Taking exact measurements from a set of factory Super Stock springs, Chris pieced together his set by combining leaves from the Dusters original springs and adding a few extras from a set of C-body springs. Even with an open differential, it plants the wheels with authority.
Chris shaved the Dusters taillight bezels and side-marker lights, and replaced the original rear bumper with the sleeker 71 model. He also sprayed the Duster with FY1 Lemon Twist PP6 Imron paint. Did we mention he did all of this himself while he was still in high school?
After Chris graduated from high school, he fooled around with the original 318, eventually getting the Duster into the high 13s. But that wasnt enough, so he dropped in a standard-bore 360 out of a 73 Dodge truck, used the stock rods and crank, and spent over 24 hours porting the stock J heads himself. Other goodies include Keith Black 9.5:1 hypereutectic pistons, a PAW cam with 222/232 degrees of 0.050 duration and 0.447/0.450-inch lift, an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, a Holley 780-cfm carb, Mopar Performance headers, and a TTI exhaust system with three-chamber Flowmaster mufflers.
Chris generally keeps 3.23 street gears in the 8-3/4-inch rear, but he whips out a set of 4.10s when he goes to the track. The reverse-manual valvebody shifts a 904 TorqueFlite.
Most 16-year-old kids get socks and CDs for Christmas. Chris Hickman got a car. And ever since good Ol St. Nick left this 73 Plymouth Duster in his stocking 11 years ago, Chris has been turning it into a first-rate street machine. Its been an everyday driver since day one. He drove it through high school. He drove it on his wedding day. And now his wife, Jenelle, drives it to work every day (youve just got to appreciate a woman wholl drive a Duster with a reverse-pattern manual valvebody).
Itll spank just about any import you throw at it and handles long-distance road trips effortlessly. We know, cause Chris made it both ways on our Anti-Tour last month and didnt even break a sweat, getting a respectable 15 miles per gallon. Not bad for a mid-13-second daily driver. This car obviously isnt the kind of toy a kid gets bored with and throws in the closet. This toy provides hour after hour of smokey burnout fun! So, Chris, whatd you put in Santas cookies that year?