My 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee rear disc brake hoses came in so I was able to get the rear installed in the car.
The original drum brakes were shot so having brakes on all four corners and a super hard pedal is a very welcome change.
The original gears were 2.76:1 and I barely notice a difference with the new gears.
I also had to shorten my driveshaft 1.5-inches.

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

Do you mean these wheels?

Those are the ones!
Anyone one know what the common names/manufatures of those wheels are?

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

I think they were called "Honey Comb" maybe I think, hope that helps

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Jim

1964 DART G.T. 225
2008 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED
1950 SCHWINN PHANTOM

I have those rims on my 89 Ford van. I believe they are made by Western Wheel and were available as aftermarket rims in the 70s through the 80s. My van is an Explorer brand conversion, and most other Explorer conversion vans I have seen also have these wheels (Chevy, Ford, Dodge, etc...)

You actually don't see them come up too often, especially in such a wide rim. They are out there though, just keep trolling eBay, swap meets, junkyards, etc... Unfortunately, a lot of vintage rims get sent to the scrap heap when the price of aluminium goes up.

Sweet Gold Duster!!!

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Dusters Rock

Thanks!

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

Whenever it rains the water runs in the wiper arm pivots and the floors get soaked. The water sits in there for days until it dries (or I remember to go out and clean them up) doing constant damage the entire time. There are some seals/gaskets that go around/under the splined nubs that the wiper arms sit on. Eventually they dry/wear out and need replacement or they leak. Someone has siliconed the windshield, parts of the firewall and the entire door hinge areas trying to solve the problem. I applaud their effort, it's just to bad they did all that work and never resolved the issue.
I just picked up this Schumacher Creative Industries kit from Rocket Restorations, Inc. $14.99 shipped is a small price to pay to keep my nice California floor pans nice California floor pans. :thumsup

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

I took the carburetor apart again and found nothing incorrectly assembled or even dirty. I reassembled it to find out the car ran the exact same way (still very poor).
I decided to check the intake manifold for leaks and spotted a lot of black soot in the center of the manifolds (exhaust leak). I figured I'd look for an intake gasket leak (intake/exhaust gasket is one piece) and while checking the underside I noticed that one of the intake/exhaust studs are loose. I tightened it up and double checked the rest and found most were either loose or the nuts were stripped. UGH! At least these were easy fixes. Finally got the intake /exhaust tightened down (10 lbs./ft. of torque) and it runs good (again).
I was going to order the premium intake gaskets, however if I pull the intake/exhaust manifold off to change the gasket, I'm surely not putting a single bbl. carburetor back on it.
I still need to check/set the valve lash adjustment.
I also cleaned up under the hood quite a bit.

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

I decided to try and tackle the power steering box the other day. The plan was to simply swap it out with one that was already at the shop.
I got it all cleaned up and ready to install, however shaft diameter was different and the pitman arm wouldn't bolt on it.
So I emptied out the nasty black fluid out of the original unit and cleaned it up in the parts cleaner. I put new seals in it so it would no longer leak and re-installed it. Hoping for the best I fired the car up and it didn't leak. Which is great, however it does slowly keep pulling the wheel slightly to the right.
At least I have power steering for the first time in this thing.
I guess I'll have to go through one of the other p/s boxes I have or just man up and buy a lifetime warranty remanufactured unit (~$115.00 to my door).









For some reason I never purchased/installed spark plugs when I did a tune up to it.
I'm guessing I either meant to order them and forgot or just ran out of money at the time.
Either way I bought some NGK Iridium IX (UR4IX) spark plugs today from Advance Auto Parts. $43.12 out the door.

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

t seems nothing can ever just go smoothly.
Turns out NGK has their product catalog incorrect and lists the short (.460") reach spark plugs being used in the 1974 slant six. They didn't utalize those type plugs until the 1975 model year. Thus I got the incorrect plugs. Not only were they the wrong reach, they also have the incorrect [cone] style seat. GRRR!!!
Of course the parts stores use the manfactures catalogs to make their catalogs so they will by default show/sell the incorrect plugs to the customer.
The good news is finding the correct spark plugs was as easy as looking up spark plugs for a 1973 Plymouth Duster with the 225 (3.7L) slant six.
The correct spark plug I need is the NGK Iridium IX (GR4IX). These have the correct (.750") reach and the flat/gasket seat.






