1974 Plymouth Duster Factory 4 Speed: A Family Affair
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Let’s face it, the Plymouth Duster is a plastic surgery of a Valiant. A dangerous proposition considering the Valiant was like an anesthetic, it could put you to sleep it was that exciting. It’s boxy and plain and about as sexy as an outhouse. Chrysler Corporation attempted to create a new entry-level muscle car. This was achieved by combining the powerful 340-cubic inch small-block V8 with a light, two-door A-body version of the Plymouth Valiant body-shell. Though it was classified in the Mopar league, it was more like mom’s version of a muscle car - no scopes, no pistol-grip stick shift, no 8,000-rpm tach, and modest decals. Basically a no-frills Mopar sold to the youth market at an affordable price and reasonable insurance. It is about as pleasing a slight as a visit to the proctologist, but for a teenager, it was a wet dream and a parent’s headache. I can just imagine what parents might have encountered. A phone call from the police, “Your son is in custody for speeding again and there’s a hefty bond to release him.”
What teenagers discovered was that the Duster was lighter, roomier and faster than the legendary 340 Plymouth Cuda. So innocuous in looks, you could take it for a picnic in the afternoon and race it at the drag strip that evening. It was also the lowest-priced car in Plymouth’s ‘Rapid Transit System’. For some, this might have been enough, but not for Shayne Dysart. In fact, when he first set eyes on a ’74 Duster and examined it under a hoist, he discovered that the engine was a 318! “That was okay, since my intention was to replace a new engine for the car,” explains Shayne. “The car was advertised as a Duster 360 which is correct for its VIN, but it was also mentioned in the ad that the original 360 engine was not in the car.” Shayne intended to give the car some EMP (Extra Muscle Power). “I was debating between a 440 (too heavy for it’s a small engine bay), a new Gen Hemi (nice and reliable, but not something that is going to do this car justice), or a professionally built 340 (the engine combined high power and relatively light weight), that would breathe through a 4-barrel carburetor. So I went with a professionally built 1970 340 with over 420 horsepower that would hold together at a higher RPM.”
“The car was listed on Kijiji in December 2018 and I had been looking for a Plymouth Duster for a couple of years on a casual basis hoping to find one that was in reasonably good shape with the right bones,” mentions Shayne. “I found this car in Quebec. It was at a dealership in East Broughton, a little township about 3 hours east of Montreal.” Though the car was manufactured in Hamtramck, an enclave of Detroit, at their Assembly plant, Shayne’s car has a history of numerous flip-flops between Quebec and Ontario owners. “I’m not sure how many owners this car’s had, quite a few,” confesses Shayne. What is particularly interesting is that this Duster was a Factory 4-speed, one of only 586 made of the 3,969 Duster 360s.
“Two original Chrysler Corporation car production broadcast sheets came with the car, so I was able to understand that this Duster was, in deed, a Factory 833 4-speed manual transmission (overdrive model).” What does that mean? A Factory 4-speed is a gear system that allows your vehicle to run at specific revolutions per minute, usually 1,000 rpm, at four different speeds, such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears, instead of just 4th gear (it is at .74 so it’s a four-speed with a wider ratio in 4th gear). The overdrive typically refers to a transmission that has four forward gears and an additional overdrive gear. Basically, an extra gear that allows the engine to operate at a lower speed, reducing fuel consumption and engine wear during highway driving. The ‘4-stroke’ aspect refers to the four stages of the engine: intake, compression, power, and exhaust. Overdrive ratios are 3.09 in 1st gear, 1.67-1 in 2nd gear, 1-1 in 3rd gear, and .73.1 in 4th gear. “My guess,” says Shayne, “is that it’s not the original transmission, but the OD is better for Sunday drives as the lower 1st gear ratio really pulls hard off the line.” Confused? Driving it can be even more daunting. I can understand why only 586 were made. To give you an idea, sometime after the purchase of the car, Shayne’s 17-year old son wanted to learn how to drive it. Shayne took him to the school’s parking lot to practice. “He had never driven a 4-speed car before, but assured me, that given the fact he played lots of video games, he would be very accomplished. I mentioned that I would take him to the gas station first just so he could get an understanding of what it really felt like to drive such a car, certainly one that was a little more rough around the edges than any video game. When we got to the school parking lot I went through the procedure a few times with him so he would understand the timing and what needed to be done between the parking brake, the clutch, the gas pedal, the gear shift, and all those moving parts. When he was in the driver seat he looked confidently over at me and said, don't be surprised if I'm really good at this. I went OK let's just see what happens. Needless to say he stalled the car seven times in a row. I showed him how it's done. I hopped into the driver seat, revved the car to 4,000, dropped the clutch and laid about 40 feet of rubber. When we came home, my wife asked me how it went. I said you need to ask your son. When he came in his mother ask him how it went, and he confessed, not very good. It was a humbling experience.”
