Deltatech's 1973 Plymouth Duster

[Deltatech]

WOW! it's like Christmas in May, all your stuff arrived and it looks like in one piece.

Ya, it's because it was delivered this morning by UPS and USPS, lol.
This parts flood is 4 years of scrimping and saving, with extensive planning all coming together at once.
It's going to have some kinks that I couldn't foresee with the information that I could find available online at the time to iron out.
I do however appreciate the encouragement!

 

[abdywgn]

Ya, it's because it was delivered this morning by UPS and USPS, lol.
This parts flood is 4 years of scrimping and saving, with extensive planning all coming together at once.
It's going to have some kinks that I couldn't foresee with the information that I could find available online at the time to iron out.
I do however appreciate the encouragement!

Glad to see your plan is coming together. It's a good example for everybody on how to accomplish a project, car or otherwise. Now, if I had started this early on...

 

[mygasser]

Holy **** this thing is way more thin than they used to be!
I haven't had one of these K&N Velocity stacks for about 20 years.
They used to be a lot thicker.

View attachment 1716404321

yes i remember when moroso chrome valve covers were thick enough to not distort when the bolts were pinched up too even the anodised ally ones were decent thickness.
neil.
edit... does that show my age, lol.

 

[Deltatech]

yes i remember when moroso chrome valve covers were thick enough to not distort when the bolts were pinched up too even the anodised ally ones were decent thickness.
neil.

I guess 20 years of cost cutting has an effect. One thing that is decent, the price hasn't changed since the previous time I bought a set So they are actually cheaper today.
$124.99 2025 dollars was about $67 in 2000.
That means back in the mid ninties when I paid $124.99 they would cost $224 today if the price kept up with inflation.
Unless my math is wrong.

 

[mygasser]

I guess 20 years of cost cutting has an effect. One thing that is decent, the price hasn't changed since the previous time I bought a set So they are actually cheaper today.
$124.99 2025 dollars was about $67 in 2000.
That means back in the mid ninties when I paid $124.99 they would cost $224 today if the price kept up with inflation.
Unless my math is wrong.

yes, it was back in the nineties when my '74 challenger got a full complement of gold moroso valve covers, t bolts and air cleaner. i loved it, lol.
neil.

 

[Deltatech]

Fedex arrived and finally delivered the engine run stand and the package is being inventoried. It's mangled, holes in the box with parts sticking out.
Well, at least now I can figure out what I'm dealing with and what is missing. Maybe Summit or Larin will send the missing parts.
I get that some people have enough to not stress $500 but Unfortunately I'm not in that crowd.
I'm extremely close to regretting this purchase. I don't Fault Summit or Larin. I'm very annoyed and stressed by Fedex.

 

[Deltatech]

After assessing the damage to the box. I took the package in the garage and started the inventory of parts.
As I sit here now I realize I should have put on some music, somehow Joe Satriani's music and other guitar Gods like Steve Vai and SRV take the sting out of stress.
I'm pleased to say All of the parts were present.
This is the first time I've experienced a package being this late and mangled to still have everything that it's supposed to inside.

 

[Deltatech]

And a couple hours and a really sore back later... I have an Engine run stand.!!!
It's not all tightened up yet, my back gave out so I have to quit tonight. But It's put together with nothing missing!!!!
The credit for nothing missing goes to Larin, they packaged it well enough to all stay even with so much damage to the box.
The stand didn't include wiring but I have an old wiring Harness from some old Mopar laying around.
I'm very thankful to be able to order something like this.
I'll be able to break in and tune engines without having to rest my back for a week!

 

[Deltatech]

You guys know that day when at the end you don't feel accomplished, back is killing you ,you havent eaten or sat down all day, it's 9:30 pm, you have to rest for an hour before you can get back up and finally cook something but glad todays battle is over?
It must be my turn again cause that was my today.
I'm not complaining, I'm leaning forward, gritting my teeth and telling the world "Oh you're not done yet,There are two more hours, and now it's my turn..."
Have a great night MEN!

 

[RustyRatRod]

You'll regret the elcheapo degree wheel socket. Jes sayin.

 

[Deltatech]

You'll regret the elcheapo degree wheel socket. Jes sayin.

