Project EH-Body - 1976 Plymouth Duster
 

Well I'm new to lateral G but I've been building my car for 3-4 years. Please forgive as I try and get this new build back on track to match up with the others sites I'm on.

Here's a rendering I had done from Mascoll Designs.

http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...esizefinal.jpg


The plan for the car is 6.1L Hemi (425hp), T-56 (Viper) and an 8 3/4" rear end. I have a tube front end with rack and sway bar and a rear 4 triangular four link.

The suspension is all from Reilly Motorsports.

Please forgive me while I ad 3-4 years of posts to this thread.

Riddler

This is what the car looks like when we brought it home...

http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0226.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0227.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0238.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0234.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0237.jpg


Overall a solid car from the USA. I'll be adding to this project long as time goes on.

Riddler

First things first. The interior smelled like Moth Balls. It was used to get the mice out of the car since it was stored in a barn. The entire interior was removed.

One Seat removed
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0261.jpg

Both Seats removed
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0262.jpg

Rear Seat and Carpet Removed
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0263.jpg

The only rust I've found so far. Also note the center hump has had another hump installed over it with screws and seam sealer.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0265.jpg

Driver's Side Rust
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0266.jpg


Well the interior is out, I've located and purchased a set of floor pans. Not sure I'll need them since it's mostly surface rust. I can prolly make due just patching with some small sheet metal cutouts for the holes.

Total dead mice found - 4

The plan is have the entire car blasted.

Riddler

Well I've started to disassemble the car down so that I can get it blasted.

http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/IMG_5777.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/IMG_5778.jpg

Front end gettig stripped down first.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/IMG_5786.jpg

Fenders came off once we found all the nuts.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/IMG_5787.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/IMG_5789.jpg

Only surface rust. Woohoo!
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/IMG_5790.jpg


Riddler

Well the disassembly continues. This time I went to the back of the car and started to remove everything.

http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0336.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0337.jpg

The gas tank was brand new. At least that's what I've been told.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0341.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0342.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0343.jpg

This is going to be a larger job. Someone in the past has screwed down another (Volare/Aspen) center hump over the stock hump. Then they seam sealed it. Gonna have to grind the screw heads off a peel this center section off.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0344.jpg

This concludes this disassembly installment.

Riddler

Well I got alot more done this weekend. I'm also finally up to date on the pictures. This is how the car is currently sitting...

Look ma, no glass...
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0349.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0350.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0351.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0352.jpg

Pictures of the glass out of the car.
Front:
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0361.jpg
Rear:
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0362.jpg

So this was my goal this weekend, to get the glass out. After about an hour I had it all out. So I went for bonus removal on items.

Started with the dash now since I could get to those bolts.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0353.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0354.jpg

I figured the column would be very troublesome to get out. Nope the old owner had taken all the bolts, pins etc out and left them out. Just a quick pull and it came.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0355.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0356.jpg

Now this this was all removed, we went to remove the brake booster and resivoir.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0358.jpg

Not much left to remove. Engine and tranny will come out when I can get a hoist. The rear end can come out anytime now.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0359.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0363.jpg

While taking out the rear quarter glass I found something strange. The driver's side has an extra piece of metal. How odd!
DRIVER'S:
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0364.jpg

PASSENGER'S:
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0365.jpg

This had to be a factory error. The piece of metal was not cut out unless god himself removed it. No evidence of cutting or anything.

Riddler

Well I jumped back on the disassembly of the Duster this weekend. I decided I finally wanted the Volare/Aspen center hump and shifter removed to see what is under it.

Here's me grinding the screws and seam sealer off.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0369.jpg

I went from this....
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0353.jpg

To this....
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0370.jpg

I then decided to remove the white peice of tin.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0371.jpg

Yes that is a piece of a My Little Pony lunch pail! LOL

After this was all done I had some more spare time, so I figured I'd empty out the doors.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0372.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0376.jpg


Finally both doors are ready for blasting.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0377.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0375.jpg


On Saturday 31OCT2009 I got a call about a motor. I jumped in my truck with my brother in law Jim and purchased that motor.

Here's a small teaser for now....
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0380.jpg

Without further ado.....

2005 5.7L 345CI Hemi. This elephant weighs prolly 600-750lbs. Thank to Jim for the help geting her home.

http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0378.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0379.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0381.jpg


I'm hoping to find a 545RFE or something similar for behind this. I'm going to keep it automatic so my Wife can drive it also.

Riddler

Haven't worked much on the car but I have been buying items.

Here's a factory correct console....

http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...cs/Console.jpg

I've also sourced a set of tail light from a gent in Texas.

http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0388.jpg


Last but not least is a complete rear suspension. Gone will be the old leaf spring suspension. This is an RMS Street Lynx kit.

http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0386.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0385.jpg


That's all for now.

Riddler

Well here's the latest update. Not much has happened since the last update due to the fact I up'd and moved on Jan 26 and my wife and I have been working on getting settled. But things have to get moving if I ever want to see this project completed.

First thing was to start making more room for things. So I cleared all the parts out and made room for more dissassembly.

Here'e my 8 3/4" E body rear end with a 489 center section.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0001.jpg

With my brother in law away I had to recruite the help of my dad. Never had a chance to work with my dad on cars, but man it felt good, talking cars and about missed times...

Here's the 318 he helped my yank out.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0002.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0003.jpg

After this out I could see the full extent of the k frame and steering box. The steering box must weigh a metric ton. Looks big and heavy!
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0004.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0005.jpg

After this was done I set up the rotisserie. I still need to get the car higher in the air and bolt it onto the rotisserie, but it's set-up and ready to go.
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0006.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0007.jpg
http://www.riddlerneon.com/gallery/a...s/DSC_0008.jpg

Well until the next update....

Riddler