1971 Halloween V24 340 Duster

Yet another project! These never get old!

What we have here this time around is a very unique 71 340 Duster that I'm very excited about. I saw this car on ebay a little over a year ago and knew I just had to have it. So of course, I bought this car and made the trip to the southern part of Missouri to go get it.

What makes it unique is its color scheme! This thing came equipped with a 340 auto and a 3.91 sure grip. EV2 hemi orange, black vynal top, orange bucket interior w/ console and my favorite option: V24 blacked out '340 wedge' hood! Other than a 4 speed, it's everything I would have checked off if ordering this new.

My plan is going to make yet another killer FAST car out of this. If you followed me from my 71 FAST Roadrunner thread, I actually kept the 340 stroker when I sold the runner and that motor will be used in this Duster. Other than changing the power steering out to manual and adding duel painted mirrors over the single chrome racing, I plan on leaving the car in 'as-ordered' appearance.

This thing is pretty rough. It appeared that it was parted out at one time as it only had a dash some glass, a fender tag and some other odds and ends. On top of that, it has its fair share of rust including, but not limited to, trunk, floors, quarters, roof, rockers ect. -not for the faint of heart!

I'm not going to get this done as fast as my dads 70 6 pack car as my time and funds are limited. I have acquired a nice stash of parts for it already like seats, some really nice sheet metal, and most of the other hard to find parts, but figured I might as well start sharing. Hope you enjoy!
-Kevin

Engine bay and interior, theres pretty much no floor left but the frame is in perfect shape.

Picked up a very restorable sharktooth for it! Also a shot of the fender tag..

Found a conplete set of date codes small bolt rallys! I got the center caps restored, just beed to blast and paint the rims. Trim rings (not pictured) are in beautiful shape.

Gutted my dash as well getting ready to restore. To my suprise, the gauges look brand new other than the needles being fadded. I compared it to a few NOS gauges and i see no reason to re-silk screen them. Rebuild them of course, but save me a chunk of money. Thats a bulk of what i got for updates now. More to come!

You got yer work 'cut out' fer you, son...

What a cool project, I'm really excited to watch this one! Keep up the progress!

Looks like a good one to build. I'll be watching this one.

Can't wait to see how this one progresses

Nice options, Can't wait too this one finished. A rallye dash with an intact radio opening, Bonus!

I'm subscribed!

Kevin You always find the coolest cars to restore. I have enjoyed following the resto of each one. You have completed 2 before I have finished one ( 71 duster 340,GY3) Someday when I get closer to being done I am going to post some pics. It will probably be this coming winter. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I really do enjoy doing these cars and i look forward to doing another a body. Much more simple of a car than say my 71 Roadrunner and parts are more readily available.

That will be a very cool FAST car, I'll be watching!

^^^^ and Ill be hitting you up for info from time to time haha

Be sure to get A LOT of REALLY GOOD pictures of every inch of the blackout pattern that remains before you strip the car, you will need them!

Another reason to love a bodies is how cheap parts can be had. Case in point is i bought this mint steering wheel for $20! Also bought a gorgeous radio from none other than Greg Ward.

I have already done so Scott. I had them posted in a thread from a few months back in regards to just that. Only thing I dont know for sure is the spray pattern on the fenders themselves as they were missing. (Hint any pics on your end?)

Also located my pullys for the manual steering, a date coded NOS alternator shell with NOS internals, a 215 fan with a 3223 clutch. Still need to restore the clutch.. But this set up should free up some ponies from when i had it in the runner. Lastly, located a set of beautiful date code 340 exhaust manifolds. Ill be sending these out to get ported eventually.

Ok, last one for tonight. I kept the 4973 thermoquad and dr1114429 solenoid Scott restored for me a long while back. The thermoquad was modified by my engine builder Jeff to accomodate the extra power. Then i also aquired a nice air cleaner that i refinished as well.

Take some more pics

In referance to the V24 I assume?

