1973 OR 1974 CHARGER

[gtx71fanatic]

Hello Everyone, I'm new to this site and forum. I would like to hear from any expert who has concrete information on the 1973 and 1974 Dodge Charger and any or all information on these cars.
I recently have cultivated a desire for this body style. I would like to know what were the differences and pros and cons. Does anyone know the facts and production figures on both year cars?
I want to know anything on the 400 4 spd cars.

Thanks,
Pete.

[Charger1973]

Differences between 73 and 74?  Or differences between 71/72 and 73/74?

[TruckDriver]

We have a whole list of the '71 to '74 differences on the Charger Third Generation site in the body section. The floors were different in '74 from all the other years just to name one. If you wanna check our site out, the link is below my sig pics. Just check your spam email when you register as the confirmation likes to go in the spam bin for some reason.

[The Ghoul]

go with 73 more trunk space.
stupid gas tank bubble!

[nakita7]

My expertise is 71-72, but I believe another difference is that the 74 cars have rubber body mounts on the front frame rails??? Also noticed the trunk floors are different, and the stock steering wheels are different. Other than that, not too much difference.

[The Ghoul]

My expertise is 71-72, but I believe another difference is that the 74 cars have rubber body mounts on the front frame rails??? Also noticed the trunk floors are different, and the stock steering wheels are different. Other than that, not too much difference.

My 73 had them too. They are big OL hockey puck mounts to isolate engine vibration. Mopar makes solid aluminum ones which are a must on my list!!.
Yeah Like I pointed out, the 74's have a big 'bubble' in the middle of the trunk pan to accommodate the gas tank venting bits for environmental restriction reasons.
I personally like the looks of the 73-74 grills, and SE louver windows. I could leave the big ol bumper guards personally.

[Fitz73Chrgr]

The steering wheels are different from 73 to 74 as well.

[Nacho-RT74]

The steering wheels are different from 73 to 74 as well.

HUH

[Fitz73Chrgr]

The steering wheels are different from 73 to 74 as well.

HUH

Were they not?  I could be wrong, but I believe they were different.  Take a look at some pictures, the 74s have a big horn pad.

[RD]

hmmmm differences?

trim packages, engine packages, lots of packages hehe... what are you looking for specifically.  too many differences to list to tell ya the truth.

the biggest... no 340 in 74

[The Ghoul]

The steering wheels are different from 73 to 74 as well.

HUH

Were they not?  I could be wrong, but I believe they were different.  Take a look at some pictures, the 74s have a big horn pad.

73's had that too. I think it was the standard 'tuff wheel' center. There might have been different wheels for different trim levels? don't know for sure though.

[41husk]

I had a 73 and 74 they both had the same tuff wheel.

[konigcharger]

i think he means this steering wheel 74 only

tuff wheel was optional all years

[Fitz73Chrgr]

^^^^^I'm talking about the standard wheel.  Take look at it, its different from a 73^^^^^^

[Nacho-RT74]

I can be slightly wrong on this but as I can recall:

all 71/74 years have three spokes standart wheels, and tuff wheel with 90 degrees seam

just 71s carried as option the rimblow wheel

since 72 I think three spokes deluxe PADDED wheel

since 72 as part of brougham package the three spokes deluxe padded wheel had the chromed horn ring attached on pad, however never Have seen it on 72s just on 73 and 74.

BUT different wheel is not a completelly true info

since 75 the tuff wheel was baseball seam and chromed trim on horn button perimeter

I remember have seen standart three spokes wheels on WL21 73/74 models

[TruckDriver]

The '74 Charger had the ugliest sterring wheel ever if you ask me

[Nacho-RT74]

BTW still needs to know what really gtx71fanatic need to know, but it looks he has not been around latelly since his first post LOL

but being restricted to the thread subject I can say between 73 and 74 differences:

Gas tank:
73 flat like earliers, 74 humped to gas vapor separator.

Gas tank straps:
73 like earliers hooks on front of tank and bolted on rear. 74 hooked on rear and bolted on front

Bumper guards ( no matter de luxe or regulars ):
74 bigger to meet with collission standarts

Rear Bumper guards braces:
73 straight and with extra bracket to meet with frame rail. 74 curved and meets with frame rail in one piece.

Trunk floor:
humped on 74 to gas tank hump. Flat on 73 like earliers.

Rear lower door panel:
73 one piece, 74 two pieces. Extra humped piece is to hide the shoulder belt retractor

Seatbelts:
double retractor ( lap and shoulder ) on 74. 73 same than 72 retractor on lap belt and male terminale with extra stuud to kook the shoulder fixed seatbelt. Use one female buckle on tranny hump to hook both belts.
73 seatbelt sensor on lap retractor. 74 seatbelt sensor on female buckle.

Roof:
Shoulder belt nut attached around "b pillar post" area on 74 to the shoulder hanger. 73 same as earliers, right at the end of quarter area.

Wiring and electrical:
74 completelly different and non interchangeable without modifications.
Interlock control unit and wiring.
Passenger seat sensor.
Wiring under carpet to seats and seatbelts sensors.
Just one buzzer on glovebox area to all warning alerts as packaged ( lights on, key in and seatbelts )
Reset button and wiring on engine bay and engine harness
Horn relay is just HORN RELAY on top of fusebox
Canadian models doesn't carry the reset section because is not interlocked with belts, just warning signals control unit.

73 use different buzzers to each function, lights on, key in what is also same horn relay mounted on top of fusebox, and seatbelts. No interlock control so wiring is basically the same than 72s and very similar to 71s

[Nacho-RT74]

standart 3 spokes wheel on 73:

[69CoronetRT]

The steering wheels are different from 73 to 74 as well.

[Nacho-RT74]

OK, nice then is just on 74 where regular three spokes wasn't available and padded one takes its place.

Good to know... every day we learn something new

[hemihead]

Expert LOL

[Doright]

My 72 has the Tuff wheel pictured above

Differences 3rd gen WAY too many Biggest would be no power sun roof 73-74
Personally I'm glad to see the intrest in 73-74 but I think 71-72 are better of the four with 71 being my favorite all 71-74 cars are cool though and any are good buys and way under valued at this time.

[chargerkid]

He's asking about production figures with pros and cons.   It looks like he wants info on a 400 4 speed. 

There are other differences in the 73 and 74 not mentioned above.

GTX71fanatic...email me.  I have some info on the 400 4 speed cars.  I own a few.

[Arthu®]

Expert LOL

What is your problem with Nacho? I don't read everything on here but I have seen a couple of threads that have simular behavior of you towards Nacho. Nacho never stated that he was an expert (as far as I know) a lot of people on the board do think he is though and really he does know a lot about 3rd generation Chargers. At least he is trying to be helpfull answering the questions of others, which he spends time on, and that is a nice gesture. Anyone can scream about how this one thing is wrong within a couple of seconds, but it takes quiet some time to make an informative post in which you tend to put all the details...

So if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all...

Arthur

[Nacho-RT74]

There are other differences in the 73 and 74 not mentioned above.

what else I can't recall right now... I think also the steering column bracket is 3 bolts up 73 and 2 nuts on 74... but I'm not completelly sure about that.

EDITING
probably couple more could it be the Round Knob floor shifter and no slap stick labeled on lettering . My April 74 catalog shows the Round Knob shifter, but mostly 74 I have seen are T handle.