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#1
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I'm wondering if it is possible to build an economical street machine using the slant six and drivetrain that is currently in my 72 duster, or would I be better off converting to small block or even big block power. What parts are necessary to make this swap. Should I look for another car that alreasy has the high performance parts.
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#2
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How much performance are you looking for?? What kind of budget do you have? Check out M.P. catalog, they offer many performance pars for you six. I would probably switch over to the 8. Easy way, find a small block donor car, anaother duster would be choice. Or you go the big block route. Either way the enire drivetrain will have to be beefed to handle the bigger engine. Hot Rod built a 12 second Dart years ago for something like $2000 with a very mild 440.
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#3
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Yes it's possible. However, building a /6 is more expensive than building a V8 and after a succesful build up you may end up having as much power as a stock 318. A couple of years ago I wanted to build a hopped up /6 for my Aspen. The engine was rebuilt, the block was milled .080" for more CR, head was ported retaining stock valve sizes and the cam was a MP 244 grind. Intake was Super six with a 2bbl Carter and exhaust was 2 1/4" with Turbo mufflers. Run the car once at the strip; it run 12.006 at 60 mph in the 1/8 mile. That would translate in to a little over 19 sec in the 1/4. Average mileage was 16 mpg. Then I built a junky 318 with as little money as I could and replaced the /6 with it. The average mileage fell slightly to 13.5 mpg, but the performance was way better, the car now doing easy 125 mph and running the 1/8 in 9.71/77.5 mph with minor bogs. That translates in to low 15's in the 1/4. I think that performance and /6 shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence, they should be left stock. The only way I would consider building a /6 is by installing EFi and an intercooled Turbo. unless using
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#4
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Some people are 6cyl fanatics, just love them. Can you make a 6 run good , you bet. In 1975 Harry Doolittle ran a duster in NHRA stock x/sa, ran 14.90's. There wasn't much you could do, and you still had to run the one barrel carb. You can get cams from almost anybody, headers from hooker, intake manifold from offenhouser. Would it be better to go to a v/8, kind of up to you. Would it be less money than the 6, yes. If you are one of those guys that just has to go with a 6 do it. Make a game plan, figure out costs, and then make your choice.
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#5
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I have a stock slant in a '76 Duster that runs in the 17's with a header and a 2-bbl, w/3.91 gears. It still gets about 18mpg. A slant will respond to the same things as a V-8, but you still only have 225ci. It isn't that costly to build a 14 second slant, and it isn't another "cookie cutter" V-8 car. If you have your sights set on a 13 second or quicker street car, put a V-8 in it. My wife and I have been bracket racing my Duster for 4 years now and the car ran in the 20's when we started. We have won enough money with it to pay for it twice! Dennis p.s. The motor now has 166,000 miles on it and it is still going strong!
Also check out www.slantsix.com and http://omnipages.com/sl6/ [This message has been edited by dschumers (edited February 02, 2001).] |
#6
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Also check www.cliffordperformance.com
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#7
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Just noticed dschumers post in the restoration forum. He doen't recommend them.
I just thought they had alot of stuff & info. |
#8
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Clifford used to be the place to go, but lately they are getting pretty hard to stomach. Mopar Performance is really cutting back on the Slant stuff too. However, good parts are still out there if you know where to look.
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#9
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GT your slant six wasnt that much over a stock /6. Gear ratio is a IMPORTANT role in the way a /6 runs. 323 gears or higher DOES NOT CUT IT. 355 gears are ok, 391 and better will get the /6 moving. Weight of the car is VERY IMPORTANT ALSO, I heard a guy the other day say his /6 74 or was it 75? duster weighing in at 3400lbs or something. WHOOOOAAAA. The way im thinking with a /6 is " If you build it, they will gawk"
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#10
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I built a 225 for my wifes 73 duster a few years back.Went with the clifford aluminum intake,split headers,cam,60 over forged pistons,and some mild head porting.Used an early model 7 1/4" rear axle with 390 gears,and a 904 with a 2800 stall converter.I also origionally used a holley 390 4bbl carb,but tossed it in favor of a much larger quadrajet (here come the comments!) and it DID NOT over carb the combo.3100 lbs,avg.19 mpg city,and ran 14.80's all day long.Hell,it would even powerbrake the g50-14's !If you want to go faster,use a V-8.It would be way cheeper,and parts are plentiful enough.
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#11
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Hi there
I would say go with a V-8 the slaint six you could build but you will never get the power out of it, as you would with a V-8. You can go with a small block 400 and then put in a 440 crank with some machine work and 30 over and have a killer motor and use stock manifolds on it. going with a big block you have to use headers on it and they are about $500. So keep it as a driver good on gas and find a car with no motor and build it for a toy. Anyway slaint six are a good motor stock but cost to much to build up and parts for a V-8 are every where at good prices. Have a good weekend and good luck with your car. Later 68 Dart Harold on the West coast. |
#12
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By the way,a 400 is NOT a small block.Not in mopar,anyway.
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#13
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a super six, electronic igniton, and a good 2 1/4" single exaust system will do a lot for your slant's power production.
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