Deltatech's 1973 Plymouth Duster

-
More parts weighing today. I picked up some Super Stock Aluminum alt brackets, billet valley hold downs, Hv fuel pump and some other goodies. The Goldish plated are the stock steel.

20250514_095407[1].jpg


20250514_095429[1].jpg


20250514_095438[1].jpg


20250514_095448[1].jpg


20250514_095457[1].jpg


20250514_095505[1].jpg


20250514_095510[1].jpg


20250514_095716[1].jpg


20250514_095521[1].jpg
 
I haven't forgotten about taking pics of the electro plating setup, I'll be plating bolts for the 2nd 440 (currently soaking in Gas) again soon.
The next 440 after this one is going to be boosted with stock guts. I'm amassing parts for it while building this one.
It'll probably be my last engine build about 2 or 3 years from now.
 
I haven't forgotten about taking pics of the electro plating setup, I'll be plating bolts for the 2nd 440 (currently soaking in Gas) again soon.
The next 440 after this one is going to be boosted with stock guts. I'm amassing parts for it while building this one.
It'll probably be my last engine build about 2 or 3 years from now.
maybe you mentioned before; what style of boost? Roots, turbo or?
 
maybe you mentioned before; what style of boost? Roots, turbo or?
OF course it's going to be a 70's style roots.
I am however debating on twin turboing a 360/5.9.
I learned a few secrets from Buddy and Barry personally about boost and induction but I'm not usually a racer and promised not to say until long after they have both passed.
I usually run them at the track once to see what they'll do then just swap carbs, retune for the street and drive them.
I don't know when the 5.9 block will be done yet so I think I have a while to study.
 
Last edited:
I think I'm naming this car Evolution, Adaptation, or something similar.
By the end of this project and my life, I and it'll have gone through slant 6, 318,possibly 2 360/5.9's, and 2 440's. Ending with the roots blower engine.
 
I lived in Zeigler, Il in Jr High school. To me Buddy Ingersoll wasn't the guy who beat the corporate elite teams with a turbo v6 to win the Chamionship that upset the suits so much they changed the rules.
He was my Grandpa's friend down the street that would take the time to teach ALL of us kids how to time an engine by ear.
To LISTEN to, to SMELL and even TASTE the exhaust and FEEL how the fender vibrates. To not just surgically set a number.
That just like people, each and every engine is different, has a different character a different experience and something new to teach.
Some are sweet, some are assholes. Some give more, Some only take.
He would go deeper and tell us just like every engine is different so is every part so the pattern continues all the way down to when there is nothing.
He was like a 2nd Grandpa to all of us. He always made time for us no matter how busy he was.
We all still miss him. This build is just as much to honor them as it is to have a cool car.
 
Last edited:
Well ,Men, I said I would cut those wheels off, and it's exactly what I did today.
I bent one flange prying one off. I just stuck it in the vice and beat it back.
Not pretty but there is NO WAY these will fold on the engine run stand, and it will sit a few inches higher.
I may go so far as to cut off some of the angle iron to brace these. Angle iron is hard to come by and not cheap any more locally.
I can't even find 1/4 inch steel casters this heavy duty anywhere.
I bet these came from the mines.

20250514_152856[1].jpg


20250514_152905[1].jpg


20250514_182039[1].jpg


20250514_182043[1].jpg


20250513_131900[1].jpg
 
what are the casters rated at? I had "repurposed" a bunch of crates at work when we closed the warehouse. found out the casters were rated at 500lbs. one set is on the rolling work bench and another set went to my neighbor for his receiving table. how are you going to move the paint stand now? maybe a couple of HF furniture dollies?
 
what are the casters rated at? I had "repurposed" a bunch of crates at work when we closed the warehouse. found out the casters were rated at 500lbs. one set is on the rolling work bench and another set went to my neighbor for his receiving table. how are you going to move the paint stand now? maybe a couple of HF furniture dollies?
Sorry it took so long to reply today.
These are rated at 1000 lbs each.
I'm just going to swap the engine run stand wheels onto the paint stand which weighs about 60 -75 lbs.
I'm not sure if I'm going to weld these big casters on the run stand or drill and bolt them.
If I weld them I wont be able to take the run stand apart, BUT not sure if there will ever be a reason to because it fits through a standard doorway. (pic)
Gratz! That's a good score from the crates. I bet the neighbor really appreciates it.
I have a box of HF wheels with 4 casters from one of the wooden dollies that the wood rotted from being left outside and 6 wheels from the $30 plastic creepers that I've broken 2 of before I could afford a steel one.. I think everyone probably has a box of small HF casters in their garage....

