Duster VS Dart
Duster's and Dart's aren't that different. Certainly not from a quality of build standpoint, they were made on the same assembly lines, and use a lot of the same parts. Remember, all of the subframes and crossmembers are identical. Same with a lot of the structural reinforcements, firewall, most of the cowl, most of the floors, etc. The Dart has a 3" longer wheelbase, so, that's where some of the weight savings come from.
As for being more rigid, if anything I think the Duster platform would be. All the same subframes as I already pointed out, but they're closer together because of the 108" wheelbase (vs 111"). The "B" pillar doesn't amount to much, but the shape of the window and C pillar might, and again the Duster style would at least on general principle be stiffer ( no sharp corner at the quarter like the Dart.) Honestly though I don't think it would make a huge difference.
And of course the entire front of the car is the same. That's how Demon's even existed. It's just Dart bodywork on a Duster, and it's a completely bolt on operation. The nose on the Dart is a bit longer as was already pointed out, there's more overhang ahead of the front wheels. Finding a 73+ car should be pretty easy too, the reason they're so easy to find is that '74 was the biggest year of production for the Duster, by far. Which is why I bought a '74 Duster and did the body swap on it to make it into a Demon tribute. Easier to find a '74, and it's a lot cheaper to buy a '74 Duster than a '71 Demon. Even if you take into consideration buying all the Dart sheetmetal for the conversion.
'74 Duster
'71-ish Demon tribute
Everything bolts on except the tail panel, but that's a Duster to Demon difference obviously, the Dart back end is completely different from a bodywork standpoint
Difference in the length between a Dart and Duster front end, Dart hood with the Duster front clip
Everything you see here is the same, Dart, Duster, doesn't matter. Firewall forward is identical.
Duster's and Dart's aren't that different. Certainly not from a quality of build standpoint, they were made on the same assembly lines, and use a lot of the same parts. Remember, all of the subframes and crossmembers are identical. Same with a lot of the structural reinforcements, firewall, most of the cowl, most of the floors, etc. The Dart has a 3" longer wheelbase, so, that's where some of the weight savings come from.
As for being more rigid, if anything I think the Duster platform would be. All the same subframes as I already pointed out, but they're closer together because of the 108" wheelbase (vs 111"). The "B" pillar doesn't amount to much, but the shape of the window and C pillar might, and again the Duster style would at least on general principle be stiffer ( no sharp corner at the quarter like the Dart.) Honestly though I don't think it would make a huge difference.
And of course the entire front of the car is the same. That's how Demon's even existed. It's just Dart bodywork on a Duster, and it's a completely bolt on operation. The nose on the Dart is a bit longer as was already pointed out, there's more overhang ahead of the front wheels. Finding a 73+ car should be pretty easy too, the reason they're so easy to find is that '74 was the biggest year of production for the Duster, by far. Which is why I bought a '74 Duster and did the body swap on it to make it into a Demon tribute. Easier to find a '74, and it's a lot cheaper to buy a '74 Duster than a '71 Demon. Even if you take into consideration buying all the Dart sheetmetal for the conversion.
'74 Duster
'71-ish Demon tribute
Everything bolts on except the tail panel, but that's a Duster to Demon difference obviously, the Dart back end is completely different from a bodywork standpoint
Difference in the length between a Dart and Duster front end, Dart hood with the Duster front clip
Everything you see here is the same, Dart, Duster, doesn't matter. Firewall forward is identical.