in place.
Here’s a similar example as to how I’m gonna have to build the new shifter. Might even go pistol grip instead of the ball. Opinions?
Here’s the room to get in the back with the drivers seat slid way back...
I also got the passenger seat set in place. It’s seat back is straight up to keep it from falling over backwards. Once again, I drug Marge out of the house and had her sit in the passenger seat get it ideally located. I’m pretty dang happy with how it’s turning out!
Unfortunately, we’re gonna be gone this weekend so I wont be able to get anything else done until Monday afternoon/evening. That said, I told Marge that since I had to work today, I’m going to take a day off for my birthday and I’m going to work on my Duster All. Day. Long! I’m looking forward to it!