I ordered a new dash pad tonight from Dash Pad Pros. See how it looks, but for 215, I figured I couldn't go wrong. I want to get the dash frame stripped and painted this weekend along with my steering column parts. I have some black suede paint from Instrument Specialties. Im also going to send my cluster to Scott from ESE associates in Bartlett, Il probably monday. Glen Ray recomended them so I figured Id try it out. Have to wait a little bit to send the bezels out as this will tap my funds out for the time being. Had 340 demon bezel set re-chromed by Vacuum Orna-Metal out of michigan that turned out really nice and probably go through them again.

Yes, I meant of the V24, you can't get too many, it's REALLY helpful when you are masking it off, pay close attention to the less obvious areas, in door jambs, behind or next to trim or body lines, etc. and include a tape measure in the shots to get dimensions. I haven't seen one done accurately yet, it's a rare thing to get the V24 right because so few exist with original paint to use for reference.

Ill be sure to do that. Do you have access to an original V24 picture showing the mask line running down the fender on the engine bay side? Thats the only piece of the puzzle missing.

I believe my brother was toying with buying this car when it was for sale previously.

No; I was wrong it was a different car. Can't wait to see this one done.

Those pulleys look good!

haha they sure do!!

Got the dash frame painted today with instrument specialties suede paint. Threw the glove box door on to avoid dinging it up else where. Send gauges out probably Monday and id like to send out the bezels to get done also.. Be kinda nice to be done with the dash! Will be going with a new harness from M&H.

I'm subscribed to your build. '71 340 Dusters are the bomb. It seems that the A body Rallye instrument faces hold up well through the years. Mine only needed a cleaning and needle painting.

I was wondering if you had any photos of the factory pinch weld blackout? My car also had remnants of what looked like blackout behind the rear bumper. Do you have pictures of the rear with the bumper removed?

I do not have the rear bumper removed yet. I can go snap what i can though. Still wanted to get some pictures posted on the hood blackout tape off areas. Not sure why the gauges on a bodies faired better? Im not arguing as it'll save me a bunch of money!

I would appreciate it whenever you get a chance. I haven't been able to find out much about black out around the rear bumper. My car had some evidence but it had been repainted previously. I'd be interested in seeing if your car has some traces of black.

Really liking the orange duster! I have a '71 that is getting a big block and I am thinking about painting it the same color with the blacked out hood! I followed your white road runner build and if this one turns out as nice I am sure it will look great! That shark tooth grille you found is really nice! Those are really hard to find. I can't wait to see how this one turns out!

whats goofy is this is my 3rd hemi orange 71 duster in the last 4 years haha. Must be a magnet to them! Im really excited about this car, wish work wasn't so slow otherwise Id be hammering the over time to get more funding for this, thus the slow pace. Im pretty confident I've secured a 71 duster parts car, just need to go get it. Parts cars are a must IMO in doing a restoration.

Hey, what are the updates on the car??

I've been putsing away at it! nothing major to post yet. I got the steering column pretty well done, just waiting on the ignition lock set to get in. the heater box is sitting on the bench ready to work on also. I'm thinking the dash cluster should be back within a month or so.

Being summer time, seems as though all my free time is spent getting other peoples projects done. Nice to have the extra cash flow to put towards the Duster though!

Well when you have some time Maybe post up some pictures of your current work??

Well, heres the column so far.

Nothing major, but figured id post a small update. I ended up buying some pretty decent, original quarter panels. Some small creases, and the drivers side has a rust hole smaller than a baseball. Both of them for a lot less than what 1 reproduction costs. Also got a decent hood given to me!

Also steering column is ready to go.

Nothing major, but wheels are painted up. Been busy with a new job and buying a house among other things. Dash should be done soonish i would think..

Still working on thr car when time amd money allows. Dash is for the most part done. Still need some small stuff but thr bulk of the money is already spent on it.

