Hi all, I am new to these dusters and have a couple questions that I cant find answers to. I figured you guys could help me out.
Anyways I am trying to find out how common these options are on a duster. here they are, Half vinal top, fold down rear seat, AC, factory sun roof. I dont know if the VIN would help but here it is # vl29c5g222591.
Thank in advance
Shawn

It sounds liek you have the rare "convertriple" or "Space Duster" package (I think convertriple was the name given to Dart SPorts though). This was an attemp to make the Duster more like a station wagon with the fold down rear seat. It is a neat combo and pretty rare these days. Hang onto it and fix it up nice!

Reed

Thanks! I didnt think it would be a very rare but it sounds more rare than I thopught.
So it was a good buy for $300? Now if I can get this stupid 1bbl holley flatened out so it doesnt leak air, I would like to get this thing throug emissions. It only has 92,000 original miles too!

The tag on the driver's side fender is a good landmark. if you can post all the numbers as they appear on the tag, I can decode them for you.

-D.Idiot

Cool thanks!
here you go!

A3 END
N37 N95 R11 K5X Y16
J25 J52 L31 M21 M26 M52
V4X U B41 C73 G52 H51
KG2 D206 000 822 931750
E24 D34 VL29 C5G 222591

Thanks again

END
A3=Factory code
N37=Catalytic Exhaust system
N95=emissions test and label
R11=AM Radio
K5X=black side stripe
Y16=Sales Bank
J25=3spd windsheild wipers
J52=Instrument panel hood release
L31=Hood/Fender mounted turn signals
M21=Drip rail mouldings
M26=Wheel lip Mouldings
M52=Sunroof-Steel Manual
V4X=Canopy White Vinyl Roof
U=USA
B41=Power Disc Brakes
C73=Spacemaker Fold Down Rear seat
G52=Left Hand Outside mirror, chrome, remote
H51=A/C with Foot heater
KG2=Frosty Green Metallic
D206= (sure it's not D2G6?), Taxi interior (=economy) Vinyl bench seat, green
000 = Full door panels
822= August 22 1974 (early production)
931750=production sequence number
E24=225 -1V
D34=Standard A904 Automatic
VL=Valiant Low class
29=Fastback
C=225-1V slant six
5=1975
G=St. Louis, MO
222591=Production number

That's a loaded Duster....good options though.

-D.Idiot

WOW Thanks alot for looking that stuff up for me!! So how much do I owe you I finally got it running pretty well, (took a sanding wheel to the carb to surface the base) I can actually use the mixture screw. Some baody had set the timing around 20deg , turned it back a little and it smoothed out alot. Still has an intermitten miss, but I think it could be the old gas thats in it. Hopefully I can get it through emissions now.
Its kinda cool the car was built tha same month and year I was born.
Anyways thanks again.
Shawn

DI, are you using one of Galen Govier's books?

OK - I jealous... where can I find that tag on my 63 Valiant for decoding.

Joe

Check on the end of the driver's side door or as in my case was located on the inside door frame (had to lay under the dash to read it as it was installed upside down) Decoded mine at the local library...Dave

I have one of GG's books(1975-1980), I have found that some of the items he has for 1975-1976 A-body options are 'incomplete' and some are lacking. I also have full set of Car's & Parts Catalogs 1950-1959,1960-1969,1970-1979 for American car Id numbers (better trim decoders than GG's book too). I also have some late factory parts manuals, and some other misc. books....


Having a reference library is probably the best resource I have next to this board, some 'insane' gearhead friends, and my tool box.

-D.Idiot

Tell me more about these Cars and Parts catalogues (Im assuming thats the title of a book because you put them in caps, to save myself the possible humiliation). Whats in them?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=books

There's a link to amazon.com's listing for the 70-79 book. I originally got these while doing demo derby, so I could find out what my teams cars came equipped with, and what other years matched (sometimes hollander's was a bit vague).

That one covers all American Car Makes from 1970-1979, helps a 'junkyarder' or enthusiast decode their VIN, the vinyl roof and trim options, what engine options and tranny options are listed on the tag. The ford section also covers axle ratio codes, etc.

To fill in some of the blanks you could also get the 'Standard Catalog of american Cars' or the 'chrysler only' version, these cover the breakdown of changes over the years, but there are some typo's and some mis information (author's are only human).
GG's books are worth the $15 per manual, though he leaves some items in the options section kind of vague, and there are some items that he leaves as 'package information unavailable at this time'.

I also have two volumes of Hollander's interchange manuals the Red 1954-1966, and the 1965-1979 set, that have a lot of up to date info (some of the yards are still running on the old 16th edition or so...).

The way my brain 'works' I scav up interesting 'trivia' and store it away (for reasons only know to my creator), and I also find it fun to slap open 3 manuals and 'research out' some interchanges or decodes (lord forbid I get loose in some kind of Mopar tech library, or archive). Sadly, it never got me any good grades in college, but I sure knew a lot of stuff when people asked me questions, and I knew where to find it...


A good $200 of books have been well worth the last 5 years of info, and many people here have been able to get the correct parts they need because of it.

good luck on your purchase knowledge is worth much more than money, and you will become a richer person mentally and spiritually because if it...

-D.Idiot

Have a complete hollander set, looking for somethin to decode my fender tags. The GG books would be good to shove in pocket and take to junkyard