1973 Duster with make over

[kaharshs]

Well worked for a few hours today and got the right side pretty much all welded in. I also the left side clamped in place and ready to be welded. I'm gonna order up the summit racing 20 gallon fuel cell and get that installed. I amso going to order a universal sway bar for the rear end so i can get all that buttoned.

 

[kaharshs]

After I got off work today i got the left side pretty much all spot welded in.

 

[kaharshs]

Well, I have been working on side projects to make extra money for my car so I haven't had much time to work on it. I ordered up a 20gallon aluminum fuel cell and got it in. I also bought a stick of 1x1 and 2x1 tubing to mount the cell. So this weekend i am going to try and get it in. I will post pictures.

Kyle

 

[kaharshs]

Holy crap I have not been busy, but i did get a few things done. I bought a 1994 dodge ram 5.9 auto for my engine. I parted it out keeping the wiring, engine, transmission, dash, and fuel pump. Luckily I made my money back and more and also buying a 2wd transmission. I also bought a oil pan, pump/pickup, headers, and motor mounts to install this in my car. I have also made some of the parts to finish up the rear end of the car. I made the quarter panel extension supports, the panels that connect the quarter tubs to the sail panel, and the panel that connect the rear frame to the taillight panel. :blob:

 

[kaharshs]

I got the motor stabbed in and the tranny in for mock up. I still have to finish the trans cross member and fix the metal I had to cut out on the car for the trans to go in. I also bolted the ram steering column in with the original column bolts. I just have to modity the shaft that connects to the stock stearing box and the metal where it bolts to the firewall.

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

Your fab skills are great. But I am confused on the direction you are going with your car. Is it Pro Street or Pro Touring?

 

[silverfox]

:happy1:

 

[kaharshs]

I wouldnt say i'm buding the car to be either. I am just building it the way i want it, which is cheap and resourceful. I would say the tubs/axle/4link are more pro street and the engine/trans and soon to be sway bars are more pro touring.

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

Ok cool I will be following along

 

[kaharshs]

I have had some time lately to work on the the duster. I welded in the panels I made to connect the tubs to the body. I am almost finished welding in a couple brackets I made to connect the trunk spring brackets to the tubs. I finally made a support structure for the fuel cell and made a box to fit in it. I am slowly starting to get back into the project.

Kyle

 

[kaharshs]

Well, I got the taillight panel welded in, started welding up the running light holes and fuel filler door. I also ordered the 295/50r15 tires I am going to run and will fit them in the wheel wells to determine the rim backspacing I need to order. I think I am going to run 15x10 steel cop wheels. I cut a rough hole where the dodge ram ac/heater box goes. I will make filler piece to graft the 2 piece together.

 

[HemiDenny]

Nice fab shop.....I probably sleep there if they let me.

Any thought to adding some support bars to the front portion of where your upper bars on your 4- bar connect the frame....lots of pull there when you add the HP and a sticky tire.

I'm sure you know.....the lower bars locate....the upper bars transfer the torque/HP

Happy New Year
Denny

 

[kaharshs]

Denny,

I love going to work because of all the machinery we have. We recently got a new lincoln 375 tig and a 4x8 arclight dynamics cnc plasma table. To tell you the truth I know very little about the actual forces that play into a 4 link design. This is my first one I put together after internet research and buying a few books. I will definitely reinforce the upper mounts if I keep the upper bars in the same location. I am thinking I may redo the cross members drive shaft area. I am also thinking about converging the upper bars at the axle housing centerline and mounting their forward location on the sides of the frame rails. I want to do this because I am fearing my drive shaft may hit the cross member if I compress the suspension to much or If I decide to lower the rear of the car. How much room do you have between your drive shaft and the cross member?

Kyle

 

[kaharshs]

I received my tires from summit today. I ordered them at 2:45pm monday and they showed up on my doorstep at 11:45 am tuesday. Its crazy how fast I get stuff from them. I set the tires in place and they look good. I am making a wheel fitment tool to set the tire in place with different offsets. I am thinking about going with a 15x10 rims with a 5.5 backspace. I sat the new tires next to my old 205/75r15's, what a joke.

 

[moparisbest]

with all that extra room why so small with the tires ? I have 315 40 17 on 10.5 rims with just a mini tub and spring relocation. and still have room

 

[kaharshs]

When I rebuilt the back half of the car due to rust and previous damage, I deciced to over build it. That way if ever want to put wider tires on I wont have to hard of a time. 295's are plenty wide for now. I probably wont even drive the car for another year or two. You right though, I built them to be able to run up to a 18 wide tire/wheel combo.

 

[kaharshs]

I did some work.

 

[moparisbest]

looking good sir.

 

[kaharshs]

Well, I cut out pieces of the firewall I didn't need anymore and welded In new pieces that I madeup. I got rid of the stock wiper motor and will be Installing a remote under dash unit.

 

[kaharshs]

I put the engine in to mock up the whole car and test fire the engine and a short drive is in store. After I get everything mocked up i will blast the car upart. Then i will put in on my rottisserie to paint the underside and interior. On a side note, I am building a 4x8 CNC plasma table . I welded up my water pan today. I have everything else made for the table. I just need to purchase a plasma cutter and an electronics package.

 

[duster rege]

Man that is gonna be a bad duster.Looking great!!

 

[kaharshs]

Thanks. I need to quit dragging my feet on it and get it finished.

 

[kaharshs]

Well, I have been slowly trying to figure out how to connect the stock dodge ram steering column to my duster steering box. I ordered up a Borgeson steering coupling to go from my stock box to a 1" double d. I then used the water jet at work to cut out an adapter from the ram shaft to fit the double d. I need to recut the adapter because I clocked the two joints 90 degree off.

 

[kaharshs]

Well after finishing a ton of other projects, I finally decided to dust (pun intended) off this project and finish it. I bought a 2 post lift to make my life easier. I decided to go back to a stock firewall and use a carburetor instead of fuel injection.

 

[kaharshs]

Well finally dropped some paint on the body. I painted all the backsides of the body panels too. Next step is to color sand the paint and spray the interior of the trunk and passenger compartment.