“The day we reviewed the Duster, my wife and I left at 3:00 am in the morning and arrived at the dealership at noon. I’d like to mention how proud I am of my wife, Kimberley, who was so supportive when she drove us for 9 of the 18 hours to the dealership. We stayed up for almost 24 hours anxious to see the car. Fortunately, I did buy it, so it was worth the trip.” Shayne gives a heartfelt grin. “I couldn't have done this journey without her. It is a family affair for when the car was being restored, my daughter, Taylor named the car El Jefe, and my other daughter, Sydney, painted our family crest (a pair of dice) underneath the hood.” Claude’s daughter and her boyfriend were there to help with questions since Claude, the owner of the dealership, could only converse in broken English. “I poured over the car for three hours; looking under the hood, in the trunk, and when the car was on the hoist.
For a 45-year-old car with over 76,000 miles on the clock, it appeared to be in pretty good shape, but looks can be deceiving,” reminds Shayne. “There was some evidence that it had been abused over the years. Obvious damage were dents and scratches to the roof and the interior was about as white as New York City slush. It was quite ratty with tears in the seats. There was a half-hearted job of door cutouts made for speakers and it smelt like a number of mice had been uninvited squatters.” Nevertheless, the car started and ran. “It did come equipped with the larger 8 3/4 quarter rear end with a 3.23 sure grip. The original 360 engine was long gone and it had a 318 in its place, but generally speaking, the car was in pretty decent shape.”
Due to the layers of paint peeling, Shayne noticed that the car had been painted on a few occasions from its original KY5, a yellow blaze. “It had been painted four times with a lot of filler on the body. It was yellow, then burgundy, then white and then orange. The car was repainted by Skinner Automotive in Barrie, Ontario using PPG single stage EV2 Plymouth eye-poppin’ Tor Red or Dodge Hemi Orange. Shayne also surmised that the car might have seen some track time. “When we started to pull the car apart, we found a lot of extra broken bolts and bent components underneath the car. Thankfully, there was nothing major, but I could tell it had been abused. Actually, something I would recommend to anyone interested in restoring a classic car is to buy an American made vehicle. I originally wanted to buy a mid-80’s Porsche 911, but a friend, who is a mechanic, suggested that it would be much more prudent to purchase an American car as parts were more readily available and the price of repairs and accessibility to knowledgeable mechanics were more abundant.” After sealing the deal, Shayne had the car shipped to a local car dealership in Ontario. “I jumped the battery, drove it to a gas station to fulfill its thirst, and the next day, it was taken to a garage where it was on a hoist for about 8 weeks.” Shayne never had the time to restore other classic cars, but he enjoys tinkering with the Duster each winter. “Whether I’m driving by myself or with my wife to get away for a Sunday drive - usually to a car show - it’s wonderful to share those moments. Above all, it proves with a little elbow grease and some investments, how fulfilling it is to see a dream come true. To see one’s vision and hard work gradually take shape. The fact that I took this car, that was pretty beat up, and gave it a new life, emerging as a beautiful alternative, makes me feel very happy.”
For Shayne, the restoration of his Duster has been a 5-year passion. “The car was sanded down to bare metal then we re-skinned the underside of the car with fourteen cans of Eastwood product.” To ensure road worthiness, Shayne had checked a number of basic safety components, including a professionally-built engine for the car. “I went to Eagle Engines in Vaughn, Ontario to help me. They had three 340 blocks from 1970 that were in great shape. The 340 was professionally balanced with forged internals ARP hardware, SRP Pistons (40 over 10.7-1), forged rods and a shot peened crank.
