1973 Plymouth Duster... what to do next?

-
N

NickCesca

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2025
Messages
46
Reaction score
57
Location
New York
Hello all!

I figured I'd show you my 73 Duster. Please tell me your honest opinion!

It's not cherry. I'm 25 after all! Also, what do you think it's worth?

318 V8 w/ 904 torque flight, 99% sure an 8 3/4th rear end. CORRECTION... appears to be a 8 1/4th! Will do some digging to confirm.

Story behind the car:
I purchased the car in 2023 for $7400 out of NJ. The previous owner purchased it from an estate sale deep in upstate New York. I never got confirmation as to where. As it sat it needed tires, interior work, motor work, and a general go-over. I currently have close to $2000 into the Duster which I think is a very good investment so far. Most of what I have done is what was needed. The modifications were there when I purchased the car, all work and part changes have been done by me and my grandfather when he comes around from North Carolina. I've been wrenching and driving on it ever since! Additional photos!


Below is what I've done so far;
Modifications-
Holley 600 CFM four-barrel carb
Edelbrock 318/340 performer intake
Mopar purple camshaft
Flowmaster exhaust
MSD 6A ignition
MSD blaster coil
Part changes-
Driver balljoint
Pass wheel bearing
driver wheel bearing
Pass pads
Pass rotors
Driver Pads
Driver rotors
Pass brake lines
Driver brake lines
pass caliper
Driver caliper
Oil change
Alignment
Four Cooper Cobra tires
Coolant flush
diff fluid
transmission fluid
replacement transmission pan
Alternator
Voltage Regulator
Battery
Wiper arm bushings
Headlight switch
Dash bulbs
Brake master cylinder
New bench seat
Mopar Performance valve covers
Chrome door sills

20240313_095740.jpg


20240313_095749.jpg


20240519_104414.jpg


20241228_140033.jpg


20240427_124055.jpg


20240427_104713.jpg


20240310_103412.jpg


20240310_103404.jpg


20240501_203233.jpg


20250208_173952.jpg
 
Last edited:
Nice looking car and good buy! I would recommend the passenger side ball joint, that's the side that rides in the pot holes and water mostly. Plus it's a good idea to replace items like that in pairs. Also, the rubber hoses in the brake lines. Don't want one of them cracking and you have little to no brakes. I'm guessing you have already checked the metal brake lines and fuel lines. Other than that, keep it clean, maintained and enjoy!
 
abdywgn said:
Nice looking car and good buy! I would recommend the passenger side ball joint, that's the side that rides in the pot holes and water mostly. Plus it's a good idea to replace items like that in pairs. Also, the rubber hoses in the brake lines. Don't want one of them cracking and you have little to no brakes. I'm guessing you have already checked the metal brake lines and fuel lines. Other than that, keep it clean, maintained and enjoy!
Click to expand...
Thank you!! Yeah, i need to do my passenger ball joint... should have done it as a pair sure, but I was so eager to get it on the road. Metal brake lines are all good! Suprisingly, for being a NY car for its whole life!

Rubber brake lines were replaced along with the calipers and I rebuilt the bearings while I was there. The rubber was so dry and it caused my pass caliper to seize up. I've never rebuilt bearings, so that was fun (and messy as heck)


Thanks for your input!
 
Appears to be a very nice ride! If I were looking to sell I would ask in the 12k range. Unless you are tired of it or just want something different I would keep it and enjoy it. Get the A/C working and cruise the snot out of it.

I would guess it has an 8.25 rear. If it is an 8 3/4 there will not be a removable cover on the back side. If it has a cover it is either a 7.25 or (hopefully) an 8.25.

I would be happy to own it.
 
abdywgn said:
BTW, unless you have changed the rear axle assembly, it is not an 8-3/4. Does look solid though!
Click to expand...
I'm not sure... In one of the photos I posted on my Imgur it says a 10 bolt from a 75 duster. Have any way of easily identifying them? Hard to read, but there are the numbers on it. Additionally its a round cover.

20231208_180215.jpg


20231121_133537.jpg
 
496 polara said:
Appears to be a very nice ride! If I were looking to sell I would ask in the 12k range. Unless you are tired of it or just want something different I would keep it and enjoy it. Get the A/C working and cruise the snot out of it.

