1973 Plymouth Duster

[lucky13]

Ok guys thought I'd throw a couple of pics of one of my 2 ongoing project vehicles. The goal for this build is to run basement 10s and be a really quick street car (no street racing though). I have alot of parts already for it, but still gotta get a ton more. So anyways here's the rundown of parts:

-360 magnum shortblock with ported 2.02 Pro Action heads
-S372R bullseye turbo 60mm wastegate, 50mm BOV
-A/W intercooler system
-Full manual valvebody 727 w/transbrake
-narrowed, back braced, spooled, 8-3/4
-Coil over conversion for the front suspension
-Cal tracs and mono leafs in the rear
-15x4 and 15x10 Champion Speed Series wheels (track wheels beadlocked)
-325/50/15 Rear Drag radials


http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m405/satelite67/duster6.jpg

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m405/satelite67/Duster5.jpg

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m405/satelite67/Duster4.jpg

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m405/satelite67/Duster3.jpg

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m405/satelite67/Duster2.jpg

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m405/satelite67/Duster.jpg

Those are the pics from when I first got the car. It hasn't changed much, but Its hard to find some free time to work on anything. Enjoy!

[hokiefd]

Very nice. This should be a fun project.

I have always been a fan of the Mopar "Lime green" paint scheme:

6624

[zoama585]

Very nice. This should be a fun project.

I have always been a fan of the Mopar "Lime green" paint scheme:

In 1970 they called it "Sublime", one of their "high impact" colors.

[Rodsmachineshop]

Use to have a 68 road runner when i was young sure wish i kept it even if didnt drive since the expesive now also had like 5 Chevy camero's 67 through 69 like my 68 ss best

[lucky13]

All mopars are expensive. Although the A-bodies seem to be still entry level for the most part. My first car was 67 Plymouth Satellite. I loved that car even though I never got to drive it. I've always wanted a duster/demon so when this one came around I jumped on it. I never was much of a fan of green till I got this car. When the body work gets completed, it's gonna be painted a key lime metallic color. So I guess the green idea has grown on me! But you know what they say about green cars...

[Rodsmachineshop]

Lol my first car i owned a was a 1964 Buick riviera painted that ugly white

[lucky13]

I like the Rivi's alot, but not sure if I'd ever actively look for one to buy. I'm not a huge fan of the nailheads

[EchoSixMike]

Blow through turbo? You ought to try E85, it really helps out with the boosted motors. That slant-6 looks to be pretty good condition, you might try just turbo'ing that. Supposedly they run quite well to 400+ HP without pulling them apart and setting them up for boost. S/F......Ken M

[everlastsupport]

My first was a 1971 Chevy Nova (blue). 350 small block with some work. Damn road runner always seems to beat me though. Had a friend with a 289 Mustang (65 I think) that would pull the wheels first and second. Sucked on the highway though :)

[lucky13]

Blow through turbo? You ought to try E85, it really helps out with the boosted motors. That slant-6 looks to be pretty good condition, you might try just turbo'ing that. Supposedly they run quite well to 400+ HP without pulling them apart and setting them up for boost. S/F......Ken M

I had thought about going blow thru, but I got a very good deal on a stand alone EFI setup. With the efi unit I can input a different tune for E85. That was one of the things that I was going to be trying. Although the e85 is kind of a pain to find in my area. As far as the leaning tower of power, well the guy I bought it from wanted to keep it. I've got a few small blocks and tons of parts, so it was a no brainer for me

[lucky13]

My first was a 1971 Chevy Nova (blue). 350 small block with some work. Damn road runner always seems to beat me though. Had a friend with a 289 Mustang (65 I think) that would pull the wheels first and second. Sucked on the highway though :)

Although I'm a Mopar guy at heart. I have a soft spot for Nova's. I had a 63 SS for a few years. The car was a complete rust bucket, but it was scary fast. Had a built 350 in it and I had 250hp nitrous kit on it. That was back in my stupider days though as I used to street race that car a lot. Not a smart thing to do at all

[EchoSixMike]

I've got a 68 Charger with a 505" B-1. Whose EFI? I'm running FAST 2.0, E-85 at 13.8:1 compression, thought about doing a 106mm turbo, but transmission won't handle it and can't easily get the compression down enough with B-1 heads anyways. S/F....Ken M

[lucky13]

That charger sounds awesome! I was originally gonna use a megasquirt setup but then got offered a DTAfast box model S60. They are used a lot more in europe. Not much around here. Has sequential firing, and a lot of great features. Its very user friendly. I'm going to be helping out on the tuning for a friends 67 Chevellle that we built a twin 76mm turbo'd 450ci SBC for. Gonna be around 1600hp+ at the tires on full kill. We used an XFI 2.0 black box on that car, so I should be getting used to that also soon. I know Josh King used B1s on his duster. I am not too sure on the combo but I think it was 500+ cubes, B1s, and a 101mm turbo. But he just sold off a bunch of stuff from it so its getting changed

