rumblefish360
Well-Known Member
I’m a fan of the Duster and the other Dodge offerings, the Demon and Dart Sport, not the regular Darts as the body is totally different.
I like them more because of the fast cam window and basic styling cues. Being a direct competitor to the Nova, they are similar in a few ways. For certain, Chrysler Corp. sold millions of them. For good reason as well. Cheaper, better equipped at the same price level, better mileage and faster. Be it the slant 6, 318 or the bad *** 340. It’s a win win all around.
What you may not like is the new to you handling. But it’s a smaller wheel based car so any car has a different feel. They do handle OK and upgrades and make them really super. The other thing is being they were not as pricey considering there in the compact and affordable class of competition & sales, you can here a little more noise from road debris, small rocks sound a bit bigger. LMAO!
An annoying aspect to be aware of is the change is bolt pattern size. 4 x 5 to 4-1/2 X 5 bolt pattern wheels. They lost the 8-3/4 in ‘73. Only the 7-1/4 & 8-1/4 remained. The 8-1/4 is a capable rear where 400 hp/TQ should not be an issue at all. So even a spirited driver can be done with that rear end.
Alwo being a shorter wheel base, the overall ride is a little bit more jarring than the long wheel base B bodies.
It’s not bad though!
My opinion on owning one is “Try it! You just might like it!” I don’t know what your goal is when you get one. If it is mileage, they have been known to get 22 Hwy with a 318 taking it easy going down the road. Of course a high axle ratio is used. Normally that is a 2.76 or like high “2” gear used. Later year cars during the gas crunch used a 2.45 ratio rear. That ought to be good for 2 or 3 mpg’s if your easy on the gas and taller tires will help that search!
On the hot rod or drag car level, ether big or small block can be excellent. I don’t suggest the use of /6 T bars with a full weight big block, (been there done that by the way) it’s handling is t what it should be. Though I easily got used to that set up, I don’t suggest it. If you lighten up the big block with as much aluminum as you can, they get to about the weight of a stock small block. If you can get the 383/440 T bars for the Duster, go for it unless your drag racing, use the /6 or thinner bars.
Overall, it is a small and generally light car. They can get a little tubby for a compact car with all the nice additions like A/C,, P/S, P/B, disc up front, fold down rear seats and moon roof options.
The earlier the year the lighter it should be. The later years have bigger 5 mph bumpers with shock absorbers on the bumpers. These ‘73+ years can get outright chubby depending on how there equipped. But they can move out really well.
No matter the build, a great helping hand for a double duty car, no matter the performance level aid an OD trans. Minor surgery has been know for its install. Really ES stuff. The A-500, a 904 with an OD is what it is should be looked at. If someone says I have this other model, make sure it ends in RH and not RE.
Check FABO’s car for sale section out for prices before you go to eBay which is priced higher. (Though some FABO members have indeed hit there head on there stuff, others have not.) See if one fits your wallet.
