Will a '73 Continental Mark IV tranny fit into a '74 Swinger with a 318?

-

Larsen74Dart

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2024
Messages
45
Reaction score
27
Location
Traverse City, MI
Hi,
Recently purchased an almost "all original" '74 Swinger with a "numbers matching 318" from FL.
Paint and air cleaner are definitely NOT original. Ad does not say that it is the original trans.
In the trunk, in a small box, found a receipt dated 5/2023 for a rebuilt transmission from a '73 Continental Mark IV, from a trans. repair shop in CA.
Could this transmission fit a 74 Dart swinger with a 318?
Please tell me no.
Please tell me no.
Please tell me no.
(Original ad on ebay)
 
No. The 73 Continental Mark IV is probably a C6, C4, or FMX transmission for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury and do not fit Mopar engines without major modification. That said they are good transmissions, but probably not one in your car. You likely have a 904 and possibly a 727.
 
Thank you. I was preparing a very strongly worded letter.
Delete....
And the mech working on brakes just texted me, saying trans #'s match motor #'s, and same blue paint on both.
 
Torqueflites are not unique to Mopars, they were used in IHC vehicles and some of the postal stuff and I'm not sure what else. So there are many bell housing patterns, and of course Mopar ones amount to at least 3--slant six, SB, and B/RB/ 426 hemi.

Ford may have also been used in some industrial stuff, don't know, but I can guarantee you that unless done with some adaptation --and it could be done--it will fit no Mopar engine. Whether it will clear the floor, tho, is doubtful
 
A Lincoln Mark V, used the Ford C-6 from 1966-1979, nothing else is listed for it period. If it's a ford transmission, it will have a modulator on it. If your MekaniK is using the paint on it to identify the transmission and engine, I'd find another mechanic. I'm not a Ford Guy, but typically a Ford engine has the distributor on the front of the engine. Your 318 will have the distributor on the rear of the engine.
 
Torqueflites are not unique to Mopars, they were used in IHC vehicles and some of the postal stuff and I'm not sure what else. So there are many bell housing patterns, and of course Mopar ones amount to at least 3--slant six, SB, and B/RB/ 426 hemi.

Ford may have also been used in some industrial stuff, don't know, but I can guarantee you that unless done with some adaptation --and it could be done--it will fit no Mopar engine. Whether it will clear the floor, tho, is doubtful
On Postal vans they used the Iron Horse GM 4 banger and the 904 transmission. Odd I know, but they did/do exist.
 
Going postal

4BC0AC27-F276-4A47-B35F-5AC484E714D6.jpeg
 
A Lincoln Mark V, used the Ford C-6 from 1966-1979, nothing else is listed for it period. If it's a ford transmission, it will have a modulator on it. If your MekaniK is using the paint on it to identify the transmission and engine, I'd find another mechanic. I'm not a Ford Guy, but typically a Ford engine has the distributor on the front of the engine. Your 318 will have the distributor on the rear of the engine.
He wasn't using the paint to ID anything, just letting me know that they both had the same blue paint. Also sent me pics of the #'s.
Also, I have been trying to figure out what transmission is in this car. 727 or 904? From everything I've read, it appears to be the 904. Would that be correct?
 
The factory didn't paint automatic transmissions, so the blue paint on it was don't later and doesn't absolutely tie the trans to the car. Doesn't disqualify it either.
 
He wasn't using the paint to ID anything, just letting me know that they both had the same blue paint. Also sent me pics of the #'s.
Also, I have been trying to figure out what transmission is in this car. 727 or 904? From everything I've read, it appears to be the 904. Would that be correct?
Don't know. You have the car there. Can you get a picture of the transmission pan?
 
Don't know. You have the car there. Can you get a picture of the transmission pan?
Car is at shop getting brakes done...because I don't mechanic. From what I read, 904 was originally called Torqueflight 6, but they later (after '64) adapted it to fit V8's. Also read that the 727's were mostly in trucks and some HP cars. So....did the '74 318 have the 904 or 727?
 
He wasn't using the paint to ID anything, just letting me know that they both had the same blue paint. Also sent me pics of the #'s.
Also, I have been trying to figure out what transmission is in this car. 727 or 904? From everything I've read, it appears to be the 904. Would that be correct?
Google Fram and look up transmission service kits for a 727 and a 904. That way you'll be able to see the difference. On a bad guess, the 318 engine probably came with the 904. That however is not 100%. If my mechanic didn't know the difference between a Chrysler and Ford transmission, I'd be looking for another mechanic. I just looked up the ad for the Swinger. Nice looking car, and for sure that engine is a Mopar engine. Factory decals tell you that. Engine is factory blue. As 413 said, the factory does not paint transmissions. At one time up here, all AAMCO shops painted their transmissions blue.
By the way, I like the green color. Attached is a photo of a 74 Challenger Rallye I owned about 10 years ago, also green exterior, interior and vinyl top. Bought it from the original owner in 2002, with 32000 miles on the speedometer. 360 4BBl. engine with the 727. Another MOPAR I should have kept. :thumbsup:

My Challenger.png
 
Car is at shop getting brakes done...because I don't mechanic. From what I read, 904 was originally called Torqueflight 6, but they later (after '64) adapted it to fit V8's. Also read that the 727's were mostly in trucks and some HP cars. So....did the '74 318 have the 904 or 727?
It could be either one. Likely a 904, but it's possible it's a 727.
 
