Author Topic: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster  (Read 7362 times)

Offline ChallengerGary

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Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« on: December 27, 2008 - 10:00:04 AM »
Okay - As some of you may know I have been looking for an A-Body beater for about a month or so. Basically, my Ram Charger's tranny went out, I decided not to put the money into fxing it right now. I started to look for a Duster, Demon, or Dart Sport that I could use as a daily driver. Well, I found it yesterday. A fellow Cowtown Mopar club member emailed me about one that a local Dodge Dealer got wind of. I called the owner, looked at it and bought it yesterday. I has a /6 and the best part is 100% rust free body! The seats and carpet are trashed but the door panels are good. The previous owner even re-wired the entire car using a Painless Wiring kit. Everything electrical works. The A/C is missing the compressor and lines.

It's actually a factory painted roof car with the mid body side stripes. The previous owner had gotten into a fender bender and the insurance company straightened it out for the and even rechromed the front bumper. So my body work will be really minimal. Plans are to do the paint and body fairly quickly since I can do that myself. Not sure on the color. I was leaning towards keeping it green so that I do not have to change the interior too drastically. However,my wife and daughter said they wanted it yellow.

After I paint it,  I will either recover the seats or get them done by a local shop. Eventually, it wil get a v8 conversion but for now it is my Budget Beater.


Decisions, decisions...
2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Mega Cab 5.7 Hemi

1972 Dodge Demon - "new" project

AND TOO MANY OTHER MOPARS THROUGH MY HANDS TO COUNT




Offline 71bigblock

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2008 - 10:17:22 AM »
Keep the 6! 

Cool Duster.   :bigshades:

Offline ChallengerGary

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2008 - 10:30:57 AM »
 :iagree:  The /6 will be the last thing to change.  I will only do so when the (limited) budget allows (or I score a free or close to free v8).  :bigsmile:
2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Mega Cab 5.7 Hemi

1972 Dodge Demon - "new" project

AND TOO MANY OTHER MOPARS THROUGH MY HANDS TO COUNT

Offline 70Challenger6

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2008 - 11:00:52 AM »
let me know when you pull the /6 out..

Offline ChallengerGary

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2008 - 11:10:44 AM »
It'll probably be quite a while until that happens.  Are you looking for one?  If so, check out Craigslist.  I always see one or two on there...
2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Mega Cab 5.7 Hemi

1972 Dodge Demon - "new" project

AND TOO MANY OTHER MOPARS THROUGH MY HANDS TO COUNT

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2008 - 12:02:30 PM »
good score ! the body looks perfect

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline 426HEMI

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2008 - 12:13:32 PM »
Way to go sounds like a real winner.  Keep us up to date on what you do. 
Got a pretty good start on my M46 optioned Barracuda restoration but now it is on hold till I can gather more funds.  Still need a few parts for it.  SIU Graduate 75 AAS Automotive Tech, 94 BS Advanced Tech Studies, 1997 MSED Workforce Education and Development

1970 M46 Barracuda
1998 Dodge Darango

Gordon

Offline 67vertman

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2008 - 03:17:05 PM »
Keep the /6 and build it up!    :2thumbs:

I had a /6 dart and put a cam, intake and 4 barrel carb and headers on it.  She surprised many a person when I lifted the hood and they got beat by a six cylinder.  :smilielol:



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I got the 1970 Cuda, but still need the hot blonde to ride shotgun!

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Offline NoMope Greg

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2008 - 04:19:08 PM »
Nice score, Gary.  :2thumbs:  I like the green too.  I don't know if I'd leave the painted roof, though it is pretty rare and gives the car a unique look.  Guess I'd stare at it awhile before making that decision.   
« Last Edit: December 27, 2008 - 09:17:42 PM by Greg's HO R/T »
Greg
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Currently Mopar-less :(

Offline CHUCKS71

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2008 - 06:31:56 PM »
Nice ride Gary!71 was the best year for the Duster I think.I would add bucket seats and the shark tooth grille and maybe put E.F.I. on the I6 with an O/D trans.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2008 - 06:58:31 PM by CHUCKS71 »
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Offline CrazyPete

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2008 - 06:54:51 PM »
 :thumbsup: cool car buddy how does she run?

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Offline NoMope Greg

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2008 - 09:23:44 PM »
Nice ride Gary!71 was the best year for the Duster I think.I would add bucket seats and the shark tooth grille and maybe put E.F.I. on the I6 with an O/D trans.


And wouldn't you know - The Clown has two sharkstooth grilles for sale:

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=53110.0
Greg
2003 Ford Escape XLS
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Offline vinb

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2008 - 10:58:08 PM »
Green on Green , you gotta love it..
Keep the bench seat in it, it's 23lbs lighter then a pair of buckets..
Now get a 4 bbl intake & carb, a chrome valve cover and your all set..
Seriously , cool Duster will be neat when you get it done... :thumbsup:
Had a few of them myself...

Offline ChallengerGary

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2008 - 11:10:38 PM »
Nice ride Gary!71 was the best year for the Duster I think.I would add bucket seats and the shark tooth grille and maybe put E.F.I. on the I6 with an O/D trans.

I agree, '71 is my favorite year for Dusters (and almost every Mopar too).  I was thinking about aftermarket buckets seats and the shark tooth grille too.  Not sure about EFI on the /6 though.  If I am going to spend that kind of money on the engine, I'll just do a V8 swap.  For now, the leaning tower of power stays.

:thumbsup: cool car buddy how does she run?

She runs great.  I've already put over 100 miles on it and she runs and drives like a /6 should.

Nice score, Gary.  :2thumbs:  I like the green too.  I don't know if I'd leave the painted roof, though it is pretty rare and gives the car a unique look.  Guess I'd stare at it awhile before making that decision.   
   Having stared at it today for a while and having taken my 7 year old son for a ride, I think the green interior has got to go.  The first thing my son said was "This green is really ugly.  You should paint these parts (in the interior) black.  Also, paint the car yellow with black stripes."  I am thinking about two-toning it yellow with black roof and stripes.   :icon16:
« Last Edit: December 27, 2008 - 11:24:25 PM by ChallengerGary »
2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Mega Cab 5.7 Hemi

1972 Dodge Demon - "new" project

AND TOO MANY OTHER MOPARS THROUGH MY HANDS TO COUNT

Offline IMNCARN82

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Re: Project - /6 Budget Beater '71 Duster
« Reply #14 on: December 28, 2008 - 10:42:03 AM »
 I LIKE IT!!!!    Looks like a great project!  The Dusters/Demons are very cost effective! I got one too. A '75 Duster /6. It's my daily driver now. 20+ m.p.g.!   Just got done with the patch panels...Waiting for paint.Warmer weather too. I'd LOVE to get a '71 front clip/grille for it.  I painted the interior on mine. Worked out good. Check it out in the resto. section. The plastic paint works good,let it cure.     Mine has all the a/c stuff connected. I'm looking for a 360,727,8 3/4.   But for now I just toodle around in her.

What color are you thinkn'?  Gonna' be sweeeeet!!   :2thumbs:   :clapping:
'73 340 5 speed,RMS,BAER,... "Supercuda" (O[   ]||||[   ]O)  
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13' Challenger R/T BlacktoP  6spd. (OO________OO)
71' Demon
75' Duster
87' Conquest TSI
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