You want to see something amazing, and thats taking your drive shaft and soaking in evaporust. Simply use a 4" PVC capped on one end just like you did the leaf I did these leaf springs. Works great.

Thanks for the bluing tip!

Thanks CDP for the tips. The driveshaft is next on the list, after the pedal assy.

68427 Thats a good idea on the heater for large items, especially my driveshaft. I'll be stopping by my brothers shop and borrowing some of his heat soon.

I'll be helping with the bodywork this week.. so progress pics coming Thursday!!

Things have been a a little hectic, but progress is continuing. Between wind, fire, snow, and life I find that things which are important sometimes are not. Its those things too, that are driving me to get this car done as soon as possible. The car should be painted within a month..
I've gotten all of the splash shields redone, pedal assy redone, and the LH vent/box redone. I also drilled out the hood for the scoops, which helped the oil canning that it was doing. The painter was happy about that.
Heres the before on on the starter shield.

After on the starter shield

Before on the pedal assy parts, well most of them anyway.

Pedal assy after. I need to order some new pads, and may even spring for the trim!

Honestly honey I don't know how all that dirt got in the tub...

Naked Duster! This ones for you Moparpollack!

I spent the day going over all the little details on the car, prior to painting... which will be VERY soon!!

There was a lot of factory sloppiness found, such as extra lead slop on the lower rockers, grinder marks on the upper qp, file marks all over, etc. But its super straight with minimal filler needed. The drivers side is about the same way. I got asked again...You sure you don't want to paint it black? Last chance since the paint is being bought tomorrow. If it was any color than red I'd go with black honestly.

Front view.

Don't forget to give him the smaller bolt on parts that get painted body color (mirrors, gas cap, trunk latch, etc.)

That's what I like to see a primo body with no rust.

Scott- Don't worry that was part of the "details" I went over today. I told him the fender tag only comes when the paint goes in the gun.

Pollack-I figured you'd like that.

I'm getting really excited about it. On the other hand I'm starting to realize that I'm not as far ahead on the other parts as I'd like to be.

The painter is going to get the engine paint matched so I'll post what he comes up with. He's also going to see if theres a match to the dash paint, using the glove box (the untouched are behind the trim). His day job is a lab tech at the Sherwin Williams paint plant here, so he's kinda of paint geek which helps when it comes to details.

Great car! Awesome thread! Lots of great tricks and tips for when I go cosmetic on mine.Made for a nice 5am read on my night off.
Nice work
Can't wait to follow the rest.


Wish mine was that original when I got it!

No fender tag or build sheet,crappy repaint in red instead of the original black ,VIN'less block with broken ears,missing tons of brackets and bolts and little stuff...you get the picture...but then again I guess it does leave me more free to take my liberties.

Thanks Knuckle! Liberties are a good thing! Your car is originally black?


I got all the chrome back on wed. When I picked up the chrome I dropped off all the trim to be polished. I've had to work on the daily driver so I haven't got as much done on the Duster lately as I would have liked.
I did get the rear end detailed, and the brakes redone. I got my tail housings back from Scott Smith, wow do they look nice. The rear brake drums were definately painted red, and are currently soaking in Evaporust. Driveshaft is next for soaking. I ordered brake & fuel lines, along with new e brake cables, u joints, flexible brake lines, and some Dynamat.
I'm bummed about parts delays right now though.

Another shot of the rear..The lighting makes the colors look off, but they are redone they way I found them. I used clear packing tape to copy them, then made stencils from that.