70 dodge dart vs. 70 nova

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by RALLY

Dont know but it seemed like the Dusters were a heavier car than the Darts.

Not by much. 1970 Duster 340 4 speed Curb Weight: 3307. 1969 Swinger 340 curb weight: 3274 pounds.

[John Brown]

Had to dig out my NHRA Stock Car Classification Guide and see how they compared. Both of my sheets are dated 1971.

1970 Dodge Dart Swinger 340 275 horsepower 10.11 pounds/horsepower. 3133 pounds.

* Today, automatics are factored 10.48, stick 11.15.


1970 Plymouth Duster 340 275 horsepower 10.17 pounds/horsepower. 3109 pounds.

* Today, automatics are factored 10.40, stick 11.07 pounds/horsepower.


I believe NHRA uses shipping weights.

That means Darts were rated at 310 hp in 70 and Dusters were rated at 306 hp. Today it's 299 for automatics, 281 for sticks, same for both brands.

[RALLY]

Originally Posted by John Brown

Had to dig out my NHRA Stock Car Classification Guide and see how they compared. Both of my sheets are dated 1971.

1970 Dodge Dart Swinger 340 275 horsepower 10.11 pounds/horsepower. 3133 pounds.

* Today, automatics are factored 10.48, stick 11.15.


1970 Plymouth Duster 340 275 horsepower 10.17 pounds/horsepower. 3109 pounds.

* Today, automatics are factored 10.40, stick 11.07 pounds/horsepower.


I believe NHRA uses shipping weights.

That means Darts were rated at 310 hp in 70 and Dusters were rated at 306 hp. Today it's 299 for automatics, 281 for sticks, same for both brands.

Interesting facts how the horsepower numbers are factored these days. NHRA is losing interest among the fans and racers these days.

[Arrowsmith]

Sigh....here we go again...

Originally Posted by EZ Nova

"and locally Mopars were king"

"So I talked to a lot of the older guys that ran these cars new on the street and track. The 340 was usually considered the fastest SB around. There were 5 '66L79 Chevy II's and there was usually 1 that had work that would beat a 340 mopar. The rest were usually a couple cars behind. Dusters seem to work better then the Darts from what I heard.....

Just L-O-L.

[Lee Stewart]

I went to an exclusive college in MA: Babson. It was a rich kid's school. The kids of Captains Of Industry went there. So there were all kinds of brand new muscle cars: Boss 302s, Boss 429s, L78 Chevelles, Z/28s, L71 Corvettes, Charger R/Ts and even Edsel Ford's custom built by Holman and Moody 1970 Boss 351 . . . and one Black/Black with White Stripe Swinger 340. Only 1 option: Posi. Rear. The owner's name was Randy and he was like me: not a rich kid, but he knew an awful lot about cars. Yes the car was modified but only what we could see from the outside: headers hanging down and hood pins but with no pins: small locks. He helped pay his tuition street racing for money. No one in school was ever given a chance to look under the hood and he refused to say what gears were in the rear end. Only one car on campus was able to beat him: 1969 SCJ Mach 1 with 4.30 gears.

His car was stolen three times in less than 6 months. The first two times it was recovered almost immediately so there was no damage. The 3rd time it was gone for over a month. When it was recovered the entire front of the car was missing along with the engine and trans. Everything from the firewall forward was gone. So he took the insurance money, used what he needed to pay off his tuition and with the rest he bought a "beater." When we asked him, now that the car was gone, what was under the hood, his only reply was "it wasn't stock."

He once gave me a ride in it: jumped on 1st gear: I was slammed back so fast I thought I was going to wind up in the back seat. I swear the front end lifted because the horizon disappeared.

[GrumpyJeff]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

I went to an exclusive college in MA: Babson. It was a rich kid's school. The kids of Captains Of Industry went there. So there were all kinds of brand new muscle cars: Boss 302s, Boss 429s, L78 Chevelles, Z/28s, L71 Corvettes, Charger R/Ts and even Edsel Ford's custom built by Holman and Moody 1970 Boss 351 . . . and one Black/Black with White Stripe Swinger 340. Only 1 option: Posi. Rear. The owner's name was Randy and he was like me: not a rich kid, but he knew an awful lot about cars. Yes the car was modified but only what we could see from the outside: headers hanging down and hood pins but with no pins: small locks. He helped pay his tuition street racing for money. No one in school was ever given a chance to look under the hood and he refused to say what gears were in the rear end. Only one car on campus was able to beat him: 1969 SCJ Mach 1 with 4.30 gears.

His car was stolen three times in less than 6 months. The first two times it was recovered almost immediately so there was no damage. The 3rd time it was gone for over a month. When it was recovered the entire front of the car was missing along with the engine and trans. Everything from the firewall forward was gone. So he took the insurance money, used what he needed to pay off his tuition and with the rest he bought a "beater." When we asked him, now that the car was gone, what was under the hood, his only reply was "it wasn't stock."

He once gave me a ride in it: jumped on 1st gear: I was slammed back so fast I thought I was going to wind up in the back seat. I swear the front end lifted because the horizon disappeared.

love theses type of stories !!!! thanks for sharing

[EZ Nova]

Originally Posted by RALLY

Dont know but it seemed like the Dusters were a heavier car than the Darts.

I believe the Darts were a tad lighter, but not enough to really consider. We at the shop have found the Dusters work pretty well for some reason. We have a few customers with SB Dusters, and there pretty impressive. The best is a W7 equipt 411 incher that runs low 8's with DOT tire and thru mufflers, and has been 7.60's on 1 stage @ 2950lbs.

The LA series can be a very stout piece even today.

[markinnaples]

The Duster/Demon/(later)Dart fastback body style, IMHO, is very underrated. My buddy had a '71 Demon with a T/A 340 Six Pack that he redid but never got running right before he sold it. The day he sold that was a bummer. There was a red Demon with a black Super Stock hood on it (I'm guessing that's what they called that hood with that huge wide scoop) that ran around our area that sounded absolutely nasty, but never got close enough to see what he was running. I imagine a decent 440 in that body style would be a rocket. Too bad you don't see many of that body style these days.

[Hotrodpaul]

Here's a nice one that with a little work, would be quite fast on the street:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-Dodge-...AAAOSwo4pfe9Mi

Drop in a late model Hellcat hemi, 700-800 Hp and leave it the way it looks, with better rear tires of course!

[PeteLeathersac]

'

Cool story Lee and thanks for sharing that!
I like Mopars too but admit I'd choose a subframe/coil Nova over K-frame/torsion Dart every time.


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