My 71 Duster Project

[smartken22]

Here is some progress pictures from today. I installed the dash insert in the dash and everything fit like a champ. Tomorrow I plan to go to my buddies to install it back in the car. More pics of the final product coming tomorrowish...

 

[smartken22]

Here are the pics of the dash installed. Now its time to finish up some wiring and get the interior put back together!

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

Ken you did a beautiful job on your new dash.

 

[smartken22]

Ken you did a beautiful job on your new dash.

Thanks Cliff!

 

[smartken22]

Did some touch up painting on the car today. Came out pretty nice! I hate being a perfectionist! I will be towing it to my Dad's tomorrow since I am in limbo with my move right now. We are waiting for base housing right now so I have no where to store it and I will be deploying very soon so I do not want to stress about it. I have enough to stress about if you know what I mean. More pics coming soon. Here are some from the touch up today.

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

The black really sets off the blue. Looks great

 

[BigSlim]

Ken, Awesome job my friend! Just found this thread...Where have I been? Thank you for your service to our country. How long will you be deployed?

 

[smartken22]

Ken, Awesome job my friend! Just found this thread...Where have I been? Thank you for your service to our country. How long will you be deployed?

Thank you! It looks like I will be gone anywhere from 8-10 months. Leaving in a few more weeks so the car is on the backburner now for awhile.

 

[smartken22]

Well, it has been a long time since I last posted some updates. I just got back last month from a very long deployment so theres my excuse! I have been spending a lot of time with the family since returning and just got back to starting thinking about finishing up this Duster. The car is at my Dads right now so I cannot really do anything to it, however, I picked up some new parts for the motor from the builder last week. Here are some pictures. I also ordered new pulleys/brackets from CVF racing a few days ago so I should get those tomorrow. Will post pics then. Pics here are my new Holley Ultra 770 Street Avenger, MSD Pro Billet Dizzy, MSD Blaster 2 Coil/bracket/wires and my throttle linkage bracket. Stand by for more updates!

Ken

 

[smartken22]

I received the pulleys/brackets today. They look pretty nice compared to the old ones. Looks like they are underdrive pulleys as well. Very nice product!

 

[Captain Canuck]

Its nice to see you back at it again! I've been wondering when you would return. This is one of my favourite build threads and I'm looking forward to seeing more progress!!

 

[smartken22]

I got the car back from my Dads this last weekend and have started the work on it again. Here are some pictures from today. I had the boy out helping me change out the horn button setup. I converted it to a signature series button since the old setup would not stay put. Found out the cheap mount broke so now it is billet. Also received the new flex-a-lite 398 2500cfm fan and got the new hood pins installed. Also installed the new dual feed line on the carb. Still waiting on the motor. Should hopefully have it back next week sometime. Next project to tackle is installing all the new brake lines and getting them puppies bled and in working order again.

 

[smartken22]

Thanks for the kind words! It is good to be back! I will keep you all posted!

Its nice to see you back at it again! I've been wondering when you would return. This is one of my favourite build threads and I'm looking forward to seeing more progress!!

 

[smartken22]

Here are some pictures of the front and rear windshields going back in. More to follow! I have done quite a bit over the last few weeks. I just have not had a chance to get on here and post the progress.

 

[smartken22]

Here is the latest progress on the car. I got the new fuel pump, clutch and the headlight and wiper switches. I installed the fuel pump and started routing fuel lines. I also got the sharktooth grill re-installed. Wiring has been my main project. I got the new headlight and wiper switches installed and wired up, and the whole front of the car (headlight section and engine bay) are all wired up now. The only sections that I have left is running the activation lead for the fuel pump from the fuel pump relay and the rest of the interior wiring. I will tackle that over the next few days as I get some time. The motor is still being worked on. They have been having issues with the heads. They said when they performed a leak down test and the heads leaked from a few of the valves so they had to redo some valve stem seats with oversized ones. They are still telling me I should get it soon so we will see. OK enough rambling…here are some pictures.

 

[smartken22]

Here are pics from the wiring project for the headlight section.

 

[smartken22]

And finally here are pictures of the grill install and the new clutch that put us in the poorhouse! LOL!

 

[racerhog]

Looking very nice..... Man you are really getting a "head of steam"...

 

[smartken22]

Here are some pics from the latest progress. Wiring is completed finally and was powered up for the first time in 10 years last night! I ran an inline fuse (10amp) to the battery before the cable just in case I goofed something. Everything powered up and no blown fuses! The only gremlins I had during all of the circuit testing was the starter would not spin and the headlights would not work. The starter issue ended up being that I needed to ground out the starter relay for the clutch neutral safety switch. I am not running one because they are ridiculously expensive! The headlight issue ended up being that I needed to run a second power wire to the switch as I was only running one. I am running the painless GM style headlight switch and that one requires two power leads. So now all circuits are 100% functional! What an awesome feeling that is let me tell you! Lastly me and the boy got the carpet and the seats installed. All I need now is a damn motor! The engine builder is still working on it. Hopefully I will see it soon. Let me know what you think! The car is really shaping up! Talk about job satisfaction! Thanks to all of you for the support through this entire build! More to follow! Here are some pics!

 

[smartken22]

More pictures of the progress! Yes, I know the lights in the dash are mismatched so don't start with me! LOL! All the backlighting will eventually be blue, however those blue Auto Meter led bulbs are $12 a piece and I need 4 more so it will have to wait a bit till more funds come in! I had those two from one of my old trucks so I put them in to see if I would like them or not. Of course I do!

 

[Allencf]

I am new to the forum too and have recently bought a 72 Duster 340 body with 4 speed. Motor is missing so I'll need to find/build a small block. This site is very interesting...

 

[smartken22]

Here is the latest progress on the final assembly progress. I installed the headlights and trim rings last night and started plumbing the fuel and brake system today. Here are some pics. Tomorrow I plan to finish plumbing the rear brakes and then I will be ready to bleed the system. I have a buddy coming over this week to help me with the bleed as I know that will be a long process. The motor build is completed. The builder called me Friday and said that it will be ready for pick up on Monday. All I need now is a driveshaft. I may have to have one built since there are none available locally or in the junkyards.

 

[smartken22]

Here are some pics of the fuel line flaring and brake line install.

 

[smartken22]

The rear brake lines are installed and new wheel cylinders were installed. Thanks to my big helper! All I need to do now is bleed them. The fuel system plumbing is also completed except for a few hoses that I will make this week. Tomorrow I will hopefully be picking up my 340!

 

[racerhog]

Man you are really cooking on that thing!...Nice
What a great Dad, getting some great help from the son!!!!
Drivetrain comming up... Cool!!