Well I proved to myself today that I have automotive ADD.. After taking care of the AMX (see other post) I got busy on the Duster parts. I was able to media blast quite a few small items, especially the ones to get painted with the car...gas cap, fender winkies, marker light housings, etc. I also got my flexible brake hose hanger bracket refinished and done. It was too windy to paint anything else so I got busy on the dash. I got it all disassembled and ready to be redone. I got quite a bit done today...time to relax have few Coors and make dinner for the family.

Today I picked up my Duster from the media blaster!!!

Heres the pass side.

The media blaster saved a spot I needed to see....F8 green on both sides of the firewall. I read about them clearing paint guns on E bodies before. Only surprise was some hidden rust down on the rockers where the seam sealer was. Nothing too difficult to fix. Off to the painter next!!!

Brent, your project is moving along pretty quick. Man what a great car too, I can't wait to see it once it's painted. I love 340 Dusters and Darts too.

Thanks! Your Cuda has provided some Red & Black inspiration for me.

Almost the whole kickpanel metal was green. Paul (the blaster) had never seen that before and he has done a lot of cars including Mopars.

Its no longer the "Ruster" anymore

Did you get any pictures of the green areas before it was blasted?

No unfortunately not. I didn't want to delay getting the car back by having him stop blasting, as the blaster was an hour away. With snow in the forecast for this weekend and my painter leaving for Ohio on Sunday I had a tight timeline to get it into the paint shop. Especially since I only have an open car trailer.

That green was under my passenger side kick panel but strangely enough none under the drivers side kick..

Brent, congrats on the transition from "Ruster" to Duster!

Thanks Dmoore! Love your 72's BTW

Primer/sealer makes sense. I've found traces all over now that I've had time to look.

I've got about 3 hours in vacuuming and blowing out media. A leaf blower sure came in handy, although it does a better job of blowing sand into areas I just vacuumed & all over me. I'm sure glad I stopped at the spray & wash on my way home to vacuum a bulk of the media out...although the owner of that place may not feel the same way when they find 20lbs of media in their hopper

Now that the Duster is at the painters I've been cleaning up the garage and organizing parts. Today I got the tailights disassembled and cleaned up. I fixed two broken screw holes with epoxy, luckily the broken pieces were there. Next up is restoring them back to new. A little polishing and painting should go a long way. As tempting as NOS ones are I think these will clean up really well and save me $350. Heres a before pic of the lenses..


The painter called me today and he asked "Ya know since this car is so straight are you sure you don't' want to paint this car black?"
If it was any other color I probably would, but I had to say no, stick with the red.

Triple Black with the organisol hood? Sinister

Today I got the gauges cleaned up and tested. I cleaned up the pins and connections on the back too. Once the needle paint dries they'll be wrapped up till installation time.
I also made an appointment with the machine shop to drop the motor off, 2nd week in Jan.

Care to share the secrets how you detailed and tested them, they look Great!

I tested them with a meter. Can't say they're accurate, but all tested good. Cleaning was done with practically boiling hot water and q tips. They were pretty clean to start with.

Update, 12/1/11
I dropped off all the parts to be powdercoated and rechromed today!

I got the exhaust tip hangers done today among other things. I've been rounding up and selling parts that I've been hoarding for years to help offset the $ spent on the Duster. Heres a before pic of the hangers..