Air intake muffs on a 73?

[scarroll]

I have a 73 with the intake muffs installed. It's definitely a 73, with gas heater and related hardware, but I didn't think muffs were used until 74. The muffs, the gaskets, and the rivets look exactly like the ones on my 74. Any thoughts about that?

[TimGud]

Is it late in the run for 73 and the gas heater have been installed later? Seems either the muffs or the gas heater had to have been added.

[scarroll]

The VIN is 1832840475. I think it's a legitimate 73, as it lacks the heating ductwork and controls that came about in 74.

[TimGud]

Then someone added the muffs. They aren't needed if the heater ducts aren't there. The purpose of them is to keep from getting exhaust in the engine bay and the interior of the car when using the heater.

[bljones]

look at the backside of your fresh air ducts, inside of your engine compartment if it had muffs originally then there will be no louvers. If there are louvers, then the muffs aren't original.
_________________
OG JHC
Author of Original Rant #1
"It stingd itself to dead... now that is control on you"

2%

[scarroll]

I checked the underside of the muffs. No louvers!! And it's not like there were some that got cut out. The hole behind the muffs is clearly a factory hole. The rest of the Thing is clearly 73, though. No heating ducts on the fan shroud, no heating ducts along the tunnel, original gas heater controls. I've got to assume that this is a transition car...maybe they wanted to make sure the muff installation was OK before they adopted the fresh-air heating.

[hhadlock]

74 Things had an option for the gas heater.