Ok,
so i just bought a 70 duster with a 225, automatic. Stock, 71k miles. runs and drives very good. My question is, and forgive me if it has been asked before, what is the best bang for the buck to get some more oomph out of it. I am not looking to race it, just get some more power when going up hills, etc. I was considering the super six setup, has anyone just swapped the super six and seen any increase in hp? Is there anything else i can do that does not cost a fortune to give me a bit more? I dont want to break the bank, would like to use boneyard or parts that i can get off this board to do it. Any advice is appreciated.[/img]

Dang nice Duster you have there!

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

I agree, that's a really sweet Duster! I'm doing a similar street build on my '64 Valiant. I've been searching all through this site and there's lots of good advice to be found on the forum.

Lou, (Dart270) is a literal genius on the forum and here's what he recommended for me. Many of these upgrades would probably suit your needs as well:

- large valves (1.70/1.44) from engnbldr on ebay and good porting job, with 340 valve springs or equivalent, mill 0.100" off deck for 9:1 compression - $800-1200
- Erson 280 int/270 exh duration cam, 0.465" lift - $150 with lifters
- 2600-3000 RPM stall converter from Midwest or PTC or Continental or Edge Racing - $400
- recurve distributor - TIME
- pertronix, HEI, or other electronic ignition - $40-80
- Offenhauser 4bbl intake with adapter plate and Holley 500 CFM 2bbl carb (2300 series aftermarket) w/elec choke - $400- 500
- Port out stock exh manifold and run 2.25" exh all the way back, or get Dutra Duals and run 2 X 2" into a Y-pipe and single 2.5" from the trans X-member back - $200-500
- Put O2 sensor in exhaust headpipe and Sunpro gauge under dash - $50-100

Hope this helps. It's definitely given me a lot to go from. Like I said, just keep looking around and you'll find all sorts of great tips and info.

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Chuck and the Flying Valiant

My opinion is to get the most out of what you already have before spending the time and money on an upgrade.

Do a thorough tune-up including a valve lash adjustment. Rebuild the carburetor and make sure everything is properly adjusted and functioning properly.

Make sure you have no vacuum leaks.

Check for timing chain stretch.

Check for vibration dampener slip.

Make sure the vacuum advance on the distributor is hooked up right and functioning.

Make sure your base timing is correct.

Make sure the the transmission kickdown is adjusted right and the bands are adjusted correctly.

Get all this done and then start thinking about upgrades.

When you do think about upgrades:

(1) exhaust upgrade- single exhaust = 2 1/4 pipe with a free flowing muffler. Dual exhaust = 2 inch pipe with free flowingmufflers

(2) upgrade to electronic ignition. HEI is best (search this site for instructions)

(3) Super Six upgrade. With the price of gas these days you may want to try running a Holley 5200 or Holley 2280 before you go right to the Carter BBD.

After those you start getting into very involved and expersinve upgrades like valves and cams. But for a street driven slant you shouldn't need to get beyond the super six upgrade.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Upgrade to the electronic ignition, do a tune up, make sure its running good, and Super Six it! My slant is completely stock, and once I SSd it, I noticed a big power increase, even with the stock exhaust. I bought my whole setup for $40 bucks in a junk yard. It needed a lot of work, but I managed.

Super Six and a bigger exhaust like a 2.5in will give you better MPGs, and more power.

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'74 Duster 225 Super Six w/904
14" Cragar SS wheels

Or you could be a real man and put EFI on... just joking.
The list chuck gave you is a real good list and is you use the search function on the top left you will find the exact answer. A little more research will give you some good ideas also. Matrix and Twiggy are great search key words.
I would skip the Super Six and jump up to the 4 barrel if your going to complete the list. Otherwise a Super Six is just fine for a single improvement.

You better go with a Turbo build to begin with. Just a 2bbl ain't good enough. With a car like that you need some attitude under the hood.

a turbo? i like dual turbo!

thanks for all the good advice. I really do not want to get into anything major like camshafts and head work. I like the advice about exhaust and super six. does HEI really make any difference? I would like to leave the car alone as much as possible, it is completely stock and runs perfect. It is just slow going up hills and taking off. I have other cars that are built for speed, i want this one to be mostly stock, just want to get a bit more out of her. I think i will start looking for a super six setup and exhaust and see what that gets me.

If you only do one improvement, I would suggest converting to electronic ignition. It would not necessarily improve performance (though it might depending on the condition of the stock points setup). It will definatley make the car much more reliable, and will keep the performance from degrading over time (as would occur with points).
Stock Mopar EI, or HEI is fine.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

TSK...TSK...TSK.. you see, this is where it all starts. Your just going to want more.
I think I see a tad of some slant sickness coming on.

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<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2992308402_5481afb26e_t.jpg">

Welcome on the board. Try and lay aside the odd responses you've had ("Turbo it! Put big valves in, and a big 4-barrel!") from people who certainly mean well but evidently did not carefully read your question, and so have been suggesting modifications way larger than you asked about.

For starters, you'll want to buy at least one of these books (and possibly all three), depending on your overall knowledge of old cars. Tune-up parts and procedural recommendations are in this thread. Your engine has mechanical lifters, so do a valve adjustment. Depending on how many miles the engine has on it, you may want to check the timing chain for slack; this is an easy test and replacing a slack chain can significantly improve performance and mileage.

You don't need a 4bbl, and you almost certainly don't really want one. The 2bbl setup does make a very noticeable improvement in driveability and pickup, but on a pre-'67 car like yours with rod- rather than cable-operated throttle, it is a non-trivial swap. Not impossible, but certainly more involved than on a car originally equipped with cable-operated throttle.

Same goes for headers: Don't. The best bigshot exhaust improvement on a street-driven car is Dutra Duals.

Ignition upgrades: Yes. Electronic ignition for sure; my preference is for HEI (jump off linked post to read about how and why it's better). You can get a brand-new electronic distributor from Old Car Parts Northwest.

Other tweaks and tunes? Well, I really like the electric choke kits, and there's a fuel line mod that improves cold and hot starting.

And let's not forget there are other parts of the car besides the engine...brake and steering/suspension upgrades, headlight upgrades, better seat belts...

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

another thing when you go to choose your parts is to put some research in to and find out about the parts avalble and shop around

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1973 plymouth duster 225 slant six .30 over, erson 270 cam, 9.5 to 1 compression, big valves, headers, and a holley 4 bbl
http://cardomain.com/ride/3135091

hey that thing got a hemi? naw its just a slant six

Greetings and salutations from a noobie to the Slant 6 world!

I will soon (within the next 3-4 months) be the proud owner of a 1964 Valiant convertible...my first "project" car. It has the 225, 3-speed push button auto, and has been "Super Six'ed" by a previous owner.

I, too, will be looking for upgrade advice (in all areas), and I'm glad to see a lot of good feedback to redfivexw's initial post...as well as a ton of other good info on here. I'm sure that I'll be asking a TON of questions once I finally get my car...so stand by...

i found a 79 volare on craigslist that has the super six setup on it, they want 200 for the entire motor and tranny running. I may buy it just for the super six setup. SHould i pick up the electronic ignition as well? Will that work with my car? I have seen the pertronix ignitions, but they say they are for v8 mopars (PRX 91381A), is this the one i would buy if i were to go that way?