33IMP
Well-Known Member
My ladder bar street/strip car. Small block
Ladder bars don't scare me at all.
Ladder bars don't scare me at all.
How streetable is this 1970 Duster?
- Thread starter fernando.
- Start date
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this looks like a former drag car or saturday nite special that's either been de-clawed or never lived up to its full potential.
for a first mopar, i'd probably say it's a pass unless you have considerable vintage car experience and are willing to put in some work and refine it a fair bit.
for a first mopar, i'd probably say it's a pass unless you have considerable vintage car experience and are willing to put in some work and refine it a fair bit.
missing linc
Loose nut behind the wheel
I'll be 62 in a few days, I'd drive the balls off that thing. I like to drive my cars, 2 hours or more on the highway is common for me, so the gears would possibly be an issue, otherwise, beat on it!
Totally agree air cleaner is out of this world pricey and that car is set up to get it if you ever did destroy the 318 and put a stroker 340 in there look out you've got the top of the food chain premium muscle car
340six
King Of Bling
Nothing wrong with the camshaft. BUT, if you do end up changing the rear gear ratio, it will perform poorly.
As others have suggested, run it as is. See if you like it.
Two hours isn't that far? Drive down on Saturday and have a look see. I'd bring a trailer and a friend who knows more about muscle cars. Maybe someone here on FABO is local to it? Take it for a spin and see how you like it? lol
Dartswinger70
Well-Known Member
Lets see if I can remember a "somewhat stock" 318 in my Dart with 3:91s and 4 speed was 3000 rpm at 60-65 MPH it seemed to scream a bit and drink gas but it had a Holley on it it also jumped up to 90 MPH pretty good but it was really screaming by then with 2.5 inch exhaust turbos and headers I remember with that setup I could slow down take a left turn without downshifting out of 4th gear
NC Engine Builder
Grumpy Old Man
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Love the "torque strap" attached to the sheetmetal of the fender well where the battery tray would bolt.
looks like rickey racer and johnny hot **** got together and split a rack of labatt ice and built the ultimate go fast machine of their dreams.
that alone makes everything else sus AF to me.
340six
King Of Bling
Don't be knockin' . That stuff might jus be some of the DTM speed secrets we kept hearing about.
Depends how picky you are. You just want a hot rod to beat on? Checks a lot of boxes. If priced right you’ll probably have a lot of fun. You wanting something to eventually restore and make real nice? Lots of backyard engineering imo that will have to be addressed. Just depends on what kind of car guy you are. The guys saying go for it are probably also the “I’m just gonna send it” crowd and the guys saying walk are more particular. Not saying one is better than the other and I have friends on both ends of the spectrum.
AJ/FormS
68 Formua-S fastback clone 367/A833/GVod/3.55s
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I ran that cam in an Alloy-headed 360 with an Scr of over 11.1 Also with a 4 speed and 3.55s. It was a bit of a pooch down low. I only ran it for a few weeks, cuz it was the wrong combo for me.
Yeah and it sucked gas big-time too.
My biggest problem with running that combo and 3.55s was trying to drive slow. She did not like much below 700 rpm in gear, which got me 6 mph, so parading was out. The other thing was taking off, slipping the clutch out, was like listening to an old Mustang; no thanks. The next cam was a dump it and drive kind of thing..
If you take it to church, everyone will want a ride; I put 3 big men in there, probably well over 600 pounds. Bad idea, the bottom end with 3.55s was lazier that a smog-teener, but first gear was good to 60 mph
I never took it to church again, and I took the back seat out.
The next cam made the engine a completely different animal.
Yeah and it sucked gas big-time too.
My biggest problem with running that combo and 3.55s was trying to drive slow. She did not like much below 700 rpm in gear, which got me 6 mph, so parading was out. The other thing was taking off, slipping the clutch out, was like listening to an old Mustang; no thanks. The next cam was a dump it and drive kind of thing..
If you take it to church, everyone will want a ride; I put 3 big men in there, probably well over 600 pounds. Bad idea, the bottom end with 3.55s was lazier that a smog-teener, but first gear was good to 60 mph
I never took it to church again, and I took the back seat out.
The next cam made the engine a completely different animal.
It's been pointed out, but not asked directly, is the eagle crank a stock(3.31") or stroker(4.00") crank? Also cylinder head details? I dig it, looks like lots of fun potential...
70SwingerGuy
Long Haired Freaky Person
What stations are you buying gas at? Highest Ive seen here in Saskatchewan is 91, with 87 being the norm as regular grade
missing linc
Loose nut behind the wheel
Used to be 93 was available at local Shell stations, but I haven't been to one in a while, Husky stations IIRC had 92. My Thunderbird SuperCoupe requires premium, so I'm having to check around, Costco has 91, which so far has been ok, my 2011 Camaro SS drank the good stuff too.
70SwingerGuy
Long Haired Freaky Person
I fill up at Costco with their premium at 91, a quick google shows Shell at 91 and 93 at "select regions", I wonder what the hell the select regions are, and what makes them qualify to be one??
I mean how long is a peice of string......... The old fellas on here will say no its not streetable, will rev on the freeway, use lot of fuel........ Young person or bloke with a heavy foot will say perfect just have to stick your boot into it and make it rev!! the 4.3s will liven it up. You are doing small drives you could drive a nascar with that kind of miles. Just depends how old you have got lol
Exactly!!! Literally said to my engine guy i want 600+ out of the 6.4. Told my diff guy expect it to be treated like an ugly step kid. If you break it you park it kick it and fix when you can be bothered and just drive your daily. There is a reason they a weekender. Sad day when the daily is more exciting than the weekender
dirty white boy
50 yr old Juvenal delinquent
833 4 speed,...witch one?? 1 to 1 833 or od 833??? that big cam will bleed off lot of that compression so dont be afraid of that!! go drive it, see if youll like it on the streets, only way youll ever know for your self!!
The solid rod ends on the ladder bars will be fun for a little while, but you will grow to not like them when the newness wears off. I don't know how many pots holes and rough sections of road you have, but that suspension setup will jar your kidneys and spine if the roads are anything like the roads here. Back in the early 70s into the 80s, we ran ladder bars on the street and also did quite a bit of street racing. After a while, the ladders bars caused all kinds of things to shake loose because of the rigidity and poor roads. If you have any Mopar buddies, get them to give you an honest assessment of it. Personally, since it's your first foray into Mopars, I'd say it's a hard pass.
Yunick13
3 Time FABO NASCAR champ 2023 FABO NHRA champ
Surprised no one mentioned the possibility of a 5 spd trans.
The OP said he was on a budget, so the cost of the 5 speed might not work.
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