Project “Ghost Duster”, 1970 Duster Corner Carver
Ok, here we go.... many years ago I bought my first Mopar, a 1972 Plymouth Cuda 340, 4 speed. Love that car. It was quick in a straight line (had a slip from Milan Dragway in the glovebox, 12.2 in the quarter), turned like crap and 4 wheel drum brakes were good for one mediocre stop every 5 minutes before they faded into obscurity. The lower quarters started getting cancer and the trunk floor needed rehab so before I pulled it off the road for a makeover I bought a 1971 Plymouth Roadrunner to drive in its absence. This car had 43000 original miles, and was unique with its EL5 Bahama yellow paint. I rebuilt the original 383 with a 432 stroker kit, added ported stealth heads, a comp hydraulic roller, edelbrock rpm intake and a new Holley HP750. I rebuilt the original 727 and added a transgo tf2 shift kit and paired it with the mill. New tires, 15” steelies with dog dishes and front discs make this car a great cruiser, and the 3.23 gears love the highway.
I had been procuring parts for the Cuda for many years anticipating a resto and having the RR gave me the opportunity to tear into it and still have a driver. After spreading Cuda pieces about my whole shop I stumbled upon two 1970 Dusters in North Bay Ontario. A package deal. I have a cottage in the area and while on vacation, I took a ride over to see what the deal was. One was rustier than hell and had a broken torsion bar cross member. It was basically a parts car, BUT it had a later 360, 727 trans and a b-body Dana 60 underneath. Nice score. The car was full of parts, rallye dash, 1970 air cleaner, trim, dashes, gauges etc. The other car looked pretty good and was recently on the road. It was a 225 slant 6 beast with a 904 trans. The body seemed solid and the car purred like a kitten. My wheels started turning..... I had another 340 at home that came with my Cuda. I thought I could use that 340, the 727 from the other duster and the brakes with 4.5” bolt circle from my Cuda and slap together a cool little driver on the cheap. Things don’t always work out as planned.....especially with old cars.
I bought the dusters and transported them home individually over the next few months, drove slant for a little bit as is and then pushed the Cuda to the back of the shop to make way for the “quick” Duster project and the tear down began.
Here’s the 6 banger as I bought it.
Ok, here we go.... many years ago I bought my first Mopar, a 1972 Plymouth Cuda 340, 4 speed. Love that car. It was quick in a straight line (had a slip from Milan Dragway in the glovebox, 12.2 in the quarter), turned like crap and 4 wheel drum brakes were good for one mediocre stop every 5 minutes before they faded into obscurity. The lower quarters started getting cancer and the trunk floor needed rehab so before I pulled it off the road for a makeover I bought a 1971 Plymouth Roadrunner to drive in its absence. This car had 43000 original miles, and was unique with its EL5 Bahama yellow paint. I rebuilt the original 383 with a 432 stroker kit, added ported stealth heads, a comp hydraulic roller, edelbrock rpm intake and a new Holley HP750. I rebuilt the original 727 and added a transgo tf2 shift kit and paired it with the mill. New tires, 15” steelies with dog dishes and front discs make this car a great cruiser, and the 3.23 gears love the highway.
I had been procuring parts for the Cuda for many years anticipating a resto and having the RR gave me the opportunity to tear into it and still have a driver. After spreading Cuda pieces about my whole shop I stumbled upon two 1970 Dusters in North Bay Ontario. A package deal. I have a cottage in the area and while on vacation, I took a ride over to see what the deal was. One was rustier than hell and had a broken torsion bar cross member. It was basically a parts car, BUT it had a later 360, 727 trans and a b-body Dana 60 underneath. Nice score. The car was full of parts, rallye dash, 1970 air cleaner, trim, dashes, gauges etc. The other car looked pretty good and was recently on the road. It was a 225 slant 6 beast with a 904 trans. The body seemed solid and the car purred like a kitten. My wheels started turning..... I had another 340 at home that came with my Cuda. I thought I could use that 340, the 727 from the other duster and the brakes with 4.5” bolt circle from my Cuda and slap together a cool little driver on the cheap. Things don’t always work out as planned.....especially with old cars.
I bought the dusters and transported them home individually over the next few months, drove slant for a little bit as is and then pushed the Cuda to the back of the shop to make way for the “quick” Duster project and the tear down began.
