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Plymouth Valiant, Plymouth Duster, and Dodge Demon specifications

1960 Valiant specs

1967 Plymouth Valiant specifications

5 year, 50,000 mile warranty in place. The engine specifications were identical for U.S. Plymouth Valiant and Australian Valiant VC.

Engine size 170 slant six 225 slant six 273 V8 (2-barrel) 273 V8 (4-barrel)
Manual Transmissions 3 speeds 3 or 4 speeds 4 speeds
Horsepower (gross) 114 @ 4,400 145 @ 4,000 180 @ 4,200 235 @ 5,200
Torque 155 @ 2,400 215 @ 2,400 260 @ 1,600 260 @ 4,000
Bore and Stroke 3.4 x 3.125 3.4 x 4.125 3.63 x 3.31 3.63 x 3.31
Compression Ratio :1 8.5 8.4 8.8 10.5
Standard Tire/Wheel 6.5 x 13 (wheel 4.5) 7 x 13 (wheel 4.5)

Other specs. Note that the engine was almost the same size as the optional V6 on the 2007 Sebring; and while the two cars had around the same wheelbase and length (within 2.2 inches), the Valiant weighed less (700 pounds less!).

  USA (1967) Australia (VC)
Largest tire/wheel 7 x 13 (wheel 4.5) 7 x 14
Wheelbase 108 106
Length 188.4 188
Width 71.1 69
Height 54 55
Track (front/rear) 57.4/55.6 55.9 / 55.6
Headroom (f/r) 38.4/37.3  
Legroom (f/r) 40.8/35.4  
Shoulder room 55.7  
Seat height 8.9 / 11.1  
Knee room, rear seat 4.2  

Common specifications, USA and Australian Valiants:

Suspension Torsion bars and balljoints in front; 2.5" outboard-mounted
asymmetrical leaf springs, rear; Oriflow shocks 		 
Rear axle Hotchkiss drive, hypoid rear axle; ratios 2.76, 2.93, 3.23, 3.55, 3.91 available  
Fluids 18 gallons of fuel, four quarts of oil  
Electrical 12 volt, 48 amp-hour battery base (38 amp-hour on 170), alternator standard  
Drum brakes 9" diameter with 153.5 square inches of total lining (slant sixes)
10" diameter with 156.2 square inches of total lining (V8s) 		 
Disc brakes Front only; 102.3 square inches lining area. Rear is 10” diameter drum.  

1968 Valiant specifications

Compared with the entire Plymouth car line and a much newer car:

1968 Specifications Fury Midsize Barracuda Valiant 1995 Neon
Wheelbase 119 116 108 108 104
Track, front 62 59.5 57.4 57.4  
Track, rear 60.7 58.5 55.6 55.6  
Length, overall 213.1 202.7 192.8 188.4 172
Width, overall 77.7 76.4 71.6 71 67.5
Height, overall** 56.3 54.7 52.6 53.7 54.7
Head room, front 39.5 38.6 37.4 38.4 39.6
Head room, rear 37.7 37.4 35.8 37.3 36.5
Leg room, front 41.8 41.9 41.7 41.7 42.5
Leg room, rear 37 36.3 30.2 34.5 36.5
Shoulder room, front 60 58.1 55.4 55.4 54
Shoulder room, rear 60 58.1 55.4 55.4 54

Engines:

  170 Slant Six 225 Slant Six 273 V8 318 V8 340 V8
(Barracuda)		 383 V8
(Barracuda)
Gross Horsepower 115 hp at 4400 rpm 145 hp at 4000 rpm 190 hp at 4400 rpm 230 hp at 4400 rpm 275 hp at 5000 rpm 290 hp at 4400 rpm
Torque, lbs.-ft. 155 at 2400 rpm 215 at 2400 rpm 260 at 2000 rpm 340 at 2400 rpm 340 at 3200 rpm 390 at 2800 rpm
Compression ratio 8.5 to 1 8.4 to 1 9.0 to 1 9.2 to 1 10.5 to 1 9.2 to 1
Bore, inches 3.4 3.4 3.63 3.91 4.04 4.25
Stroke, inches 3.125 4.125 3.31 3.31 3.31 3.38
Displacement, cu. In. 170 225 273 318 340 383
Carburetor type 1-bbl. 1-bbl. 2-bbl. 2-bbl. 4-bbl. 2-bbl.
Air cleaner type Silenced Silenced Silenced Silenced Unsilenced Silenced
Exhaust Single Single Single Single Dual Single
Camshaft Standard Standard Standard Standard Special Special
Fuel Regular Regular Regular Regular Premium Regular

