Steve Clukey's 1970 Plymouth Duster 440 - Drag Racing Legend?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- Acquiring this 1970 Plymouth Duster 440 brand new as a 340 powered Mopar when he returns from Vietnam, Steve Clukey has never stopped enhancing and drag racing it. Well known for his consistent single digit quarter mile passes all over the east coast it's a pleasure for us to have his story on Hot American Cars.
Steve shared with us that the American Pro Stock drag racer Herb McCandless who is also a good friend of his inspires him to return on the strip with the 1970 Plymouth Duster 440 every single season. Going faster each year and having people asking questions about the set up is Steve's motovtion.
Steve's Son Chad Clukey provided us with some cool drag racing footage from that last 10 years, the recently acquired new 440 Small Block Mopar engine doing few dyno pulls, and of course Steve and the 1970 Plymouth Duster in action. A 5-minute video I believe every Mopar fan will enjoy watching.
Read the full story of Steve Clukey's 1970 Plymouth Duster 440 on our website: bit.ly/ClukeyDu...
If you own a hot rod or have high performance muscle car you attend drag racing events with and want to share your story with the world don't hesitate to contact us: danny@hot-cars.org
Let's connect on Facebook:
Mopar Muscle: / mopar.muscle.4ever
Chevy Nation: / chevynationpage
Mustang Riders: / mriderspage
The videos used were provided by the car owner's son Chad Clukey and some of them can be seen in their full versions on his own TH-cam channel: / wepner
Don't Miss the '72 Duster Race Car Video: th-cam.com/video/i8Eud5Y80qc/w-d-xo.html
I believe that is the best looking Duster I have ever seen !!
Thanks, and how about its performance?
Having Grown Up at New England Dragway and seen Steve's car run faster and faster consistently for many years i can say the he and his bad ass duster are legendary. Now bringing my young sons there, they recognize his car, love the big wheelies and how fast it is.
Yup, people from your area get the video title. Thanks for nice comment Jay
I am simply...blown away ! I am on my 13th '70-72 Duster, 4 th Roadrunner etc. since 1973. Steve Clukey has raised the bar. I will keep at it as long as Steve does. That is one BAD-ASS MOPAR Duster, AND track record, by the way ! Congrats to you brother......
Glad you enjoyed the video we put together for Clukey, and it motivates you to work on your current projects. With that being said, if you have some high quality videos we could put something together for one of your cars. If you're interested please email us at: info.hotcars@gmail.com
Love watching this car in Epping. Remember it as a kid at the Mopar show there and look for my every time I go. Keep up the great work. This car is majestical to watch launch. Never disappoints.
Yup, Steve and his Duster are a great couple :) drag racing happily for many years
I’ve seen this car on video many times I love the duster it just goes to show you what Ingenuity and passion can go a long way especially using a 440 old school motor against new technology
You have probably seen some of the footage we used in the story, which Steve provided. I hope you enjoyed it
I love that Duster! Power 883 hp and 911 Nm of torque. Outstanding! Magnificent video, guys. Thumbs up.
Thanks for the kind words and yes this thing is a beast and the driver/owner is a man to admire
Who built the motor?? I find it hard to believe it has that much power to go bracket racing. Comp and modified racers would be running small motors with that much power.
Not bracket racers.
That kind of power from an all motor small block is beyond amazing. Old school at its finest. Mopar or no car
Yup, Steve proves the old school set up is still competitive
That Lenco is amazing! You sure have your car and combination dialed in! Great videos too!
He brings this fine car to our Augusta mopar show! Thanks
I've seen this car several times at New England dragway. Very impressive car & driver!
Steve has been racing the Duster for years and knows how to make his car work. Thanks for checking it out!
We believe Steve Clukey is a living legend. What do you think?
Your best video so far, and yes the guy is legendary in his area for sure!
@IIJG27Rich He has been going for nearly 50 years. Hopefully we will get o watch him racing for many more.
@IIJG27Rich Will do
@@Moparmaga-1 Both Father and Son are great guys.
Hot American Cars what ET’s is he running?
Steve clukey is one of my best friends from the state of Maine
Humble man and great racer. Do you race sir?
@@HotAmericanCars back when I met Steve clukey I was a drag racer now I'm a circle track racer but still run a Mopar
Rock on Steve. Awesome Duster! Direct connected! Thank you.
