73 Plymouth duster question

[Jim Wahl]

Guys, the difference in the tail lights on a Demon and a Duster is HUGE! It would be like a Camaro running Firebird tail lights! Also the Demon has a one inch longer wheel base than a Duster, 107 to 108. Check the specs. They are both A bodies but there are big differences. Front fenders, hood, grille and bumper (depending on year). I don't think a Firebird would pass tech with Camaro tail lights. Jim

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Jim Wahl

Guys, the difference in the tail lights on a Demon and a Duster is HUGE! It would be like a Camaro running Firebird tail lights! Also the Demon has a one inch longer wheel base than a Duster, 107 to 108. Check the specs. They are both A bodies but there are big differences. Front fenders, hood, grille and bumper (depending on year). I don't think a Firebird would pass tech with Camaro tail lights. Jim

They BOTH have a 108 wheelbase Jim.

[Jim Wahl]

Hey! Your name isn't Myron! Only Myron can correct me! Seriously, I know what the NHRA specs say, but I have owned many many A bodies and have seen the wheelbase difference and have read it in many other sources. Not worth arguing about. The point I was making is there are more differences in the two A bodies than most people realize. Also the dash changed majorly in the A body in 1972.

Terry, do you think NHRA or IHRA would allow an early model Firebird Stocker or Super Stocker to run Camaro tail lights?

Bobby, it was an option. Jim

[Ron Middleton]

Dart /Demon specs:
Also called Dodge Demon
Production 1970–1976
Assembly Belvidere, Illinois, United States
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Hamtramck, Michigan, United States
Los Angeles, California, United States
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Newark, Delaware, United States
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Bogota, Colombia
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
2-door hardtop
2-door coupé
2-door convertible
Platform A-body
Engine(s) 198 cu in (3.2 L) Slant-6 I6
225 cu in (3.7 L) Slant-6
318 cu in (5.2 L) V8
340 cu in (5.6 L) V8
360 cu in (5.9 L) V8
Transmission(s) 4-speed manual
3-speed manual
3-speed Torqueflite automatic
Wheelbase 110.0 in (2794 mm)
Demon: 108.0 in (2743 mm)
Length 196.2 in (4983 mm)
Demon: 192.5 in (4890 mm)
Width 69.6 in (1768 mm)
Demon: 71.6 in (1819 mm)
Height 54.0 in (1372 mm)
Related Plymouth Valiant
Chrysler Valiant

Plymouth Duster Specs:
Production 1970-1976
Assembly Hamtramck, Michigan
Maywood, California
(1971 Model Year Only)
Body style(s) 2-door coupe
Layout FR layout
Platform A-body
Engine(s) 198 cu in (3.2 L) Slant 6
225 cu in (3.7 L) Slant 6
318 cu in (5.2 L) LA V8
340 cu in (5.6 L) LA V8
360 cu in (5.9 L) LA V8
Transmission(s) 3-speed manual
4-speed manual
3-speed TorqueFlite automatic
Wheelbase 108.0 in (2743 mm)
Related Plymouth Valiant
Dodge Dart

[X-TECH MAN]

[QUOTE=Jim Wahl;

Terry, do you think NHRA or IHRA would allow an early model Firebird Stocker or Super Stocker to run Camaro tail lights?

No..........Not unless tech didnt catch it from lack of attention.

[Myron Piatek]

Dart Sports and Dusters

1973 - Both had "normal" bumper brackets front and rear.

1974 - Both had only the rear bumpers with the 5mph shock absorber bumper brackets.

1975 - Both had the shock absorber bumper brackets at both ends.

Not sure if there were any mid-model year changes.
The Swinger/Scamp/Custom, etc. may have started a year earlier with the 5 mph bumper brackets than the Dart Sports and Dusters.

Again, I guess it depends on the tech guy.

Jim, I have to agree with Terry. Dusters, Demons and Dart Sports were made with 108" wheelbases. There are always production tolerences, which may be why they allow a 3/4" variance, if I remember correctly.

From the side, it is difficult to tell the difference between the cars even if you know the little things to look for. But as has been discussed, they had major changes in grilles and taillights in most years and certainly between Dodge and Plymouth versions of the a-body. It's been talked about here before where NHRA had tossed people for not having the correct emblems on the car, dashes, seats, etc. They have slacked off some, but not to the point of using different year or model body parts.

[Todd Boyer]

First time I've EVER heard of a Demon having a 107" wheelbase. Both Dusters and Demons were built on the same body shell.

[chris3racing]

You did say in your original post that you want to race in "stock" class. Reading this thread you wonder why no one wants to do this any more. Tail lights between a Demon and a Duster are different. Average joe who had one of the cars probably doesn't really remember the difference. If you park 25 1970's "Super Stock" cars side by side there will be differences in every single one of them.

I had a 1970 Nova that I race in both Stock and Super Stock, bought it right of the top of the transporter, before it ever hit the dealers property. That car was a 350 cu, 4 barrell, four speed car. When you looked at, it part of the SS pieces were there and some were not. After having some discussion over whether I had bought an SS Nova or just another 70 nova, I started to investigate why it was built the way it was. Got in touch with an individual at General Motor and gave him the vin of the car. His exact comment was "the car came down the assembly line on Friday morning before Labor Day Holiday. The closer to time to close down the more the parts got changed."

Now 30 year later I have been working on racing a MOPAR and have talked to a lot of "old" MOPAR super stock racers and mechanics and can tell you there were all kinds of things different on those cars all in the same year model. Example being, the front disc brake spindles, which I have been working with for over a month. 1972 A-body spindles used a four piston caliper, current price $175, 1973 A-body spindle used a single piston caliper, current price $29. Start checking and find that earlier 1972's with a particular ball joint would have four piston while later in the year could have the single piston and different ball joint.