Rmacharger's New Duster!!

[ramcharger]

That's right! I just bought a '72 Duster for $500. The price included transport from Monument, CO which is 50 miles away. Not a runner but floor pans, rockers, trunk all look great with no more than minor surface rust. Already has a 360 and 727. Has a stock auto console in the trunk. Small bolt pattern drum brakes all around, I think it may have been a "Gold Duster" but I wont know for sure as just got it tonight! Yeee Haa, I'm happy as **** and gettin' buzzed tonight! Drag strip here I come (in a couple of years when it's done, LOL!).

Interior is trashed, but the important sheet metal is good to great. No fuel tank but fuel cell is going in anyway. Crappy rear end and I'm sure the car was an original /6. This car even has Hijackers still. Do they still even make those anymore? LOL! Not to mention a skull and crossbones front lic plate. Crack my *** up. Pics coming shortly, but I'm getting drunk tonight while I peruse everone's build and decide what color this is gonna be. CoyoteDuster, the wife to be digs the purple!

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[68340fish]

Congrats on the new purchase!! Let the fun begin!! Best of luck!!

 

[lead69]

Sweeeeett deal!,I be celebrating too!.

 

[66dartman]

Congrats! I will look forward to seeing you at the strip! Great deal on the car.

 

[daves66valiant]

yeah hawwww. way to go man

 

[71DusterStruck]

You are one lucky person, like most of you there in the USA.. I wish all the best and I cant wait to see it!!!

 

[memike]

Yee Haa!! ramcharger.:rock:
A 72 duster!! A perfect fit for ya bro!
Looks like Quadzilla has an older brother,or sister.
Or have you sexed it yet?.:confused:
Man that is some great news first thing this morning..
Truck first, A bodie next is coming together.:thumbrig:
Seems to me both your mopars came with a $500 dollar tag on them.
Ain't life great!! Congratulations ramcharger.
As soon as your hang over is gone,lets take a peek
at the new family member\\/

 

[ramcharger]

Thank's everybody! I just checked this post and noticed the title. Apparently I can't spell after a couple of drinks. :drunken:

I'll see ya at the strip '66 Dartman! :burnout:

Mike, I never name my cars, at least until things don't go my way then maybe they'll get a few choice names.lol. I'm picking up a door lock set today plus a car cover. Then I'll rip out the carpet, blow out the mouse poop and empty the trunk of spare parts and get some pics. I should have them posted by Sunday.

Enjoy your day everyone, I'm off to do a side job then buy some parts. Need the cash to get this thing done!

 

[MVRCorp]

Way to go! Good buy, was it in the paper or how did you find it?
Jim
Parker, Co

 

[Rob]

Get out there and take some pictures, you know how we all need pictures :grin: Sounds like a great deal, already set up with a 360 is a real bonus.

 

[memike]

I know what you mean ramcharger,
I have found and vacuumed stuff I would not even mention
out of a car or two.:vom:
But keep a sharp eye out:-$
there is silver in them old mopars.:thumleft:
Take your time and get that side job dun and the get some pic! OK:grin:

 

[ramcharger]

Way to go! Good buy, was it in the paper or how did you find it?
Jim
Parker, Co

Craigslist. It started out at well over $1000, then started dropping week by week. I hadn't even mentioned it to Lori (my fiance'), but she called me on Friday and said that she heard about a duster on craigslist going for 500 or best from one of the other mechanics at work. I searched the list and sure enough, there it was!

Get out there and take some pictures, you know how we all need pictures :grin: Sounds like a great deal, already set up with a 360 is a real bonus.

Pictures are coming soon, I promise! You're right, not having to do the conversion should save some money and time. The engine has evidence of it being a mouse hotel and the cam is rusted (I pulled the intake off). I may blow it out, put in a cheap Summit cam just to get it rolling but we'll see.

I know what you mean ramcharger,
I have found and vacuumed stuff I would not even mention
out of a car or two.:vom:
But keep a sharp eye out:-$
there is silver in them old mopars.:thumleft:
Take your time and get that side job dun and the get some pic! OK:grin:

Yep, found a bunch of dead mice and other unmentionables. Also found some change and a receipt for gas from 7/14/84 from here in Colorado, so I know it's been here for quite a while. That's probably why it hasn't rusted away.

 

[340mopar]

Right on, good score. You are going to finish your Ramcharger first, aren't you?


Chuck

 

[ramcharger]

Thanks Chuck!

Yeah, the truck has to get done first. I'll need it to move the Duster and get Lori's race cars from Kansas. I've got to keep her happy, so she'll put up with my projects. She seems to be excited about this car too, so this is a good thing. She even asked me to get a key made for her (This is a good thing, right?)

This Duster ought to be a pleasure compared to the Ramcharger. Only rust I found so far is pinholes in the spare tire well and behind the front seat. Looks like I can just cut and patch with sheet metal. Weatherstrip around the trunk is fine, but the metal was bent down at the top/front allowing rain to seep in. I just bent it up with the heel of my hand so it seals. Easy fix. Put a car cover over it too just in case there are any other leaks I'm not aware of, plus it looks better to the neighbors, code enforcement guys, etc.