The 440 doesn't get the respect it deserves, MOPAR all day every day!!!
its 340 stroked to 440
Moves for a stroked 340 love it I agree the 440 don’t get respect I love 440 S my favorite motor other than a hemi I’ve had 340s 383s 440s my fav was the 440 S had a quite a few over the years also I think the 340 is one of the best small blocks ever built they go like snot I agree most don’t know the 440 is considered a better motor by many but I think if it comes to a quarter mile to get a 440 to go 8s in the quarter it would be more expensive than a hemi I’m sure to build that’s why every body builds the 426 you can get a 440 into the 11s fairly easy but to get to 10 is a whole lot more money so I believe that’s why they all build hemis I know a lot of cars run hemis cause I imagine it’s cheaper to get them into the 8 S maybe I’m wrong but that’s what I have sort of seen over the years
@@jeffleblanc8850 Totally agree. There are two types of people who buy HEMI cars. One for their collector value and the other because they can build fast drag cars.
Shane Mayfield I’m not saying the 440 is the better motor, but you had to pay more for HEMI back in the day for pretty much the same performance.
Sure, the 440 Magnum was rated at 480 lb-ft at 3200 rpm, while the 426 Hemi was rated at 490 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. Note the significantly higher rpm rating for the Hemi. Consequently, the street performance of both engines was practically identical. The Hemi could sometimes achieve superior times in the quarter-mile, but driving like that on the street was not the wisest way to exercise one’s testosterone.
Again, please don’t get me wrong: HEMI is the king, no argue
@@shanemayfield4610 What you're saying is not wrong Shane, my point is that you could get pretty much the same street performance for a lot cheaper back in the day. As for the strip, HEMI is King, no doubt about it
wow he really reeled in that white valiant at the top end . what a badass smallblock duster .
kevin nolan Steve has built a real beast and you can see him at the strip very often
I remember seeing Steve run one night years ago before the wheelie bars and the lenco , rear bumper hit the ground on launch and never missed a shift . It's been my favorite car at New England Dragway for years
Everyone who has seen him race, loved both the car and the way Steve handles it.
A couple years ago we got to see Steve race up at New England Dragway. On 4 launches Steve had 2 perfect lights and one .001. Some of the most impressive racing I’ve seen hands down, wish my old phone didn’t break bc we were down on the starting line cheering him on every pass. Steve’s a true gentleman and a true racing legend
A living legend indeed. I’ve never heard someone who met him in person to say anything negative about him or his driving
@@HotAmericanCars watching him race was incredible. Ik you get it but when I tell my buddies who aren’t into racing they hardly bat an eye. Some people don’t realize how impressive those reactions are
@@theartistformerlyknownaslu3871 I totally know what you’re talking about, it’s like when I’m showing these vids to my wife 🤣🤣🤣
@@HotAmericanCars lmao
sick .. just sick !!! in a good way !!
When it comes to cars, sick is always good :) glad you enjoyed the story
8:68 @ 153
Love those little cars.
A little beast 🚀
that is a cool ride even from a camera, thanks steve
Glad you enjoyed the story brother. Stay well
I love Mopars been that way since I was a kid my family worked at Chryslers and owned mopars long before I was even born I guess it's in my blood
It sure is, and so as in Steve's blood
Okay that car i s the definition of badass
slantfish65sd Totally, what do you like about it the most?
That dusters is evil Steve wheels up bro
It’s the baddest Duster I’ve seen at the track, and one of my favorite Mopar stories we had the privilege to do. Thanks for checking it out
I've been watching Steve race his Duster at New England dragway for many years now, he gets quicker every year. The most nasty small block mopar I've ever seen!
Great guy and racer
That is a cool Duster!
And it moves pretty good too, right?
Awesome
Randy Butler thanks brother, glad you enjoyed the video. Did you watch more of our car stories?
WOW!!! Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a car - driver combo, right!
Nice paint.
Cincy Spin So ‘70s right?
@@HotAmericanCars Yes. Very bright. Very creative.
Cincy Spin thanks for checking it out it out...do you own a muscle car?
