The 1971 Duster That Wouldn't Die

[1972coronet]

I wish that I'd mentioned this earlier in your build : 
Those quarter windows are not the only issue with the body-interior-chassis mating - the inside of the body, just below the doors' daylight openings ("DLO"), needs to be sanded/ filed down some.
The first one of these AMT '71 Duster kits I'd built (jeez... 26 years ago !) drove me insane trying to mate the body-interior-chassis ! At the time I said to hell with it, removed the quarter windows, and attempted a mating again.

Still wouldn't seat properly !

I put the whole shebang back inna box and relegated it to the storage area. I got back to it a few years later ; a friend of mine told me how he sanded / filed down the aforementioned offending "bump" under the DLO and how that solved the fitment issues.

RE: The quarter windows' surrounding mounting provisions : eliminate them ( I've used side cutters after scribing around the windows, then sanded the area smooth).

RE: The tyres : the Slant Six equipped Dusters had , IIRC, C-78-14 tyres from the factory (which translates to, what, 185-75-14 ?).

 

[Carmak]

This is a really interesting and well done build! I daily drove a 72 Valiant with the leaning tower of power back in my youth.

It might be too late, but this kit has an issue many AMT kits designed in this era have, the wheel stick out too far and they sit a little nose up.

The front to rear stager (the front track is wider than the rear track) is correct but both of the tracks are too wide.

Last year I completed an AMT 67 Mustang which has this same issue. I significantly narrowed the front and rear track and slightly lowered the front stance to get the tires to sit inside the wheel openings. The tires are vintage mid 60's MPC units.

[LennyB]

17 hours ago, customline said:

Wow man 😦,  after reading all that I need a drink!  

edit:  I especially liked the part about the rocket. I'm getting close to one of those myself 😕

 

Do you mean we have someone who actually reads this stuff? Now I sound like you.😂

[LennyB]

16 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

It’s looking real nice Len!👍 I like the newspaper bundles.😎

Thanks Greg, my fingers still hurt from all that folding.

 

16 hours ago, Moparman18064 said:

Looking good Len. I almost lost it when I read rocket ship! The news papers give me nightmares, I used to run 2 routes.

Rich, I easily could have painted Buck Rogers on the side and let it fly. At least I didn't have to stuff the papers into plastic bags😫

[LennyB]

16 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

I wish that I'd mentioned this earlier in your build : 
Those quarter windows are not the only issue with the body-interior-chassis mating - the inside of the body, just below the doors' daylight openings ("DLO"), needs to be sanded/ filed down some.
The first one of these AMT '71 Duster kits I'd built (jeez... 26 years ago !) drove me insane trying to mate the body-interior-chassis ! At the time I said to hell with it, removed the quarter windows, and attempted a mating again.

Still wouldn't seat properly !

I put the whole shebang back inna box and relegated it to the storage area. I got back to it a few years later ; a friend of mine told me how he sanded / filed down the aforementioned offending "bump" under the DLO and how that solved the fitment issues.

RE: The quarter windows' surrounding mounting provisions : eliminate them ( I've used side cutters after scribing around the windows, then sanded the area smooth).

RE: The tyres : the Slant Six equipped Dusters had , IIRC, C-78-14 tyres from the factory (which translates to, what, 185-75-14 ?).

 

John, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one doing battle with this kit. In addition to the windows I also sanded the ends of the dash to get things to fit.

As for the tires I don't think I've ever had an issue where the tires were too big for the car. I'm still shopping for a set of WW that fit.

[slusher]

Your duster looking terrific Len, I. Like the white walls and wheel covers..

[LennyB]

22 minutes ago, slusher said:

Your duster looking terrific Len, I. Like the white walls and wheel covers..

Thanks Carl, now I just need to shrink them to fit.

[1972coronet]

6 hours ago, LennyB said:

I'm still shopping for a set of WW that fit.

Would the AMT Firestone pinstripe WW's work ? The ones in the Parts Pack ? They look skinny enough and have that tall sidewall...

[LennyB]

9 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

Would the AMT Firestone pinstripe WW's work ? The ones in the Parts Pack ? They look skinny enough and have that tall sidewall...

Thanks for the suggestion John but I’ve tried those and they are too big. It’s the diameter that’s the problem. The firestones are actually larger around then what I have now. Although I think if I narrow the track I might be able to squeeze these in so they don’t run into the fenders.  🧐 Gonna go back to my tire bin later and see what else I can find. 

[LennyB]

Decided to take a stab at narrowing the track. It's one of those things that once you do it you can't go back. Removed the hub on the backing plate which was probably about an 1/8". Then I shortened the axle stubs on the suspension. This brought things in a bit but the front track is still too wide for the front wheels to turn. You can see that the track is wider in the front then the rear which is atypical for these cars.  But it does look better from the side view. Don't mind the crooked wheels as nothing is glued down yet. Think I can countersink the front stubs into the backing plate a bit for more clearance, or modify the spindles a bit to shorted the width. Still thinking about it.

