I'm not really a bumperette guy either.....But I think I would leave them on if they were original to the car, and are in good shape.
Found my dads original 1971 duster!
- Thread starter dads71
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dads71
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Ya for sure. To each their own. Ill decide once I see it in person
dads71
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Ya. I hear you there. I’m assuming they were original to the car. Not sure how to know that for sure. But they likely are
dads71
Well-Known Member
Yes it would be on the fender tag. I believe something like B51 ?? And from what I can tell from your picture it looks correct.
dads71
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the reply. I don’t see B51 on my fender tag
Yeah I just looked as well and didn't see it either. Just looked at my 69 swinger which has power assisted disc brakes. On the fender tag it reads B41 B51. From memory I believe B41 is power assist and B51 is disc brakes.
I've been following from the beginning but can't remember if you found the build Sheet ?? All your information would be found there.
dads71
Well-Known Member
Thank you. Ya, I don’t see either of them on my tag
dads71
Well-Known Member
Hello. Thanks for following! No, there was only a piece left maybe the size of a toonie. The mice got it
Dam mice. Some people have found more than one copy, under the carpet, back of the heater box and the common place in the rear seat springs. I'm sure you looked. Cool car and cooler story. Keep up the good work.Hello. Thanks for following! No, there was only a piece left maybe the size of a toonie. The mice got it
DionR
Well-Known Member
On my '74 Duster 360, power disk brakes were standard. Looks like that isn't the case with a '71 Duster 340 though. But based on your earlier pictures, the booster was there and I highly doubt someone went to the effort to add it. Also, if it has disk brakes (can't tell from your pictures), makes sense they would be power.
Might be of interest to look at some of this info, it's where I go to look for things like standard options and such.
The 1970 Hamtramck Registry Library Page (1970 - 1974)
In regards to options and such, the info is under Dealership Data Books and then Valiant/Duster
The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1971 Plymouth Dealership Data Book - Valiant/Duster
Might be of interest to look at some of this info, it's where I go to look for things like standard options and such.
The 1970 Hamtramck Registry Library Page (1970 - 1974)
In regards to options and such, the info is under Dealership Data Books and then Valiant/Duster
The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1971 Plymouth Dealership Data Book - Valiant/Duster
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dads71
Well-Known Member
Thanks! Ya, we looked everywhere as the the car was being torn down
dads71
Well-Known Member
Cool! Thanks! My car does not have disc brakes. I agree….I can’t see someone adding it either
TT5.9mag
Two atmospheres are better than one
I absolutely can see someone adding a power booster. It’s not uncommon at all. It’s amazing all the little things you’ll find that people have added to a 50 year old car, and if they added it 30 years ago it will look original.
dads71
Well-Known Member
Ahhh. Good to know! Maybe I should have left it off the build, to keep it original then. If that’s the case. Looks like if might be, since the code for brake booster isn’t on the fender tag
TT5.9mag
Two atmospheres are better than one
I wouldn’t try too terribly hard to make it a perfect completely original car, you won’t want to drive it. A few selective upgrades (like power disk brakes) won’t hurt value at all and you will enjoy driving the car much more.
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DionR
Well-Known Member
If anything, 50 years ago or so I would expect someone would have been removing the booster, not adding it. The OP's Dad doesn't strike me as someone that did more than drive it, so it would have had to have been prior to that.
At the same time, no idea why it wouldn't have been on the fender tag. Being 10+ years old when the OP's dad first got it (best guess), anything could have happened. Maybe PB was missed when the car was ordered and dealer added it?
In the end, there is photo documentation and a reasonable assumption that it was on the car when the OP's dad owned it. So I would leave it on and enjoy the car the way it is.
The codes on a fender tag I don’t think are consistent from plant to plant or year to year. My tag doesn’t have an alternator code (F code) yet I’ve seen many tags that do have a F code. And my Scamp did come with an alternator!
My 1971 booster is a Midland Ross unit. The one in your pic looks a little larger in diameter. I do not believe yours is correct for a '71.......But hey, I've been wrong before
340sFastback
Well-Known Member
Power brakes is a plus and its on there so enjoy the no leg effort stops. Don't over think stuff get it running and driving take it from there.
At the end of the day, you're not going to ever sell the car given its family connection. So make the changes now to suit your intended driving habits.
Nobody will knock you for that.
Cool car and a cool story. Congrats on grabbing the car back to where it belongs.
dads71
Well-Known Member
Very true! Thanks
dads71
Well-Known Member
Thanks! That’s what I will likely end up doing! Much appreciated
dads71
Well-Known Member
Ya. I’m learning that things were done a lot differently back when these cars were built. Lol. Even when I was looking over the build part way through and pointing out a few little defects that I wanted addressed. The builder said that these cars were never built perfectly from the factory. Then months later, another car builder said the exact same thing. Seam sealer here, but missed there, decals in slightly different spots on sone cars, possibly missing parts etc etc
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