@@HotAmericanCars Nope. But grew up during that era and learned to love 'em. Closest I came to a muscle car was a '69 Road Runner with 383/Hurst 4 speed that I bought used and drove for several years in the mid 70's. But then I got a lot of tickets and insurance and gas prices went way up and I switched to 4 and 6 cylinder cars to stay solvent and out of trouble.
@@cincyspin178 I hear you, most people sold their muscle cars for the same reasons back then
I love that car.
Yup, that Mopar is a beauty and a beast! What's not to like, right?
Bad ass !!!
I ain't sure 'bout a livin' legend or anything but the cat has a beautiful hotrod and that mopar 440 power, nice, real nice
Glad you enjoyed this awesome Mopar Charles, did you see anymore of our video stories?
charles c it’s a stroked 340 to 440
What a Mopar!
Oh yeah, Steve is a living legend.
Are those Lightning Rods? I've never seen them in a racecar if so. Work like a charm!
His car was a 340 4 speed from the factory. He ran it in that configuration for many years. Was always a drag car from new.
It may have a stroked small block at 440", but it's definitely NOT a crate engine - it's all custom.
def not a crate engine , for sure , I saw the 440 and said bs , but then figured it may be a 440 inch stroker killer small block . cool ass car though
Al Bundy would be proud!
That's a great car
Ernest Bamburg thanks for checking it out brother. Glad you enjoyed the video
Beautiful running car no wasted energy hooks up goes straight great passes just saying
And all you said is on point brother. Glad you enjoyed the video.
That would work real nice in my 1967 Barracuda Fastback.
Ericka C that’s for sure! BTW do you have any videos of your Mopar?
Great video. I'm not sure if you were just using existing footage or not. But maybe next time get some shots of front/ rear suspension and fuel delivery setup.
Thanks for the feedback Kyle. We did use existing footage provided by Steve and his Son. Glad you enjoyed it.
I took my 2 oldest children to New England dragway and said go stand by that car and act like it's your dad's and I'll take your picture They both have children on their own now1
Steve is a living legend indeed. Thank you for the nice comment.
Nice video.
Thanks Ronald, appreciate it. Did you see any of our other vids?
Who else noticed it said 440 small block in the beginning
It says so, because it is a 440 small block brother :)
@@HotAmericanCars what motor was it originally? Bored out small block?
@@dustinLee8686 after-market "siamese" racing block with 340 "architecture". Steve showed me the car two days ago.
We are rooting for you to beat the crap out of the ugly farm car Chevy's. I am so sick of Chevy's everywhere as they are as common as pimples & as ugly as zits. When everyone buys the same crap....it does get old. The MOPARS are so unique, classy, cool, beautiful, & incredible sounding. Thank you Steve for all your hard work and loyalty to Chrysler.
Amen to that Tim, do you actually know Steve?
@@HotAmericanCars ...yes....through friends…..and wish him the best success.....
Tim Benson Do you own a Mopar too?
@@HotAmericanCars ...Absolutely....that is all I have ever owned...
@@timbenson428 Great, if you feel like sharing a car story with our followers, let me know
Bad ass Duster.
BADASSNESS
🔥🔥SAVAGE🔥🔥
Sounds about right, are you into Mopars in general?
holy crap what did the engine rev up too? it sounded like 8000rpm
Not sure, but it surely is one of the craziest small blocks I've seen
8800 these days
440 is a Big Block...
It sure was back in the 60’s sir 😎 that’s a modern day powerplant. You can Google it
Back when they word "tranny" meant something!
We are still using it quite often :)
I was part of a crew out of New Mexico, we were competitive on the regional level and dominated the local level and plus i had my own car that i would run but for fun, while helping out the crew chief and driver and a few random people who would assist as well, but not officially part of the crew.
These guys were serious, 1100hp, 16\1 compression, callies, AFR, you name it, all the way down to arp bolts, l.e.d., lithium molybendum, chief sees nothing but friction, chip up the rev limiter to 9300 and...
but sir....
Yeah, 9300🤨 i built that motor, i know whats in it, its bullet proof, blowing it up is the LAST THING IM WORRIED ABOUT.
My car was fast but one night I raced them because it was just dial in night for the big meet the next day.
I sleep lights like a mother fucker, my best sleep was a 1.13 lol.
Average was .027....that....aint....cuttin it.
