Deltatech's 1973 Plymouth Duster

[bjkadron]

Looking good! I understand the space issue. When I got my 2 (maybe 3 if you park one sideways) garage I thought I had a ton of room. Then last weekend I had to totally re-arrange everything so I had some room to work on stuff.

 

[Deltatech]

Looking good! I understand the space issue. When I got my 2 (maybe 3 if you park one sideways) garage I thought I had a ton of room. Then last weekend I had to totally re-arrange everything so I had some room to work on stuff.

Gratz, that's a good amount of space!
I'd still need space even if I had an Aircraft hanger , lol. I'd just end up filling it with more projects.

 

[abdywgn]

I'd still need space even if I had an Aircraft hanger , lol. I'd just end up filling it with more projects.

AGREE! my "garage" is a storage unit. there IS a small path. measured 11" wide in one spot, did manage to fit thru. barely.

 

[Deltatech]

AGREE! my "garage" is a storage unit. there IS a small path. measured 11" wide in one spot, did manage to fit thru. barely.

Uncle Tony on Youtube did the same for a few years, shooting videos out of one.
I'm looking for property to build a "pole-barndominium"
The problem is I need a 40x60 garage with a one bedroom house,lol.
or just a cot in the corner....

 

[mygasser]

when looking for my first house (getting on for 40 years ago now) i almost bought a house with 2 double garages, one each side of the kitchen and stairs. the living, bath and sleeping rooms were all on top. the very busy main road put me off because of my cats though.
neil.

 

[abdywgn]

Uncle Tony on Youtube did the same for a few years, shooting videos out of one.
I'm looking for property to build a "pole-barndominium"
The problem is I need a 40x60 garage with a one bedroom house,lol.
or just a cot in the corner....

there was an industrial park in the 70's that let you build and live in the building. one place was for garbage trucks and the living space was above the offices on one side of the building. another fellows property was nothing but packed semi-trailers and a trailer park type home to live in. guess the divorce forced it upon him. many different style buildings and uses. I believe Glasstek is in that area now. probably tightened up the codes for living there...if at all. when we looked for our house, my wife kept telling the agent I wanted a big garage. after half a dozen houses he tells her, he really wants a big garage! guess he didn't like me calling the others he showed us sheds. sorry to ramble, wish you the best to fulfill your dreams!

 

[Deltatech]

I drug out an old spare 318 block which I acquired for free that will become a 390 stroker in the next few years. 1 can of easy off and pretty much all day scrubbing and pressure washing.
It was sitting outside open to the elements for 2 years so it was mostly just rusty.
The only thing it's missing is the crank, I have the pistons and rods.
Interestingly enough the pistons are flat tops with no valve reliefs.

 

[Mtrhead]

You have more energy more passion and more creativity than I did 20 years ago I wish I lived near you because I would love to shoot the s*** with you every time your garage door open...good job buddy...you are very smart and talented!!!

 

[Deltatech]

I decided to test fit the small block on the engine run stand before I paint the block. It fit decently well. I'm not sure if a fan will fit on a big block on this stand though. It rolls super easy, way easier than any other engine stand I have.

 

[Deltatech]

I had some left over VHT in gold so thats what I painted the block with. This block is going to become a glass top end table and just used for mockups until it becomes a stroker.

 

[Deltatech]

You have more energy more passion and more creativity than I did 20 years ago I wish I lived near you because I would love to shoot the s*** with you every time your garage door open...good job buddy...you are very smart and talented

All of this just keeps me out of trouble. If I couldn't build anymore I'd be chasing tail....lol

 

[Deltatech]

sorry to ramble.

Dude, it's been 5 days since I talked to anyone....
I look forward to a good ramble a little more than I'd like to admit!

 

[340sFastback]

Dude, it's been 5 days since I talked to anyone....

That because you been too busy trying to get all those parts to fit on that big block ..

 

[Mtrhead]

I've got a set of gold anodized aluminum Moroso valve covers that would look amazing on that big block and I only paid 20 bucks for them at the last swap meet if I decide to get rid of them I'll let you know and you can get them for what I paid for them

 

[Deltatech]

I had another one of those days when nothing goes right. I hope it was just me and everyone else had a good productive day. All I got accomplished today was a couple of mains and 3 engines worth of bolts degreased and cleaned.

 

[abdywgn]

I believe this is called "puttering". a job that needs to be done but maybe not at this time. when you need the parts, every thing is ready to go.

 

[Deltatech]

I'm a little perplexed that the spare late 70's 318 came with flatops with no valve reliefs. I'm wondering how far down in the hole these were ( didn't get the crank so cant check) It has the 163 casting small 318 sized port, small valve, junk, smog heads.

 

[Deltatech]

A bonus is that the parts box that had all of the free 318 bolts and pistons had a whole wiring harness that I'm going to use on the engine run stand!

 

[Deltatech]

I think I got the Super stock alternator brackets on correctly today, it's been almost 2 years since I took the stock ones off so can't remember. Let me know if you guys see anything wrong here.
I'm still looking online to see how the heater hoses go...

 

[Deltatech]

So, my Brother gave me a pickup tube he said will fit.....WRONG.....It's for a 2 inch deeper pan. I'll have to order a pickup tonight. and yet again 440 source parts had to be ground down to fit. The dipstick tube doesn't fit because of the chrome.

 

[mygasser]

re the flat top pistons, measure the compression height. you'll be able to check against known piston specs to get a decent idea what you have.
neil.

 

[Deltatech]

re the flat top pistons, measure the compression height. you'll be able to check against known piston specs to get a decent idea what you have.
neil.

Thanks Neil,
I'll do that sometime today. I was going to do it last night but got sidetracked with the pickup tube.
I would have forgotten if you hadn't reminded me.

 

[Deltatech]

And so it begins...
I started pulling apart the wiring harness piece by piece to scavenge as much as possible.
Electrical wire is one of those items in which the price has risen dramatically in the last 5 years. Inflation and Tarrifs are not budget friendly.
If I had known the Larin Engine run stand does not include any wire I wouldn't have bought it for $499. I have no money left over to buy wire.
Being a Service connected disabled Veteran on a fixed income is challenging most of the time.

 

[abdywgn]

if you have any under the dash wiring assemblies, these are good to replace under the hood pieces. they have not been subjected to the high heat of under the hood. that is how my Dart was redone.

 

[Deltatech]

I almost forgot that I measured the compression height as per suggestion. a little over 1/4 inch or .26 inch from the first ring to the head. I'll get a measurement to the pin soon.