Info on 74 Dart Sport

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Austin Schlegel

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Hi,

I have an opportunity to buy a 74 dart sport for a decent price. The car has a 360/727 in it and looks to be solid. Was looking up specs on the car, which say it makes about 250hp and 300 lb/ft. Were these cars impacted by the 70s fuel regulations at all? I am still relatively new to the mopar scene so I am not sure the good and bad years. Any tips on things to look for when I go to drive it would be appreciated as well.

Thanks
 
The '74 360 4bbl was actually 5 HP more than the previous year 340, 245 vs 240 NET HP. The 360 replaced the 340 as the performance option but included many of the 340 performance parts like the 4 bbl intake, cam, heads, valve springs, double-roller timing chain & special crank prep. The carb was actually bigger on the 360 plus you had 20 more cubic inches.

Mopar was hit hard with the "smog" restrictions in 1972 when they had to drop compression across the board as well as discontinue production Hemi's & 440 6-pack engines.
 
If that's a real Dart 360 Sport, with the original engine, that's a pretty nice package. It has bigger valves and better heads than other 360s. Hardened exhaust valve seats, too, ready for unleaded gas.
Remember, that 250 HP is net, whereas just a couple years earlier horsepower was rated in gross numbers. Gross HP on that 360 should be an honest 275 or better. Check for a code E58 on the data plate on the driver's side inner fender. That should be there if the car was built with a high perf 360.
Check it over well. Take a friend who knows Mopars with you. Check to see if the numbers on the oil pan rail of the block match the VIN tag. Unless you're rail thin and bird chested, you'll need a jack to be able to see it. That will tell you if the engine block is original to the car. If it doesn't match, you'll need to investigate further to see what is actually in there. It could be a 2bbl 360 or 318. They'll run, and can be made to run well, but you're starting with less, and the price should reflect that. If the seller tries to discourage you from checking any of those things, he may be trying to hide something. Never a good sign.
The Dart 360 Sport was, along with the 360 Duster, the top performance A-Body in 1974. Definitely a collectible car. Good luck.
 
If that's a real Dart 360 Sport, with the original engine, that's a pretty nice package. It has bigger valves and better heads than other 360s. Hardened exhaust valve seats, too, ready for unleaded gas.

Agreed that it's a good combo, especially if all original and no obvious or hidden rust issues. However, starting in 1972, all 340 and 360 heads had 1.88" intake & 1.60" exhaust. The '74 360 4bbl did have better valve springs to go with the 340 cam.
 
Agreed that it's a good combo, especially if all original and no obvious or hidden rust issues. However, starting in 1972, all 340 and 360 heads had 1.88" intake & 1.60" exhaust. The '74 360 4bbl did have better valve springs to go with the 340 cam.

Thanks, I thought the 2bbl heads had smaller than the 1.88 valve, but I was just guessing on that. Still a pretty decent for a street car, and a good way to get into a collectible for reasonable money.
 
If it ain't a rust bucket and it's got "most" of it's original parts I'd buy it. Only problem is, if it IS a legitimate candidate for a true collectable car, then you really can't modify it "much" without detracting it's value. You can however save bolt on parts but I'm talking about stuff like roll cages and so on that modify the thing "permanently"
 
So I ended up buying the car. Heres some pictures. Its a hang 10 with a 360 in it. Not sure if thats collectable or not. But its a fun car to drive!

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Can you post a picture of the fender tag? If it's a real Hang Ten Dart 360 Sport, it's definitely collectible. If it isn't, it's still a car with which you can have fun. That's the most important thing. Nice score!
 
Thanks!
That looks like the real deal. A63 is the code for Hang Ten, and E58 is the 360 4bbl engine. I think H51 is AC. That's a pretty loaded and desirable A-Body.
There's a facebook group for fendertags. Barry Washington @Alaskan_TA is a very active poster, if not the founder. You can get more info from there.
(1) MoPar Fender Tags | Facebook

You might want to take the picture down, and make the VIN unreadable before re-posting. People have been known to steal a car's identity, leaving the rightful owner with a car deemed questionable.
 
So I ended up buying the car. Heres some pictures. Its a hang 10 with a 360 in it. Not sure if thats collectable or not. But its a fun car to drive!

View attachment 1715811393

View attachment 1715811394
Sure looks well preserved

As far as collectable, nah not really
A bodies are pretty low on the totempole, and post 72 cars are among the least desirable

Having said all that, that thing sure looks like a time capsule
 
Sweet Hang 10.

I have a 318 Hang 10 with factory sun roof and the build sheet I’m working on.

There was only about 1400 hang 10 made. I’ve only ever found 4 other ones in the 3 years I’ve had mine. From what I’ve found, only about 500 were V8 cars, most of these were 318 cars. So if really is a 360 car, you scored.

The one weird thing in your photo is the floor carpet blue/black. From what I’ve seen the carpet is orange shag, and the rest has the orange painted dash and center console like yours.

Anyway you look at it, you scored!
 
Sweet Hang 10.

I have a 318 Hang 10 with factory sun roof and the build sheet I’m working on.

There was only about 1400 hang 10 made. I’ve only ever found 4 other ones in the 3 years I’ve had mine. From what I’ve found, only about 500 were V8 cars, most of these were 318 cars. So if really is a 360 car, you scored.

The one weird thing in your photo is the floor carpet blue/black. From what I’ve seen the carpet is orange shag, and the rest has the orange painted dash and center console like yours.

Anyway you look at it, you scored!

Wow, definately rare then. Glad I picked it up! The seller told me the carpet and door panels were replaced. I would like to replace them with the originals at some point.
 
Austin, that car is Collectable and super rare! It is also the best year for the Duster and Dart Sport. The 360 Hi Performance cars came with : front sway bar, electronic ignition, disc brakes, revised (stronger) front suspension with big bolt pattern wheels, bigger thermoquad carb, hardened valve seats, largest displacement ect. As stated above horsepower was rated differently in 74, so the numbers are misleading. These cars ran virtually the same as the best 340 Duster, but they were a better car overall.
 
Austin, that car is Collectable and super rare! It is also the best year for the Duster and Dart Sport. The 360 Hi Performance cars came with : front sway bar, electronic ignition, disc brakes, revised (stronger) front suspension with big bolt pattern wheels, bigger thermoquad carb, hardened valve seats, largest displacement ect. As stated above horsepower was rated differently in 74, so the numbers are misleading. These cars ran virtually the same as the best 340 Duster, but they were a better car overall.

rofl.gif
 
I had a 74 Dart Sport once......... 1977 it was. She also had a 360 but a 4-speed with N50-15 ProTracs, (and obligatory Hi-Jackers). She went like a scalded dog! I paid $2500 for that three year old car, and it had a fresh engine and was freshly painted. BadaBoom!
Not raining on your parade, just remarking how times have changed.
 
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