Slant six Duster roadtrip!

[cruisebrothers]

Hi all.
I bought myself a 75 Duster 225 with 3 speed automatic. Its in overall good condition (some patina and dents) and well maintained.
Currently I am arranging all the paper work for importing the car to my country (The Netherlands) from Germany. I want to pick it up next saturday.
The current owner never drove longer as one hour straight and just for fun. My trip back is a 500 mile trip (max 55mph roads). I think it will be peanuts for the Slant 6.
However with the test drive I heared some light metal grinding sound from the rear (I believe the rear). It drives great. shifts real smooth and brakes strong. Not sure what this sound could be and it did not get louder when driving faster. Maybe the brakes being used to less? (it only drove 300 miles in the past two years).

I want to be well prepared for this trip. I already checked engine oil and transmission oil. Both are fine.
Want to check the oil on the rear axle as well. Can I check this from the street? What can I use to fill it up?
What tools would I bring and which fluids etc.?

Looking forward to the drive home!
Thanks for reading.

 

[65 Dartman]

I would want to get the car up in a lift to check the oil. If it needs oil, use 80/90 wt gear oil. I would want to check the rear brakes as they might be worn enough to result in metal to metal contact.

FWIW my oldest son lives in the Netherlands and is a sound engineer at Schiphol. Good luck on your trip with lots of pictures to share with us!

 

[Jax_1975_Dart]

Metal grinding noise from the back is more than likely low oil in the rear end. Sounds similar to when a wheel bearing starts to go bad AND what you describe could very well be a wheel bearing failing.

It’s been a while since I serviced the rear differential but you will need a hex wrench. It’s SAE and one of the larger sizes.

Clearance to get the gear oil into the small housing inlet can sometimes be an issue. Having a tube that can attach to the gear oil container has saved me on a few Mopars that needed to be topped off.

 

[cruisebrothers]

I would want to get the car up in a lift to check the oil. If it needs oil, use 80/90 wt gear oil. I would want to check the rear brakes as they might be worn enough to result in metal to metal contact.

FWIW my oldest son lives in the Netherlands and is a sound engineer at Schiphol. Good luck on your trip with lots of pictures to share with us!

Bought the oil along with some Dexron III oil for the tranny. Will check the brakes if possible.
Will off course make the pictures. Already received a picture of the new temporary plates that allows me to export the car.

Metal grinding noise from the back is more than likely low oil in the rear end. Sounds similar to when a wheel bearing starts to go bad AND what you describe could very well be a wheel bearing failing.

It’s been a while since I serviced the rear differential but you will need a hex wrench. It’s SAE and one of the larger sizes.

Clearance to get the gear oil into the small housing inlet can sometimes be an issue. Having a tube that can attach to the gear oil container has saved me on a few Mopars that needed to be topped off.

Will bring a tube. Thanks for the tip. Hope I got the correct size hex. Will bring everything I got.
Maybe its a bearing indeed. Maybe its nothing. Will let you all know.

 

[cruisebrothers]

On my way!

 

[65 Dartman]

Good luck! Thinking positive you’ll have no problems

 

[TX9Duster]

Good luck on your trip home... hopefully everything goes well.

 

[roadrunnerh]

Very nice 1975!

 

[fastdodge]

Hi Bas, wishing you safe passage on your road trip!

My travel tool bag includes:
o Open/box end wrenches from 3/8-7/8" (1/16" increments)
o adjustable wrench
o SAE sockets from 3/8-7/8"
o 3/8" rachet and tube that fits over its handle to increase torque
o Phillips & flat blade screwdrivers
o feeler gauges
o test light

If the car has a bumper jack, good, if not I throw a bottle jack in the truck.

Hopefully the motor oil & filter are fresh. Pull the PCV valve & ensure it moves freely. Check all the fluids & top up as needed. Auto trans needs to be checked hot.

Check tire pressure & condition. Have a spare tire?

Is the wiper rubber good or time to replace?

Three things come to mind (already mentioned above) for rearend noise:
o low diff oil (after removing the fill plug, typically on back, putting your pinky in should just touch the top of the fluid)
o axle bearings, easier to inspect before leaving than on the side of the road, could be noisy if diff oil is low
o drum brakes, which you'll have to remove/inspect to get to the axles, be sure to clean & antiseize the threads and cap of the self adjuster, small shoe goes to the front

 

[Dartnut]

Enjoy your trip/excursion.
You'll be fine...

 

[Clelan]

Best of luck! Sounds like a great way to break in a new purchase!

 

[cruisebrothers]

Just did 100 miles and all is fine for now.
We are in the hotel.
400 mile drive tommorow. Will check fluids before we leave (and transmission oil when hot). Did not get the the fill plug out of the diff. Have to get a usa size hex tool.
Picture outside the hotel.

 

[Clelan]

Man that's a nice car!

Cley

 

[barbee6043]

Nice ride!!!


It will be fine... enjoy the trip!

 

[Mattax]

My guess on the noise would have been brake shoes. One car passed the NJ inspection (stop hard on 4 test plates) and when I removed the drums that weekend the rivets were hitting the drums! Since you made 100 miles no problem the next 400 should be fine.

 

[cruisebrothers]

Made it with ease! And wow this was fun!
This is in the street at night when i Arrived.
Will update later with more pictures.

 

[fastdodge]

Glad bringing your great looking Duster home went smoothly, here's to your continued enjoyment!

 

[barbee6043]

I told you it would be FINE!