Hi,
Recently purchased an almost "all original" '74 Swinger with a "numbers matching 318" from FL.
Paint and air cleaner are definitely NOT original. Ad does not say that it is the original trans.
In the trunk, in a small box, found a receipt dated 5/2023 for a rebuilt transmission from a '73 Continental Mark IV, from a trans. repair shop in CA.
Could this transmission fit a 74 Dart swinger with a 318?
Please tell me no.
Please tell me no.
Please tell me no.
(Original ad on ebay)
[/URL]
In short, NO!
If you can post pictures we can see definitively what you have.
 
My ex boss who was a pretty serious drag racer, asked me one day if I knew anybody who had a 904 with the GM bolt pattern. His son, who was the manager of the parts department thought we were both a little off thinking such a thing even existed. I made a call to a shop and knew if the shop didn't have one, he'd know where one was located. He had one and $1000.00 later my boss was happy. Put it behind (after a lot of modifications and HD parts we were developing were put in it) a 500" Steve Schmidt Pro Stock GM. Broke into the high 6's at 200 MPH in his BA/A race car.
 
My ex boss who was a pretty serious drag racer, asked me one day if I knew anybody who had a 904 with the GM bolt pattern. His son, who was the manager of the parts department thought we were both a little off thinking such a thing even existed. I made a call to a shop and knew if the shop didn't have one, he'd know where one was located. He had one and $1000.00 later my boss was happy. Put it behind (after a lot of modifications and HD parts we were developing were put in it) a 500" Steve Schmidt Pro Stock GM. Broke into the high 6's at 200 MPH in his BA/A race car.
DAAAAANG!
 
Google Fram and look up transmission service kits for a 727 and a 904. That way you'll be able to see the difference. On a bad guess, the 318 engine probably came with the 904. That however is not 100%. If my mechanic didn't know the difference between a Chrysler and Ford transmission, I'd be looking for another mechanic. I just looked up the ad for the Swinger. Nice looking car, and for sure that engine is a Mopar engine. Factory decals tell you that. Engine is factory blue. As 413 said, the factory does not paint transmissions. At one time up here, all AAMCO shops painted their transmissions blue.
By the way, I like the green color. Attached is a photo of a 74 Challenger Rallye I owned about 10 years ago, also green exterior, interior and vinyl top. Bought it from the original owner in 2002, with 32000 miles on the speedometer. 360 4BBl. engine with the 727. Another MOPAR I should have kept. :thumbsup:

View attachment 1716318677
My mechanic knows transmissions, but he hadn't looked at it yet. He was just going off of some oddball receipt I found in the trunk of the car, and my mind got the better of me. He didn't say the tranny was painted blue, but had some blue paint chips on it, likely from the motor, indicating they were paired, then found the #'s matching and confirmed.
Regarding the car...I like the dark green, too. Supposedly factory color, but certainly NOT original paint. When it finally arrived to me - at 10:30pm - I couldn't really see much of it. Come daylight I was pretty disappointed in its condition. Had dents, scratches, paint issues that were not noticeable in any pics. Far worse than what I expected, but no rust at all. Steering and front end are a little loose. It was still an OK deal, considering the condition of other similar darts at much higher $$. Had I seen it in person and driven it first, I prob never would have bought it.
That Challenger, though.... holy crap. That is beautiful. Kick yourself once for me. What did you pay for that in 2002?
 
A 74 dart with a 318 had a 904.

Unless someone has changed it in 50 years the car has been here.
 
Google Fram and look up transmission service kits for a 727 and a 904. That way you'll be able to see the difference. On a bad guess, the 318 engine probably came with the 904. That however is not 100%. If my mechanic didn't know the difference between a Chrysler and Ford transmission, I'd be looking for another mechanic. I just looked up the ad for the Swinger. Nice looking car, and for sure that engine is a Mopar engine. Factory decals tell you that. Engine is factory blue. As 413 said, the factory does not paint transmissions. At one time up here, all AAMCO shops painted their transmissions blue.
By the way, I like the green color. Attached is a photo of a 74 Challenger Rallye I owned about 10 years ago, also green exterior, interior and vinyl top. Bought it from the original owner in 2002, with 32000 miles on the speedometer. 360 4BBl. engine with the 727. Another MOPAR I should have kept. :thumbsup:

View attachment 1716318677
There's a sharp stick in the eye....
 
-
Back
Top