1973 or 1974 Dodge Charger

[Axels73Charger]

So im back with some more questions. This forum is very very nice and I figure I will get some more answers by asking here then I did at the 1971-1974 dodge charger forum.
I am still trying to get a Charger. I've figured out how Im going to make the money and how much I should earn by the end of the summer. (from june to september) It should come out to around $3000 to $4000. I think I can earn about 2000 or so by the end of july. I will have $600 to $700 at the start of the summer.
Money aside I've got questions that I think you gues can answer. 1) Whats the difference between a 1973 dodge charger and a 1974 dodge charger. (there may be sub questions in the question) A) if there isnt a difference then which one should I choose? B) which year had more standard or Rallye chargers? 2) What should I look for when I go and look at a Charger? I plan on getting a project but what are some key things I what to avoid? I am only 15. These are 2 of my big questions I'll post more later.

[41husk]

The 73 and 74 Chargers are the same.  You can interchange parts with all the lines matching.  The SE models are the most available.  You can find some good driveable projects for under 4k.  I would suggest you get something you can drive and fix up at the same time.  I assume you will get your license as soon as you turn 16.  Good luck!  Were are you from?

[Axels73Charger]

I live in wisconsin. I plan on working all this summer and next summer if needed. So my finances should come before i turn 16 in november. Unless I dont earn enough for a Charger then yes they will come after I turn 16. I figured it was the SE but I wasnt completely sure. I do know that in 73 the SE was the most bought and most popular but I didnt know about 74. I did read that 73 and 74 were almost the same but I thought I should ask some one who will tell me the truth and most likely knows the truth, Thanks for the help. So what should I look for when Im buying a project car?

[Skinypete]

The only differences between the 73 and 74 is the truck pan and the gas tank. In 74 they changed the gas tank and that put a "hump" in the trunk pan.

Good hunting!

DJMIII

[RD]

well, there are a lot more smaller differences than that, but roughly 98% of the parts between the two years are identical.

[billschroeder5842]

I grew up in northern Illionis so rust was a big issue for me---and for you too I bet.

It might be a big hassel but if you can try to get yourself a southern or western car. The overall condition will be on average be better than anything "drivable" from Wisconsin.

[Smokey Bear]

As was stated, there are a lot of minor changes, but for your purposes and the intent of your question there are pretty much identical.

If you want to make your folks happy, buy a 74 rather than a 73. The 74 has the first year for 3-point retractable seat belts, something that everyone takes for granted these days. They are much more comfortable than the 73 with the non-retractable shoulder strap, and so you will be much more likely to wear it. It also has a seat belt interlock system, which will likely be disconnected like 95% of them were within the first week of ownership.

[moparguy01]

IMO the 74 seatbelt suck terribly. They always jam up on me, at least until I removed mine for 5 point harness.

I'd look for a se due to the numbers produced. Also buy the best car you can afford. Don't try to buy one cheap unless you know what your getting yourself into. They also aren't as expensive because 73 and 74 are kind of the bastard children of he real chargers.

[Smokey Bear]

because 73 and 74 are kind of the bastard children of he real chargers.

Funny. 

[RD]

because 73 and 74 are kind of the bastard children of he real chargers.

Funny. 

its the truth.. the 66-72 charger guys are just jealous because the 73/74's ride so damn good  

[41husk]

I have to say my 73 has a very nice ride.  I agree with the above get the most done car you can get for your money.  With sheet metal being reproduced asa it is now the main concern should be fraim rails and drive train.  I would lok for a nice 318 car.  The 318 is hard to kill, cars with 318s tend to sell much cheaper and the gas milage is better.

[PocketThunder]

I live in wisconsin. I plan on working all this summer and next summer if needed. So my finances should come before i turn 16 in november. Unless I dont earn enough for a Charger then yes they will come after I turn 16. I figured it was the SE but I wasnt completely sure. I do know that in 73 the SE was the most bought and most popular but I didnt know about 74. I did read that 73 and 74 were almost the same but I thought I should ask some one who will tell me the truth and most likely knows the truth, Thanks for the help. So what should I look for when Im buying a project car?

Where do you live?  I know of a 73 sitting in a barnyard in Grange Hall.  But its been 5 years since i was there.  But you'd be better off buying a car out west, but that might be hard to get your parents to help you do since your 15 going on 16.  Unless you have understanding parents.  Good luck grasshopper.! 

[chargerjy9]

because 73 and 74 are kind of the bastard children of he real chargers.

