Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

Could a 1971 plymouth duster340 be daily driver?


  Email This Post



frogpajamas
New User

Mar 18, 2012, 8:34 PM

Post #1 of 7 (2768 views)
Could a 1971 plymouth duster340 be daily driver? Sign In

I'm looking into buying a 1971 plymouth duster that has a rebuilt 360CI V8 4 BBL carb engine with automatic tranny. But i don't know much about cars. I'd be using it a few times a week, maybe 100mi a week, and wondering if it would be functional with that kind of use. It's just an old car so not sure how long it will last. Pics and description at this link: link deleted......... not allowed


(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Mar 19, 2012, 3:15 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 18, 2012, 10:24 PM

Post #2 of 7 (2726 views)
Re: Could a 1971 plymouth duster340 be daily driver? Sign In

#1 - get it inspected by a pro that things are done right. Yes cars this old can be dependable to use if things are all in order and old rubber parts like the hoses and belts for cooling system are near new.

This vintage of Mopars had lousy radiator when new which it near can't be now. They also can eat a ballast resistor mounted on firewall like lunch. At the time back when I carried a spare. The common failure for those is car would start but stall the second you let go of the key to just run position.

Rebuilt engines scare me until proven and the best of them can be troubles but at the age so could an original engine.

May or may not have points now as with all Mopars I know of in 1971. All switched to electronic ignition in 1973. If that was altered to electronic from point ignition how well was that done?

I really suggest finding an old Mopar tech to check it out overall. Is this in good shape and rust free as possible? That is important. The sister cars the Dart and Valiant had some nasty rust problem as many cars did and would snap the unit body of underside right off if too rusty. I would reject fixed up rust in most cases unless wildly well done if it ever had a rust problem which is why I suggest you get this totally checked out by a pro who remembers them if you can find one prior to buying it,

T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Mar 19, 2012, 3:16 AM

Post #3 of 7 (2709 views)
Re: Could a 1971 plymouth duster340 be daily driver? Sign In

You do realize that car has the wrong engine in it?


That's a 340 duster. They never came with 360s and that will reduce it's value.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 19, 2012, 5:35 AM

Post #4 of 7 (2703 views)
Re: Could a 1971 plymouth duster340 be daily driver? Sign In

True for collectible value - wrong engine but as I recall would look the same and fit but the wrong engine would bother me personally. It's old enough to be about the muscle car status but if all messed with I'd pass.
If this car is real expensive and wanted to be a race car do what you want. There were some pretty impressive plain 318s back then.

By MY (model year) 1973 the bumper law came into effect along with detuning many engines going lame and were lame by 1975 when cat converters became the norm for almost all. That was after the oil embargo of 1973 and fast mandates at the same time to make engines cleaner which killed their fuel economy till technology could catch up some. USA speed limit was max 50 MPH later changed to 55 for ages it seemed.

Not into the road burners but looking back would pick 1969 or older but some awesome stuff went thru 1972 at least by then the "Big Three" and even AMC got into it,

T



re-tired
Veteran / Moderator
re-tired profile image

Mar 19, 2012, 2:36 PM

Post #5 of 7 (2681 views)
Re: Could a 1971 plymouth duster340 be daily driver? Sign In

Nothing wrong with a 71 daily driver . Most parts suchas waterpump ,alt ,brake shoes , tune up stuff are still available. Things such as trim , dash parts will require a little research.. The car was designed to handle on biased ply tires ,but will handle raidials ok.If you could find a 340 you would have the makings of a classic. If you have or want A/C it will have to be 134 converted and wont give OEM cooling. One good thing , when you pull up to a light there wont be another one next to you.


LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 19, 2012, 3:08 PM

Post #6 of 7 (2675 views)
Re: Could a 1971 plymouth duster340 be daily driver? Sign In

I just knew our buddy RT would by byWink

Parts are no doubt available as RT said for cars of interest anyway. Laugh, was a while ago a guy just wanted a tune-up on a '59 Studebaker and a new grille put on (four screws) and I just said he can do the hunt and damn if he didn't show up with boxed stuff marked "Studebaker!"

Web alone may not find the dinky body stuff for some but it's out there. If determined with old stuff join a club for just that make or model in some cars,

T



nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Mar 19, 2012, 6:29 PM

Post #7 of 7 (2659 views)
Re: Could a 1971 plymouth duster340 be daily driver? Sign In

The net has made the things to fix this available without breaking the bank. Got points? Mallory makes a simple install electronic unit that goes in your points distributor. Most of your brake and chassis parts can be found from O-Reillys and NAPA still. With a close inspection and due diligence on maintenance you can drive this regularly. Maybe a good thing it isn't numbers matching. Then you don't have to care about it being modified and don't care about mileage. Just enjoy it for what it is.






  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap