The Great Pumpkin - '71 Duster
Holy cow! What’s up Greg!!!!!!!
Congrats! It has made the triumphant return!!!!!
Where is & what is on the cardboard list?
Not sure I'd call it a triumphant return, more like waking up from a long hibernation and being a little worse for the wear.
But OK let's see;
#1 is a major clean up and addressing any surface oxidation on exposed parts. Thankfully it's never had any gas in it so I don't have to be concerned with any varnish in the fuel lines or tank.
When I stopped working on it before we moved, I was in the middle of rewiring the entire car. Not sure exactly where I left off! Got the peripheral stuff with the trunk battery worked out and IIRC was moving forward but don't remember how far I got. Need to finish putting the dash together which is mostly electrical stuff.
Car has no brakes but I think the system just needs to be filled with fluid and bled. Maybe?
Motor was dynoed then put in the car but has been sitting for almost 5 years at this point. I have not tried to turn it over yet. I think it's probably OK but I'm a little concerned about the valves and springs and some of the seals. I may take it out and take it apart to look it over. Pretty sure the heads and oil pan should come off at a minimum.
I believe the trans is good to go. I had it "dynoed" at Freddy Browns to make sure it shifted and then like the engine, it sat. Guess the one concern would be the seals. Not sure what, if anything I will do with that. Probably just roll the dice and hope it doesn't leak.
Have to install the shifter and make it work - never an easy task with that stupid cable.
After the roll bar was put in I reinstalled the back seat but it was a huge hassle and I regretted it. It's all dry rotted and pretty much a pain to get to for anyone to ride in it anyway with the roll bar and fixed seats. Also need to put the package tray in which is a little bit tricky with the rear down bars.
I have a goal of getting it down to Carlisle for the Friday program at Quarter Aces but I'm not going to hold myself to that. Three months is a while but there is a lot of work to get through.
Looking forward to getting back into it.
