D Cluley
Well-Known Member
Going through some older photos, and found this from a parade in 2004. My thought is that it's a 76 or 77. Is there a way to tell them apart?
What year is this?
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Pete Kaczmarski
Senior Member
It looks like a '78...area of chrome on top of the two grills in front.
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Formals aren't my strong suit but I've grown to like them over the last year or so.
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
78.
Grill and lower pinstripe.
A lot of small differences you have to be 12" away from to notice.
Grill and lower pinstripe.
A lot of small differences you have to be 12" away from to notice.
Mr C
Senior Member
How to tell generally a 78 NYB from other formal years (Not covering the Salon stuff or Newports):
Unique grill, chrome slab on top of the waterfall.
Unique taillight with chrome strip down middle.
Pinstripe on lower body line not upper.
Intermittent wiper.
Colour tone applique on mirrors and door handles.
Non halo vinyl top when present.
Fender skirts optional.
Some one year only details on steering wheels (woodgrain ring and non tilt horn button)
Some 78 only wheel covers.
Naturally a lot of these things can be easily changed making it difficult to know for sure until the VIN is seen.
![78NYBFL2[1].jpg](https://www.forcbodiesonly.com/mopar-forum/attachments/78nybfl2-1-jpg.8163/ "78NYBFL2[1].jpg")
![78NYBGrilletn[1].jpg](https://www.forcbodiesonly.com/mopar-forum/attachments/78nybgrilletn-1-jpg.8164/ "78NYBGrilletn[1].jpg")
![78NYBMirrortn[1].jpg](https://www.forcbodiesonly.com/mopar-forum/attachments/78nybmirrortn-1-jpg.8165/ "78NYBMirrortn[1].jpg")
![78NYBRBPillartn[1].jpg](https://www.forcbodiesonly.com/mopar-forum/attachments/78nybrbpillartn-1-jpg.8166/ "78NYBRBPillartn[1].jpg")
![78NYBRR1tn[1].jpg](https://www.forcbodiesonly.com/mopar-forum/attachments/78nybrr1tn-1-jpg.8167/ "78NYBRR1tn[1].jpg")
Unique grill, chrome slab on top of the waterfall.
Unique taillight with chrome strip down middle.
Pinstripe on lower body line not upper.
Intermittent wiper.
Colour tone applique on mirrors and door handles.
Non halo vinyl top when present.
Fender skirts optional.
Some one year only details on steering wheels (woodgrain ring and non tilt horn button)
Some 78 only wheel covers.
Naturally a lot of these things can be easily changed making it difficult to know for sure until the VIN is seen.
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
76
77
78
77
78
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Mr C
Senior Member
Good view there of the US mandated for 77 front bumper outer rub strips...Canadian cars didn't get them.
Nope, definitely not a 1978. The exploded view of the top of the grill is 1976 or 1977. The waterfall segments go all the way to the horizontal edge of the back of the grill. My 1978 grill has the waterfall sements ending at the vertical top section of the grill. The horizontal part of the top of my grill is solid with no waterfall sements. This NY'er is definitely not a 1978.
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
77's had the pinstrip at the upper belt line, 78's at the lower belt line.
You're right about the grill not being a 78 upon blow up.
Could be a'78 that had front clip damage or a 76/77 repainted and pinstripe replace with one at lower belt line.
You're right about the grill not being a 78 upon blow up.
Could be a'78 that had front clip damage or a 76/77 repainted and pinstripe replace with one at lower belt line.
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Great info on Formals NY'ers!!!
The grill was the same for 76-77. Hood ornament is the same 74-78. 400's were the base motor in 78 NY'ers unless it was a California car which mandated a 360. I don't think you could buy a new 440 NY'er in California in 1978 because of the smog laws.
The grill was the same for 76-77. Hood ornament is the same 74-78. 400's were the base motor in 78 NY'ers unless it was a California car which mandated a 360. I don't think you could buy a new 440 NY'er in California in 1978 because of the smog laws.
I'm reading a great article in Collectible Automobile (Aug 2006) 1974-1978 Chrysler and Imperial: Changing of the Guard. In an effort to increase gas mileage...In 1977 and up, Chrysler used thinner side glass and sheetmetal that saved 6 lbs and also saved another 4 lbs via front frame reductions. 1977 the velour seats were trimmed more conventionally losing their expensive to make loose-cushion. No change in the leather cushions. Customers complained about the 1977 velour cushions and they were returned back to the former cushions for 1978. The 78 NY'er also had pinstripping on the rear deck lid. Exterior door handles were color matched as well as the mirrors. I need those in PB3 light blue decals if anybody has them.
Also available in 78 was a 40 channel am/fm/cb radio. I like (my favorite Formal) the Salon package in Silver Crystal Metallic.
Mr C
Senior Member
As well the Power seat mechanisms were redesigned in 77...I swear they weigh half that of the older ones and they worked better. There were lots of other weight savings...progressively fewer reinforcement brackets, regulators held in by aluminum rivets rather than bolts. etc.
Those decals were used through 1989 on the M body 5th Avenues ...alternate source for searches.
I got a set of perfect mirrors and all 4 door handles off a red 78 NY'er from a junkyard in El Paso. The red decals on all the parts were disentegrated so I removed them and polished the chrome and they look brand new. It would be nice to find the decals in PB3 blue but they'll look spectacular with just being chrome too.
Another weight saving measure on my NY'er is that I have an 8.25 axle instead of the 9.25. I also have the Load Leveling Suspension.
Mr C
Senior Member
Load levelling debuted on the Imperial in 75 and was one of the Imperial things carried on after the badge re-engineering, unkie the rear discs.
Are you sure its an 8.25? is your NYB one of the small block cars? Only C bodies that I've ever seen with the smaller diffs were the small block cars....rare in an NYB.
I'm positive I have a 8.25. I have a 400 BB. I'm pretty sure that the majority, if not all the 1978 NY'ers with 400's have a 8.25 axle.
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
I remember I called your bluff on this a while ago and sure enough your pics showed it as an 8 1/4...
Greg B.
Senior Member
Given all the model year changes, which year would be considered preferable, overall? I get nervous when I hear things like thinner sheetmetal, fewer reinforcements, etc.
The only downside on a 1978 NY'er or Newport is that stupid plastic wiper cam on the wiper motor that connects to the wiper linkage. A replacement cam or repop is not available. You'll have to modify the wiper linkage and cam to something from 1974-1977 NY'er system to get it to work again. Don't worry about thinner sheetmetal or fewer anything.....it still weighs close to 5,000 lbs and is the king of the derby's.
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