I would guess it has an 8.25 rear. If it is an 8 3/4 there will not be a removable cover on the back side. If it has a cover it is either a 7.25 or (hopefully) an 8.25.

I would be happy to own it.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much 496! Definitely a good pick-up for my first Mopar. An experience for learning for sure! Not really looking to sell currently as I really want to drive it. A/C is all there, just need to go over it and convert it. UNLESS I can get my hands on some reasonably priced r-12. I posted some additional photos in my reply, take a look, I could never really identify it myself.
 
Solid car you scored there! What to do next… run it and enjoy it. You have done a ton of regular maintenance already and unless you are planning to build it out with a ton of premium performance go fast parts you won’t notice a difference in anything you do. Best thing you did was to find one with a solid body and a V8 drivetrain, the sky is the limit from there.
 
Wvbuzzmaster said:
Solid car you scored there! What to do next… run it and enjoy it. You have done a ton of regular maintenance already and unless you are planning to build it out with a ton of premium performance go fast parts you won’t notice a difference in anything you do. Best thing you did was to find one with a solid body and a V8 drivetrain, the sky is the limit from there.
Click to expand...
Definitely! I've just been working on it all winter and part of the summer last summer. This season I just want to drive it and show it! I don't expect to win trophies, but a bonus if I do. I don't really think I want to absolutely wild with it in all those go fast bits. Its hard to please my grandfather, but he was VERY pleased with this pick up!
 
Looks like a great project; keep up the progress!

Did the previous owner who bought it from the estate respray it? If so, why? That would be my main concern… what is that paint hiding and how much bondo was slathered on instead of keeping the original color/paint that was there.
 
NickCesca said:
Definitely! I've just been working on it all winter and part of the summer last summer. This season I just want to drive it and show it! I don't expect to win trophies, but a bonus if I do. I don't really think I want to absolutely wild with it in all those go fast bits. Its hard to please my grandfather, but he was VERY pleased with this pick up!
Click to expand...
My 1972 Duster was running and driving at $7500 with a 340/727/8.75 sure grip, and having had a dash fire…

The car itself was mostly solid with rust and etc, but I decided I could have it safe and reliable for about $5000 more dollars over the course of winter…

About 3 years later and $20,000 later and I got it on the road safe, reliable, and way over budget lol, but it’s fun…

Where I blew through money… where didn’t I… lol
Full wiring harnesses, full interior, full suspension rebuild, full brake rebuild, full axle rebuild, top of the engine rebuild (from the lifters up), full transmission rebuild, and then came troubleshooting where it didn’t get any less expensive to fix. And never once did I touch the body unless it was to add another scratch in the paint lol.

So overall if you are in it less than $10,000 running and driving reliably and looking good doing it while having fun, you far exceeded several of us on this forum.

Oh, it was the go fast parts that cost me in the end… cause the last guy scabbed it together with no money to do it right… so I had to replace or redo everything he had touched…
 
Great score! Keep it and enjoy having a unique ride. BTW, Ive used R-134 freon in older A/C systems, just make sure you purge all the old R-12 out and replace any O-rings. I think you can adapt one of the later style Mopar AC compressor’s fairly easily to what you already have. Those old V twin compressors take a lot of power to run, just FYI.
 
Last edited:
Welcome to FABO!
Looks great! Looks to be in great shape!
That sure looks like an 8 1/4. Those are decent, moderately strong units. If you are going to eventually push over 350 HP, I would either beef it up or go to 8 3/4 unit.
Or maybe a Ford 8.8 or 9 inch modified to fit if your inclined to use Ford parts in a Mopar.
Those 8 1/4's are fairly prolific not only were they used in A, B, F, M & J-bodies, Van's, some 1/2 ton trucks, they were also used in Jeeps & Dakota's.
I've actually been kinda looking at the 1978-79 Dodge Magnum's (late B-body). That or 1980's GM G-platform specifically the Chevy Monte Carlo or Buick Grand National.
 
Last edited:
H22A4 said:
Looks like a great project; keep up the progress!

Did the previous owner who bought it from the estate respray it? If so, why? That would be my main concern… what is that paint hiding and how much bondo was slathered on instead of keeping the original color/paint that was there.
Click to expand...
Hey! Yes, sadly there was one re-spray in its life. Due to it being a NY car, it has had two patch panels done in the quarter panels behind the rear door. They are done ALRIGHT. Not perfect, but It could stand to use a quarter replacement years down the road. Driver quality for sure.
 
