The FrankenDuster!

Why the name?
The car started out as a 1974 GOLD Duster. It had the ever so common 225 Slant six and a 904 automatic with factory disc brakes and a 7 1/4 axle. Originally B-5 blue with white stripes but NO vinyl top. I always liked the 70-72 Duster front end styling, so I added a hood, grille and bumper from a 71. The fenders are stock '74 units.

The taillight panel is mostly original '74 metal. I cut in the 71 taillight pockets and stitch welded them in place. I removed the 5 mph rear bumper and put in a new AMD unit.

I was always wondering what your Duster looked like. Beautiful car

Some people may call it a clone or a REcreation. To me its just a fun car to drive. From the outside it looks like a 71 Duster 340 with a '70 style tail panel paint treatment. The '72 and newer side markers give it away though. No, it's NOT a 340 in there, but a 360 with a '508 MP cam, Victor 340 intake, TTI headers.....

The interior was totally trashed when I got the car. NOTHING was retained during the resurrection, not even the seat belts.
I wanted bucket seats, but I also wanted them to recline. I went with a pair from an '86 Camaro. I had my seat guy reskin them in a pattern to match the stock styling. I had to build new mounts to get them to sit level. The Camaro has a raised right side floorpan to clear the Catalytic converter, so BOTH sides were different.
The console is originally from an automatic equipped car. I cut the hole and added a boot to accomodate the Hurst shifter.

#2

The car was bought out of a storage yard in Redding CA in 2007 for $300. It had no windshield and was serving as a condo for BEES! ZERO rust anywhere. I was able to get the slant six running well enough to drive it 60 feet into the garage to pull the motor and trans for $75.
Underneath it has a fully rebuilt front suspension with .920 torsion bars, Moog offset UCA bushings and an 1 1/8" Addco front sway bar. Police spec Firm Feel steering box with a TILT steering column out of a Cordoba. try finding one of those again! Floor shift Tilt Cordoba? Not exactly an easy find anymore. Rear suspension is the stock springs with one additional leaf added. 3/4" ADDCO rear sway bar. KYB shocks front and rear. Nice ride and great handling.

Rear axle is an 8 3/4 from a '68 Coronet. 3.55 gears and a clutch type Sure Grip diff. At the rear, I used 15x8 Rally wheels with 6" backspacing from Wheel Vintiques. 255-60-15 rear tires. Fronts are 15x6.5 with a 235-60-15 tire.

I've been told that I could have saved myself some trouble by simply BUYING a 70 or 71 Duster instead of modifying this one. Thats true and somewhat ironic because AFTER I bought this car, I came across .... yes, a 70 and 71! I got both cars in trade for some fence work! I sold the 70 but still have the 71. For THAT car, I'm thinking triple black with a REAL 340 and a 727.

340

Beautiful car!!!!!!


Wilson
Ontario
Canada

I have a quick question. Is it 15x8's all the way around with the spacers? How well do they fit? Any rubbing?

No spacers. Fronts are factory Chrysler 15x6.5 style, probably from a Charger, Challenger or Road Runner. Rears are aftermarket. No rubbing in normal operation. The fronts will brush the rear edge of the inner wheelwell on tight turns. Nothing interferes with the body though.

That is a cool car. Nice job
Maybe I'll see it someday.
btw,I know where there is a free blue steering wheel you can have

That is awesome, what a cool driver! Thanks for sharing pics Looks good. Thanks for sharing the wheel sizes, cause I'm going with 15" ralleys on my Duster.

Very cool idea on the triple black 71

Great work on a cool car..... looks awesome! Color combo is a knock out.......



Bryan

Thanks for the kind words guys.
I actually had an easy time with this car. There was zero rust to cut out. Hardly any bodywork besides the taillight panel.
Ther motor came out of what seemed like a million mile 79 Cordoba. My machinist said that it was the first standard bore Mopar engine in years that HAD to be bored to .030 just to get the taper and scratches out! On the first build, I accidently had one rod and piston in backwards and ran the motor for months until it spun a bearing. I tried an iron case 833 overdrive for a while but didn't like the wide spread in gear ratios.
I figure that I have less than $10,000 in the car. Probably closer to $9,000. I love the color. Its my first B-5 blue Mopar. I was tempted to sell it when I was out of work, but I wouldn't know what it is worth. Now that I'm working again, I'm keeping it!
The 71 Duster up the hill? Its a white exterior/green interior V8 car. I have a June '69 340 shortblock that I'll probably use in it. Black body, matte black hood and side stripes with black interior. '69 Valiant aluminum grille. 340/727 and an 8 3/4 with 3.55 gears. I'll post progress pics ! Thanks, Greg.

You want it to look like this?