It only has to make it through 5 more engines. I'll fab one out of an old junk balancer before I pay $100 for a Made in China socket. lol
If I end up fabing one I'll do a how to on it.
I heard these are soft.

 

[mygasser]

i'm sure i read you'll need to hone the inside of the damper so it slips on and off, if you go that route.
neil.

 

[RustyRatRod]

It only has to make it through 5 more engines. I'll fab one out of an old junk balancer before I pay $100 for a Made in China socket. lol
If I end up fabing one I'll do a how to on it.
I heard these are soft.

The softness isn't the issue I've seen. It's the slop back and forth as you turn the crank. To me, it's worth 100 bucks to get it right.....although I didn't pay near that for mine. It's steel and has three different size keyways as well as a set screw. It works really well. I got it off some mom and pop machine shop that sells on ebay. If I remember, it was under 50.

 

[Deltatech]

i'm sure i read you'll need to hone the inside of the damper so it slips on and off, if you go that route.
neil.

It'd be nice to have a lathe for things like this. But a brake hone would work.

 

[Deltatech]

The softness isn't the issue I've seen. It's the slop back and forth as you turn the crank.

The middle slot is tight, the other two have slop. Three different sizes.
It's possible that I got a good one.

 

[RustyRatRod]

The middle slot is tight, the other two have slop. Three different sizes.
It's possible that I got a good one.

View attachment 1716404879

That looks like a goodun. Looks about like mine. I plan to add a second set screw just as a kinda fail safe.

 

[Deltatech]

I think a second set screw is a good idea.

 

[Deltatech]

I got up early and started tightening up and aligning the Larin run stand.
Most aligns well, A review stated not to tighten everything till there is an engine on it.
Other reviews have mentioned that the wheels fold over very easily.
So, I'm looking at ways to circumvent these problems before they happen.
I have a small flux core welder that will prob do the job.
I also have a beefier set of casters on a home made painting stand that I may swap out.

 

[Deltatech]

Although I can make these work, I'm already wondering if it's going to be worth the effort of cutting these off with a cordless cutoff tool. The flanges are a LOT bigger between the holes.
I'll price them later today or tonight but my bet is over another $100, probably $150 for a good set.

 

[Deltatech]

My Nephew stopped by for a few hours while I was away today.
He just wanted to hang out and see the new run stand so he said he'd just goof off at my place till I got home.
I see that the little **** found the sticker drawer of my toolbox, he did the same thing to my shop table about this time last year.... I'm starting to wonder if he's trying to start a tradition or tagging the **** he wants later?
I knew something was up from the **** eating grin when I pulled up to the house.
I was a little mad at first.

 

[Deltatech]

Well, I guess he is getting better at placement, he did this last year.
I don't particularly like race stickers plastered all over everything.
I'm about 3/4 tempted to make him get out the wd40 and remove all of them.
Guess I'm getting old, lol.
I like my stuff plain.

 

[Deltatech]

I just got back home again today from picking up some super stock Aluminum power steering and Alternator brackets.The Gold plated are stock steel.
Pics for weight difference.PS bracket, Water pump pulley, crank pulley,Balancer.
Total= -3.76 lbs

 

[Deltatech]

I did another mockup with my Nephew since he hasn't seen it yet.
I'm using a different valley pan, not this bathtub. A full flat stainless pan is on the way.
I think they sent the wrong alum water pump housing though. I'm pretty sure I ordered a drivers side lower and got a passenger side lower.
I may just find/get a pass side lower radiator instead.

 

[mygasser]

you've got to love a tunnel ram
neil.

 

[Deltatech]

I still remember the first time I saw one. Buddy Ingersoll from Zeigler had trailered one of his cars over to my Grandpa's Home garage in West Frankfort. It had what I later learned was a mechanical fuel injection on a tunnel ram sticking out of the hood.
Him and my Grandpa were talking and tunning while I was riding my bike around.
This was way before Buddy became a world Champion with his Buick or Barry Grants Crew Chief.
I think it was even before he started building the Pinto's
Buddy used to call me Studebaker and "git my belly" because I was a chubby kid, lol.