Mopar Magic

1975 Plymouth Duster
By: Keith Turner

This car is owned by Keith and Bob Turner, Bob originally purchased the car in 1980 from the original owner as his daily driver. It has a 318 with 4 speed manual trans. It had factory rally rims a stripe package bucket seats, Tuff wheel and an AM radio. In 1985 Bob purchased a new 1985 Turbo Daytona and the Duster was parked. After sitting for several years the car was then converted to a 340 with the 4 speed. Still not having enough power we decided to convert the car to quarter mile car strictly for the strip. We also planed on taking it out for some minimal street action. As we built the car we didn't take many pictures. But the car is having a make over now so I'll have the camera out this time round.

Drive Train

We pulled a 440 from a 1968 New Yorker, we picked this as it looked like it had never been apart before. New rods were put in the motor along with a stroker crank. It was bored .020 with 11:1 forged pistons. This was all balanced along with a B & M flex plate. The cam is a Engle 574 lift on intake & exhaust with 308 duration. The stock heads were rebuilt with a 3 angle valve job with new steel exhaust valves and the port matched to the intake. When the car was first put together we had CPPA fender well headers, which had very poor ground clearance. We now have a set of TTI headers and their 3” exhaust to the rear end to install this winter. We are hoping to put Holley's fuel injection on as well. The Transmission is a 727 from API with a 4,000 stall converter. A drive shaft from a late 70's Fury wagon was cut and mated to a Ford 9” rear fitted with 4:88 gears and a Detroit locker.

WE used the largest fuel cell we could find (for those street blasts) and 2 Holley blue pumps feed the engine. One pump's feeds the Carbs and one pump for the nitrous. The carbs are 660 CFM center squirt holleys.

Wheels and Tires

Tires on all 4 are Mickey Thompson's 33 X 21.5's Sportsman Pro on the rear and up front sportsman front's that matches the tread on the rear. We also have a set of slicks for the strip. The rims are 15” Weld Wheel Draglite's, Rear rims are 15 X 14 and fronts are 15 X 5.

Interior

The stock door panel's were left alone and were cleaned up and put back in. The dash was left alone with a Tach and complete engine gauges were added. Seats are light weight buckets with black covers and 5 point seat belts for driver and passenger, tied to the roll bar. Side bars are removable. Black carpet was put in with no sound deadener. The stock steering column was retained, with Tuff wheel. No rear seat is in the car due to the large rear tubs.


Drive Train We pulled a 440 from a 1968 New Yorker, we picked this as it looked like it had never been apart before. New rods were put in the motor along with a stroker crank. It was bored .020 with 11:1 forged pistons. This was all balanced along with a B & M flex plate. The cam is a Engle 574 lift on intake & exhaust with 308 duration. The stock heads were rebuilt with a 3 angle valve job with new steel exhaust valves and the port matched to the intake. When the car was first put together we had CPPA fender well headers, which had very poor ground clearance. We now have a set of TTI headers and their 3” exhaust to the rear end to install this winter. We are hoping to put Holley's fuel injection on as well. The Transmission is a 727 from API with a 4,000 stall converter. A drive shaft from a late 70's Fury wagon was cut and mated to a Ford 9” rear fitted with 4:88 gears and a Detroit locker. WE used the largest fuel cell we could find (for those street blasts) and 2 Holley blue pumps feed the engine. One pump's feeds the Carbs and one pump for the nitrous. The carbs are 660 CFM center squirt holleys.

Wheels and Tires Tires on all 4 are Mickey Thompson's 33 X 21.5's Sportsman Pro on the rear and up front sportsman front's that matches the tread on the rear. We also have a set of slicks for the strip. The rims are 15” Weld Wheel Draglite's, Rear rims are 15 X 14 and fronts are 15 X 5.

Interior The stock door panel's were left alone and were cleaned up and put back in. The dash was left alone with a Tach and complete engine gauges were added. Seats are light weight buckets with black covers and 5 point seat belts for driver and passenger, tied to the roll bar. Side bars are removable. Black carpet was put in with no sound deadener. The stock steering column was retained, with Tuff wheel. No rear seat is in the car due to the large rear tubs.