duster in north.

[peelo57]

Hi all.

last year i got duster from California shipped to Finland (above the arctic circle).
72 318 motor, 904 gearbox 7 1/4 with 2.7 gears.
i cleaned cars underside and floors, put new paint and rust protection to the underside last winter btw car didnt have any rust which was nice

summer was blast to drive got about 3000 miles.
But rear is almost done now.

so this winter project for my car is new rear, disc brakes to front and small suspension and chassis upgrades/rebuilds.
So i have hunted new parts and i have found old aspens 8.25 rear and good used 3.2 gears for it. rest of the parts i will buy new. rear will be about 1'' wider each side but there is plenty of room left


i Will reuse 7 1/4 axles shock plates by modifying them a little bit so 3'' u bolts will fit.

next thing is to start ordering new parts and rebuilding 8 1/4 rear
will post new stuff soon as i continue project

 

[412 Stroker]

Nice looking car, welcome to FABO, how long (or short) is your summer?? I would think it is pretty short, do you guys get alot of snow??

 

[Divenut]

Welcome...look forward to see your Duster evolve.

 

[peelo57]

''Drive'' season is about 6-7 months, when roads are ice free

i could drive in winter witch is very slipery:burnout: in here, in mid to south Finland they put salt on roads so thats craprotest: lucyly not here.

now roads in here look like this
http://www2.liikennevirasto.fi/alk/kelikamerat/kamera-C1453601.html
link to road camera close where i live

found this thread and there were picture of shock plate from 7 1/4 used in 8 1/4, i will be doing same thing.
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=27836&highlight=shock+plate

reason i will do some ''weird'' things like reusing shock plates and using rear from f-body is because parts here are harder to find and cost more than in USA. A-bodys rear axles are hard to find, well 7 1/4 are easy

cleaning duster in winter notice icicles hanging on farms roof
this picture is from last year, notice CA plates

Deere, tractor from usa, made in germany

 

[clhyer]

Looks like you have a great winter project going on!
You will have to shorten the drive shaft to account for the larger 8 1/4.
C

 

[peelo57]

Little progress.

Rear is now empthy, brake parts removed and cleaned.
Got almost all parts for rear exept lock unit, i will get that next month... so i have to wait some time.
But i have time to make everything ready when lock unit arrives.

Founded good industrial cleaning acid, Phosphoric acid and Sulfuric acid, on small parts rust melted away in one day but because of sulfuric acid parts got lightly rusted again, but its so thin layer of rust that i can remove it with rug and water to get rust free parts

And looks like most of brake parts are identical so i can choose better parts like brake cylinders, mine old one are much better shape as you can see in the pictures.

 

[dusterny]

Nice looking 72 you have and good luck on your 8 1/4 rebuild.

 

[peelo57]

Well long time from last update...

i have had some other things to do, like job...

what i have get done on car are following:

Rebuilded front brakes and master cylinder and added brake booster.
I had 10'' drums on front now there is ssbc brake kit, hopefully it will stop better now.

i have also changed all the cars bushings, 40years is good age to change new ones and i also put new kyb shocks.

on the rear axle.. I havent still got new posi lock unit so i will be putting just old open carrier in to it.

couple of weeks till roads become ice free. after that i hope that my duster is back on the road.

 

[clhyer]

Looking good there! Keep us up to date, hope you get it ready for the first good drive of the season.
C

 

[PapstXX]

welcome to FABO !


great work brother from Finnland

 

[peelo57]

hey.

little upgrade.

got the rear axle ready.
its now 3.2 gears and open carrier, lock will come later.
Hopefully i will get my new wheels this week so will get car ready, wheels are only thing missing.

Other notes my car broke, engine is gone

NOT the duster, my daily Renault Laguna 2001, so i have just my duster now thats
too bad...


RIP