2500km roadtrip in my 70 Duster

[dusterglenn]

I'm headed From Victoria BC to St Albert AB on wednesday for my friend's wedding. My friend and his fiance are both Duster owners too. They've both got red 74's. The wedding is on Saturday.
I'm feeling fairly well prepared. I swapped to a 2.94 gearset, I have a full set of working gauges, and I've gone over pretty much everything in the car. I even added a new stereo.
I hope to post some updates from the road, and maybe even some pictures. So, stay tuned.
If you see a random plum crazy 70 Duster driving through your BC or Alberta town between Victoria & Edmonton, it just might be me.

 

[dartfastback]

What's your planned route? I'm in Salmon Arm ,I'll keep an eye open. Have a good road cruise.

 

[abodyjoe]

Just carry spare parts and tools to change them out. You'll be fine.

 

[dodge freak]

That and your tires should be in great shape. Tires are the most overlook item, they aren't cheap so people don't change them as often as they should--including me

 

[dusterglenn]

We made it as far as Hinton AB. The car's been great so far. Range could be better... I'll have some pics to post once I get home.

 

[70DartMike]

Cool! Glad the trip is going well. What drivetrain are you running in it?

 

[dusterglenn]

My current setup is a mild 360 (rebuilt about ten years ago, balanced, stock 340 cam, Edelbrock 600, cast iron 340 intake & exhaust manifolds' and a full TTi dual exhaust), 904, and an 8-3/4 with 2.94 gears. I usually run a 3.55 with a sure grip. Even with the highway gears, fuel 'economy' is somewhat lacking. Oh well, I didn't buy the car to get good mpg.

 

[dodge freak]

Did you try different metering rods ? you need to see how lean you can go and then go .002 thinner

I got my mpg from 9 to 11 with thicker rods. Doesn't sound like much but that is over 20% better. I think with 2.94 it could get 13 to 15 mpg..not sure what that is in liters. Yeah fuel cost like 2 times as much for road trips

 

[dusterglenn]

I just used an online calculator and figured about 16.4L/100km, or 14.28mpg. Not quite as bad as I thought. Still felt we stopped at every gas station we saw...

 

[cuda20]

I'd say that's not half bad.Even dead stock 360's are not known for great fuel milage. Awesome trip in a nice looking duster. Will look for you on the return trip through the wack.

 

[dodge freak]

Yep I would be happy with 14 mpg but I don't have 294 / 3.23, I got 3.91's

16 mpg can be had--unless that was with real gasoline, not this gasohol fuel we have now

 

[Purple Haze]

:worthles:

 

[dusterglenn]

The pics won't happen til I'm home. No way to swap them from my camera to iPad. I'm a litlle drunk from the wedding receptionnthat was the reason we came to St. Albert. Good cruise through town before the drinkin began. Good thing my co-driver's a non-drinker.

 

[dusterglenn]

Here's a selection of pics from the road.

 

[dusterglenn]

and, a few more...

 

[dodge freak]

Sure looks prettier than the drive to Toronto, ha ha

Wish I could join U

 

[95teetee]

Yep I would be happy with 14 mpg but I don't have 294 / 3.23, I got 3.91's

I always said that my Duster with the 4.10s got 18 miles per gallon.



8 in town plus 10 on the highway

 

[cannucky]

Hmmmm I recognize some of those mountains { the second pic looks like Revelstoke }, glad to hear you had a good trip I just saw the thread for the first time or I would have mentioned carrying a couple of 20 ltr gas cans, It sure saved me but the trip to alberta isn't as bad for finding fuel as the drive through northern ontario it was real hard to find high test there let me tell ya lots of res gas ,there was a couploe of times where I burned through my tank and 30 plus litres of the 40 spare I was carrying but it sure is fun to run these cars like they were meant to be run eh ?