Doctordoc

Hello and thanks for your time!
For one to understand my commitment to this car one must first know the frustration in acquiring this car!
My family car as a kid was a 76 duster ( 86 to 98 )..... I remember all the details about this car top to bottom - every dent and ding had a story behind it..... In 99 family illnesses took over and I was placed in Dhs custody for adoption...... I was adopted by 2 of the greatest people on this earth...... I grew up and the duster become a forgotten memory....... until about 10 years go (2006ish).....
I was living in Eufaula ok and working in Tulsa ok.... one day I took an alternate route home. I ran across this car lot with real vintage American Iron - nothing newer then late 70s and as old as a 1928 ford A pickup....
What was more amazing was - everything ran and drove (somewhat) - (Survivor) kinda stuff - not perfect but alote or life left in it...
I stopped and got to talk with the owner (older man in his 70s). He informed me that there was a ton more around back and everything was for sale.... around back I found AMC hornet javelins and Rebels - comments coronets Chevettes and Chevelles..... wait for it....... 3 duesenberg model js............
Amongst all the gold and diamonds set this ugly 76 duster that seemed all too familiar.... after giving the car a few look overs and speaking with the owner about - I was sure it was the same car. He said the car came to its current resting spot in late 99 and has set ever since..... I talked the man into letting me make payments of 300 a mth until the sum of 2800 was paid.... so from there on - ever third Friday I drove 50 miles out of my way to make a payment.... one particular time I took a battery with me and some tools to run a compression check - I started from the front and worked my way back on each cylinder - boy did I get a shock when the car Roared to life on the 4th cylinder.... it didn't even so much as smoke....
So I continued my payments - about halfway through the payments - I found out I was eel and needed certain treatments that would restrict me from continuing work...... by the time I got well the owner had moved on and sold the car.....
I eventually got over it and moved on.... (didn't hold a grudge on the owner - it was business)...
Years went by and once again in (2013) the car appeared on Craigslist...... once again I make an attempt at buying the car (only to be beaten out once again) someone else had already set up a time to look at it. Needless to say they bought it.....
So once again I moved on and just gave up on the idea of getting the car back......
Until about 2 weaks ago when browsing Facebook for sale sites.... the car made another appearance - this time for 1000$ in my price range - I immediately contacted the guy and he said he had someone coming the next day but if I got there first he would sale to me...... literally aftet getting off the phone i jumped on my motorcycle (I left so quickly the gf thought I was leaving her) lol..... 200 miles later I got there and managed to talk the guy to 650...lucky I had a buddy in the area who I swindelled into picking up the car and storing it until I get down there with a trailer and truck to bring it back...... on the way home my phone died - I ran out of fuel 30 miles away from nearest fuel stop.... that was alot of fun - pushing a 500 pound motorcycle up and down the hills of oklahoma..... lucky I only had to push half way before I guy stopped and took me and the bike into town to get fuel!

So the plan!
Iv been debating on running on the /6 until it just won't go no more and in the meantime buidling a 360 magnum engine with a manual valve body 727.... either way the engine swap will be the last thing I do.
My first goal is getting the best ride quality and stopping power I can!
Starting with -
(Brake rotor conversion) front end.
Steering and suspension upgrades.
Maybe a rear end swap.
Once that's done - I'm gonna straighten the body to perfection and repaint......
After all that I'll either build the /6 or do an engine swap....
I want the car to boogie (14secs) in the 1/4 or better.
I know some slant6 engines wear good to build and others wear not good for much then stock.


Any advice on -
Engine options
Front end conversions
Steering and suspension?
Interior up grades?

Pics coming soon!

RacerHog

Great Story.... I thought in 1976 it would of already had disc brakes?
Get it home and see if it moves even? Then go from there....
Welcome to the site...

Doctordoc

I did start it up and move it around on the guys property - r and d still there.
Brakes are soft - has a exhaust leak at the manifold. But that's my plan get it home and go from there. Thanks bud!

Coronet 500

Welcome.

Sounds like a solid plan. I would modernize the car as much as possible, how about air conditioning?

For the Magnum, are you going F.I. or carb?

Iowan

With your perseverance you will have a cool ride that's for sure!

Doctordoc

Car is a factory ac car - I plan to update it.

I was thinking about going efi - I know msd has the atomic fire kit for almost any engine now! I think it would be cool.
Iv even considered a modern trans with a trans controler but Iv heard it hard to best then 727.