 

[ramcharger]

OK, Here's some pics. Windows roll up and down perfectly, doors shut with a nice 70's thud, no rust on the rockers or door hinge area. Some rust in the spare tire well but it doesn't go through. The little slotted bracket for the hold down is trashed though. No big deal, it's probably getting a fuel cell anyway. Rest of the trunk and deck lid are fine, no rust, no dents.

Doors are perfect, door panels, rear window trim, auto console, bucket seats, manual hump all came with car with a whole bunch of other stuff too.

I may need to replace or patch the floor behind the driver. Dash is totally trashed. I won't feel bad modifying it for a roll bar.

 

[ramcharger]

OK, Here's a few more. Gotta love that front license plate. It's going on the garage wall for laughs.lol.

Wheels and tires are really nice. Probably worth what I paid for the car.

Grill has two small cracks that I can easlily repair, but it does need a drivers side headlight bucket. I did get the lenses for the grill with the car. Hood and drivers side fender will need replacement too. I'm thinking fiberglass hood with 6 pack scoop but steel fenders. We'll see. Maybe fiberglass bumpers too.

 

[redfastback]

like you said, all the good sheetmetal is there. i would say that 360 would like to be stroked so it could run 11's. love the taillights on 72's.

 

[ramcharger]

like you said, all the good sheetmetal is there. i would say that 360 would like to be stroked so it could run 11's. love the taillights on 72's.

I got a 360 block in the garage just waiting for a 4" crank, indy heads, roller cam and a E-85 carb. I'd like to break into the 10's on motor.

Yeah, the tailights are what sold me on this car. I think it'll really give it a mean look when it's done.

 

[Rob]

Nice deal!!! That looks really solid, what a score. That will make for a very simplified build, virtually no body work to speak of, already set up with a small block. A thing of beauty she is.

 

[Slanted66]

Cool find!! Hope to see you up at Bandimere in the spring!
Slanted66

 

[ramcharger]

Thanks Rob! This build should go much quicker than my stupid freekin' truck. Even though I'm really excited about this build, I have to keep sight of my goals.

Slanted '66: Well, the truck still has get completed first. I can't loose sight of my goals or I'll end up with two incomplete projects. After I took these pictures, I wrapped the car in a tarp and then stretched a car cover over it. It's snug as a bug in a rug until the truck gets done (This spring). I think spring/summer of '09 is more realistic.

 

[Slanted66]

lol...I Hear what you are saying about goals! I ws all set to paint mine this year, but other stuff keeps getting in the way...and I work for a body shop!! Let me know if you want to get together some time and talk MOPARS!
Slanted66

 

[ramcharger]

lol...I Hear what you are saying about goals! I ws all set to paint mine this year, but other stuff keeps getting in the way...and I work for a body shop!! Let me know if you want to get together some time and talk MOPARS!
Slanted66

PM Sent! :thumblef:

 

[memike]

I have not seen a scull and cross bones in a long time.:happy6:
Nice find ramcharger!! Car look's very solid too.
I have been watching you work on quadzilla and the duster will be a good
change for you sir. The wheel's and tires sure look real nice and will keep it
on the roll for ya. Congratulations bro. Great find.
A/c and color sure douse make me think it is a gold piece.:thumblef:

 

[ramcharger]

Thanks Mike!

I'm looking forward to the day when I can post my Duster in the restoration forum. I'm already making a parts list and doing some project management, like making a list of what needs to be done first, what parts need to be purchased and in what order, etc. One thing I've learned from the Ramcharger and other previous builds is to have a plan and stick to it. Start from the inside out, and work from there and also to have a clear picture in my head as to what I want from the completed package in regards to performance as well as to looks. That's why I joined this site previous to buying the car. I've done two years of research on this site as to what these cars are capable of, and I've found that there's not much that these cars CAN'T do! lol!

So, this is my decision making process. I hope that it can help someone who plans on doing a restoration/performance car build in the future.

1. How much do I want to spend over how much time?

2. How fast do I want to go?

3. How well do I want it handle/brake?

4. What are the NHRA safety rules regarding my target ET?

5. How nice do I want it to look? Local show third place type finish or am I shooting for a first place Good Guys show quality finish (I'm not, in case your wondering, lol). The Ramcharger was intended to be just a good solid quick tow and "get me to the backwoods fishing/hunting truck" but is turning into a small local show winner in my opinion (which ain't worth much, lol!).

6. To license a car here in Colorado with Antique plates, I have to have it emissions tested just once. The test consists of just a stationary idle test and 2500 rpm test. I will most likeley pull the original engine and do a quicky stock rebuild (Rings, bearings and oil pump, cheap stock type cam and lap the valves). Even if the valve guides piss oil, I can still pass the test. This will happen after the body and suspension is done and will be stuck in my project management plans.

Oh yeah, I'm stealing the bucket seats out of the Duster for the Ramcharger :shock:. The Duster will get the nice seats!

Just for fun, here's a pic of what the mice did to my engine. Note the rusty cam too. Sorry about the blurry focus, it was dead black outside and I couldn't even see the viewfinder.