Looking for advice. Want to build a Duster to run on a budget.

JNotFound said

I have a carburetor available. Don't hate but it's a 750 quadrajet. Also there's some 904s available in the area if a 518 is too much work. If I was going small block, I'd likely keep it a cruiser and not worry about big power numbers. I'd much rather have an overdrive for that. Do the 5.2 magnums have the same head cracking issues the 5.9 does? How much tunnel work for the 518? I thought I read on here that it can be done just by cutting the torsion bar crossmember and installing the USCT. I'm not opposed to light metal work

Click to expand...

Qjet is an awesome street carb-but be aware it won't fit many of the intakes (including the Edelbrock Air Gap and I suspect most Chinese clones). It should fit a Mopar M1 if you find one.

NevadaMoparGuy said

I'm in the Sierra nevada mountain range, dont know what it's like out there, I drive like the old man I am. Really mellow on it, kids driving it until we get his duster squared away

Click to expand...

The secrets to A518/46RH/46RE longevity are cooling and fluid. First, use ONLY ATF+4. Second, you want to run a BIG cooler.

No, bigger. Keep going. No, bigger than that, try the RV section. Those two things had 46REs living 200,000 miles in 15-passenger vans in city use.

Also, for a swap, I recall the OD automatics NEED the larger-diameter cooler lines. They have to keep the full diameter.