New guy post

[Nemo]

What’s up everybody!? I just bought my first project car (1974 Plymouth Duster, 318 V8) and I’m super excited to be here to share it. I’ve already used this forum for several questions I had so I thought, why not just became a permanent part of it? Any advice you guys could give me on a first project like this, like where to start lol, would be greatly appreciated. I just changed the fuel filter, oil/filter, air filter, and battery terminals so it’s running great at the moment. Also I would love to know any/all reputable places that you guys buy parts from. If you could spare a second to leave me a link to a site or two, that’d be greatly appreciated.

 

[340six]

Nice looking car, welcome

 

[Duster360LA]

Welcome from Texas! I am close to wrapping up a full restomod on my 74 Duster and happy to answer questions about upgrades, but there are lots of great member to help you with OEM questions about your Duster.
I used a lot of different parts suppliers: Classic Industries for reproduction pieces (trim, interior, lenses...), Detroit Auto for gaskets, Brewer's (clutch) and Speedway for general items (like EFI, rims, battery, wiring harness).
Great car, keep us updated on progress!

 

[WV64Signet]

Welcome to the house....

Nice ride

 

[Kemper]

What type of work are you planning on doing to it ? Are you going to do a restore ? Are you planning any mods ?

 

[Car Nut]

Nice.

 

[66fyssh]

Welcome to FABO!! Cool car, my favorite all time wheels for a Duster / Dart.

I drove through Gadsden a gazillion times when I lived in Rome and worked all over Alabama. Moved to Florida a year and a half ago. Here's a few of my favorite go to places fir parts.

Summitracing.com
Rockauto.com
Manciniracing.com
DetroitMuscleTechnologies.com

 

[missing linc]

from

 

[Nemo]

Welcome from Texas! I am close to wrapping up a full restomod on my 74 Duster and happy to answer questions about upgrades, but there are lots of great member to help you with OEM questions about your Duster.
I used a lot of different parts suppliers: Classic Industries for reproduction pieces (trim, interior, lenses...), Detroit Auto for gaskets, Brewer's (clutch) and Speedway for general items (like EFI, rims, battery, wiring harness).
Great car, keep us updated on progress!

Awesome. Thanks!

 

[Nemo]

What type of work are you planning on doing to it ? Are you going to do a restore ? Are you planning any mods ?

I plan to restore it, but I’m also planning plenty of mods. Especially under the hood. I don’t necessarily have a solid plan yet, as I’ve only had it a couple of weeks, but I’m starting to get there in my mind with it.

 

[Nemo]

Welcome to FABO!! Cool car, my favorite all time wheels for a Duster / Dart.

I drove through Gadsden a gazillion times when I lived in Rome and worked all over Alabama. Moved to Florida a year and a half ago. Here's a few of my favorite go to places fir parts.

Summitracing.com
Rockauto.com
Manciniracing.com
DetroitMuscleTechnologies.com

Nice. My wife’s grandfather ran car shows in Gadsden for years before he passed away. Who knows, you might have even drove right past one at some point haha. Thanks for the recommendations!

 

[Lift&Move]

Welcome to FABO!
Cool Project!

 

[barbee6043]

Wow! Nice ride! Welcome from Tx.!ce!!!!
Parts???? I get what I can from Rock Auto, but I always check $ against local store inc. shipping. With Rock I add many brands to the cart and see IF I can get everything from one warehouse and an acceptable brand. If I need it today and O really is too high, I mention Rock and I seem to get a better price! It helps there that I am old, woreout and walk with a bad limp!!!!

 

[Nemo]

Wow! Nice ride! Welcome from Tx.!ce!!!!
Parts???? I get what I can from Rock Auto, but I always check $ against local store inc. shipping. With Rock I add many brands to the cart and see IF I can get everything from one warehouse and an acceptable brand. If I need it today and O really is too high, I mention Rock and I seem to get a better price! It helps there that I am old, woreout and walk with a bad limp!!!!

Haha! Thanks for the advice!

 

[Texas Red]

Really nice to have ya aboard. dive on in and get to wrenching... Lots of smart folks on here . Texas Red

 

[middleagecrisis]

Welcome from central Texas! '75 Duster owner here. I get most of my performance parts from Summit, consumable parts (spark plugs, fuel filters, etc.) from the auto part stores and oil from Walmart, their always way cheaper than anywhere else.

 

[Nemo]

Welcome from central Texas! '75 Duster owner here. I get most of my performance parts from Summit, consumable parts (spark plugs, fuel filters, etc.) from the auto part stores and oil from Walmart, their always way cheaper than anywhere else.

Someone just turned me in the direction of Walmart for oil and I’ll never go anywhere else now haha.

