340 K Member ??

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Here's what i've learned from this thread. There seems to be only one or two pre 70 cars that do have the washer. There seems to be a couple of 70 and up cars that dont. It seems the bulk of cars built from 70 and up with a 340 do have the washers and this seems to be a factory identification of some kind. I doubt very seriously that it had anything to do in the machining process as each and everyone are different as far as exact location, which would be necessary for machining purposes. The engine ID would hold water. The sway bar, for now, does hold water. This needs some more research. I'll check my field for the sway bar theory. I know without looking the 1 70 model 340 valiant/duster with washer does have a sway bar. I'll check the other one. For those of you that have washers in pre 70 cars, are you absolutely sure your car is an original K member? Not calling anyone a liar but things do happen to cars that we aren't told about. Also for you guys that have 70 models and up that dont have the washer, are you totally sure no one has done some swapping? You guys check your washered cars for swaybars and report back. We'll get er figured out.
Small Block
 
I have the numbers matching 340 and transmission. I see no reason or evidence that the k member has been changed.

69 340

No washer

Factory sway bar
 
Alrighty, my 70 340 Swinger with 4sp has both – washer and sway bar.
My 72 Swinger 340 Special with auto has both – washer and sway bar. The Kmembers on both are original to the cars. The 70 is disc brake and the 72 is 10 inch drums. The 70 has torque boxes on all 4 corners and so does the 72 – hmmm, could it be something to do with torque boxes?
 
The fab guys put extra time and effort into the welding of 340 K members and put that washer on it to identify it.
 
my 70 duster has 1 but its a 318 car...i just looked at it last night while working on it....
 
Let's get more specific. List year, engine, trans, brakes and swaybar then weather or not the k-frame has a washer and let's see where we come out.
1. 71 Demon, 340, 4 spd, disks, NO swaybar and washer.
2. 71 Demon, 340, auto, drums, swaybar and washer.
3. 70 Swinger, 340, 3 spd, disks, swaybar and washer.

I'll have to check my 68 GTS for the washer.
 
68 Dart GTS 340 -No washer
73 Duster 340 3spd., sway bar, discs- Washer

As a note I`ve had 5 68/69 GTS cars, with and without disc brakes, both A/T and manual, and do not recall ever seeing the washer on any of those K-members.
 
70 Swinger 340, 4 spd, discs, sway bar, front torque boxes - washer
72 Swinger 340 spcl, auto, drums, sway bar, front & rear torque boxes - washer
Not sure if torque boxes have anything to do with it, but why not see...
 
Also, adding another variable...

Washer = larger torsion bars?

Here's my reasoning. (not being familiar with asy line build sequences)
'k' installed , bars installed, eng/trans then 'top loaded' ?

maybe a FABO member who worked for Ma
'in the day' will chime in with source info.

I need a beer, to many exponents. LOL.
 
72 Swinger 340 spcl, auto, drums, sway bar, front & rear torque boxes - washer
Not sure if torque boxes have anything to do with it, but why not see...
Click to expand...

weird. the boxes usually came on 4speed cars..
 
I would think that the washer signifies something that`s not on the build sheet; torsion bars, anti-sway bars, disc brakes, etc., are all things that are clearly listed on a build sheet.
 
Or maybe its a 3/8 flat washer to identify 3/8 fuel delivery system?
There was some method to the madness, thats for sure.
 
abodyjoe said:
though the only cars that got 3/8 fuel line were the hemi and maybe 6bbl cars.??
Click to expand...


Okay so thats out. Did it denote disc brakes ? The shape is common.
Wheres that G.G. all knowing guy when we need him.
I feel certain the washer was a primative semi-perminent form of post-it note for the assembly workers underneath the car.
Should we be also looking for evendence to prove most of these washers were knocked off during assembly ? No. If we all go feeling around through the crud for broken tack welds we'll all need band-aides.
 
71 demon. /6 car. sway bar,k-h disc brakes. with washer..........
i thought that the whole front end was swapped, but members here keep telling me no. so i do not know for sure, but it has the washer
 
Observation... I might be wrong, but isn't a 6 cyl K-member totally different? You can't drop a V8 into a car that had a 225 - wasn't there even something slightly different between a 318 K-member and the 340 before '73 ('73 and up changed the motor mounts). Would the washer thing have something to do with that if there was a slight difference - or was I dreaming about the slight difference between 318 and 340 mounts.
 
cliff guinand said:
Observation... I might be wrong, but isn't a 6 cyl K-member totally different? You can't drop a V8 into a car that had a 225 - wasn't there even something slightly different between a 318 K-member and the 340 before '73 ('73 and up changed the motor mounts). Would the washer thing have something to do with that if there was a slight difference - or was I dreaming about the slight difference between 318 and 340 mounts.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong...
That difference is in the engine mounting clip(s) and not the K.
 
k%20frame%201.jpg


k%20frame%202.jpg
 
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