And so it begins,,,,,, 5-speed Duster swap!

[darndart]

I finally got the exhaust finished up today. All in all the Jegs A-body exhaust kit fit pretty decent. If you have a welder the kit is doable. If you were planning to clamp it all together, it’s not gonna fit worth a crap. I plan on getting it set down on the tires tomorrow, so I can get a proper measurement for the custom aluminum driveshaft I’m getting made. Once I get those measurements, it time to start patching up the floor pan. If I keep plucking away I may be able to drive this thing yet this summer!

 

[Kendog 170]

Looks great!

 

[darndart]

Finally got the floor pan patched up. It was a lot of work, especially the rear section. But, I think it turned out OK. Time to put the interior back together!

 

[darndart]

A little paint to cover it up!

 

[darndart]

I whipped up a spacer out of a piece of aluminum bar stock, I had laying around. I wanted to move the shift handle a little closer to the driver. It all fits under the stock shifter boot, so it should be all good.

 

[bjkadron]

Looking great!

 

[weedburner]

Can you slide that trans back far enough to get it out?

Grant

 

[darndart]

If I lower the rear of the trans and remove the shifter, the trans will slide right out.

 

[darndart]

Custom driveshaft arrived today. She’s a beauty, and fits like a glove. Shout out to Action Machine Inc.

 

[darndart]

Put some me heat shield on the wires going to the starter and the starter itself. Headers were a little close.

 

[darndart]

I got the power steering lines mockup up today. I’ve got the power steering pump apart for a reseal kit and paint. I also got the alternator and radiator mounted up today. If I keep plucking away,,,,,,, she may run again!

 

[darndart]

Getting real close!

 

[bjkadron]

Looking good! Also if you flip your radiator catch can, it can push the fluid back into the vent port when it cools back down. Gets you closer to a sealed system like most newer cars.

 

[darndart]

I got the power steering lines, cooler, belts, fan, etc. all buttoned up over the weekend. I’m still trying to figure out a fan shroud setup. I may end up contacting Champion and see if they have a direct fit one available. Also, my 4 belt lower pulley wouldn’t work, because it hit the water pump pulley, so I had to scrounge up a 2 belt pulley. Everything fit’s great now!

 

[darndart]

I also put 6 qts of NAPA conventional oil in it. I need to find my oil pump primer shaft. Once the oil is primed, I should be ready to drop in the distributor, top off the radiator, and see if this thing is gonna run! (New engine, never fired) It’s going on year 4 since the last time this thing has been on the road!

 

[darndart]

Almost there!

 

[darndart]

When I bought the Duster about 8 years ago, it came with a new in the box Year One Shark Tooth Grill. I might as well put that in while I’m working on it!

 

[OttawaCharger]

Don't forget to black out what goes behind that grill before you get it all bolted in. Much easier than having to take it all out again later. From a guy who did just that!

 

[darndart]

I decided to put the EFI intake on before I put antifreeze in the engine. I plan on breaking the engine in with a carburetor, driving it for awhile, then swap it over to EFI. I really hope to have it fired up this weekend!

 

[bjkadron]

I may have missed it, but what kind of EFI are you going with?

 

[darndart]

I may have missed it, but what kind of EFI are you going with?

The intake is a Chinese knock-off of a Super Victor EFI (I believe ACES now sells the intake) Speedmaster 4150 throttle body, summit 30lbs injectors, Holley Terminator X will control the electronics along with a Holley Dual Snyc distributior. Tanks Inc EFI tank with Walbro 255l pump inside will supply the fuel.

 

[bjkadron]

The intake is a Chinese knock-off of a Super Victor EFI (I believe ACES now sells the intake) Speedmaster 4150 throttle body, summit 30lbs injectors, Holley Terminator X will control the electronics along with a Holley Dual Snyc distributior. Tanks Inc EFI tank with Walbro 255l pump inside will supply the fuel.

Oh were you the one that got the trade show intake? I saw a lot about that one. Looks like it will be a nice setup. I'm thinking about doing something similar.

 

[darndart]

Oh were you the one that got the trade show intake? I saw a lot about that one. Looks like it will be a nice setup. I'm thinking about doing something similar.

Like I said ACES now sells this exact intake, but they’ve got the price jacked up so high it would almost be worthwhile buying the genuine Edelbrock intake

 

[darndart]

Oh were you the one that got the trade show intake? I saw a lot about that one. Looks like it will be a nice setup. I'm thinking about doing something similar.

Yes, my bro-in-law(Robzilla), picked up the intake at the PRI show in Indy.

 

[darndart]

I had to go with a aftermarket throttle cable bracket, because the intake is so tall. It required a few modifications, but it seems to work fine. The plan is to prime the oil pump and hopefully fire this thing up this weekend!