Funny. 

who says they are the real Chargers, just ask Trevor!!

[moparguy01]

because 73 and 74 are kind of the bastard children of he real chargers.

Funny. 

hey i own a 74 se. Thats how I know. 

[Nacho-RT74]

because 73 and 74 are kind of the bastard children of he real chargers.

Funny. 

its the truth.. the 66-72 charger guys are just jealous because the 73/74's ride so damn good  

including somebody with THE KING nickname

differences:
http://wichargerguy.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=interchangeability2&thread=882&page=1#41104

[Axels73Charger]

Hey thanks for the posts! Please keep the coming! I am wondering what I should look for on a car when I look at one. Tell tale signs of problems with the car OR maybe something that shows the frames crap. Im just looking for any advise I can get I really love reading all of your guys posts!

[Axels73Charger]

Ok here are some 73 and 74 318 chargers I found and have been looking at. Tell my what you think.

73 Dodge Charger 318 "Aztec" (What the hell is an Aztec?)
http://williamsport.craigslist.org/cto/1641456089.html
74 Dodge Charger 318
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/1659282737.html
73 Dodge Charger 440
http://fayetteville.craigslist.org/cto/1641081839.html

Hopefully I put the links in right. Tell me what you guys think.

[71383bee]

Hey thanks for the posts! Please keep the coming! I am wondering what I should look for on a car when I look at one. Tell tale signs of problems with the car OR maybe something that shows the frames crap. Im just looking for any advise I can get I really love reading all of your guys posts!

Just your 2 eyeballs and common sense.  Get dirty and get under her.  Look at the frame and see if its got holes.  run your hands along the bottom of the doors and fenders to see if its got tons of bondo.  Look at site lines and see if they line up.  Be sure that the car is in a good light and take your time...try very hard to not get too excited at looking at the car.  You need to stay calm and be objective.

By far body work requires the most resources so take your time and look it over.  Be wary of fresh cheap paint jobs, blacked out trunks and engine bays.  

[71383bee]

Ok here are some 73 and 74 318 chargers I found and have been looking at. Tell my what you think.

73 Dodge Charger 318 "Aztec" (What the hell is an Aztec?)
http://williamsport.craigslist.org/cto/1641456089.html
74 Dodge Charger 318
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/1659282737.html
73 Dodge Charger 440
http://fayetteville.craigslist.org/cto/1641081839.html

Hopefully I put the links in right. Tell me what you guys think.

Of the 3 i like the last BB SE the best, the 1st 318 standard charger 2nd, and wouldn't touch the middle charger with a 10' pole. 

The SE will have the rallye dash and trim and a huge bonus is the 440 drivetrain.  Honestly both will need body and probably mechanical work.  The 318 not as much, but you can't deny the cool and fun factor of building the 440 car vs. the 318 car. 

If it were me...I would get the 440 car from NC. 

[oldrock]

I'd go for that first one if it was me. My son did the exact same thing when he was 15 and went with a 72 charger that looked alot like that first one. The stock 2 barrel 318 is no speed demon but will get you from point A to point B. Then when you save up some money, you can always upgrade to a big block or rebuild the 318 for more hp. That is exactly what my son did. In fact the 318 is in the machine shop right now getting bored 20 over and having a full rebuild to about 300hp and 300ft lbs or torque which is plenty for him. Good luck on your restoration, if you want to see a similar build, we did a full thread about ours with alot of pics.

[Nacho-RT74]

Aztec is the fancy brownish stamped cloth interior, and plush goldish carpet

[Axels73Charger]

Oh so thats what aztec means... Ok well good to know. I put the 74 318 up because it was one of the cheaper ones and I could get that one and the others easily. I had a feeling it was bad because or the pics and i guess i was right. I was really happy to find the SE that had a 440 but little info made me think... I can get that money pretty quick I would think. With in the first month or so of summer. If all goes well I will have $700+ when summer starts in june. So hopefully I can get the 12000 for the aztec or the 440 IF they dont sell. I am looking at a Rallye also which I may put a link up later when I am on a computer that I have it saved on.

I really like the 72 318 story and I am thinking about That. as some of the things I got were "get a 318 because there hard to kill" and "the 318 will most likely be cheaper. Thanks for the help!

[71383bee]

MAn I don't want to be a debbie downer, but there is NO WAY a 318 car will EVER be on par to a 440 car...this is assuming they are both in the same condition of course. 

