Project Demon Spawn: the rebirth of my 70' Duster-efi, 408ci, t56, dana 60

[linkstar69]

I too am EFIing a 408 mopar and I feel your pain, my car would have been on the road ages ago if I'd gone with a carb. After trying a few different options I'm now trying FAST ez efi to just get the thing running.
I think getting it running again and working on the efi off the car will be the best for your enthusiasm.

[dusterbd13]

and im the opposite. im sick of fighting with my carb, to the point of where ive stopped driving it.

but i cant blamr you. and post a link to the keiser, as that sounds wicked.

michael

[ALLstrokedOUT]

Thanks guys...The issue im having is that im in tampa 2hrs away from the demon for the week and have very limited time to figure out or try anything on the car. By taking the efi off and bench testing every component that will be installed in the car, i can bring it up here to tinker with.

The link to the Kaisers build is below, Michael:


Highlights of that build are:
p-pumped 12v cummins
6spd NV5600 w/ 241DHD transter case
dana 60 front, dana 80 rear

I plan on installing an engine driven on board air system to run air tools and carry a complete tool set. Im also going to put a two tank setup in to run pure waste vegitable oil...I havnt had the opportunity to do much, but i have modified the dash to used the Rams gauge and shortened a friends donor frame to the 120" wheelbase.

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showt...=144701&page=3

[dusterbd13]

dude, the keiser is pretty sweet.

and what regulator exiosts to turn down efi to carb fuel pressure? may have to get one so i can do my efi swap in stages....

[ALLstrokedOUT]

Thanks Michael, it should be a pretty quick build: just body work and bolting in, no custom work at the level that the demon had to have done

...Im just hoping that my regulator does, I've had it down to 20psi before, I may have to use an old Holley reg along with mine to get it down in the worst case. I'm running an AEM boost/vacuum ref. regulator and a Walbro pump...the system loops back to the tank too.

[ALLstrokedOUT]

Well the deed is done, the carb is installed, the fuel lines are re-plumbed, and the efi wiring has all been taken out. I was still having spark issues without the efi, but all that I did was replace one connector that felt loose, and we played with the timing (+/- 2 degrees from where it was set). It runs as nicely as when it was in the duster now. I cant be sure as to whether the wire connector was the issue, but im glad that i went back to the carb, i can get the demon back on the road quicker and move on with everything...

The regulator wouldnt get down to acceptable psi levels, so i had to remove the diaphrams spring, its now just a fuel pass-thru, but the gauge now says its at ~7psi...




Sorry for the poor video quality, its more to hold me over until next weekend haha..

[ALLstrokedOUT]

Drove the demon a few blocks, needs some tuning and some more brake bleeding. Havent gotten the hydroboost 100% plumbed; i ran into an issue with the reservoir to pump line and pump fitting (hopefully that will be solved this weekend). Other than that i just need to button up the trans tunnel, bolt the fuel cell down, get it registered, and put some miles on it. Ive asked around and have decided on the plate "UNDEAD" -seems fitting

[Hotwhilz]

That's some good news! Glad you aso close to be back on the road!

[ALLstrokedOUT]

Well this weekend finally was a success, but not without its headaches...
Sat. We tried re-bleeding the brakes, because the pedal had to be pumped to build up pressure before stopping. Turns out the NEW master cylinder had a leak, so we had to get a replacement. The proportioning valve was also making a loud 'screeching' noise when pressure was applied, so we bypassed it for now. The hydroboost works great, the pedal is really light, which takes some getting used to, but im not complaining at all.

On our test drive I decided to get on it a little, which caused the throttle get stuck @50% open. We underestimated the forces in towing the car back with my truck to diagnose the throttle linkage that wouldnt unstick, and ended up bending the front bumper a bit (needed a new rear bumper, why not make it a whole set huh...). The throttle ended up sticking due to a washer being wedged between the throttle linkage and the firewall, it got there when i was installing the new throttle cable..

Today was a much better day, we got everything bolted down and roadworthy; we successfully cruised around for a couple miles. All thats left is to address the brake light switch and 3rd brake light!





