SP Rides: Rolling with the ‘Snot Rocket’
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Aaron Stuart
Age: 37
Occupation: Submariner
Hobbies: Working on cars and with saltwater fish tanks
Year/Make/Model: 1972 Plymouth Duster
Color: Sassy Grass Green
Engine: 440 CID big block bored 30 over, six-pack intake with carbs and linkages (1350 CFM), six-pack crank, custom fuel lines, KB Pistons, Eagle rods, 440 Source aluminum heads, Crane Gold 1.6 roller rockers, Comp cam, Derale trans cooler, aluminum radiator with Flex-a-lite dual electric fans, Flow Master dual exhaust, Schumacher tri-Y racing headers, Schumacher V8 conversion mounts
Drivetrain and Suspension: 727 trans with shift kit, B&M slap shifter, 323 gears, 3000 stall torque converter, reinforced frame and suspension, frame connectors, 8 3/4 posi rearend, upgraded suspension components and torsion bars
Wheels/Tires: Weld Racing rims with Mickey Thompson tires.
Exterior: New emblems, front and rear lights
Interior: EZ wiring harness 21 circuit, Custom dash and gauges, Grant steering wheel, Bucket seats
Even at an early age, Aaron Stuart was eagerly soaking up others’ knowledge and enthusiasm for the automobile. His father, in fact, was the one who introduced him to the concept of sanding and allowed him to practice that skill on a 1936 Pontiac. Surrounding himself with people who cared deeply for the car is just one reason why Stuart has always found it easy to appreciate the automobile.
“It’s all about networking. Being in the military, you have so many people from all walks of life,” said Stuart, who works as a submariner. “You have electricians, people that weld, that do body work. You can learn so much from those around you.”
He’s owned a number of vehicles and has made purchasing, fixing and modifying cars — and then flipping them to finance his next project — a routine occurrence. Whether they are import rides or domestics, it doesn’t matter to Stuart because he’s a true car lover.
His 1972 Plymouth Duster is beast of car with good looks to back it up. The model ran from 1970 to 1976 with a few engine options such as the Slant Six that came standard in this model. Astute readers will notice this baby is rocking a 440 emblem alongside the side stripe. That’s because Stuart has upgraded to a 440 CID big block bored 30 over; in fact, it’s got a six-pack intake that flows 1350CFM. The engine is completely rebuilt and includes oodles of goodies such as KB pistons, Eagle rods, custom fuel lines, and a comp cam among its many modifications.
But before this ride could hold the heart of a beast, it had to be prepared properly. With the help of his friends and acquaintances, the Duster went through a major overhaul. The entire car was stripped to the bare metal. Rust spots were cut and then replaced, tack-welded and shaved down. Fenders were replaced, and the entire body was worked over and repainted. Stuart said the colors of the 1970s were undeniably iconic, and since green has always been his favorite color, he stuck with what he loved. Naturally, he affectionately refers to his Duster as “Snot Rocket.”
Stuart had the old, multi-spliced, travesty of a wiring harness ripped out and replaced with an EZ wiring harness, and even went so far as to re-wire the fuse box. The drivetrain was also worked over and features 323 gears with a 3,000 stall torque converter, while the 727 trans was upgraded with a B&M slap shifter and is ready to rock.
Flowmaster exhausts add to the immense growl while Weld Racing rims mounted with Mickey Thompson tires keep Stuart planted in his bucket seats. This cockpit is nothing but black, knight rider clean with custom gauges created specifically for this car by Stuart. Looking over the dash reveals a menacing 440 six-pack hood scoop with pins to hold it in place.
“This is an ongoing work-in-progress,” explained Stuart, a car fan who’s unburdened by lines or divisions. He intends to pass this vehicle down to his son.
“The car scene in Hawaii is pretty awesome with all kinds of different styles of cars. Just appreciate a car for what it is and the blood, sweat and tears that is put into them,” he said.