Doesnt matter, im a street guy, but chromoly allston 12pt, full race, 2000hp if dropped in, no prob, certified for 6 seconds in the ¼, running 800hp....mild set up for the street, street legal dot slicks.
I had a plan, a ace up my sleave...after all, my buddy was a good driver, 1100 hp at 2700lbs, i was 2300.
Im gonna red light his ass by .200 minimum but if im wrong for some insane reason, maybe ill nail a 001.
It doesn't matter.
But in my mind, ill show them, its 1\8th mile, maybee....
And I set the trans after staging first and watched till be bumped³ home to the staged light and i mash the pedal, waharrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 4500rpm and drove my ass and back in the seat as if trying to bust it out of its bracket mounts, eyes wide open and yell a continuous yell tone of ARRRRRRRRRRR and putting everything i got into locked concentration on that second amberrrr BAM thumb lauch off the button, surely I redlighted and yes I see it as what looked like a great white shark in the other lane, launch out as if a seal in the water 25ft in front of it WTF?? as we are both pulling hard in the groove and him slowly pulling away but the kind of slowly that isnt slow, its demoralizing kind of slow because its my car that is slow, 800hp, 2300lbs, certified, full race, the only thing maybe phonie is eagle in the engine, but 800hp is 800hp, i mean the car still pulled GOOD evev at 1\4 mile, 143mph at 3000ft altitude.
OMG my car slow hypnotic state as that shark launched and had important things to do and right lane who?,.....??? ...sigh😢 and intended red light😭 WTF???😠... OMG 😳🤯 i see my digital tach in the darkness 4564865452758764336871073blinkblinkblinkblink well SHIFT DUMBASS WTF ARE YOU WAITI-ARRRR-arrrrRRRRRRRR!!!bli-arrrrRRRR FINISH LINE....car set up for ¼ not ⅛ lol catching the beginning of 3rd on a 400 trans lol lol...who cares.
It doesn't matter.
Now, I hit the end of the trap hang a hairpin drive back stop at the booth take my helmet off and look at the slip as quick as I can and -.113 RT ok how the fk could my car not appear to me to get the jump? 🤷🏻♂️ oh well I guess thats the difference, 300hp more is the big boy league.
I get to the pits and my buddy who drove and the crew chief are lounging and barbecuing some steaks and were almost surprised when I showed up because they thought I've been gone so long i musta broke down heh heh🙄 but actually, they just got back, this isnt a 50lb trout story.
My buddy says, how big was your red light?...and I showed him and what was really funny was that he looked at it with a straight face as if somebody who blew your doors off and did not red light and a chuckle and looked at me as he's handing back TWO slips now.
I got mad and SAID oh boy!! aren't you the big fucking driver with the big hot shot CALLIES dragon slayer crank that cost as much as half my engine d--- ...I see his slip and they are LAUGHINNNNG,
RT -.563
LMFAO.
Sir? mr dodge sir. yoohoo, mr dyno 883 etc etc big presentation, links etc etc and chasing down a pinto bean with a half track spot and a full length+ win and i hope you didnt hit the brake lights to fool the tower, they aren't that stupid and nobody thinks you were cheating.
My question is this, what are you selling sir? Because, I'm just telling a story and never sold anything to anyone in my life.
What are you selling dude? Because so far throughout that whole video I'm having a hard time buying anything, not that I'm looking to buy but I don't see any price tags, but it certainly looks like you are selling.
Know what I mean?
Honestly I don't know what you mean brother. We are not selling anything. All the videos on our channel are car stories put together with videos, photos and info provided by the owners
@@HotAmericanCars they or you are looking for sponsors?
@@FIVE-0-APOCALYPTO What makes you think that anyone is looking for sponsors?
Ma let me borrow the Duster to go to the store to get a loaf of bread.
You'll bring it home still warm :)
Not to be a jag but I'm pretty sure that a 440 is a big block, not a small block.
That's a stroked small block...Here is a example: th-cam.com/video/JMxHajD_ztw/w-d-xo.html
@Will Harrison: Dizzy@ top rear & not @ 10 0clock @ front of block like normal Mopar BBs...
that thing is ridiculous!
In a good way I hope 😎
@@HotAmericanCars of course!! Started tearing into our 440 yesterday and eye balling some options for a street car project :)
@@SocalMarineUSA what do you have in mind?
