I went to the Houston Mopar Show and Race this past weekend and saw many Dusters. If a person wanted to build a steet/strip car, is this a good choice?

The A-body has always been the in-expensive car in all facets. It's a bit of a tight fit when putting a big block under the hood, but as it stands it's just like upgrading a B/E body but without that B/E $$$ price tag.

Sadly I see the price of Dusters, Dart Sports, and Demons are going up compared to say the Valiant and Dart, so you might want to get a nice one before the price tag gets kind of $$$ (I used to see good daily drivers for $800-1000, now those are running about $1500-2500).

Given the usual gas costs, the slant makes a good choice if built and tuned right.

You just have to keep your eyes out and comb the papers and get there with money in hand for an offer before some "gonna put a 440 under the hood" guy gets that nice 'one owner' car....


-D.Idiot

The main drawback to a Duster is that they are nose heavy, even with a Slant. It is still very easy to make them hook, and they are relatively inexpensive to build. Kinda like the Mopar version of the 5.0 Mustang or Camaro.

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I have heard a few times the earlier years (70-72) are the better choices, due to the bumpers and doors. I never had it fully explained to me why. I know that the bumper mounts are a much heavier type than the earlier models, but I am not sure of the the door thing.

personally, I own a 75. since I am never at a track it doesn't bother me, and you could always go with the fiberglass re-pops for fenders and such (those get way pricey though).

JR did you see the fellow from the San Antonio area with his 170 powered Duster? I believe he ran in the mid 15's and had gone deep into eliminations. I haven't finished my Slanter yet, I was there with my green checkerboard 77 Volare wagon. I won in Nostalgia Stocker. Hot diggity ! Another Texas slanter. Keep in touch, and lets see if we can't get the bunch of us organized. RICK

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If you can't be good, at least be colorful

Hey Sick, the later Dusters had heavy crash bars in the doors ( they look like mini-guardrails ) and they weigh about 60 lbs. The 73 and later A-bodys had those collapsable pistons behind those larger bumpers ( four total ) man those things are heavier than a dead terrorist. About a hundred pounds worth all together easy. RICK

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If you can't be good, at least be colorful

A duster works great for a strip car and it's great to be able go to a junkyard and find many 4 door valiants to rob parts from relativley
cheap. The '70-72 dusters do have some lighter weight pieces on them,
but however these earlier year cars usually go for more cash. The deals are on the '73-76 year model dusters or any of those a bodies from these years as well. Look around and get '73-76 and gut it and then purchase
some fiberglass goodies to go on it. The time to grab up an a body is now,
I notice the prices have been increasing on these cars latley. There are
still some good deals on plymouth scamps as well out there too.
The '73 up dusters have really heavy doors and heavy bumpers as well.
'73 and '74 dusters are still quite plentiful from my experience. Good luck with your choice!

Patrick cut one of the crash bars out of my '76 in one piece. It weighed exactly 15#. However, 30# is still 30# gone.

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...gimme $3500, and you can compete with mine!

http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6807

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

well 'Zilla went home popped open the door to my Aspen to get my driving jacket and lo and behold two holes in the doors where I cut out the crash bars and replaced the glass with Lexan. That's what I get for having slept since doing that. " I FEEL THAT I AM PERFECT. I ONCE THOUGHT I WAS WRONG BUT FOUND OUT LATER I WAS MISTAKEN....." RICK

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If you can't be good, at least be colorful

Just my luck...
Why couldn't the show have been this weekend? I have to go to Houston this weekend for a wedding.

Jerry

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There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

those were the days. all the yards in minnesota are gone. I have to send away for everything I need.

if you come across a shift boot and bezel for a 3-speed 75 duster let me know!

those were the days. all the yards in minnesota are gone. I have to send away for everything I need. (quote from sick6)


Yes I would have to agree with that to, Valiants are no where near as common now around here as they used to be. Seemed pretty common
back in 1997 when I bought my '71 Twister. I remember scoring 4 perfect
black armrests and a plastic glove box for $5. Nowadays I just hope to
get lucky enough to spot a four dour dart or valiant behind someone's house. Most of the yards around here have crushed lots of the stuff
we could have used. Some of this stuff is still out there, you just may have to look a little harder for it. All this barret jackson auction and
ebay B.S have all but ruined the old car hobby....

Amen, brutha.

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

Wasn't trying to start a whizz contest, just passing along what we found. I had always been under the inpression that the bars were a lot heavier too. Not really much weight saved for the effort, but when you are trying to make a race care out of a tank, you need all the help you can get.

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