The 318 story is a nice cute story and all, but it would be an even better story with a #'s 440 car.  The cost to performance build a motor really is not much different between a 440 and a 318...in fact I will take it a step further and say that a mild performance build on a 440 will be cheaper AND it will blow the 318 away anyways.  The reason for this is simple...at a minimum the 440 already has 4 bbl and most likely a better rear-end...ohh and 122 extra cubic inches!  basically the 440 needs better pistons some light head work and a decent cam and blamo nearly 400 hp without even stroking it.  Its a no brainer to me. 

Plus the idea of converting a 73/74 car to a big block always sounds great from guys who have never owned a 73/74 car before.  They are a world of difference between the 71/72's and 73/74.  The BB's DO NOT just drop in the same k member like the earlier cars.  Add to this you need to change just about everything...cooling, wiring, tranny, linkage, and most likely the rear end too.  So there is a HUGE benefit if you are gonna want a car to eventually hot rod in getting a BB car. 

If both cars were in similar shape I would walk right past that 318 car and happily give my money to the guy with the BB SE and would not lose a second of sleep over it.  I know it may be sacrilege on here, but beat up vanilla 318 chargers that they made tens of thousands of are not always worth sending the big $$$ to restore...and I've owned a few like this...they are great drivers, but in my 2 cents is that your resto $$ is far better spent on a more rare car.  I know, I know you got to start somewhere,but as i said if both cars are in similar condition and the same price...which they both looked to be...I would rather start on something that will really be worth something when its done.

[Axels73Charger]

BOOM Baby thats what I've wanted to hear for months! Hot Damn I finally feel like im getting some wheres on this forum and on finding a car! So heres what I figure. First I've tried to find this car again on craigslist. If you go back almost 10 pages you can find it. unless you search up 1973 dodge charger SE 440 or something. Well I'm just gunna say thats some stupid shit and I think I got a chance. As I said I should have around 700 bucks IF everything goes right. Other wise I'll have 600 bucks but thats ok with me. Now thats just for the beggining of summer. IF I get the other job then I should be getting more. Like $20+ more. I think... I may more my fathers office lawn. So i may get some cash from that. So maybe I'll get 1200 by summer. I dont know. If i'm lucky I will have 1200 And a chance to buy that 440 SE. Otherwise I'll have 600+ and well... A better understanding of What to look for and well help with anything Else I may have. Thanks for being upfront and well... Not bull shitting me!

[71383bee]

BOOM Baby thats what I've wanted to hear for months! Hot Damn I finally feel like im getting some wheres on this forum and on finding a car! So heres what I figure. First I've tried to find this car again on craigslist. If you go back almost 10 pages you can find it. unless you search up 1973 dodge charger SE 440 or something. Well I'm just gunna say thats some stupid shit and I think I got a chance. As I said I should have around 700 bucks IF everything goes right. Other wise I'll have 600 bucks but thats ok with me. Now thats just for the beggining of summer. IF I get the other job then I should be getting more. Like $20+ more. I think... I may more my fathers office lawn. So i may get some cash from that. So maybe I'll get 1200 by summer. I dont know. If i'm lucky I will have 1200 And a chance to buy that 440 SE. Otherwise I'll have 600+ and well... A better understanding of What to look for and well help with anything Else I may have. Thanks for being upfront and well... Not bull shitting me!

I may need to clarify here...

Keep in mind if that it depends on the cars available to you at the time you have the cash.  If that SE is long gone I want to point out that the 73 318 car is a decent first car to start with.  I am just stating that if you walked up and the 2 were parked next to each other and you had a choice...take the BB car.  Now in a few months and that car is long gone but the 73 318 car is around still I say go get it.  I hope I did not confuse the issue here too much. 

I am also trying to point out the common fact that a lot of times you end up spending much much more to make a 318 charger into a hot rod BB car than you would if you had started with a BB car.  Not saying its pointless or silly...just saying that more often your better off searching, waiting, and even paying a bit more upfront for a BB car rather than buying the first 318 charger you see.  I really like finding 400 2 bbl cars because they come with most of the goodies already and a 400 2bbl is still a 400.  A simple head change, intake, 4 bbl, and better pistons and you got a very nice motor.   

Anyways when you got the cash a decent 318 car is avail its not a bad deal...just keep your options in mind and try to focus on where you want that car to be in the future.  If this is gonna be your chevy slaying monster that scares old ladies and children...look for a BB car, if its gonna be your numbers crunching trophy shelf car...look for rare options and most likely a BB car, if it is a slick cruiser that looks and sounds nice and has a nice amount of balls to it...get a decent 318 car.