1970 Duster Rebuild

-
After much searching I was able to score a very nice early 1970 Plymouth gauge cluster. These are fairly difficult to find due to it not being woodgrain the later mid year 1970 went to. I much prefer the black and ribbed look vs the woodgrain the later version became. I do have a 68 cluster i can used for the square look ALT, TEMP, FUEL. The 67-69s had a flasher switch on the bezel, this is much cleaner.

thumbnail_FB_IMG_1757953987162.jpg


thumbnail_FB_IMG_1757953990698.jpg


thumbnail_FB_IMG_1757953993797.jpg
 
On today's episode of what the hell is Big J working on. This was a continuation of yesterday's project I had to touch up a few things this morning. I sanded and prepped both inside and outside cowl. Used rust bullet metal blast to etch, then sprayed 2 coats of rust bullet silver and 3 coats of base.

FB_IMG_1758476883111.jpg


FB_IMG_1758476886199.jpg


FB_IMG_1758476889164.jpg


FB_IMG_1758476891767.jpg


FB_IMG_1758476894510.jpg


FB_IMG_1758476896989.jpg


FB_IMG_1758476901879.jpg


FB_IMG_1758476909445.jpg


FB_IMG_1758476911999.jpg


FB_IMG_1758476914667.jpg
 
On today's episode of what the hell is Big J working on. This was a continuation of yesterday's project I had to touch up a few things this morning. I sanded and prepped both inside and outside cowl. Used rust bullet metal blast to etch, then sprayed 2 coats of rust bullet silver and 3 coats of base.

View attachment 1716458008

View attachment 1716458009

View attachment 1716458010

View attachment 1716458011

View attachment 1716458012

View attachment 1716458013

View attachment 1716458014

View attachment 1716458015

View attachment 1716458016

View attachment 1716458017
Is the cowl held on by spot welds?
 
Those leaves and twigs were pretty much permanantly in there, but I found a super easy way to get them out in ten seconds without cutting the cowl off. Just drop a lit match through the cowl slots! Then just hose the ashes out through the drain holes...
 
Good job on the build. My '71 Demon is in similar but alot worse shape. It's all easy work, just takes time and a really good plan. I read a bunch of other build threads and those threads helped to decide whether to replace parts of the floor or the whole floor; I opted for the whole floor too...
 
Yes, that would have removed the debris.. But I wanted to permanently seal it. While coatings are great for unreachable places the Rust Bullet paint followed by base coat completely sealed it. 2 birds 1 stone IMHO


Those leaves and twigs were pretty much permanantly in there, but I found a super easy way to get them out in ten seconds without cutting the cowl off. Just drop a lit match through the cowl slots! Then just hose the ashes out through the drain holes...
 
On today's episode of what the hell is Big J working on is Cowl repairs. I test fitted the good used cowl section and got the center trimmed in and tacted down. Still a little more trimming left, but I'm going slow at it and moving around so it doesn't warp. Stay tuned

Screenshot_20250927_115313_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20250927_115328_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20250927_115341_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20250927_115350_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20250927_115403_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20250927_115428_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20250927_115438_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20250927_115448_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20250927_115502_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20250927_115512_Gallery.jpg
 
On today's episode of what the hell is Big J working on is a continuation of last weekend's cowl repairs/install. Last weekend cowl was trimmed and tacted in.. This morning I finished welding in the seam and ground it down smooth. I also added a skim coat of filler. Stay tuned

FB_IMG_1759604429789.jpg


FB_IMG_1759604433211.jpg


FB_IMG_1759604435763.jpg


FB_IMG_1759604438166.jpg


FB_IMG_1759604440792.jpg


FB_IMG_1759604443344.jpg


FB_IMG_1759604445845.jpg


FB_IMG_1759604448463.jpg


FB_IMG_1759604450969.jpg


FB_IMG_1759604453267.jpg
 

I have been into 1970 Dusters since I was young, when I was growing up we had an orange 70 duster. My parents sold it in the early 90s. Nov 2020 My dad bought a 70 duster we built together right after my mom passed away.. He sold it Last summer. On Saturday my 1970 Duster project car arrived. This is a very Longterm project for me, but definitely a project I look forward to tackling. Not aiming for perfect, show or even restored. Plan is to make it solid and the mechanicals sound and go from there. The car my Dad owned the vin last 4 are 0557. The car I bought Vin Last 4 are 0584 both cars were bult at the same plant about 10k cars apart from each other.

View attachment 1716260820

View attachment 1716260821

View attachment 1716260822

View attachment 1716260823
I have a lot of parts for that car. If you have a shopping list let me know. This my project.
Good luck.

IMG_3373.jpeg
 
On a surprise Sunday episode of what the hell is Big J working on.. Smoothed out the skim coat i applied yesterday, and welded in the back cowl lip to the inner cowl structure. I put self etching primer on cowl section to protect till final prep for paint. Just a few more steps on this spot. Stay tuned

FB_IMG_1759688979795.jpg


FB_IMG_1759688983288.jpg


FB_IMG_1759688986200.jpg


FB_IMG_1759688988899.jpg


FB_IMG_1759688991269.jpg


FB_IMG_1759688993869.jpg
 
On today's episode of what the hell is Big J working on.. This is a couple episodes combined into 1 post.. On this episode we rebuilt the lower drivers door hinge section. Here's the before and after pics and a few pics of the good used donor pieces. This section has been ground smooth and a skim coat of filler roughed in. Stay tuned

Screenshot_20251010_130118_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20251010_130128_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20251010_130158_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20251010_130207_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20251010_130221_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20251010_130243_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20251010_130259_Gallery.jpg
 
Quick update got the skim coat smoothed out and cleaned up. Used self etching primer to protect till painting and final body work. My dad helped reinstall the door and we got it adjusted really close. On to the next panel!

Screenshot_20251011_105643_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20251011_105653_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20251011_105759_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20251011_105809_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20251011_105818_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20251011_105830_Gallery.jpg
 
-
Back
Top Bottom