Well after getting sidetracked on a motorcycle and my '63 Sport Fury for a while I've finally gotten back to the Duster. Removed the 8 1/4 rearend & suspension, dented gas tank, exhaust and soon the small block and 904. most of which will go into my son's '72 Dart Swinger. Here's how the Duster sits as of today.
'74 Duster big block conversion
- Thread starter Outlaw525
- Start date
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I'm using a Dr.Diff inboard spring kit and wanted to move the wheels back in the wheelwells. I changed to longer bolts on the front brackets and made 1/2" aluminum spacers. I'll be using the '68 Dana 60 that I had in my '71 Road Runner.
Update dump on the recent progress:
Dana 60 is in the car with new poly spring bushings and u-bolts. Also installed yellow Lakewood traction bars. I did modify them to contact the front spring eye with a 1/2" of clearance between the bumper and the spring eye. Maybe not the most effective on a Mopar but they are correct for the '80's street racer look I'm going for.
Dana 60 is in the car with new poly spring bushings and u-bolts. Also installed yellow Lakewood traction bars. I did modify them to contact the front spring eye with a 1/2" of clearance between the bumper and the spring eye. Maybe not the most effective on a Mopar but they are correct for the '80's street racer look I'm going for.
A friend delivered the A-body 4 speed, flywheel, clutch and Lakewood bellhousing that had been hacked into a '71 Newport that his son had bought for the 440 and 8 3/4 sure grip. I took a Super Shifter 3 that I have been saving and pieced together linkage to work.
Alot has happened since March both on the Duster and life in general. I retired, my son got married and we've been taking care of my MIL that is ill. Posting updates and taking a lot of pics took a back seat to using free time to work on the Duster. That being said, this will be a big photo dump on what has been done.
Dropped the 383 in on Schumacher mounts, unfortunately it didn't sit level and the oil pump hit the driver's side mount. so it came back out and the mount was cut, notched and welded to get the engine to sit level. Test fit my Schumacher tri y headers and found that they hit the Lakewood bellhousing, so they went down the road and I ordered a set of TTI's along the special TTI z bar for big block A bodies.
Dropped the 383 in on Schumacher mounts, unfortunately it didn't sit level and the oil pump hit the driver's side mount. so it came back out and the mount was cut, notched and welded to get the engine to sit level. Test fit my Schumacher tri y headers and found that they hit the Lakewood bellhousing, so they went down the road and I ordered a set of TTI's along the special TTI z bar for big block A bodies.
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Installed the clutch pedals/linkage and the shifter. I found that the TTI z bar hit the mini starter and a header tube so I had to fish it back out and modify it and the header tube to clear. There's not a lot of room in there. Also had to "modify the Milodon pan because the idler arm hit it. Man that hurt to do!
In sticking my late 70's/early 80's look, I installed NOS white KYB shocks and buttoned up the rear suspension and brakes. And yes I know that slapper bars and shock extension are not the best options but it's what was done back then.
This is going to be a street cruiser.
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This is going to be a street cruiser.
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Got the dash pretty much buttoned up and gauges mounted, still need to install the tach, NOS AMFM cassette and hook up the line lock and fog lights. I found an NOS grill in the box locally on Facebook Marketplace. I tucked the front bumper about an inch and installed the grill with amber fog lights behind. The headlight bezels are redone with argent on the inside to match the silver on the grill.
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