ID Rear End Help
That does look like the 73-76 8 1/4 axle. It is a very good axle and worth keeping in place. The spacers that you mention may be there as you mentioned, just to move the tire out wider for a more aggressive stance. Most Duster/Demon/Dart Sport cars look funny to me when fitted with stock tires and wheels. These cars are wider at the rear wheelwell than the same year Dart or Valiant even though they use the same rear axle. The car has a long body overhang at the tire like a 68-70 Charger with stock tires.
I have put 68-70 B body 8 3/4" rear axles in many Dusters. These axles are 3" wider than the stock and help the car look better even with a 7" wheel. Here is one example of a moderate sized tire on a Duster with a 68 Coronet axle:
That does look like the 73-76 8 1/4 axle. It is a very good axle and worth keeping in place. The spacers that you mention may be there as you mentioned, just to move the tire out wider for a more aggressive stance. Most Duster/Demon/Dart Sport cars look funny to me when fitted with stock tires and wheels. These cars are wider at the rear wheelwell than the same year Dart or Valiant even though they use the same rear axle. The car has a long body overhang at the tire like a 68-70 Charger with stock tires.
I have put 68-70 B body 8 3/4" rear axles in many Dusters. These axles are 3" wider than the stock and help the car look better even with a 7" wheel. Here is one example of a moderate sized tire on a Duster with a 68 Coronet axle:
