73 Dodge Charger, what engine????

[beastliketha]

I recently bought a 73 Charger SE, the vin said it was originally a straight 6 but now it has a v8 318 in it. The number I found on the block says 8m318 12151487
I don't think it's the original engine or trans (I'm new to these cars lol) but any info on this would be nice.
other info: Edelbrock Intake, Rochester 800cfm Quadrojet, 360 Headers.

 

[Chargerjase]

Yep, its a 318. The distributor is at the back of the engine. Big blocks have it at the front.

BTW welcome to the site. Why don't you post up some pictures of your ride and tell us how you came by it?

 

[Bb70charger500]

Welcome to the site ,let's see some body pics

 

[Xp29h]

Welcome aboard! Pics and stories always work well here!

 

[YY1]

I bet they didn't make very many slant six 73 Chargers.

What's the VIN start with?

Is it a total stripper?

 

[WP29440SE]

What is the 5th digit in the vin

 

[ODZKing]

Hmm, are you sure it is a 73? With the numbers you posted I would say 318 but 340 and 360 also had the dizzy in the rear of the block.
I ask because it looks as if there is a 74 seat belt override on the firewall.
Yes, what are the first 6 digits of the vin? It can't be a WP29 as slat six was not available in a SE either year.

 

[beastliketha]

I only have decoded the vin on the dash but maybe it's not original I know the doors are off a 74. here's some pictures though.

 

[ODZKing]

Well, as I said in my last post, you could not get an SE with a 225, either year.
So what are the first 7 of the vin?

 

[69Coronetrt]

'78 model year 318 assembled December 15th. Any VIN on the passenger's side boss?

 

[beastliketha]

Here is the vin on the dash and the vin on the drivers side of the engine bay.
the engine bay vin reads:
07101 114106 030 981063
V1X U
JY3 V3X9 TX9 919 075720
E44 D34 WP29 G3A 115988

 

[69Coronetrt]

The VIN has a "G" (318) with out the 'tail' making it look like a C.
A "C" is wider and the right side doesn't come up as far.
318 is verified by E44 on fender tag.

 

[beastliketha]

Thanks, I know for sure from the numbers on the block that it's a 318. I guess mainly I just want to know if it's original and if not or if it is what the specs for it are.

 

[Bb70charger500]

Doesn't really matter if it's the org motor or not. And factory h.p. I believe is 155 hp you can get more out of that motor for not much cash help it get the air in and fuel in and open up the exhaust and you'll see a good jump for the little bit of cash put in these motor s were not made to go fast from the factory so the intake carb exhaust manifolds all choke the poor little motor I can't remember exactly but I think after the mentioned upgrades I got about 200-220 hp out of it not bad for $600 bucks and a few hours ,or find your self a good poly 318 then you'll be cooking with fire . good luck with it looks like a good project not a highly optioned car so have fun with it make it how you want it

 

[ODZKing]

Yep, that is a Lynch Road car. Those fender tags a tough to decypher.
Your Vin:
WP29 - Charger Special Edition
G - 318 150 hp
3 - 1973
A - Lynch Road
115988 - was 15,988 car scheduled for production

I can say on the tag E44 is a 318
D34 is not listed in the 73 book but is in the 74. It is most likely an 904 automatic.
JY3 is lower body color
V3X9 is upper - Black (is/was the car light gold with black interior and vinyl top?)
Scheduled Build Date 9/19. So it is either an early 73 or very late 73. Probably early, but late would explain the D34.
Hope that helps.

 

[beastliketha]

Thanks, I also saw that E44 means it was a 318 making 230hp?? But at the same time I see people say the G is just a 318 making 150hp? So which is it???

 

[Bb70charger500]

150 hp

 

[69Coronetrt]

Yep, that is a Lynch Road car. Those fender tags a tough to decypher.
Your Vin:
WP29 - Charger Special Edition
G - 318 150 hp
3 - 1973
A - Lynch Road
115988 - was 15,988 car scheduled for production This would be the 15,988th VIN assigned. The VIN is administrative and virtually unrelated to production. Theoretically, VIN 100001 could go on the 100th car scheduled for production.

I can say on the tag E44 is a 318
D34 is not listed in the 73 book but is in the 74. It is most likely an 904 automatic. Starting in '72, the code D34 became used to signify automatic transmission on fender tags, broadcast sheets and window stickers. Use of the generic D34 code no longer tells us which automatic (D31 904 or D32 727) was used for that application as in previous years. You have to go to another source for that info.
JY3 is lower body color

V3X9 is upper - Black (is/was the car light gold with black interior and vinyl top?) V3X9 is the interior trim code. V1X tells us the car had a black vinyl top.

Scheduled Build Date 9/19. So it is either an early 73 or very late 73. Probably early, but late would explain the D34. As the production of model year cars began in late summer of the previous calendar year combined with this low of a VIN, we know the scheduled production date was September 19, 1972
Hope that helps.

...

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks, I also saw that E44 means it was a 318 making 230hp?? But at the same time I see people say the G is just a 318 making 150hp? So which is it???

in 1971 and earlier, the 318 was rated at 230 GROSS.

HP ratings changed in '72 from GROSS to NET.

The original '73 318 was rated at 150 NET
The '78 318 was rated at 140 NET

 

[YY1]

No a/c and no woodgrain dash or cluster.

Both super rare on an SE.

In fact, I thought woodgrain dash was standard.

 

[69Coronetrt]

No a/c and no woodgrain dash or cluster.

Both super rare on an SE.

In fact, I thought woodgrain dash was standard.

A/C was an option, not standard. About 86% of the 72 SE Chargers had A/C. I would think the numbers for 73 would be similar. Not having A/C probably wouldn't be considered 'super rare' but having A/C is far more common in an SE.

It's interesting that a black interior car would have a blue steering column and wheel.

RE dash: