Who's the A body fender tag deciphering guru? Question about a car in the"For Sale" area...

[1WildRT]

From this thread...
[FOR SALE] - 1972 duster 340 4 sp EV2 a/c car rust free southwest car 12k

So, after looking at the tag looking for a V5X which I found I thought I would take another look... The tag being posted upside down made me not really pay attention to it prior to this evening...

So, I edited it by rotating it 180 degrees....

Nice clean tag, some nice options.... But one code I would really expect to see isn't there.... H51... A/C.... The firewall is clearly an A/C firewall...The thread title mentions A/C... Some codes vary from plant to plant & year to year... But A/C is a major code that requires a different firewall... I know B & E bodies better than A bodies so maybe I got this wrong.... Who's the A body codes Guru around this website??

 

[toolmanmike]

From this thread...
[FOR SALE] - 1972 duster 340 4 sp EV2 a/c car rust free southwest car 12k

So, after looking at the tag looking for a V5X which I found I thought I would take another look... The tag being posted upside down made me not really pay attention to it prior to this evening...

So, I edited it by rotating it 180 degrees....

Nice clean tag, some nice options.... But one code I would really expect to see isn't there.... H51... A/C.... The firewall is clearly an A/C firewall...The thread title mentions A/C... Some codes vary from plant to plant & year to year... But A/C is a major code that requires a different firewall... I know B & E bodies better than A bodies so maybe I got this wrong.... Who's the A body codes Guru around this website??

Thanks for bringing the questions here.

 

[crackedback]

V5X side moulding means no stripe on teh side.

Probably B51

H wouldn't be in that location going alpha numeric for option codes.

 

[1WildRT]

V5X side moulding means no stripe on teh side.

Probably B51

H wouldn't be in that location going alpha numeric for option codes.

I think you missed the point.... It's an A/C car without A/C coded on the fender tag... Doesn't seem right..

 

[crackedback]

sort of LOL

If it was an AC car, it should have H51. Never know, maybe someone grabbed an ac kit off another car and installed it.
Definitely needs a closer look for ID numbers etc.

If it has a broadcast sheet, that would help a bunch

That's a neat car!

 

[1WildRT]

sort of LOL

If it was an AC car, it should have H51. Never know, maybe someone grabbed an ac kit off another car and installed it.

If it has a broadcast sheet, that would help a bunch

The firewall is different for a non-A/C vs A/C... It's an A/C car... Yes, A broadcast sheet would be nice... Someone verifying the body stampings would be a good idea too..

 

[crackedback]

The firewall is different for a non-A/C vs A/C... It's an A/C car... Yes, A broadcast sheet would be nice... Someone verifying the body stampings would be a good idea too..

Only real difference on my 70 ac & non ac car, one has holes, the other doesn't. looks like same panel

 

[1WildRT]

Only real difference on my 70 ac & non ac car, one has holes, the other doesn't. Same panel

I converted a 70 Dart 40 years ago, the cut out for an A/C car leaves incorrect holes from a non A/C firewall.... They could have been welded up... but I see no evidence of that.... And the seller claims original paint... Just seems fishy to me...

 

[1WildRT]

FWIW It's a really cool car, I was actually considering a drive to Vegas to check it out... The fact the whole bottom is orange which Chrysler never did but the seller claims is original was a small flag... But seeing the big glitch in the fender tag is a huge red flag IMO...

 

[340sFastback]

Since everything is out from under dash and engine compartment has fresh paint it could be the firewall was converted to AC? Without H51 on fender tag that firewall needs a close inspection. And what all parts are included or missing is not clearly stated. Floors underneath have fresh paint. Car needs an in person inspection. Car looks like it has a lot of potential though.

 

[340sFastback]

FWIW It's a really cool car, I was actually considering a drive to Vegas to check it out... The fact the whole bottom is orange which Chrysler never did but the seller claims is original was a small flag... But seeing the big glitch in the fender tag is a huge red flag IMO...

Yeah car needs a good looking over. Unknown number of parts missing, someone did something to it and no one knows what or when or how and a lot of fuzziness. But car looks to have a lot of potential.

Would be helpful to lay out with pictures what exactly parts wise is included.

 

[toolmanmike]

"original paint with patina" Well, except for under the hood and the underside. I guess it would be a plus that that part is already done.

 

[4mulas]

FWIW It's a really cool car, I was actually considering a drive to Vegas to check it out... The fact the whole bottom is orange which Chrysler never did but the seller claims is original was a small flag... But seeing the big glitch in the fender tag is a huge red flag IMO...

Well, one of two things on the a/c. The code was missed in the tag by the factory or someone cut it (the firewall) out and added A/C. I think it was the latter

FWIW - if I was anywhere near that car it would likely be in my garage already. I wouldn’t worry nor care too much that the bottom of the car and engine appear to have been painted (it’s crips and clean and not hiding anything) every car has a story and I’m sure this one is no different. Partial disassembly elsewhere indicate someone likely had a dream and started a resto imho. This fresh paint would just make resto easier for you and cheaper. Seeing as the exterior panels appear to be original paint and rust free this car is a score. It has the trap door air cleaner, hi-Po manifold’s, a nice shark tooth grill, 4 speed! and does appear to be original panel and rust free!

@1WildRT , I’d still be planning that drive to Nevada to check it out tout suite (aka immediately) and snap this thing up. My guess is that there no skullduggery and it could be a very good score. Even leave it as a patina driver and put it together on the cheap and enjoy.

Hook up that trailer and grab a fat stack of cash and drive! I hope you get it

 

[340sFastback]

Well, one of two things on the a/c. The code was missed in the tag by the factory or someone cut it (the firewall) out and added A/C. I think it was the latter

FWIW - if I was anywhere near that car it would likely be in my garage already. I wouldn’t worry nor care too much that the bottom of the car and engine appear to have been painted (it’s crips and clean and not hiding anything) every car has a story and I’m sure this one is no different. Partial disassembly elsewhere indicate someone likely had a dream and started a resto imho. This fresh paint would just make resto easier for you and cheaper. Seeing as the exterior panels appear to be original paint and rust free this car is a score. It has the trap door air cleaner, hi-Po manifold’s, a nice shark tooth grill, 4 speed! and does appear to be original panel and rust free!

@1WildRT , I’d still be planning that drive to Nevada to check it out tout suite (aka immediately) and snap this thing up. My guess is that there no skullduggery and it could be a very good score. Even leave it as a patina driver and put it together on the cheap and enjoy.

Hook up that trailer and grab a fat stack of cash and drive! I hope you get it

For the asking price looks like a good car to me even though some unknowns some mysteries / questions remain.

 

[JDMopar]

It's a nice body, but too many red flags. If the firewall has been patched in to make it an AC car....no problem. If the package tray is shiny new paint like the engine compartment and radiator support......"Run Forrest, RUN!"

 

[NC Engine Builder]

I think its extremely obvious it's been painted underhood, and underneath, zero question about that. One thing I wondered about, is this area of the pass side inner fender. Was this a 72' up thing? I dont remember seeing that on earlier cars. Probably for the charcoal canister mounting.

 

[JDMopar]

Yep...the charcoal canister sits in that ditch on the 72 & up cars. It always left a big hole when we yanked all that junk loose and threw it in the trash...lol.

 

[Dana67Dart]

Here is my take...

AC firewall is different than a NON AC firewall. BUT ONLY in hole locations and number. The heater core holes are the same on both. If the fender tag doesn't call out AC then one of a few things happened.

1. AC was added by the dealer or owner using factory parts, cutting the holes needed to convert the firewall to AC
2. The fender tag didn't have the option printed on it in error or its part of some other package with a different code.
3. The BODY is an AC body (or at least the firewall) and some one is not on the level (re-body? wrong fender tag? Firewall replacement, mistake? intentional?) Being such an easy thing to check to the hidden body numbers, (which in that time would include partial or full (I don't recall which) VIN) it would be easy to verify, especially on a survivor car, no one one FABO would attempt to sell it here.

67 AC firewall
RED holes are AC specific
GREEN arrow points to standoff where a hole would be on a Heat only firewall for insulation pin
BLUE arrows point to where I modified the OEM holes for clearance for an AC to Heat only adapter plate

68 Heat only
RED is the heat only opening
GREEN is the insulation pin hole
ALL other AC specific holes are not drilled

Things that make me think the AC was added on at some point in its life (dealer or owner)

BLUE Circle #1 hole punched for the heat only insulation
BLUE Circle #2 lower mounting hole has remnants of the original heat only hole (where I had to cut out of my AC dash for clearance)
BLUE circle #3 1 of 4 small holes from a heat only firewall. On my adapter 3 of the 4 small holes are visable and only the lower hole is hidden by the AC firewall.
GREEN circle looks like there is a hole there but taped or something from the back side.

THATS MY STORY AND IM STICKING TO IT!

 

[peterbog]

if it was a A/C car wouldn’t it also have green tinted glass like in 71’?

 

[Bennoel 10]

if it was a A/C car wouldn’t it also have green tinted glass like in 71’?

I always thought the same. Recently found out on a 69 dart swinger 340 car with factory A/C tinted glass didn't automatically come with the air option. It was recommended but not included. Maybe later on or with more expensive models it was included.

 

[Bennoel 10]

I am also interested in this Duster. Unfortunately for me the distance is an issue. Would need to put eyes on it. What exactly is included and missing ? But like already stated looks pretty solid and an excellent start.

 

[peterbog]

I always thought the same. Recently found out on a 69 dart swinger 340 car with factory A/C tinted glass didn't automatically come with the air option. It was recommended but not included. Maybe later on or with more expensive models it was included.

I just looked it up myself, the code would have been
G21 - CLEAR - ALL WINDOW Use This Code When Air Conditioning is Ordered and Tinted Glass is Not Desired

 

[Bennoel 10]

I just looked it up myself, the code would have been
G21 - CLEAR - ALL WINDOW Use This Code When Air Conditioning is Ordered and Tinted Glass is Not Desired

So it appears to me that it is on the fender tag (G31). Would that mean it was an A/C car ? Why else would this be on the fender tag ? Or my eyes are lying to me . After all my eye's aren't what they once were

 

[toolmanmike]

So it appears to me that it is on the fender tag (G31). Would that mean it was an A/C car ? Why else would this be on the fender tag ? Or my eyes are lying to me . After all my eye's aren't what they once were

That is C31 G33 is the G code.

 

[Dana67Dart]

So it appears to me that it is on the fender tag (G31)

the tag shows G31 (might be C31?)

But that's not G 2 1

I am 99% sure it's not a factory AC car. Too much evidence to the contrary.

G21 - CLEAR - ALL WINDOW Use This Code When Air Conditioning is Ordered and Tinted Glass is Not Desired

G 2 1 was mentioned for clear glass option.