Introducing the Electric Duster Project

Useless said

Funny part is, if you had hacked the inner fenders to put in a hemi and tubbed the car, not a single negative word would be said. So far the only thing you've cut is the trunk pan, right? Seems to me you can put in a new stock one with a few hours work just about any day of the week.

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How true - very good point! I believe the negativity is all a matter of perception. I spent a lot of hours over 2 years bringing this car back from the dead. It has basically been my "practice" project for paint and body work, among other things. It needed a trunk pan but I started this project before I got that far - so I cut out the center portion of the old one. Even cutting THAT was traumatic for me. The only other original piece I have cut is an inconsequential part of the left motor mount area. Part of my personal goal was to not harm the car and retain it's muscle car appearance.

Hemifish69 - Thanks for the explanation. Apology accepted - although yesterday I would gladly have supplied the possum for you :)

C_stripes, I weighed the car before I began and have kept pretty good track during the project. My target completed weight is 4000#. The car has SS springs which are a necessity. The battery weight is balanced front/rear so the car sits right and has a low center of gravity. In the very short test drives I have made with it, it feels natural and stops nicely - although I've only had it up to 26mph. Still, I don't anticipate any problems due to the added weight. This is based upon other "heavy" conversions I have studied (mostly pickups).