(We drove to the same spot where we took the first completed pics of the duster)

[ALLstrokedOUT]

...Who else would drive their newly finished project with only 50 miles on it through a thunderstorm? Well i did, not on purpose. Roads were so flooded that at one point the water was as high as the access panel to bleed the throwout bearing (i didnt blindly go into flooded roads, i waded through to measure water depth, 'waiting it out' also wasnt an option). I had about 4 gallons of water in the interior, stalled it twice, and pushed it ~1/8 mi. to our shop. But at the end I drove it into our shop, started up fine, idled fine, no water in the oil (have yet to check the transmission). So if anyone intends to drive their car on the street regularly think twice before mounting coil packs on the frame, making non-weather resistant wiring connections...etc. All in all id say the demon passed the test.

[Finn]

Just went through this entire thread. Awesome job! And I feel your pain with the EFI issues haha.

[dusterbd13]

drove mine in hail one time.....


and thats something i plan into everything i build, as well as parts availibbility in nowheresville, and ease of service on the side of the road, at night, in the rain.

its something all well executed builds need to consider.

and flooded roads suck. they WILL float a neon.

michael

[ALLstrokedOUT]

Haha thanks Finn and Michael...I was playing on the safe side by pushing it to our shop, i just didnt want to push a wake and have it fill up my crankcase, trans. The mech. fan got enough water on the air cleaner that some water mustve gotten sucked into the engine, running on 2-4 cylinders when i shut it down and pushed...potentially $5000 in engine/trans rebuilds never sounds attractive.

I usually always carry a full tool set, carb rebuild kit, BIG flashlight, rags, fuses, and a quart of every fluid the car needs..my only weakness is a flat tire (i plan on getting a small compressor and tire plug kit, but have AAA, so its never really an issue).

[dangina]

wow I remeber reading about your car and the accident awhile back now, i had to go over the thread to see what you have done. I miss the satin black look but the green and black also looks badass!

[ALLstrokedOUT]

Thanks dangina...I do miss the black, but overall am very happy i went with the green...but ive STILL had two people ask me 'so what do you think youll paint it' and 'is this the color your going to keep it'? YES it is the color!!! I guess ill get that comment as long as its satin/flat (which i like).

Ive put over 600 miles on it in the past two weeks-and plan on making the trip to Daytona for the Turkey Run this weekend. I need to raise the rear up a couple inches (not at all happy w/ my Hotchkis springs, yes ive talked with them, yes theyre aware of my issue, and yes they have been quick to respond and communicate well..but 'it cant be the spring rate, it has to be my front end being hiked up so high, transferring all the weight to the back'-my sway bars will be Hellwig for the record now). I also need to fix a few other things, I also thing my 2nd gear synchro is gone. Im thinking very seriously on faceplating my 2-4th gears...but after a little over a year id say the official tagging closes the first chapter (on the second book) of this story...With that being said I finally got my plate in the mail, im very happy with the name and how it turned out:


Happy Thanksgiving!

[72BBSwinger]

Way to bounce back with a vengeance man! Car will be better than the Duster ever thought of!

[ALLstrokedOUT]

Thanks a lot 72BBSwinger!

Unfortunatley the shortcuts i made on the transmission rebuild a couple years ago have caught up with me (didnt replace synchros b/c they 'passed the test') 2nd gear grinds bad now, and my clutch master has begun to leak (pure coincidence). I really want to faceplate 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear when i rebuild the transmission again, hopefully within 6 months.

[ALLstrokedOUT]

Just a small update but hopefully will silence the daily commuters from asking 'what is that thing??'...Itll look more complete with gloss black bumpers once I find a straight set


And with over 3,500mi logged in the last six weeks (300-700mi-week, rain or shine, stop and go traffic, backroads, and highways) I just have to leave a friendly taunt to 'the Rat Packers': that's cute, having a *'2000mi road trip only requirement' to become a member (as I understand it)...till then ill see you on the freeways, any day of the week, while your in your econoboxes or posing on your weekend 'qualifying' trips.

[ryeguy2006a]

And with over 3,500mi logged in the last six weeks (300-700mi-week, rain or shine, stop and go traffic, backroads, and highways) I just have to leave a friendly taunt to 'the Rat Packers': that's cute, having a *'2000mi road trip only requirement' to become a member (as I understand it)...till then ill see you on the freeways, any day of the week, while your in your econoboxes or posing on your weekend 'qualifying' trips.

Haha, that is pretty funny. Looks great, although in the picture you appear to be following a little too close.

[ALLstrokedOUT]

Haha, that is pretty funny. Looks great, although in the picture you appear to be following a little too close.

thanks...haha, not when we were in the same spot for five minutes. Five mile stretch of interstate takes 45mins to travel at 5:00 (that's a lot of fives...)