Australian Valiant VF Hardtop Coupe

  225 “Big Slant Six 318 V8
Gross Horsepower 160 @ 4500 rpm 230 @ 4400 rpm
Torque, lbs.-ft. 220 @ 2,500 340 @ 2400 rpm
Compression ratio 8.4:1 9.2 to 1
Bore, inches 3.4 3.91
Stroke, inches 4.125 3.31
Displacement, cu. In. 225 318
Carburetor type 2-bbl. 2-bbl.
Fuel Regular Regular
Gearing (manual) 2.95, 1.69, 1.00:1;
Reverse, 3.67:1		 not available
Rear axle 3.23:1 2.92:1
Wheels 5” x 14” 5” x 14” (Regal 770, 5.5”)
Brakes: total swept area 254.5 sq in (drums) 334.1 sq in (discs)
Weight (unladen, with fuel) 2,960 lb and up 3,070 lb and up

Three-speed, fully synchronized manual transmission standard except with V8 and Regal, which had a standard TorqueFlite automatic. Power-assisted front disc brakes were standard on V8, optional on slant six. Power steering came with the automatic. Overall length was 200 inches, width 70 inches.

1970 Duster 340

From an excellent article in Car Life, March 1970:

1971 Dodge Demon 340

Road Test magazine tested the 340 Demon (similar to the 340 Duster) in April 1971. They found the following:

1972 and 1975-76 Valiant and Dart

More detailed Dart and Swinger specifications (which are also good for Valiant) are in our 1972 and 1975 detailed writeups; Valiant, Duster, etc. were similar (identical for 1975). Our 1975 writeup also includes competitive comparisons to Maverick, Mustang II, Pinto, Monarch, Granada, Comet, and Nova.

 

1972
Dart
Coupe

1975
Dart
Sport

1972
Dart
Hardtop

1972
Dart
Sedan

1975-76
Dart
Sedan

 1971-1976
Valiant
Coupe		 1971-1976
Scamp /
Swinger 		1975-76
Valiant
Sedan		 1975-76
Duster
Doors 2 2

2

4

 4 2 2 or 4 4 2
Wheelbase 108" 108

111"

111"

111 108 111 111 108
Length 192.5" 200.3

196.2"

196.2"

203.2 195.8 - 197 199.6 - 203 199.6 197
Width 71.7" 71.8

69.6"

69.6"

69.6   71 71 71.7
Height 53.0"  

52.6"

54.0"

53.9 52.9 54 54 53.4
Track-Front 57.5" 59.1

57.4"

57.4"

59.1 59.1 59.1-59.2 59.2 59.2
-Rear 55.6" 55.6

55.6"

55.6"

55.6 55.6 55.6 55.6 55.6
Headroom-Front 37.5" 37.2

37.6"

38.7"

38.3 37.2 37.3 38.3 37.2
-Rear 36.5" 36.4

36.7"

37.3"

37.2 36.5 36.6 37.2 - 37.3 36.4
Legroom-Front 41.5" 41.6

41.5"

41.5"

41.6 41.6 41.9 41.9 41.9
-Rear 29.9" 29.8

31.9"

35.9"'

35.6 29.6 34.6   29.4
Shoulder Room - Front 55.4" 57.0

55.4"

55.4"

55.4        
-Rear 55.1 " 56.6

55.2"

55.5"

55.4        
Trunk capacity - cubic ft   19.8       15.9 17.7 16.6 20.1
Gas mileage, six/manual   17/23       ~19 ~19 ~19  
Gas mileage, V8/manual   13/20       ~16 ~16 ~16  

The 1975 Dart four-door sedan weighed 3,140 lb with the slant six, 3,285 lb with the V8. Dart SE was 3,360 (six) or 3,450 (V8) pounds.

Hardtops were 3,115 - 3,265 lb for Swinger, 3,340-3,425 for SE (six and V8).