[Rodsmachineshop]

This is were i my my fuel injection setups for my jeep conversions and performance engines http://www.affordable-fuel-injection.com/

[lucky13]

How do you like those units Rod? I've read about those, but never knew anyone who ran them. How is the tuneability on em? Meaning can any schmoe use them, or do you have to have a grasp of the workings of an efi setup? At our shop we recommend the EZ EFI from Fast for the ease of use to customers that don't have a firm grasp on fuel injection

[Rodsmachineshop]

when you buy a kit the tech department asks you what gears you are running , trans and other information to program the computer for what you using it for . put on like 15 or so kits on for jeeps and work great and most kits a smog legal. i use a lot of the Chevy tbi kits and early 258 straight six kits on jeeps. he uses gm computers in the have reprogrammable e proms a hole kit for around 1200 is cheap and it comes with everything even the scanner connecter. I am a California smog tech could do all the wiring and stuff my self but would cost more than justy buying a plug and play kit . just like cnc plasma table buying kit instead faster and cheaper in the long run

[Rodsmachineshop]

I had a old 67 ford truck with a 390 pulled the engine and installed a 302 with c6 trans with a b&m super charger kit pulleys set at 14 pounds boost truck hauled butt kit only cost 1800 back in the 80ts . if drove it normal it got around 25 to 28 mpg if punched it could watch the gas gauge go down

[hokiefd]

At our shop we recommend the EZ EFI from Fast for the ease of use to customers that don't have a firm grasp on fuel injection

Those kits look pretty nice. How well does the auto-tune function actually work? I suppose I am just used to tuning finicky turbocharged engines. Logging AFR, knock, and exhaust temperature are all helpful when you are tuning close to the edge.

[Rodsmachineshop]

The reason he use's Early style 95 under gm ECM's is there are on board programers like the Hypertech programer ,that why his kits come with the ALDL connecter http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HYP-345752/ there not like the OBD ecm 96 and up gm ecm's / plus there is ways to change what a ecm dose with just plain resisters to change timing and fuel enrichment http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/diy-map-sensor-voltage-aduster-53381/ this will work on any map sensor since they all use the same feed voltage and work the same .. all USA ecm use 5v reference

[ncsugrad2006]

Cool car--my buddy had one in high school that had been repainted blue. Didn't match so well with the interior (same color as yours) but was still a pretty cool car. And those slant 6's will run forever. My dad was telling me he's seen one with a hole in the block keep running

[Rodsmachineshop]

hey building this but bigger scale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1NGaZZkTn8 be cool for cutting circles and holes and other stuff, going to have a switch on tracer end or foot pedal to turn cutter off and on

[lucky13]

when you buy a kit the tech department asks you what gears you are running , trans and other information to program the computer for what you using it for . put on like 15 or so kits on for jeeps and work great and most kits a smog legal. i use a lot of the Chevy tbi kits and early 258 straight six kits on jeeps. he uses gm computers in the have reprogrammable e proms a hole kit for around 1200 is cheap and it comes with everything even the scanner connecter. I am a California smog tech could do all the wiring and stuff my self but would cost more than justy buying a plug and play kit . just like cnc plasma table buying kit instead faster and cheaper in the long run


Don't know how I feel about the E prom style. Do you have to send the chips in to be re-burned if the tune is off? That would be my main issue with using that style.

[lucky13]

Those kits look pretty nice. How well does the auto-tune function actually work? I suppose I am just used to tuning finicky turbocharged engines. Logging AFR, knock, and exhaust temperature are all helpful when you are tuning close to the edge.

They actually work really well. Although they tend to be a little bit rich, but I guess thats to stay on the safe side of things.

[lucky13]

Cool car--my buddy had one in high school that had been repainted blue. Didn't match so well with the interior (same color as yours) but was still a pretty cool car. And those slant 6's will run forever. My dad was telling me he's seen one with a hole in the block keep running

Thanks! I really like the Duster's and couldn't pass this one up. The Slanty is gone and into another project for the original owner. I have seen some pretty mangled up slants at the shop. One had all 6 rods spun along with 2 main bearings, and it was still running when it was pulled!!

[Rodsmachineshop]

no e prom are programmable if you buy a scanner that will program it

[Rodsmachineshop]

no there so cheap they can do a bunch for which one works best .

[lucky13]

no e prom are programmable if you buy a scanner that will program it

Oh damn I thought that maybe they had to be sent back to be re-flashed. Not a bad deal then!! When I was messing with Turbododges, you would have to send the computer back to have a tune fixed. Was not happy with that at all.