 

Meanwhile I had installed the grill and was going to install the front bumper when I discovered there was a front splash pan. This is what happens when you don't read the destructions. This part will need to be painted before I can go any further. Oh, well!!!🙄

Also have an issue where the hood doesn't stay in place, keeps sliding forward. Have to find a solution for that. Wasn't an issue in primer, guess the 2K is just too slick.😣

[LennyB]

On 12/13/2024 at 11:55 AM, Carmak said:

This is a really interesting and well done build! I daily drove a 72 Valiant with the leaning tower of power back in my youth.

It might be too late, but this kit has an issue many AMT kits designed in this era have, the wheel stick out too far and they sit a little nose up.

The front to rear stager (the front track is wider than the rear track) is correct but both of the tracks are too wide.

Last year I completed an AMT 67 Mustang which has this same issue. I significantly narrowed the front and rear track and slightly lowered the front stance to get the tires to sit inside the wheel openings. The tires are vintage mid 60's MPC units.

Craig, I know exactly what you're talking about. It's fighting me for each little mm. This is now why i wish I hadn't left fitting the wheels until late in the build. But by hook or by crook we will get it sorted out, thanks for checking in.

[LennyB]

Resolved a couple of small issues on the Duster the past few days. Added two pin heads (no comments from the peanut gallery please) to the rear corners of the hood and put two little magnets on the cowl and hid them under some paint. Now the hood doesn't slide off every time I brake for a light.

 

 

Next up I painted the gravel shield for the front. What a PIA it is to mix up 2-part urethane clear in such a small quantity. I needed a thimble full, try measuring that in a 4 to 1 ratio. Got that in place followed by the bumper and we now have the grill in place. Still need to install the lenses.

 

And I countersunk the front spindles into the front rims a bit for some added clearance and committed to permanently affixing the wheels. This is how it's going to be from here on, understand.

Only problem now is my big grubby mitts keep rubbing the rubber off the side molding. Have to touch it up again.

We are getting closer to finishing this one. Perhaps before the year is out. See ya next time.

 

[STU111]

G,day Len, that aftermarket grill was worth it, certainly looks good in place. That old slant looks good in the engine bay as well. 👍🏻

[LennyB]

10 minutes ago, STU111 said:

G,day Len, that aftermarket grill was worth it, certainly looks good in place. That old slant looks good in the engine bay as well. 👍🏻

Thanks Stuart, we are makin' progress

[customline]

🤐

[Moparman18064]

Nice call with the magnets Len. Looking good, should be nice to see the end of the tunnel.

[LennyB]

12 hours ago, Moparman18064 said:

Nice call with the magnets Len. Looking good, should be nice to see the end of the tunnel.

Thanks Rich, I'm looking forward to the end of the tunnel so I can clean up some of the mess on my work bench😁

[LennyB]

We had 3-4" of snow overnight and the dogs had me up early, one barking every time they heard a plow and the other hiding in the downstairs bathroom.  So this morning worked out to be a good day to get some details out of the way.The Duster kit has a number of bits that go to rest under the hood. Battery, washer bottle, horns and wiper motor. I think I got them all. Horns were MIA but fortunately I was able to find another in my stash. Did the battery up first by adding some cables. Anyone have a favorite for battery cables? I bought a nice little detail kit somewhere that has photo-etched ends, but the cables they provide leave a lot to be desired. They don't retain their shape, they just like to curl up as this is the way they were in the package. Unlike the radiator hoses I added that nicely conform to however you bend them. I need battery cables like that...

 

Battery and cables in, heater hoses as well, which seem to be related to the battery cables as I need to put a mount in the middle somewhere to hold them down as they should sag on the way to the firewall, and radiator hoses. Kit provides a washer bottle that's clear. I painted the inside light blue to look like it was filled with fluid, but the walls are so thick on the bottle it's not very convincing. I probably should have painted the outside but whats done is done. Wing nut still needs to be painted to make Jim happy.

It's amazing how the photos bring you down to earth and show you all the flaws. I see I got silver paint on the core support painting the radiator cap. Luckily I just painted that before the pic so I was able to remove it in time.

 

Got the headlights and marker lights in place. Headlight lenses are actually a bit too big. I thought it was maybe the 3D printed grill but they don't fit the kit grill either. Had to reduce the circumference to get them to go home. Added a little orange dot to the marker light bucket before installing the lenses to simulate the bulb. Doesn't look half bad but we can see the hood has a slight crown to it at the lip. Might have to run this under some hot water and see if I can straighten it out. Still doing body work on this ol' girl after all these years.

 

Getting closer to the end, few thing still to check off the list and then we can roll out and deliver the papers. Catch ya next time.

[customline]

🦻 wah? someone mention my name? Hey! Lenny! Don't forget to paint the wing nut!

[LennyB]

I was hoping to wrap the Duster up before the end of the year but I have a couple of things keeping me from that goal. Have not been able to determine what the original plate number was so for now it has generic plates installed. Also I want to add the beach pass that is in the left rear window in the pic as well as registration stickers for the windshield. Somewhere I have a vent window from one of my other cars that has a beach pass still on it. Can't find it at the present time so that I can get a scan of it. So for the time being the Duster will get put to the side until I can resolve those issues and perhaps come up with a few more, like the smudge I now see on the rear tail panel or the red spot on the grill.🙄 The pics show everything.

Until then here are some pics as it stands today.

 

 

Happy New Year Everyone 🎆