Fast Facts: '71 Plymouth Duster
Mark Wilson • Essex, England
Mopar Power
Engine: Replacing the stock 340, a 383 b-block was built by John Hatchard. Bored 30-over, the 383 was given a new set of TRW 10:1 compression slugs, while using stock rods and a steel crank. The valves are motivated by a Comp Cams solid lifter stick, Crane rockers and pushrods, and it's all topped off with an aluminum Edelbrock RPM cylinder head and intake combination. The intake is home to a 650 double-pumper Holley and a 4-inch air element. TTI heads tunnel the fumes through 3-inch tubes and Flowmaster mufflers.
Transmission: From the factory with an A833 four-speed, the gearbox received a McLeod 1011/42-inch clutch and a Hurst reverse lock out on a competition shifter.
Rearend: Straying from the Mopar camp, the previous owner modified a 9-inch and filled it with custom axles, 3.56 gears, and a locker differential.
Horsepower & Performance: Mark estimates 375 ponies, but the 13.45-second quarter-mile time might prove just a little bit more.
Sure Grip
Suspension: A set of Kayaba air shocks at all four corners with traction bars in back help the A-Body hook up when Mark isn't busy boiling the skins off.
Brakes: From the factory with manual brakes, the front discs and rear drums also received a Hurst roll control.
Wheels: Lightweight Drag Lite 15x3.5 upfront and 15x8 aft.
Rubber: 155/70/15 skinnies up at the nose and 255/60/15s at the tail.
High Impact
Body: Amazingly, the body survived 36 years with just a few chips, dings, and swirls. Even while serving as a competitive bracket racer, all that shows is a healthy coat of rubber inside the rear quarters. All that's been added is a lightweight fiberglass lift-off AAR hood.
Paint: It's the same that the Duster came from the factory with. The hood was color matched using the factory code to match the original panels. A modified "383" tail marker was added to the stock-style beltline stripe.
Interior: The only modifications we see are the racing-grade harnesses, a fire extinguisher mounted on the tranny tunnel, and a Sony CD player hanging from underneath the dash. The factory heater controls haven't changed. A Grant wheel replaces the original, and the seats have been recovered.