I added J 360-915 2.02 heads that are ported and matched with Harlan sharp 1.6 roller rockers, and beehive springs. In addition, Comp Cam nostalgia 280H PP474, double roller timing chain, high volume oil pump, windage tray, air gap intake with a Holley HP 750, a MSD electrical system, an aluminum rad, and practically a Filofax of further
additions, including for the engine: Dougs ceramic headers, a rebuilt 833 overdrive transmission by TDs, a pair of Pypes 2 1/2 inch factory stainless steel exhausts, and a Hurst Comp Plus shifter. For suspension, the installation of super stock leaf springs, frame connectors, and four torque boxes with Viking Warrior adjustable rear shocks. The K member front suspension was replaced with a Control Freak Tubular front-end with rack and pinion steering, coilovers and Wilwood disc brakes on all four corners.”
To revamp the interior, a complete interior upholstery was done and to give the exterior a menacing presence, an overall paint job with graphic artwork, new rear 1970 bumper and exterior chrome, a deserved blackened grille, door handles, rally mirrors and side marker lights, rear tail light bezels, front and rear glass with all new window rubber and body plugs, and original door glass pop up glass. And that’s just to name a few. Basically, Raquel Welch emerged from Phyllis Diller. “The car has pretty much been restored 90 percent,” confirms Shayne, “and is better built now than when it came from the factory.” That speaks volumes.
“I think there will always be a place for classic cars as the automobile provides us with great freedom, it's not just getting from point A to B well, but I think with the classic car, it gives you a great sense that you're preserving some form of history and one that is maybe relevant to your past.” Shayne hesitates, then adds, “I also think it's pretty cool.” For Shayne, one of the advantages of owning a Duster is that it was only manufactured for six years. “It was certainly under the radar for most of the high performance craze. Most enthusiasts wanted the usual culprits: the Barracudas, Cudas, Chargers, Roadrunners, GTX’s, Darts and, of course, the Hemi cars. So there are few around at reasonable prices. That said, the prices for Dusters are sneaking up and a few have gone for over $100,000 at some of the U.S. auctions,” mentions Shayne. One key observation is that there aren’t many Dusters at car shows or cruise nights. Still, parts are readily available and they’re easy to work on. “All in all, it’s a great value car for what you get and the fun you’ll have. They’re light, good looking, affordable, pretty fast, and somewhat rare.” But most of all, Shayne considers his car as family. “It’s a keeper. I plan to drive it until I’m 90, go through a few sets of rear tires, then we’ll have to figure out what to do with it. In the meantime, it’s our pride and joy.”
Click Here to Begin Slideshow
Let’s face it, the Plymouth Duster is a plastic surgery of a Valiant. A dangerous proposition considering the Valiant was like an anesthetic, it could put you to sleep it was that exciting. It’s boxy and plain and about as sexy as an outhouse. Chrysler Corporation attempted to create a new entry-level muscle car. This was achieved by combining the powerful 340-cubic inch small-block V8 with a light, two-door A-body version of the Plymouth Valiant body-shell. Though it was classified in the Mopar league, it was more like mom’s version of a muscle car - no scopes, no pistol-grip stick shift, no 8,000-rpm tach, and modest decals. Basically a no-frills Mopar sold to the youth market at an affordable price and reasonable insurance. It is about as pleasing a slight as a visit to the proctologist, but for a teenager, it was a wet dream and a parent’s headache. I can just imagine what parents might have encountered. A phone call from the police, “Your son is in custody for speeding again and there’s a hefty bond to release him.”
What teenagers discovered was that the Duster was lighter, roomier and faster than the legendary 340 Plymouth Cuda. So innocuous in looks, you could take it for a picnic in the afternoon and race it at the drag strip that evening. It was also the lowest-priced car in Plymouth’s ‘Rapid Transit System’. For some, this might have been enough, but not for Shayne Dysart. In fact, when he first set eyes on a ’74 Duster and examined it under a hoist, he discovered that the engine was a 318! “That was okay, since my intention was to replace a new engine for the car,” explains Shayne. “The car was advertised as a Duster 360 which is correct for its VIN, but it was also mentioned in the ad that the original 360 engine was not in the car.” Shayne intended to give the car some EMP (Extra Muscle Power). “I was debating between a 440 (too heavy for it’s a small engine bay), a new Gen Hemi (nice and reliable, but not something that is going to do this car justice), or a professionally built 340 (the engine combined high power and relatively light weight), that would breathe through a 4-barrel carburetor. So I went with a professionally built 1970 340 with over 420 horsepower that would hold together at a higher RPM.”