Coupes (Dart Sport) were 3,060 lb for slant six, 3,205 lb for 318, and 3,415 lb for 360 V8.

AXLE RATIOS, 1972

Six cylinder

318

340

Manual

3.23:1

3.23:1*

3.23:1*

Automatic (Standard)

2.76:1

2.76:1**

3.23:1

Automatic (Optional)

3.23 or 3.55

3.23 or 3.55

 

* 3.55:1 with Sure-Grip and three-speed manual, or with Sure-Grip and four-speed manual and 340.
** 3.23:1 with SureGrip

1973

Engines 198 225 318 340
Bore x stroke 3.40 x 3.64 3.41 x 4.13 3.91 x 3.31 4.04 x 3.31
Carb 1-barrel 1-barrel 2-barrel 4-barrel
Compression ratio 8.4:1 8.4:1 8.6:1 8.5:1
Horsepower @ rpm 95 @ 4,400 105 @ 4,000 150 @ 4,000 240 @ 4,800

Wheels: 14 x 4.5 standard, 14 x 5.5 on Dart 340. Many options. Battery 280 amp standard (base model), alternator 34 amp standard slant six, 41 amp standard V8; air conditioning, towing, and other options or packages would increase both battery and alternator (and sometimes tire/wheel size). Axle ratios varied depending on engine (slant six vs 318), and transmission. Only three-speed manuals were available except on Dart 340 which could get a four-speed manual, according to contemporary literature, which might have been wrong.

Dodge Darts Body

Standard

Optional Axle Ratio Opt A.R. Trunk
(cu.ft.)
Dart A 198/318 225, 318 Varies 3.21 14.3
Dart Sport A 198/318 225, 318 Varies 3.21 15.9
Dart 340 Sport A 340   2.69 3.55 15.9

1974

See light bulbs and fuses

Engines 198 225 318 360
Bore x stroke 3.40 x 3.64 3.41 x 4.13 3.91 x 3.31 4.00 x 3.58
Carb 1-barrel 1-barrel 2-barrel 4-barrel
Compression ratio 8.4:1 8.4:1 8.6:1 8.4:1
Spark plug type N14Y N14Y or 66P N13Y or 65P N12Y or 67P

All models had a 16 psi cooling system pressure and 195° thermostat with a 0.35” spark plug gap. Firing order on the six was 1-5-3-6-2-4; on the V8s, 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. The gas tank held 16 gallons of fuel, the engine held 5 quarts of oil including the filter, and the power steering system used 2.5 pints of fluid.

The 7.25 rear axle held 2 pints, the 8.75 held 4.5 pints; recommended axle oil was SAE90 unless the temperature was expected to be below 10° Farenheit. Then the factory suggested SAE80 down to -30°, and SAE75 in even colder temperatures (the factory put in oil “satisfactory to -20°F.”) Changing the rear axle fluid was not recommended unless it was contaminated.

Recommended oils in above-freezing temperatures were 10W30, 10W40, 10W50, 20W40, and 20W50. For temperatures dropping at times to -10°F, the factory recommended 5W40, 10W30, 10W50, and 10W50. For colder temperatures, owners were advised to stick to 5W20, 5W30, and 5W40. Most owners currently stick with 5W30 or 10W30.

Standard battery was a 305 amp unit, with 375 amps optional.

Trailer towing was rated at 100 pounds tongue load, 1,000 pounds trailer; with the A34 towing package, that went up to 200 lb tongue load and 2,000 pounds trailer. The trailer had to have its own brakes, and have at most 20 square feet of frontal area when the six was used.

Allowed tire and wheel sizes were D78, E70, and E78, depending on model and wheel; the D78 was available on 4.5 J and 5.5JJ wheels, the E70 and E78 on 5.5JJ wheels (radials were also available). All wheels were fourteen inches for 1974. Chains were not recommended for any of these sizes. Another option, for which chains were possible, were 6.95 tires on either wheel — but the same wheels were used.

6.95 translates roughly to P185/75R14 or P195/70R14. D size tires don’t have a modern equivalent but P185/75R14 fit on the 4.5” rims; the common substitute, P195/75R14 will fit but bulges out and probably is not ideal. Those with bigger wheels can move to P205/70R14.

