I think Mark and I are counting the Challenger as the "2nd car" that is distracting. I would say get the Duster running and run it all next year, with tweaks/repairs over the winter to really get it ready. It is pretty much ready to run now, as far as I could tell, so why tear it all up again?

Next winter you can do motor swaps. You WILL run into problems you have not forseen when you put this fresh motor in the Challenger. Just trying to be realistic here...

BTW, I would never have even bought my 2nd car ('64 Dart) in 1996 as a project if my '68 Dart had not been a fully functioning car.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Hey Lou,

I understand where you're coming from having seen the Duster "together" at Clay City. "Together" meaning the engine and trans were in the car and the engine started.

There are still a myriad of little things that the Duster will need along the way as it starts to actually move under its own power. That car hasn't run since back in 2003.

The Challenger, on the other hand, was running and zipping down the dragstrip in the mid 11 second zone just last year.

If I'm able to stay FOCUSED and "simply" swap the new engine in place of the wounded engine in the Challenger I will be light years ahead in terms of safety and having a proven package.

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

Thanks Rick! I'm gonna do my best. I REALLY want to make it to Mason Dixon IV!

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

Well, I've issued a challenge to Wayne Venable and said that I WILL have the Challenger ready for the 2012 season.

http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46727

That effectively puts the Duster into the bridesmaid seat...

If someone else wants to step up and play with the Duster it may still get some love over the next few months.

I'll get the new engine fired up and dialed in (as much as I can with my honestly limited experience). Then I'll begin the swap over into the Challenger.

I may set the original GodsRods Duster I engine into the GodsRods Duster II to get it off the stand and out of the way. I'll make sure I seal it up really well before I roll it out of the garage for its winter outside storage.

I'll keep this thread updated as things progress.

Thanks again for everyone's encouragement and nudges to stay "on track" with my various vehicular wanderings over the last several years!

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

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66 Lil' Red Piggie Valiant (Mater Crusher) - Thanks Zilla!!!!! 72 Demon (Number 1 Son's)

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

That's right Mr. Cookie. You just keep rollin' yer eyes at me like that!

Yer cookies are gonna be crumbled come opening of next season!

You mark my words!!

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

This is like watching a pair of Chuhuahua's bark at each other over prime nap space.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

That's great! I'll get some popcorn, this is getting good.

That's a good one!

Hey D.I.,

PM comin' yer way 'bout another one uh them thar dizzy thangies what you dun hooked me up with fer that first engine...

You 'member,... the one what I couldn't figger out without Slant Cecil helpin' me out with one uh them thar timin' light thangies...

I need to get a good distributor for this new engine so I can give Lou back his loaner. This engine deserves the best, so I'm coming to you!

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

Mike (12) and I fired the Duster up and broke in the new cam last night!

I sent a few of you a video clip on your cell phones.

I'll fire it up again this weekend so I can re-torque the head and set the valves...

I was going to do it last night while the engine was all warmed up, but we had to get home for dinner (our "Kitchen Pass" ran out at 7 PM... )

There are a couple oil leaks (valve cover & oil pump), but nothing we can't take care of fairly easily.

Once that's done we'll start swappin' things over to the Challenger.

It was tempting to want to thrash and try and get this thing out to a test & tune at Ohio Valley before the season ends next month....

Prudence is the better part of Valor...

Go Slow to Go Fast...

Stay FOCUSED!!

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

Congrats dude!

See? We're not launching rockets here.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

No rockets!? ... Cool

Sometimes I forget which thread I'm in...

Yeah, it was a good feeling to have it jump right to life with no issues!

I wish I hadn't run outta time before the "Kitchen Pass" expired.

Maybe this weekend we'll fire it up again to get it warmed up so we can re-toque the head and set the valves.

Then it's "Yank Away" to get this engine over into the Challenger!

Did you get my text and were you able to see the video?

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

Mike (12) and I wandered over to the garage for a couple hours yesterday.

After doing some yard work we decided to do a little car fiddlin'...

We drained the water out of the Duster and the oil & tranny fluid out of the Challenger in preparation for the "Big Swaparoo".

We almost got the Challenger off the jack stands... The slicks go flat when left sitting and I couldn't find my air chuck. The last time I used it was to air up the tires on the Suburban and Uhaul trailer as I left for Clay City. I was in a hurry and didn't put it back in its usual place...

The tile in the basement is all done except for the baseboards, so I'll swing by the garage a couple nights after work this week.

I think I'll fire up the Duster (after putting water back in it ) to pull it out of the garage and turn it around for the engine pull.

We would have done that yesterday, but the battery I use to start it up is in the Dart (which is still at the glass shop... )

I'm always working around other things and little issues as they crop up, but rest assured...

I AM FOCUSED!!!

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

I was gld to heear the duster running So you are going to put the motor in the challenger and run it next year?

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Train like you fight anything less is a waste of time.