“The car was listed on Kijiji in December 2018 and I had been looking for a Plymouth Duster for a couple of years on a casual basis hoping to find one that was in reasonably good shape with the right bones,” mentions Shayne. “I found this car in Quebec. It was at a dealership in East Broughton, a little township about 3 hours east of Montreal.” Though the car was manufactured in Hamtramck, an enclave of Detroit, at their Assembly plant, Shayne’s car has a history of numerous flip-flops between Quebec and Ontario owners. “I’m not sure how many owners this car’s had, quite a few,” confesses Shayne. What is particularly interesting is that this Duster was a Factory 4-speed, one of only 586 made of the 3,969 Duster 360s.
“Two original Chrysler Corporation car production broadcast sheets came with the car, so I was able to understand that this Duster was, in deed, a Factory 833 4-speed manual transmission (overdrive model).” What does that mean? A Factory 4-speed is a gear system that allows your vehicle to run at specific revolutions per minute, usually 1,000 rpm, at four different speeds, such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears, instead of just 4th gear (it is at .74 so it’s a four-speed with a wider ratio in 4th gear). The overdrive typically refers to a transmission that has four forward gears and an additional overdrive gear. Basically, an extra gear that allows the engine to operate at a lower speed, reducing fuel consumption and engine wear during highway driving. The ‘4-stroke’ aspect refers to the four stages of the engine: intake, compression, power, and exhaust. Overdrive ratios are 3.09 in 1st gear, 1.67-1 in 2nd gear, 1-1 in 3rd gear, and .73.1 in 4th gear. “My guess,” says Shayne, “is that it’s not the original transmission, but the OD is better for Sunday drives as the lower 1st gear ratio really pulls hard off the line.” Confused? Driving it can be even more daunting. I can understand why only 586 were made. To give you an idea, sometime after the purchase of the car, Shayne’s 17-year old son wanted to learn how to drive it. Shayne took him to the school’s parking lot to practice. “He had never driven a 4-speed car before, but assured me, that given the fact he played lots of video games, he would be very accomplished. I mentioned that I would take him to the gas station first just so he could get an understanding of what it really felt like to drive such a car, certainly one that was a little more rough around the edges than any video game. When we got to the school parking lot I went through the procedure a few times with him so he would understand the timing and what needed to be done between the parking brake, the clutch, the gas pedal, the gear shift, and all those moving parts. When he was in the driver seat he looked confidently over at me and said, don't be surprised if I'm really good at this. I went OK let's just see what happens. Needless to say he stalled the car seven times in a row. I showed him how it's done. I hopped into the driver seat, revved the car to 4,000, dropped the clutch and laid about 40 feet of rubber. When we came home, my wife asked me how it went. I said you need to ask your son. When he came in his mother ask him how it went, and he confessed, not very good. It was a humbling experience.”
“The day we reviewed the Duster, my wife and I left at 3:00 am in the morning and arrived at the dealership at noon. I’d like to mention how proud I am of my wife, Kimberley, who was so supportive when she drove us for 9 of the 18 hours to the dealership. We stayed up for almost 24 hours anxious to see the car. Fortunately, I did buy it, so it was worth the trip.” Shayne gives a heartfelt grin. “I couldn't have done this journey without her. It is a family affair for when the car was being restored, my daughter, Taylor named the car El Jefe, and my other daughter, Sydney, painted our family crest (a pair of dice) underneath the hood.” Claude’s daughter and her boyfriend were there to help with questions since Claude, the owner of the dealership, could only converse in broken English. “I poured over the car for three hours; looking under the hood, in the trunk, and when the car was on the hoist.
For a 45-year-old car with over 76,000 miles on the clock, it appeared to be in pretty good shape, but looks can be deceiving,” reminds Shayne. “There was some evidence that it had been abused over the years. Obvious damage were dents and scratches to the roof and the interior was about as white as New York City slush. It was quite ratty with tears in the seats. There was a half-hearted job of door cutouts made for speakers and it smelt like a number of mice had been uninvited squatters.” Nevertheless, the car started and ran. “It did come equipped with the larger 8 3/4 quarter rear end with a 3.23 sure grip. The original 360 engine was long gone and it had a 318 in its place, but generally speaking, the car was in pretty decent shape.”
