Project Hole In The Head - 1970 Duster 340 Resto-Mod

[challengergary]

Put the hood back on and working on the gaps. Trying my best not to get impatient with the body work but she's getting close to being ready for some more color.

 

[challengergary]

Haven't done much the past couple of weeks but I did pick up a parts car for the project - a 1970 Duster /6 car which is complete but with severe cancer in the A-pillars. It's a shame too because the frame rails are pretty decent and from what i have seen the floors are not too bad either. Even the trunk floor looks good. The car hasn't run in at least 15 years but the /6 spins right over. Oh well. It's got enough of the one million little thing my project car is missing to make it worth me picking it up.

 

[challengergary]

Lacking motivation right now. The one year angelversary of my 18 month old granddaughter's death has sucked the desire to work on the car out of me for some reason. This picture was the last meal I got to give her just about a day and half before she left us forever on March 26th 2025

 

[DionR]

Lacking motivation right now. The one year angelversary of my 18 month old granddaughter's death has sucked the desire to work on the car out of me for some reason. This picture was the last meal I got to give her just about a day and half before she left us forever on March 26th 2025

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I can understand not having motivation. I am just starting down this path of grandparenthood, and a taste is enough to give me a small and incomplete glimpse of your pain. I can't imagine, so sorry.

 

[challengergary]

Found some motivation last weekend. decided to paint the hood and trunk lid. On Sunday, I shot the top of the hood and the underside of the trunk lid. Monday, I flipped the trunk lid over and shot the top.

 

[challengergary]

Today,I started to wet sand and buff the hood. It came out a little more peely than I would have liked so it to but with some sanding I got it pretty smooth. Will probably hit it with some finish compound tomorrow.

 

[challengergary]

Cut and buffed the trunk lid yesterday. Came out pretty decent but have one area I don't like. I can tell it has been years since I did any real painting. Considering re-shooting the hood and trunk lid since they are not as perfect as I would like. I missed a couple of dings on the hood and the trunk lid has one spot where it did not buff out right.

 

[challengergary]

Well, yesterday my landlord at the shop informed me I can no longer park the parts car outside. He wants it either inside my shop or gone from the property. Going to try and talk with him tomorrow to see if I can leave it out there for at least the rest of this month. Seriously considering selling this car and the parts car as a package. I hate to bail on it but that may be my best option if he doesn't give me at least a month's grace. I have the parts car plus a bunch of new parts I bought for it - a full set of white door panels, red dash pad, red headliner, red package tray, and a new gas tank with sending unit. So someone will be getting a super solid start to a project. Will probably post a for sale ad tomorrow when I roll it outside for some pictures.

The thing is I still have the two other projects that I REALLY want to work on - the 70 Pro Street Duster that I got from a friend of mine and my 71 Challenger that has been on the back burner for WAY too long.

Like I titled this thread, I needed this Duster like I needed another hole in my head...

 

[challengergary]

Brief update - going to shoot the jambs soon and then spray the rest of the car Will post pics in the next couple of days

 

[bjkadron]

Progress is good! If you do have to get rid of it you will do a lot better if it is closer to complete

 

[challengergary]

Big day today!

 

[challengergary]

So, upon further review, I am going to have to do a little more body work and re-shoot a bit. Not really happy with some spots that were missed while in primer Probably take the long weekend off and hit it next week. I want the car to look as nice as it deserves to and right now it's not quite up to snuff.

 

[Bennoel 10]

From what I see it looks dam good !!
Nice work. Good luck with it.

 

[challengergary]

From what I see it looks dam good !!
Nice work. Good luck with it.

Thanks - right now it's a 25/25 car - it would look great at 25 feet or 25mph. I really want it to be at least a good 5 footer standing still

 

[challengergary]

Seriously considering doing the interior (seats, carpet and door panels) in Tan to give it a more modern feel. Going with aftermarket buckets and I started to think Tan & Red might look better than White & Red. Thoughts?

 

[Bennoel 10]

Either way I believe it will look ausome. Something maybe to consider, if going white interior the dash and top of the doors usually are black along with the carpet. To change to tan would you paint the dash along with top of the doors tan ? Carpet could also be tan. It's personal preference so either way. My choice would be white seats, door panels with black dash and top of doors. Headliner either black, white or tan if going tan interior.
It will look great either way.
Good luck with it.

 

[challengergary]

Actually with the Red/white, door tops, carpet, package tray, headliner, dash pad and dash are red. Door panels and seats are white.

I am thinking of doing the seats, door panels, and carpet in tan and keeping everything else red.

 

[Bennoel 10]

That sounds good too.

 

[challengergary]

NOW, I am happy! Still needs a cut & buff but looks 100x's better in my eyes!

 

[DartManPlum340]

NOW, I am happy! Still needs a cut & buff but looks 100x's better in my eyes!

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I knew you could do it!

 

[pauly]

Very nice. I should bring you mine and let you work your magic on it

 

[challengergary]

Very nice. I should bring you mine and let you work your magic on it

Stopped doing work for other people about 10 years ago. Only do it for my enjoyment now

 

[challengergary]

So I spent some time (and money) on Classic Industries website LOL Ordered wiring harenesses, repro sharkstooth grille & bezels, front and rear bumpers, new rallye dash bezel assembly, and a bunch of weather stripping. OUCH

Also, ordered a set of tan aftermarket bucket seats and some carpet samples so that I can match the other interior components.

Had chatGPT do a rendering of the interior the way I want it and I think it is going to look sharp!

 

[challengergary]

Still needs more cutting and buffing but getting there.

 

[mpgmike]

So I spent some time (and money) on Classic Industries website LOL Ordered wiring harenesses, repro sharkstooth grille & bezels, front and rear bumpers, new rallye dash bezel assembly, and a bunch of weather stripping. OUCH

Also, ordered a set of tan aftermarket bucket seats and some carpet samples so that I can match the other interior components.

Had chatGPT do a rendering of the interior the way I want it and I think it is going to look sharp!

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I like tan interiors. I converted my dark green '70 Duster interior from green to tan. Just looks classy.