@@HotAmericanCars stroker kit, slap on some alu heads and toss it into a 70 dart .. maybe 528 or there about.. stock wd be good too. Planning a 429 stroker for the 69 mustang and 496, maybe go stock on this one..
@@SocalMarineUSA It gets more interesting. Let's do some video stories on your builds. What do you think?
se it in montreal canada danm nice cars and driver
Yup, Steve and the Duster get a lot of love anywhere they show up
Whose the Manufacture of the Cylinder heads?
Arrington Performance
340 but What block from where?? thx!!!
Actually it's a Mopar 440 small block
@@HotAmericanCars do you know the owner? would be nice if u can ask him. Mopars only came with 360 small block 340, and 318. Stroked out mopar small blocks over 410 cubes are based on the 340 usually
@@BigBadMarketer Just Google Mopar 440 small block stroker :)
i have owned a lot ot plymouths in my day and when the hell did a 440 motor become a small block DU!!!!!!
The 440 you’re talking about will always be a Big Block, but that’s a different engine.
Don't understand nice to see these drag cars but very seldom do they put the ET and speed very important
Hi Richard, the best ET of Steve's Duster you can hear on the very last pass - 8.68@153mph
That car is violent " pump gas ?...3:73 gear ?....4:11 ?
Glad you enjoyed the video Matt. I'm sorry but Steve never shared with me the rear end specs
It doesn't want to stop revving ! Sounds like 9000 rpm
Hell yeah, that 440 is a monster
damn
@@homefront3162 Awesome Mopar, right?
i wish i still had my 74 duster she was my baby bach in 84 only a 318 but let me tell you nobody wanted to race me back i high school i guess she was to much for them i miss my duster her california plate was 734 mic (i got laid in that car so much)
Sounds like great times. Any plans to get another Mopar in future?
Is not a 440 a big block? Or did i miss read something in the title of the video? 440 small block?
Says 440" small block
The original Chrysler 440 engine is a big block, Now you can get a small block 440 crate motor or a stroker kit
@@72RR446 Yup, that's right....small block 440 crate motor
@@HotAmericanCars Awesome did not know that thank you for the info
@@zimmyman564 You're welcome...always glad to answer any questions related to the cars on our channel
Holy shit
I dont how them lil engines dont come apart
They're built to resist...it's that simple I suppose
Ok
1:24
How come it don't have a LS in it? Everyone else has them!
LOL
haha
Don Cooper Not in Mopars Don, Ford and Chevy guys normally do LS swaps
440 small block???
He needs a gen 2 Hemi so he can dip into the 7s...
Thnks for sharing your thoughts on the car. How do you feel about it the way it is?
@@HotAmericanCars Nice car. I have 2 R3 W9 headed 1971 Demons. One is 440" the other is 476" One Ryan Johnson Built the other Bob Book Built...
@@snappypappy100 You're a top dog brother. Got any vids of them A-bodies?
Who are the 14 nincompoops ?
Awesome but it's not a "440" it's a big cubic inch small block
It is a small block 440 brother
Trade you my Dodge Caravan for it?
I'm not sure if Steve would be interested 😁
@@HotAmericanCars Tell him I'll throw in two bicycles, a weed whacker and a toaster oven.😄
@@hughjass1044 Now that sounds like a sweet deal 🙃
Umm 440CID mopar is a big block dude molars big blocks start at the 340CID wedge educate yourself fool only way to get a 440 small block is to get a custom black from day Dart or Brodix you gotta buy a specially CNC’d block, nice looking car though and nice combo the Lenco and the 440, believe it or not you go to a set of Firestone or Goodyear soft compound tires you’ll launch harder and your ET will be slightly quicker Hoosier suck I remember when they came out they were dirt track tires back in the 90’s when we started running them on street *( drag cars that were tagged and street legal )* and super street which was a mix of trailered cars and cars driven to the track like my wife’s nova she ran in street and super street and I ran in super street and Pro
I think you need to educate yourself before calling someone a fool.
It's not a 440, stroker small block.
Simple mopar
That car for sure is not running in Super Gas with that setup.. especially when he's running 8.65@155... I think he runs Super Pro & bracket races.
Awesome
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it
Ok