Due to the layers of paint peeling, Shayne noticed that the car had been painted on a few occasions from its original KY5, a yellow blaze. “It had been painted four times with a lot of filler on the body. It was yellow, then burgundy, then white and then orange. The car was repainted by Skinner Automotive in Barrie, Ontario using PPG single stage EV2 Plymouth eye-poppin’ Tor Red or Dodge Hemi Orange. Shayne also surmised that the car might have seen some track time. “When we started to pull the car apart, we found a lot of extra broken bolts and bent components underneath the car. Thankfully, there was nothing major, but I could tell it had been abused. Actually, something I would recommend to anyone interested in restoring a classic car is to buy an American made vehicle. I originally wanted to buy a mid-80’s Porsche 911, but a friend, who is a mechanic, suggested that it would be much more prudent to purchase an American car as parts were more readily available and the price of repairs and accessibility to knowledgeable mechanics were more abundant.” After sealing the deal, Shayne had the car shipped to a local car dealership in Ontario. “I jumped the battery, drove it to a gas station to fulfill its thirst, and the next day, it was taken to a garage where it was on a hoist for about 8 weeks.” Shayne never had the time to restore other classic cars, but he enjoys tinkering with the Duster each winter. “Whether I’m driving by myself or with my wife to get away for a Sunday drive - usually to a car show - it’s wonderful to share those moments. Above all, it proves with a little elbow grease and some investments, how fulfilling it is to see a dream come true. To see one’s vision and hard work gradually take shape. The fact that I took this car, that was pretty beat up, and gave it a new life, emerging as a beautiful alternative, makes me feel very happy.”
For Shayne, the restoration of his Duster has been a 5-year passion. “The car was sanded down to bare metal then we re-skinned the underside of the car with fourteen cans of Eastwood product.” To ensure road worthiness, Shayne had checked a number of basic safety components, including a professionally-built engine for the car. “I went to Eagle Engines in Vaughn, Ontario to help me. They had three 340 blocks from 1970 that were in great shape. The 340 was professionally balanced with forged internals ARP hardware, SRP Pistons (40 over 10.7-1), forged rods and a shot peened crank.
I added J 360-915 2.02 heads that are ported and matched with Harlan sharp 1.6 roller rockers, and beehive springs. In addition, Comp Cam nostalgia 280H PP474, double roller timing chain, high volume oil pump, windage tray, air gap intake with a Holley HP 750, a MSD electrical system, an aluminum rad, and practically a Filofax of further
additions, including for the engine: Dougs ceramic headers, a rebuilt 833 overdrive transmission by TDs, a pair of Pypes 2 1/2 inch factory stainless steel exhausts, and a Hurst Comp Plus shifter. For suspension, the installation of super stock leaf springs, frame connectors, and four torque boxes with Viking Warrior adjustable rear shocks. The K member front suspension was replaced with a Control Freak Tubular front-end with rack and pinion steering, coilovers and Wilwood disc brakes on all four corners.”
To revamp the interior, a complete interior upholstery was done and to give the exterior a menacing presence, an overall paint job with graphic artwork, new rear 1970 bumper and exterior chrome, a deserved blackened grille, door handles, rally mirrors and side marker lights, rear tail light bezels, front and rear glass with all new window rubber and body plugs, and original door glass pop up glass. And that’s just to name a few. Basically, Raquel Welch emerged from Phyllis Diller. “The car has pretty much been restored 90 percent,” confirms Shayne, “and is better built now than when it came from the factory.” That speaks volumes.
“I think there will always be a place for classic cars as the automobile provides us with great freedom, it's not just getting from point A to B well, but I think with the classic car, it gives you a great sense that you're preserving some form of history and one that is maybe relevant to your past.” Shayne hesitates, then adds, “I also think it's pretty cool.” For Shayne, one of the advantages of owning a Duster is that it was only manufactured for six years. “It was certainly under the radar for most of the high performance craze. Most enthusiasts wanted the usual culprits: the Barracudas, Cudas, Chargers, Roadrunners, GTX’s, Darts and, of course, the Hemi cars. So there are few around at reasonable prices. That said, the prices for Dusters are sneaking up and a few have gone for over $100,000 at some of the U.S. auctions,” mentions Shayne. One key observation is that there aren’t many Dusters at car shows or cruise nights. Still, parts are readily available and they’re easy to work on. “All in all, it’s a great value car for what you get and the fun you’ll have. They’re light, good looking, affordable, pretty fast, and somewhat rare.” But most of all, Shayne considers his car as family. “It’s a keeper. I plan to drive it until I’m 90, go through a few sets of rear tires, then we’ll have to figure out what to do with it. In the meantime, it’s our pride and joy.”
Click Here to Begin Slideshow
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