20250513_182011[1].jpg
 
I put TWO extra ones in mine today for a total of three. It locks it down tight.
I was thinking, you know what would work that most 318 guys would have..... the small allen plugs used to plug the smog holes in some small block smog heads, like the 302's, would work, I have a bunch.
Most 318 guys Should already have the bit and tap as well..
 
I was thinking, you know what would work that most 318 guys would have..... the small allen plugs used to plug the smog holes in some small block smog heads, like the 302's, would work, I have a bunch.
Most 318 guys Should already have the bit and tap as well..
Well, the socket is sorta thin. I THINK those plugs you're talking about are 1/4"x 20. The set screws for the crank socket are 1/4 x 28 so they can get maximum thread engagement in a small space. But I'm tellin you now, there's something weird about the socket and the set screws. Even though I drilled tapped the holes correctly, The set screws were a bear to screw in. If you try to do it all at once, they will lock down, so do it a little at a time, like you're tapping again with the set screws. Once they are all the way through, they're fine. Dissimilar metals maybe? I don't know, but take your time with it. Mine turned out good.
 
Well, the socket is sorta thin. I THINK those plugs you're talking about are 1/4"x 20. The set screws for the crank socket are 1/4 x 28 so they can get maximum thread engagement in a small space. But I'm tellin you now, there's something weird about the socket and the set screws. Even though I drilled tapped the holes correctly, The set screws were a bear to screw in. If you try to do it all at once, they will lock down, so do it a little at a time, like you're tapping again with the set screws. Once they are all the way through, they're fine. Dissimilar metals maybe? I don't know, but take your time with it. Mine turned out good.
Galling? Usually only happens stainless on stainless but possible....anti seize?
 
Galling? Usually only happens stainless on stainless but possible....anti seize?
Yeah that acted like what it was doing, but the set screws are black oxide. The socket may well be stainless. But like I said, once you get the screws all the way through, they're fine then.
 

I have a box of HF wheels with 4 casters from one of the wooden dollies that the wood rotted from being left outside and 6 wheels from the $30 plastic creepers that I've broken 2 of before I could afford a steel one.. I think everyone probably has a box of small HF casters in their garage....
yes, you are correct. they are smaller, I keep those for use in the basement. the ones from Menard's are sturdier and that is what I used as the basis for the Poly's roll around thingie...lacking a word to describe it. engine dolly? works well enough in the garage. I had used those dollies on the driveway, asphalt, to push an engineless Dart around. it was like dancing with it! very manuverable.
 
I ran out of space to work and have been reorganizing and resetting tools all day and maybe tomorrow.
I haven't found the oil slinger ( looking for 4 days now) and took the oil pump mounting bolts off of the spare 440 (doesn't have an oil slinger on it) and cleaned them up.
I pulled the cover off of one of the 5.9's that has been sitting out all winter to relube it and recover it.
I saw that part of the melted stock piston is embedded onto the wall. I'll have to get this block Magnafluxed or buy some more and do it myself.

20250515_130456[1].jpg
 
yes, you are correct. they are smaller, I keep those for use in the basement. the ones from Menard's are sturdier and that is what I used as the basis for the Poly's roll around thingie...lacking a word to describe it. engine dolly? works well enough in the garage. I had used those dollies on the driveway, asphalt, to push an engineless Dart around. it was like dancing with it! very manuverable.
The large HF dolly that rotted outside had the complete spare 440 sitting on 4x4's along the oil pan rails for 2 years before it gave out.
I just make 4x4 and 2x4 boxes that fit around the pan rails to store engines on the $17 HF wooden dollies since a Mopar cradle with no wheels cost $116 on amazon.
It's just a tad more neat than the old school tire under the sump.
 
-
Back
Top Bottom