Not a big deal, though now I had to put the old crusty mis-matched spark plugs back in.
I got them all installed (again) except for the last one which was the mis-matched spark plug (Bosch Platinum #4237; WR9LP).
I noticed it was pretty soot covered and was surprised when I investigated further. The entire center was missing!
I don't know if it melted away or fell apart. It's probably either melted/stuck to the top of my piston or (hopefully) it blew out through the exhaust.











I searched through the used parts bin and found a correct reach spark plug to take it's place. After a couple attemps of not being able to get it to snug up, it's clear something else wasn't right. Very strange since I just had the new NGK Iridium IX spark plug in that same hole and had it snugged up. I'm certain I didn't cross thread it or strip out the hole. Not being able to see the plug hole in the head as it is counter sunk pretty deep, I took a good look at the plug that came out of this hole hoping to find a clue as to what was going on. At some point in the cars life somebody stripped out that hole and installed a spark plug hole saver/repair in it. Somehow when I attemmpted to snug up the spark plug it pulled out the spark plug hole saver/repair out of the head and leaving a hole too big for a spark lug to thread into.
The good news is that a called to Advance Auto Parts yielded a new spark plug hole saver/repair (~$6.00) and I got the other oddball used plug installed.
It fired right up and for the first time it ran AWESOME! The car has never run this good, and still has mis-matched used spark plugs in it of unknown age.
Obviously I haven't been able to road test it, but it idles better and definitely rev's up much quicker. Smacking it down in the shop and outside it definitely is much more responsive.
The new NGK Iridium IX (GR4IX) spark plugs are here and awaiting the next time the car makes it into the shop until they are installed (unless it warms up quite a bit).

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

I picked up these wiper transmission bushings from a member on one of the Mopar muscle car forums.
$11.50 shipped to my door was a heck of a deal to get my windshield wipers working again.







The 225 'Super Six' Duster isn't going to set any E.T./speed records or be the typical factory firebreathing mopar muscle car, but I want it to havbe that same look just like one.
I just scored this concours quality reproduction 1970 'Go Wing' kit for $234.90 (shipped) off eBay. These are $409.99 (shipped) new from First Place Auto Products through their wedbsite ( http://www.fpap.com ) or in their eBay store. It is part number FP-601 which is a kit that comes with the under deck lid support brackets for a 1970-74 Dodge Challenger. I'll end up selling these off for ~$55.00 shipped to recoup some of my investment.
I already purchased the corect A-body under deck lid support brackets a while back so it can be installed as soon as it comes in, although it will have wait until spring.
These are 100% identical to the originals in every way: construction, material, length, height, width, thickness, taper, crown, and curve. They also come with all the correct hardware and correct hollow zinc die cast pedistals (powdercoated black)!
This wing will add a lot of attitude to the car.
All of Ma Mopars factory spoilers were fully adjustable so you can set any pitch/look you want.

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

I also scored this nice Mopar Performance M1 aluminum 2-bbl. intake manifold from a member here. At only $117.00 shipped it was too good to pass it up. This will tide me over until I buy the new Hurricane 2-bbl. intake manifold (if I actually ever do).









Advance Auto Parts.com was having a huge sale that started today (1-25-10; ends on 1-27-10). If you spend $100.00 or more you would receive free shipping and a $50.00 coupon to spend on a future online purchase through AAP.com. With spring rapidly approaching I decided to bite the bullet and order a Cardone (remanufactured) lifetime warranty power steering gear box (#27-6542).
Parellel parking will be much easier now.
I also got free shipping so it was $115.99 shipped.

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

Tonight the wiper arm pivots were pulled out and I installed the new pivot seal kits.
Also installed the wiper arm transmission/linkage system bushings so I now have windshield wipers!
I also went to Pomps Tire and dismounted the 15 x 7" slotted mags I recently purchased and cleaned up the tires that were on them (B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A 225/60R-15) as well as the bead mounting surface on the wheels. I also cleaned up the valve stem holes and installed new valve stems and re mounted the tires. I decided to have the black sidewall out this time instead of the raised white letter showing.

I also finally got a working heater!
The heater core was bypassed completely and the blower motor didn't work since I have had the car.
Knowing that is was going to be more of a daily driver then ever, steps were taken to make sure my windows stay wiped clear when need be & don't fog up from just breathing anymore.
The only thing that doesn't work on this car is the A/C, and it may never get fixed.


I just picked up this nice pair of 1973-74 Mopar A-body bucket seats, tracks, retractable seat belts & bolts, and even the floor pan mounting braces for a mere $355.00 shipped.

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)