Hilborn Hemi Plymouth Duster - Build thread and poll - need input on front end!

[Uhcoog1]

I haven't introduced my car on this forum yet, so here it goes:
1973 Plymouth Duster
5.7 forged hemi, 11.6:1 compression, Stage 3 heads, custom built headers
Hilborn EFI
tko600, hydraulic clutch
ford 9" floater
Gen 3 viper calipers on all 4. 14x1.25" on all 4
Factory UCA's, LCA's, Bilstein shocks, 1.04" TB's, Mopar road race leafs, Hellwig bars front and rear (Front is custom), factory power steering, manual brakes
265/40/18 Super Sports on 18x9.5 on all 4.

Up to this point, I've mostly been concerned about the running gear. I'm building this car with HPDE events in mind. Now that I've got ~500 miles on it, I'm ready to update the appearance as well.

This was my first car, and was given to me by my grandmother, who was the original owner. My high school build was a 408 ci stroker, 727 auto, 8 3/4 with 4.10 SG. Fast forward 12 years, and now I want something different. My current goal is to keep up with a Porsche GT3 and C6 Z06 with average drivers at HPDE events. Peak numbers on my iPhone the other day indicated 1.02G left peak, 1.02G right peak, and .99G braking. That was with understeer on the skidpad and the rear brakes locking early on the 60-0. Hopefully both can be improved upon.

Now on to my current dilemma:

I've been thinking about changing the front end of my duster. It's a 73, needs the bumper re-chromed, and I was thinking about getting rid of the hood/hood scoop in favor of a fiberglass hood with just the stacks sticking through.

Well, I acquired a sharktooth grille a while back, and if I'm going to be changing the hood and re-chroming the bumper, this is as good a time as any to change the whole front end. The 73 duster (what I have) can be swapped to a 70-72 duster front end with just a hood, bumper, grille, filler panel b/t grill and bumper, and a new latch assembly. I have the grille and the filler panel. To swap to a demon/dart front, I need to replace the fenders as well.

I need a front spoiler / air dam and probably some hood venting as well to keep the front end from floating at speed (like it currently does). Whichever front end I pick needs to look decent with a functional front air dam. Current plan is industrial conveyor belting attached to the XV radiator crossmember spanning the width of the car and sitting ~4" off the pavement.

I've got a few crazy ideas, and I need some votes here. Tell me what ya'll think.

Option A: Leave 1973 front end, cover hilborn with dual snorkel hood scoop.

Option B: Leave 1973 front end, stick stacks through hood, no hood scoop

Option C: Swap to 1970-72 duster front end with sharktooth grille, run stacks through hood

Option D:Swap to 1970-1972 duster front end with sharktooth grille, run stacks through hood, fit dart/demon front valance to help cover low radiator

Option E: Swap to 1970-1972 dart / demon front end, modify the dart pieces to fit with the sharktooth grille

Option F: Run a 73 duster front end, replace bumper with panel similar to picture below.

Option G: Run a 70-72 duster front end, replace bumper with panel similar to 1st gen Camaro's (see pic below).

Option H: No hood. Don't care about the rest.

Vote and give me some thoughts! I want to hear what you're thinking.

Thanks!
Wade

Option A: Car with twin snorkel hiding hilborn:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/05/null_zpsc4fdb87b-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/uhcoog1/media/null_zpsc4fdb87b.jpg.html)

Option B: Like this but with taller stacks. Cleaned up of course.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/05/null_zps9c921751-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/uhcoog1/media/null_zps9c921751.jpg.html)


Option C: Swap to 1970-72 duster front end with sharktooth grille, run stacks through hood (this pic doesn't have the right bumper- I don't have one yet):
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/05/null_zps7746f3c0-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/uhcoog1/media/null_zps7746f3c0.jpg.html)
Option C, pic 2 - this is what a sharktooth on a 70-72 duster looks like with the correct bumper:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/05/jun_1210-1.jpg

Option D:No pic.

Option E: BAD photoshop of sharktooth onto Demon:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/05/demonedit_zps70225b58-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/uhcoog1/media/demonedit_zps70225b58.jpg.html)


Option F: Run a 73 duster front end, replace bumper with panel similar to picture below.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/05/32101520024_large1_zps8da441ea-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/uhcoog1/media/32101520024_large1_zps8da441ea.jpg.html)

Option G: Run a 70-72 duster front end, replace bumper with panel similar to 1st gen Camaro's (see pic below).
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/05/null_zpsee35ab67-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/uhcoog1/media/null_zpsee35ab67.jpg.html)

Option H: No hood. Don't care about the rest.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/05/4DC1766C474142DABD8874C3AB36741333810000-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/uhcoog1/media/4DC1766C-4741-42DA-BD88-74C3AB367413-3381-000004414FDC61E3_zps592faa89.jpg.html)

Engine pic:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/05/CEE567ADEC6A4432B25605F9D8C3B5D033810000-1.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/uhcoog1/media/CEE567AD-EC6A-4432-B256-05F9D8C3B5D0-3381-0000044154EC60C8_zpsca421956.jpg.html)

[72BBSwinger]

I say either put a Dart front end on it, or do the sharktooth. Why not keep the stacks under the hood?

[Uhcoog1]

A couple reasons:
-According to pipe max, I need more length to put the 2nd harmonic in a useful range.
-It's a hilborn. I want to show it off. (me being honest)

I'm not after the stacks sticking wayy out, just enough so the back stack barely makes it above the hood line.

I'm open to other ideas as well. I'm looking for something that looks more pro-touring and less grandma.

[72BBSwinger]

That is reason enough on the stacks. I'm a Mopar nut through and through but the 73+ Duster, and Dart, grilles are an acquired taste lol! The 70-71 Duster sharktooth is flat bitchen and the bumpers less gawdy. If I went that route I would get a glass bumper and make an opening in it for cooling and then also integrate a spoiler. Another thing besides turning it into a Demon, would be to use something funky like a 67 Dart grille and really being unique. My car is a 72 but I put a 71 grille in it as soon as I found one.

[Buryingthesun]

I voted for option "E"

[Tomswheels]

Off topic, but I vote for a Firm Feel stage 3 steering box!

[Uhcoog1]

Off topic, but I vote for a Firm Feel stage 3 steering box!

Do you have one? It's between that and a borgeson unit...

[72BBSwinger]

Borgeson all the way here, TTI even made adjustments to their headers to fit with it and a Gen III.

[dusterbd13]

i have the stage 3 on my car. love it.

i vote 70 front end, sharkstooth, demon tail panel, a better front spoiler like mine, and stacks slightly through the hood.

michael

[Uhcoog1]

i have the stage 3 on my car. love it.

i vote 70 front end, sharkstooth, demon tail panel, a better front spoiler like mine, and stacks slightly through the hood.

michael

Thanks for the vote Michael!

I was looking at your front spoiler the other day! Two s10 front air dams 'welded' together, yes? Looks good!

[dusterbd13]

yep. one cut dopwn the middle, and the middle 6 inches or so of another one spliced in. badly in my case, but it was also never supposed to be on the car this long. really need to make another one.....

and i want ITB's on mine......im jealous.