My 71 Duster Project

[smartken22]

I just finished rebuilding the transmission last night. Here are some pics for you all. I also started a thread with detailed pictures in the 4 speed forums of the rebuild process from start to finish for anyone wanting to do a teardown/build up of one. Heres the link.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=166041

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

That trans looks new. Great job

 

[smartken22]

That trans looks new. Great job

Thanks Cliff. Just finished pulling out the K-member and front suspension. Time to bring that baby back to life now!

 

[smartken22]

Here are some pictures from today tearing down all the suspension components off the K-member. It looks like one strut rod pictured was almost worn all the way through the bar. The right side upper and lower ball joints were all shot and the sway bar is bent really bad on the right side. The left side looked really good. I already have all new parts except the new sway bar and strut bars. I am going to install Hotchkis adjustable strut bars and the 1" sway bar kit. Now its time to clean everything up and start the overhaul! More to follow...

 

[smartken22]

I started to work on rebuilding the front suspension this evening. Here are some before and after pictures of the components. I plan to bead blast the lower control arms, k member and upper control arms tomorrow and then I will prep them for paint. After that I can add new bushings and then start to build it back up!

 

[smartken22]

Here are some pictures from the mod work I am doing on the Duster front suspension. In these pics I am welding in the new plates in order to re-inforce the lower control arms. All went well except I ran out of shielding gas for the welder so I was not able to finish welding them up. So far so good though. I will fill the tank tomorrow and go from there. The other pics show the old control arm bumpers and the new ones and the old sway bar tie rod end links compared to the new ones. The old ones were pretty corroded and worn out! Its gonna be a new car when completed!

 

[smartken22]

I stopped by the welding shop on the way home today and got some more shielding gas and was able to finish welding up the lower control arms. Here you go...just need to primer em, paint em and build em back up.

 

[smartken22]

It has been awhile since I have been able to work on the car cause we are in the process of moving. I just got new orders back to Lemoore so I have been trying to get the family all situated. I also need to get this car off jacks and rollin again so I can move it so I started plugging away at the front suspension. I painted up the K-member and got it re-installed in the car. I also installed the idler arm, crossover steering linkage and the driver side shock and bump stop. I did have a concern about the idler arm. Should it be really hard to move back and forth? I have not even tightened it down yet and it seems really hard to move. Other than that, more progress will be made tomorrow!

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

Looking great.

 

[dusterbd13]

coming along really nice.

ill make an unsolicited suggestion:
return the KYB shocks. you will hate them. with a burning passion.
buy something (almost anything) else. spax or bilsteins if you really wanna drive the car and enjoy it.

michael

 

[smartken22]

I finished up painting my lower control arms, upper control, and brakes Sunday, but with as cold as it has been, the paint is taking more than expected to cure. I was gonna start building but need to wait until the parts are dry. In the meantime, I took a pic of my new sway bar setup compared to the old one.

 

[HemiMark]

I finished up painting my lower control arms, upper control, and brakes Sunday, but with as cold as it has been, the paint is taking more than expected to cure. I was gonna start building but need to wait until the parts are dry. In the meantime, I took a pic of my new sway bar setup compared to the old one.

where did you buy the front end rebuild bushings, ball joints...etc?

 

[smartken22]

where did you buy the front end rebuild bushings, ball joints...etc?

The bushing kit is the hyper-flex energy suspension system P/N: 5-18104R. I ordered the kit from Jegs. The idler/pitman and upper/lower ball joints are all Moog and were all purchased from my local auto parts store. I replaced the lower control arm pins with Firm Feel greaseable ones as well as a Firm Feel sway bar kit. The strut rods are adjustable and made by Hotchkis. Also going in are a new set of Hotchkis 1.030 torsion bars.

 

[smartken22]

Here are some more pictures of the front suspension buildup. I am making some progress and shes looking better! Those upper a-arm bushings are a PITA but I got them changed out! I am doing trial and error with the hotchis adjustable strut rods. I am not sure how far in or out to run the rods. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

I swear if I didn't know better you are building a show car. Great work.

 

[HemiDenny]

nice work....great upgrades.......you got the right idea

 

[smartken22]

Thanks for the comments!

 

[smartken22]

Here is the latest progress on the front suspension build. I cleaned up the steering gearbox and used POR-15 to paint it. After it cured, I installed and torqued it and got the pitman arm and steering tie rods installed. I had to call Firm Feel suspension about getting a nut and washer for the pitman arm to the gearbox as it was missing. That is one hard item to find as no one sells them locally or online. I only called firm feel because they rebuild the gearboxes and I have been getting a lot of parts from them lately. Next up is getting the spindles and brake assemblies installed and then the drums and tires. I hope to have the car back on its wheels this weekend as long as everything goes well. Here are some pictures for ya!

 

[2darts]

Great build! looking forward to rest of the build. I'm hooked. Nice detailed pictures.

 

[smartken22]

I got the spindles and brake assemblies installed today and attached all the tie rods. I went through the whole front end and torqued everything up except the outer tie rod ends and the cam bolts since I am sure the alignment shop will need to go back in there to adjust things. Here are some pics!

 

[smartken22]

Got my Dougs headers, X-pipe kit and 2 chamber flowmasters! I plan to drop in the motor and tranny here soon and then get all the exhaust installed and welded up next time I head to my Dads. More to follow!

 

[smartken22]

Well, I finally got the car back on her feet today. When I first dropped it down (1st pic) it almost went all the way to the ground. I had to pretty much run the torsion bars all the way up and that is how it sits right now (2nd pic). I called Hotchkis about it and they said that their 1.03 bars do make the car sit lower so I am not sure I am liking that since the motor is not is yet. I dont want this thing saggin too much more. Here are some pics...

 

[MoparDemon]

The Dusters looking great! i really like this thread you gonna lower the back at all or leave it the way it is?

 

[fez440]

wow just went through all the thread had i have to say your doing an amazing job with your car! not only that but your threads are awesome!! i love seeing your your detailed pics! really helps me out learning about this stuff thanks and keep up the great work!!!

 

[smartken22]

The Dusters looking great! i really like this thread you gonna lower the back at all or leave it the way it is?

Thanks! Now that I see the stance, I would love to lower the rear a little, but not sure if I can. It does not seem adjustable to me unless I pull some leafs out. Any suggestions? I am sure everything will drop a little more once the motor and tranny go in next month. I will go from there once I see the final stance.