Dash Fire Duster Rebuild

This is kind of a overdo thread but now that I am under way on rebuilding my 1972 Duster, I figure everyone would want to see what I got myself into. Some have seen my various help threads for issues I have run into, so some of this stuff will be a repeat for some. And some pictures and information will be omitted if it was covered already in those related threads. This thread will be somewhat high level overview on those topics. So let’s start with an intro to the car and I will add a few posts of pictures etc as I go thru this to get progress caught up.

So last November (2020) I purchased this 1972 Plymouth Duster. It started life with a slant six, 904, and 7-1/4, no big surprise. Before I bought it a more desirable drivetrain was installed, being a 340/727 and B body 8-3/4. It was very solid condition and ran and drove. I knew it had issues but was willing to take it on. The seller had lost interest in the car after an electrical fire at the ammeter had destroyed the once pristine interior’s condition. While the damage was isolated mainly to the dash it left soot throughout the whole interior. So the previous owner started the rebuild with his limited resources and got as far as replacing the windshield and the wiring harness... well, kinda. He indicated that the harness was not matching up and he was not sure why but figured it had to do with being from a later car. So he hooked up enough to make it run and drive again before losing interest.

So enter me, I saw potential and we made a deal and I hauled it home. I made a list of what was needed... which in hindsight was a waste of time, cause I would have been better to make a list of what wasn’t needed because I have bought most the car by now lol.

List of major work that was planned:
New wiring harnesses
Recondition dash/clean interior
Upgrade braking to 73 up power disc
Wheels and tires
Suspension
Motor mounts

So that list seemed like all it would need... until I got it on the 2 post lift in December... and continued to find more as I got into it.
Entire rear axle had to be rebuilt
Driveline angles had to be corrected
Parking brakes components were omitted
More of the interior was damaged than met the eye
Every bushing in the suspension ended up replaced
But the biggest surprise was under the hood... where I now have the top of the engine torn down... after finding bend pushrods and hydraulic lifters missing retaining clips.

So this has been pretty high level so far, let’s see some pics, stay tuned for more posts that will contain the pictures to date.