[Rodsmachineshop]

the guy is good he has seen everything so he will know what you need for programing on a eprom he dose super chargers and turbos injection set ups

[lucky13]

the guy is good he has seen everything so he will know what you need for programing on a eprom he dose super chargers and turbos injection set ups

Good to know. I'll spend some time this weekend and read more info on his site. Would be nice to give customers another option to use.

[Rodsmachineshop]

I have installed some propane kits there sorta cool . http://www.gotpropane.com/ I am thinking of putting a propane kit on my bid 1 1/2 ton Chevy flat bed truck kits cheap the expensive part is the propane tanks a engine running on propane last 2 to 3 time longer and propane is over 105 octane so would be nice since my beast has a 383 Chevy stoker engine with 10.5 pistons

[EchoSixMike]

That charger sounds awesome! I was originally gonna use a megasquirt setup but then got offered a DTAfast box model S60. They are used a lot more in europe. Not much around here. Has sequential firing, and a lot of great features. Its very user friendly. I'm going to be helping out on the tuning for a friends 67 Chevellle that we built a twin 76mm turbo'd 450ci SBC for. Gonna be around 1600hp+ at the tires on full kill. We used an XFI 2.0 black box on that car, so I should be getting used to that also soon. I know Josh King used B1s on his duster. I am not too sure on the combo but I think it was 500+ cubes, B1s, and a 101mm turbo. But he just sold off a bunch of stuff from it so its getting changed

Josh is down towards Indy, he built his on a filled 400 block and is switching to a Koleno since stock blocks are time bombs at that power level. I think he's going EFI also, was blow through. He was making 1200+ hp and clocking in the 8's. Mine's built on a megablock, but since I want stick and don't want to pay for a Lenco or Liberty, I can' make a T56 live with huge power and car weight. Stripped out, this thing is still going to be 3500lbs. B1 heads are the shiznit for the race BB mope. Not too horribly expensive but make lots of power. The hardcore guys running .800+ lift are making 2hp/cubic inch NA. And no dealing with the Indy Cylinder Head people:P S/F....Ken M

[lucky13]

I've never really talked to Josh before, but I am a huge fan of his Duster. His is one of the reasons I've decided on painting mine in a Key Lime Metallic color. I thought I remember seeing that he had that Koleno setup for sale also. I could only wish my Duster will turn out half as nice as his. Do you got any pics of your Charger? I'd like to see it, sounds like an awesome ride. I was originally gonna use a viper T56 in mine, but a friend of mine decided he wanted it more than I did. So I'm gonna go with a 727 RMVB and maybe a trans brake in it. Haven't decided yet. The first engine combo that's going into my duster is a stock short magnum 360. Its gonna be a grenade, but me and a few others are wanting to see what a stock short 360 will handle. I've already had one friend dyno 592rwhp in a dakota. That was with a paxton on it @18lbs. I'm hoping to see 600+ with my 72mm on mine

[ncsugrad2006]

Thanks! I really like the Duster's and couldn't pass this one up. The Slanty is gone and into another project for the original owner. I have seen some pretty mangled up slants at the shop. One had all 6 rods spun along with 2 main bearings, and it was still running when it was pulled!!

Wow, that's pretty nuts lol. Most new cars would have crapped out lonnggg before that much damage (or at least been making so match racket that no one would drive them, lol)

[Rodsmachineshop]

Hey want to borrow this 408 for the weekend lol6681

[hokiefd]

They actually work really well. Although they tend to be a little bit rich, but I guess thats to stay on the safe side of things.

Cool, good to know.

[EchoSixMike]

I've never really talked to Josh before, but I am a huge fan of his Duster. His is one of the reasons I've decided on painting mine in a Key Lime Metallic color. I thought I remember seeing that he had that Koleno setup for sale also. I could only wish my Duster will turn out half as nice as his. Do you got any pics of your Charger? I'd like to see it, sounds like an awesome ride. I was originally gonna use a viper T56 in mine, but a friend of mine decided he wanted it more than I did. So I'm gonna go with a 727 RMVB and maybe a trans brake in it. Haven't decided yet. The first engine combo that's going into my duster is a stock short magnum 360. Its gonna be a grenade, but me and a few others are wanting to see what a stock short 360 will handle. I've already had one friend dyno 592rwhp in a dakota. That was with a paxton on it @18lbs. I'm hoping to see 600+ with my 72mm on mine

Yeah, bu the small blocks don't seem to crack as bad as the BB's do, but that might very well be a function of power, since the poor little SBM seems to be ignored, except for the NASCAR/Comp stuff. I'll try and get some pics, car is still being built, but I think I may have some older pics laying about. S/F.....Ken M

[Rodsmachineshop]

well made one of these . didn't work very good to much flex also everything you copy comes out reversed . going to make a copy tracer a different style so what you trace is the same not reverse , waiting for bearings to make sliding rack assy