You can tell if the “radial tire roadability package” was installed by the door sticker — if it lists “DR78” or “ER78” then it was probably installed. (The “R” stands for “Radial.”) Wheel sizes were 4.5J and 5.5JJ — the smaller tires could but put onto the larger wheels but not vice versa.

Appropriate modern tires to replace the D78-14 standard tire appear to be 195/75R14. If the width is acceptable, 205/70R14 also appear, but they may not fit on the standard 4.5-inch wheels.

1975

Full specifications are in our 1975 detailed Dart writeup (Valiant, Duster, etc. were identical in this year except in slight differences in length). Also see the 1972-1975 section above and the 1976 section below. 1975 and 1976 Valiants, Dusters, Darts, etc. were nearly identical in all respects (except Australian models).

Valiant taxi

1976 Valiant and Dart

Also see the 1972-76 section.

Wheelbase: 108" (two door special) or 111" (others)
Front Tread: 59"
Rear tread: 55.6"
Length: 197" (Valiant two door) to 203.2" (Dart)

Base model: 225 slant six or 318 V8; three speed manual transmission. All wheels had 14 inch diameters; regular wheels were 4.5 wide, 360 wheels were 5.5 wide. The battery was rated at 305 or 440 amps, alternators at 41 amps (base). The gas tank held 16 gallons. All had electronic ignition. Standard features included electric choke assist, hubcaps, fuel, temp, and ammeter gauges, color keyed armrests, concealed sapre, electronic voltage regulator, two-speed electric wipers and dual braking systems. Stereo was not available but a rear seat speaker (on the left side) was; oddly, rear decks were stamped with holes for stereo speakers in the rear.

The Brougham was increasingly popular with people downscaling from higher-end cars to get better mileage. The package was mainly cosmetic, with color-keyed carpeting, velour seats (bucket or bench), “luxury door trim panels,” poorly-simulated woodgrain dashboard inserts, carpeted trunk, better sound insulation, day/night mirrors, molding sills, vinyl side moldings, drip rails, and deluxe wheel covers. Radios remained optional.

V8 buyers also got front bumper guards and manual disc brakes.

AXLE RATIOS, 1976

Six cylinder

318 V8

 360 V8

With Sure Grip
3-speed manual (standard) 3.21 2.45   3.21 (or 2.71 with 318)
3-speed manual (optional) 2.94 2.94, 3.21    
4 speed manual (standard) 3.21 2.94 (3.21 opt)   3.21

Automatic (Standard)

2.94

 2.45 (2-door), 2.76 (4-door) 2.94

3.21 (or 2.71 with 318)

Automatic (Optional)

2.94, 3.21

2.94, 3.21

 3.21

 

Government passing specs follow. A low speed pass started at 20 mph and was limited to 35 mph. A high speed pass started at 50 mph and was limited to 80 mph. The object being passed was a 55 foot truck; the car had to be 40 feet behind the truck when starting and 40 feet in front when finishing (for a low speed pass; a high speed pass made that distance 100 feet). The greater acceleration of the slant six Fury over the slant six Valiant is puzzling but may be related to gear ratios. Transmissions were not specified and we are assuming automatics. The Volare/Aspen actually had longer passing times. The Dodge Colt, with a 1.6 liter engine and manual transmission, beat the 318 but not the 360.

  Slant Six 318 V8 360 V8 Slant Six Fury 440 Fury
Low speed pass 475 feet / 11.0 sec 460 feet / 10.5 sec 405 feet / 8.6 sec 465 feet / 10.6 sec 400 feet / 8.4 sec
High speed pass 2090 feet / 24.8 sec 1480 feet / 16.2 sec 1245 feet / 13.3 sec 1945 feet / 22.8 sec 1130 feet / 11.7 sec

Government braking specs from 60 mph to a stop:

  Valiant/Dart,
Drum brakes 		Any car,
Disc brakes 		Fury/Monaco Taxi
(Disc brakes) 		 
Light load 225 feet 194 feet 220 feet  
Maximum load 225 feet 204 feet 215 feet (that’s what it says)  
Emergency brakes 450 feet 456 feet 495 feet  
Power brake
booster failure 		n/a 456 feet 475 feet  

For details on these engines: slant 6 | 273, 318, 360 | 340

Also see bulbs and fuses

A-Bodies / Valiant Varieties

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