Wvbuzzmaster said:
My 1972 Duster was running and driving at $7500 with a 340/727/8.75 sure grip, and having had a dash fire…

The car itself was mostly solid with rust and etc, but I decided I could have it safe and reliable for about $5000 more dollars over the course of winter…

About 3 years later and $20,000 later and I got it on the road safe, reliable, and way over budget lol, but it’s fun…

Where I blew through money… where didn’t I… lol
Full wiring harnesses, full interior, full suspension rebuild, full brake rebuild, full axle rebuild, top of the engine rebuild (from the lifters up), full transmission rebuild, and then came troubleshooting where it didn’t get any less expensive to fix. And never once did I touch the body unless it was to add another scratch in the paint lol.

So overall if you are in it less than $10,000 running and driving reliably and looking good doing it while having fun, you far exceeded several of us on this forum.

Oh, it was the go fast parts that cost me in the end… cause the last guy scabbed it together with no money to do it right… so I had to replace or redo everything he had touched…
Click to expand...
Of course that always happens! I mean of course my car has the 318, but thats not stopping me from having a good time with it. Mostly everything I had to re-do was surprisingly original... including the brake lines! And yessir, for under 10k for a perfect (in my eyes) Duster that can be safe and go out for a cruise? I'm very happy.
 
middleagecrisis said:
Great score! Keep it and enjoy having a unique ride. BTW, Ive used R-134 freon in older A/C systems, just make sure you purge all the old R-12 out and replace any O-rings. I think you can adapt one of the later style Mopar AC compressor’s far awayfairly easily to what you already have. Those old V twin compressors take a lot of power to run, just FYI.
Click to expand...
I'll look into it! Thanks Middleagecrisis (Love the name btw)
 
Cuprum-74 said:
Welcome to FABO!
Looks great! Looks to be in great shape!
That sure looks like an 8 1/4. Those are decent, moderately strong units. If you are going to eventually push over 350 HP, I would either beef it up or go to 8 3/4 unit.
Or maybe a Ford 8.8 or 9 inch modified to fit if your inclined to use Ford parts in a Mopar.
Those 8 1/4's are fairly prolific not only were they used in A, B, F, M & J-bodies, Van's, some 1/2 ton trucks, they were also used in Jeeps & Dakota's.
I've actually been kinda looking at the 1978-79 Dodge Magnum's (late B-body). That or 1980's GM G-platform specifically the Chevy Monte Carlo or Buick Grand National.
Click to expand...
I dont really plan on pushing anything crazy out of this car. Sure, would I like a 360? Yeah. Would I want it to be manual? Yeah. But hey, all in all with the 8 1/4th and the 318, i won't be pushing too much out of it. As it stands, its got a lot of pep, my grandfather was surprised how much kick my 318 had.
 

what to do next?​

Click to expand...

make sure its safe and go drive and enjoy the hell out of it..

as far as what its worth, who knows.. if i were to sell it i'd put it up for like 15k and see whats offered.
 
abodyjoe said:
make sure its safe and go drive and enjoy the hell out of it..

as far as what its worth, who knows.. if i were to sell it i'd put it up for like 15k and see whats offered.
Click to expand...
Thats the current plan! I'll eventually want to move on, but for now itll stay with me. 15k seems fair, thats sort of what I expect to get out of it.
 
Nice car! I love your exhaust coming out the back. The Tips look great. You said be honest, so I have a couple ideas for you. Keep in mind, this is what I would do. You have to do what you like. I would have the Tail Panel painted red, like original. I would add a stripe on the side. There are two really cool ones that came original that year.
 
TF360 said:
Nice car! I love your exhaust coming out the back. The Tips look great. You said be honest, so I have a couple ideas for you. Keep in mind, this is what I would do. You have to do what you like. I would have the Tail Panel painted red, like original. I would add a stripe on the side. There are two really cool ones that came original that year.
Click to expand...
I appreciate it tons! That's always bothered me about the car. If you look above the trim on the taillights left to right is off and not equal distance wise on each side. Unfortunately I didn't notice it until I cleaned it, but hey. It makes it the car unique! And the side stripe for me is so over done, yes don't get me wrong, it looks great! But I prefer a clean side profile.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-
Back
Top Bottom