 

[MadScientistMat]

Welcome! The car already runs and drives, so at this point I would check if it has any little nagging issues like a gas gauge that's acting up, drivability issues, etc. You will also want to come up with a clear goal for the mods - is it going to mainly be a street car with a little more punch? A drag car that happens to be street legal but is more focused on racing? A car that handles well or could even embarrass BMWs at track days? Are you planning to swap any major components like the engine, transmission, or K-member?

 

[Nemo]

Welcome! The car already runs and drives, so at this point I would check if it has any little nagging issues like a gas gauge that's acting up, drivability issues, etc. You will also want to come up with a clear goal for the mods - is it going to mainly be a street car with a little more punch? A drag car that happens to be street legal but is more focused on racing? A car that handles well or could even embarrass BMWs at track days? Are you planning to swap any major components like the engine, transmission, or K-member?

Yes the gas gauge that always reads full is next on the list for sure haha! As for the plans, I’m definitely aiming for a street car with an unexpectedly good punch. Definitely want to upgrade the intake/exhaust and other pretty common engine components that people do. I’m not in love with the feel of the current transmission, but that would be an upgrade I do well into the future. I want to keep the interior period correct for the most part. Overall I want to restore it but also have some fun with it as well.

 

[jrc4y4]

Yes the gas gauge that always reads full is next on the list for sure haha! As for the plans, I’m definitely aiming for a street car with an unexpectedly good punch. Definitely want to upgrade the intake/exhaust and other pretty common engine components that people do. I’m not in love with the feel of the current transmission, but that would be an upgrade I do well into the future. I want to keep the interior period correct for the most part. Overall I want to restore it but also have some fun with it as well.

Welcome aboard! Just a heads up, 318s are a hot topic here lol. Some say don’t waste your time building one. Others say it’s cool having a stout 318. So imo decide if you plan to keep the 318 or not, and that will guide what/how to build the engine. Don’t be surprised if making the engine stout makes your transmission rebuild come sooner rather than later. Also the sites other guys mentioned for parts are good places to look.

 

[4spdragtop]

Welcome aboard! My 1st was a 74 Duster slant 6, but had buckets console fold down rear seat and cargo panel.
If it's running driving now, make sure to check, upgrade for safety reasons, brakes, steering, electrical.
Get yourself a factory service manual as well as parts manual they are invaluable.
Mymopar.com has a bunch of manuals for free download.
Summit, Jegs, PG Classics, Dante Parts, Van's Auto.

 

[Nemo]

Welcome aboard! Just a heads up, 318s are a hot topic here lol. Some say don’t waste your time building one. Others say it’s cool having a stout 318. So imo decide if you plan to keep the 318 or not, and that will guide what/how to build the engine. Don’t be surprised if making the engine stout makes your transmission rebuild come sooner rather than later. Also the sites other guys mentioned for parts are good places to look.

Based on my research, it sounds like 318s are a hot topic everywhere haha. My hot take on the matter is that if you want a car you’re gonna take to the drag strip or something then no it’s not worth building. On the flip side though, for my purposes I think it’s worth it because I can get all the power I’m aiming for from it with a lot of the same upgrades I’d do to pretty much anything I stuck in there. Also thanks for the thought about the transmission upgrades coming quicker potentially, I hadn’t thought about that!

 

[Nemo]

Welcome aboard! My 1st was a 74 Duster slant 6, but had buckets console fold down rear seat and cargo panel.
If it's running driving now, make sure to check, upgrade for safety reasons, brakes, steering, electrical.
Get yourself a factory service manual as well as parts manual they are invaluable.
Mymopar.com has a bunch of manuals for free download.
Summit, Jegs, PG Classics, Dante Parts, Van's Auto.

Yes, brakes are high on the list as mine are currently sketchy at best haha! The electrical is kind of a disastrous mix of previous owner DIY attempts so I’ll redo all of that. As for steering, I hadn’t even thought about that. Thanks for the tips!

Also I will definitely look into those service/parts manuals!

 

[jrc4y4]

Based on my research, it sounds like 318s are a hot topic everywhere haha. My hot take on the matter is that if you want a car you’re gonna take to the drag strip or something then no it’s not worth building. On the flip side though, for my purposes I think it’s worth it because I can get all the power I’m aiming for from it with a lot of the same upgrades I’d do to pretty much anything I stuck in there. Also thanks for the thought about the transmission upgrades coming quicker potentially, I hadn’t thought about that!

Ha interesting! I don’t live on the internet but I’m on here a lot to get snippets. Funny how much buzz 318s are making. When we rebuilt my 318 in HS my 904 transmission blew up within a couple weeks. So I say it from experience.

Yeah you can get a 318 to 300-350 hp pretty easily and that’ll be plenty fun if it’s just a street cruiser. I’d suspect my 318 is 300 hp or so.

Also echo 4speeddragtop on the manuals and the drivability being primary focus. Having a slow car that drives nice is better than a broken faster car that isn’t safe to run.