1974 Duster

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75dartsport

75dartsport

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Have a question for you. I have a chance to trade for a 1974 Plymouth duster. The guy keeps telling me it has a 340 in it. He said it came from the origonal owner. He was told it had never been touched. The vin says its a 318. He took the casting number off the side of the block for me. 2780530-340-8 8-20-73. It is a 340 block. Is there a chance that chrysler slipped a leftover 340 in this car? Has this ever happened? Hebought the car from the origonal owner that said it had never been touched. The car is pretty rough and I just want it for some parts, but if it is a rare car maybe it should be restored.
 
75dartsport said:
Have a question for you. I have a chance to trade for a 1974 Plymouth duster. The guy keeps telling me it has a 340 in it. He said it came from the origonal owner. He was told it had never been touched. The vin says its a 318. He took the casting number off the side of the block for me. 2780530-340-8 8-20-73. It is a 340 block. Is there a chance that chrysler slipped a leftover 340 in this car? Has this ever happened? Hebought the car from the origonal owner that said it had never been touched. The car is pretty rough and I just want it for some parts, but if it is a rare car maybe it should be restored.
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The answer is NO!!! 73 was the LAST year for the 340 to be installed from the factory into an A body. The 360 took the place of the 340 in 1974 (I have a 1974 360 Duster Parts car out back to prove it). That 340 engine was installed by an owner at some point. That said, unless you see that 340 cast in the block for your self I wouldn't trust it.
 
yeah I doubt it accidentally got a 340 instead of the 318 is was suppose to have a year after 340 production was stopped
 
Im going to go look at it, and will probably end up with it either way. I am curious as to what the vin reads on the side of the block.
 
While I never really believe such critters, there were those 1972 Six-pack cars....right? I thought that those had been verified.
 
75dartsport said:
Im going to go look at it, and will probably end up with it either way. I am curious as to what the vin reads on the side of the block.
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My guess is it's a "930" casting 340 and the build date month is 3 instead of 8. That would be a cast crank engine and well worth having. And yes, at some point it was transplanted there.
 
U are right on the 930 and the month being a 3. Havent looked at the vin on the block yet. It has a ld40 intake on it. Factory air with the belts still on but havent tried to see if it works. Motor sounded alright, but has no exhaust so running just manifolds. Has a cool sticker in the dirvers side rear window says H pac. The car had been painted at some time in its life. under the carpet and unser the half vinyl snakeskin top its a tannish color. The car is sublime green with alot of rust. whoever painted it years ago painted everything firewall trunk door jams. It is very rusty and will be used for parts. So if u need anthing let me know and i'll look at it.
 
Look at the bumper brackets that will tell you the year. 340 stopped in 73.
73 had regular brackets
74 had shock lookin tube to mount the bumper
 
I know its a 74 the title matches the vin and it says 74, but it does have a 340 in it for sure, guessing someone put it in at some point of its life. The only reason I bought the car was for the 340. It does have ralley wheels. a go wing but not sure if its an origonal. Alot of parts.
 
Since I've been into Mopars, I've learned to never say "never".

Saw a '73 Duster (built Sept 72) with small bolt pattern disc brakes on the front. Never say never.
 
Probably will part it. Dont mind shipping small things. If you need something let me know and I'll check it out and take a picture. The doors are real nice rockers are nice quarters and front fenders are rusty. glass is all good. It does run and drive he had put new brakes and shocks all the way around for some reason. Not something I'd restore.
 
Dusteriffic said:
Since I've been into Mopars, I've learned to never say "never".

Saw a '73 Duster (built Sept 72) with small bolt pattern disc brakes on the front. Never say never.
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My cousin has a 72 Gold Duster, with the rear tail lights being the 70/71 style. He bought it from the original owner who bought it that way, said it was an early production.
 
Not sure on the defrost ill check tomorrow. Black interior, not a fold down seat. Back seat is nice from what I looked at. Front bench seat splitback it needs recovered I may use the seats not for sure yet. Not sure if the rear seat fits my 70 duster.
 
I think you did very well. Lots of good stuff and no problem parting a rusted original 318 car.:thumblef:
 
I traded a set of heads for the car. They were W2 heads though.
 
Im going to try to post some pictures in the next couple of days, I need to look everything over better. It was dark by the time I got home. The grill did look pretty good. The gauges looked good. Dash pad had cracks. All side markers looked good. Looked very complete under the hood. It is a power steering and power brake car. And the ac looked complete with belts still on it. He kept the carb and battery so I need to put a carb on it. He loaded it for me then took the carb and battery. It does have a nice ld40 intake. And moroso valve covers.
 
Took a couple of pics today will try to post them later tonight.
 
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Does it have the grid type rear window defrost (looks like a modern car).
 
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