Calling all Duster Freaks!!!

[Doobiemon]

I have a 73 Duster that I inhereted from my Granny. I am replacing the anemic slant sick and drive train with a freshly rebuilt 360. Hughes cam .489/506 lift, J heads, Edlebrock performer rpm intake, with a Holley 4150 dbl pumper. 727 tf with shift kit, B&M flex plate, 2,200 rpm stall converter. 8 3/4 rear with 355 gears. I wish my Granny would have bought a 70-72. I like the front end much better on those years. I looked at the front of my 73 really close, and it looks like a 70-72 hood, grille, bumper, and valance would fit. Will it? I was going to buy a fiberglass hood and bumper anyways. Does someone really know about this?

[The Dartman]

All of the fenders, hoods, and bumpers are all interchangable in those years, even between Dusters, Valiants, Scamps, Darts, Demons, and Dart Sports in the years between 1970 and 1976. There may be slight differences in the mounting bolts/locations but nothing too major.

I personally wouldn't do it anyway. I have a 1973 and my dad has a 1972, and the 1973 front end is growing on me. Monochrome painted bumbers do wonders for the 1973 front end. You will also be hard pressed to find a complete front end from a 70-72, let alone one that has the ultra desirable "cheese grater" front grill. "Cheese Graters" are going for a mint now a days. Even if you went with all aftermarket 'glass pieces, you would still need to find a grill. The cheapest I've seen a grill for a duster was $150 and it was severly cracked and didn't even have bezels!!

And for a little trivia:

Did you know that a 1973-1976 Dodge Dart (and Dart Sport) hood is interchangable with a 1968-1969 Barracuda hood?

[Ausydad]

It is interchangeable if you really want it to. The filler panel is easy with only two bolts on each side. The bumper will have to be changed complete with brackets. The only other change your looking for will be the latch support bracket. The vertical piece is the same on all "A" bodies, so if you have an interior hood release, you can keep it, although the small horizontal piece on the '73 will have to change over to the full length horizontal piece of the '70-'72. This may require fabbing some mounting tabs on the under side of the fenders above the headlight buckets for this piece. The "Sharktooth" or "Cheesegrater" that he is talking about is something that a lot of people like, although it's not necessary. I prefer the plain jane grille in the black out treatment. Hope that helps. If not, email me. I may get pics.
Ausydad@yahoo.com

[3bolt main]

what does a "cheese grater" grill look like?

[The Dartman]

Here's a picture of my Dad's cheese grater:



Must be a Midwest "thing"....

The 70's did not have this grill available at all, and it was standard on 340 cars, or else and option for '71 and '72.

Very desirable piece for "Duster Freaks"....

[3bolt main]

gee i should see what mine is worth