12:05 Garage- ’70 Duster build

[75slant6]

Autocross week is coming further south than it has in previous years. I intend to do this event, anyone else? These venues are relatively close to one another. I have to assume they will send us on some country backroads to make up mileage.

View attachment 1716487570

Well heck, this might just have to be the kick in the *** I need to get my Duster finished up. As you know, this will all be within 2 hours from home for me!

 

[racerjoe]

@72bluNblu, that's a great looking stance. I searched your username in that thread, but I didn't see where you laid it out. You posted a lot in there. I'm honestly a street/strip guy, so maximum suspension performance isn't really my goal. For me, it's about having the right look. I don't have any plans of swapping the k member or going to a coil over. One day I'll have to dig into the torsion bar suspension and get a better understanding of it. When the time comes, I'm just looking for a nice ride height and good handling on some back country roads.

@racerjoe, that's an awesome build. It's cool to see you being competitive with such a unique old A Body. Great thread.

Thanks! If you just want it to be low, you just need a larger diameter torsion bar. I'd say 1.03 or 1.08 depending on the brand you go with. You will need a good shock to control the increased spring rate from the bigger bar.

 

[mopowers]

Autocross week is coming further south than it has in previous years. I intend to do this event, anyone else? These venues are relatively close to one another. I have to assume they will send us on some country backroads to make up mileage.

View attachment 1716487570

I think it's badass that you're out there carrying the Mopar torch at these events when the vast majority of the internet bench racers here are just talking about it, regardless of the suspension choice. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[racerjoe]

Well heck, this might just have to be the kick in the *** I need to get my Duster finished up. As you know, this will all be within 2 hours from home for me!

Yes you do! There aren't many of us Mopar guys out there doing this thing. We need to show up!

 

[racerjoe]

I think it's badass that you're out there carrying the Mopar torch at these events when the vast majority of the internet bench racers here are just talking about it, regardless of the suspension choice. Good luck and keep us posted!

Thanks! When I started this version of the car, my intention was to build a car that I could trust to drive anywhere comfortably. Toward the end of the build is when I decided to try autocross. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and never would I have imagined for the car to be where it is now. Sure it has it's fair share of rock chips behind the tires, along with some dead bugs in the AC condenser, but I really don't care. That comes with the territory. What would be the point in owning something like this just to look at in the garage? I need stories to tell my grandkids (whenever that day comes). How boring would it be to tell them I washed the car 8,985 times and only put 100 miles on it in 40 years?!

 

[72bluNblu]

Autocross week is coming further south than it has in previous years. I intend to do this event, anyone else? These venues are relatively close to one another. I have to assume they will send us on some country backroads to make up mileage.

View attachment 1716487570

If only it wasn't a 2,250 mile drive just to get to the starting point for me!

@72bluNblu, that's a great looking stance. I searched your username in that thread, but I didn't see where you laid it out. You posted a lot in there. I'm honestly a street/strip guy, so maximum suspension performance isn't really my goal. For me, it's about having the right look. I don't have any plans of swapping the k member or going to a coil over. One day I'll have to dig into the torsion bar suspension and get a better understanding of it. When the time comes, I'm just looking for a nice ride height and good handling on some back country roads.

@racerjoe, that's an awesome build. It's cool to see you being competitive with such a unique old A Body. Great thread.

Huh, I figured my set up would be in that thread that but I didn't go back and check. Anyway, I run

• Firm Feel 1.12" torsion bars
• SPC GenI UCA's from BergmanAutocraft
• QA1 tubular LCA's
• Hotchkis shocks
• QA1 tie rod sleeves
• BergmanAutocraft rollerized pitman arm
• Hellwig sway bar
• Adjustable strutrods
• BergmanAutocraft Delrin LCA bushings with Firm Feel greasable pivots

The important parts of that for the stance are the QA1 tubular LCA's, which have a lower profile that allows for an additional inch of suspension travel, which is then used to lower the car, and the 1.12" torsion bars, to deal with the additional lowering without bottoming the suspension all the time. The lower bump stops are only 3/8", the uppers are 2 1/2" tall to recenter the travel around the ~2" lower ride height.

Thanks! When I started this version of the car, my intention was to build a car that I could trust to drive anywhere comfortably. Toward the end of the build is when I decided to try autocross. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and never would I have imagined for the car to be where it is now. Sure it has its fair share of rock chips behind the tires, along with some dead bugs in the AC condenser, but I really don't care. That comes with the territory. What would be the point in owning something like this just to look at in the garage? I need stories to tell my grandkids (whenever that day comes). How boring would it be to tell them I washed the car 8,985 times and only put 100 miles on it in 40 years?!

All about making memories! I put over 70k miles on my '72 Challenger as a daily before replacing it with my Duster, which is well over 40k miles since then.

 

[75slant6]

If only it wasn't a 2,250 mile drive just to get to the starting point for me!

Oh, don’t let the little things like that get in the way of a fun week!

 

[racerjoe]

Oh, don’t let the little things like that get in the way of a fun week!

This is how I felt when it was in PA and OH. Then I see guys drive halfway across the country for events and I wonder if I'm being a wuss.

 

[75slant6]

This is how I felt when it was in PA and OH. Then I see guys drive halfway across the country for events and I wonder if I'm being a wuss.

I get it completely. I went to the Mopar nationals a few years but some years it was just like “ugh, it’s a 6 hour drive to get there” then last year there were 3 guys I met that drove in from California and Washington for power tour.