Picked up a set of mint doors from a good local guy and i ordered my upholstery at mopars in tbe park. So that should be here soon. Also have the center section being put together as we speak. Going with a 498 case 3.55 with a clutch type sure grip for now.

Bezel was done by gcar trim and the cluster from scott erickson from chicago.

Since i bought a house, ive been stupid busy remodeling it.. So please be patient.. But my kitchen turned out kinda cool

And i made a built in ... China hutch....

Like the kitchen and the china cabinet Plus your work on the car looks pretty good as well!

Great color combo - look forward to seeing the progress

Not much of an update but super stoked about my latest! I was searching through craigslist and stumbled on an ad for a 71 duster in indiana. Not sure why i clicked on it as it didnt seem like anything special but i did and while scanning through the pictures, i noticed the car had orange interior. I emailed him right away to see if hed sell the ultra rare orange arm rests and sure enough he did! I figured that these would probably never be found but i have them now. His duster had the high grade interior with rear arm rests but mine didnt. Got the set or 4 anyway. Thats all for now.

Legendary got all my upholstery here today. Probably take it all down to get covered here soon. Unfortunately, they sent the wrong door panels, i got the woodgrain, upscale one when mine should be the low grade.. Have to send it back..

Back in the early 90's my brother and I spotted a duster behind an old service station. I stopped in to check it out and it was a 71 twister. Damn, the sharks tooth grill was busted! Looked inside and saw the strangest interior I had ever seen. EVERYTHING was orange! Carpet, seats, headliner, door panels. I think the dash pad may have been black. I have never seen another all orange interior like that before or since.
The car was wrecked pretty badly. I scored a few parts off it. I should have saved that interior as I recall it being in really good condition.

The orange arm rests would have been a heck of a find! Been looking for 2 years!

Very cool build.
I had a 71 one twister orange on orange that had the full orange interior. Sold the car years ago. I have only seen one other one with the full orange interior. Most of them are black and orange. I do have the build sheet and fender tag still. The guy never came back for them.

This car had something that was black, I think it was the dash pad. The rest was ALL orange. Very strange but cool at the same time.

Upper door frames were flat black, black dash, seat backs, package tray, carpet and headliner. Door panels, seats and arm rests were solid orange

Mopar Mike, as mentioned above, there was no "All Orange" option, they ALL had black components. If yours was actually all orange someone likely dyed the black parts orange.

WOW ! that car will be Amazing when finished!

OK, where are the updates on the car?? Just am excited to see any progress!

Ill have more in a week or so. The seats are all done, just need to pick them up. Ive been working on getting my garage done so i can bring my projects to my place instead of taking up my dads..

Looks like it will be an awesome car!

I know what you mean... the garage update to allow you to work on your car I am doing the same thing!

Eagerly awaiting more info and pics of progress!

Speaking of your Dad, I met him at the Russo and Steele auction in Arizona this week. We talked for a while, he saw my 71 Duster in line and told me about yours. I didn't catch his name and I had someone asking questions about my car and he walked away.

Seats done! Also picked up a few nos things like turn signal lenses for the sharktooth grill. Also saw an nos 340 wedge decal i couldnt pass up haha.

Ya he mentioned that he talked to you! Small world lol

Are you talking about the dash being black (not sure about the rug) I owned one that everything was orange but the dash (I will have to look at the build sheet),
I believe this is the most all orange they can get

There was no separate "All Orange" option, only one. If you ordered L6XV you got the orange interior package which included orange seat covers, door panels, and arm rests & bases. All else, hard seat backs, seat belts, carpet, dash, steering column, upper door frames, etc. were always some shade of black.

My 71 twister had orange seat backs hard plastic not painted either. You are correct on the rest.
I sold the car the guy never came back for the fender tag or build sheet I will take a look at it.

Hey any updates on this car? Really cool combo

Hoping to see more updates on this car.
Does anyone know if orange arm rests are available anywhere?
If not, is there a matching orange vinyl dye that can be used?