26,000 original miles duster... should i buy?

[Moparornocar13]

hey guys i know a guy who's selling a slant six duster coupled to a 4-spd. not sure what year. supposedly has 26000 original miles. havent seen it yet but id only be interested if the /6 4 spd would be compatible at all with a small-block v8. ive heard bad things about some of the aluminum-cased 4 speeds as far as durability goes.

 

[BJS racing]

You would have to change the bell housing if you wanted to use that trans. If the price is right I would go for it.

 

[dodge freak]

Up here in Michigan and other rust belt states, its not how many miles but how much rust. Craw under it and take a good look, same with the QP and doors. If the body is rust free then you can put any drivetrain in it. Low miles are nice but a clean rust and dent free body matters more. Look how all the body parts line up to see if its ever been wreak bad too. Maybe it was total a few years after it was made and sat in a dry scrap yard for many years. Low mile cars aways gets me thinking its too good to be true.

 

[Moparornocar13]

price is $5000 but everything is negotiable with this guy. i know its a texas car and most cars dont rust here. he's also got a '71 duster with a brand new interior about 98% rust free that ive actually seen. its got a pretty hot little 318 thats been warmed over quite a bit. he showed me the receipts on all of the work, thing makes over 350+ horsepower. it just needs a paint job and is a factory 3-spd (i want a stick shift). he's asking $7000 for it but i think thats a little overpriced considering the car will need paint. its still wearing its original lime green and black stripes. hood has been cut for a scoop but never installed. im looking for a kickass little A-body street car to enjoy given that im having to sell my dream charger R/T project :sad1:. what would be the better deal? convert low mileage /6 to v8 or buy the v8 car needing paint?

 

[FASTBACK340]

hey guys i know a guy who's selling a slant six duster coupled to a 4-spd..... supposedly has 26000 original miles.....

Check that puppy out CAREFULLY! About 12 years ago I was living out in Lancaster, Pa. and after being there a few months I fed my car to a tree on black ice and needed wheels immediately. A friend knew an elderly woman whom was selling a `74 Dart 4 dr. with a six, A/C, auto, and P/S. It had 32,000 original miles on it. It was a cream puff! Same combo as my current Dart, brown w/ a tan gut. Now a 20 yr. old car with 32K sounds like a deal. The problem with that car was LACK of use! I had to replace belts, hoses, brake lines, both universal joints, all the front end rubber, replace the radiator & flush the engine due to crap settling and causing overheating at highway speeds, and scrub the sucker clean. This car was NEVER on a highway it's entire life as it was only used shuttling around town. It was a horrible money pit.

Unfortunately I wadded it up just before I moved back to N.Y. and I left it with a friend. He got it road worthy and promptly sent a connecting rod through the side of the block at 65K miles....