I apologize if this question has been asked/answered, but does anyone have information on the location of the assembly markings (and colors used) on the 73 Charger SE?

Thank you,

Jim

Isn't there a big Mopar junkyard in AZ? That would seem to be a good place to browse.

I would pay close attention to these areas:

1. Cowl, especially near the master cylinder.
2. Rear springs, above the front eye. You may find two different pastel colored latex stripes.
3. Differential casting, axle housing tubes, center rear part of axle housing.
4. K-frame bottom side, especially near the idler arm bracket.
5. Transmission and drive shaft, especially at U-joints.
6. Steering gear box.
7. Cooling fan clutch.
8. Anti-sway bar.
9. Center link, other front end parts, especially lower control arms.
10. Torsion bars.

My feeling about the markings on most of those components listed is not that they are "inspection" marking for defects or that they are okay or put on correctly but that they are the "correct" per the fender tag or the broadcast or aka build sheet. When you have for instance several stacks or assembly line bins of torsion bars and you just need to slide them in place to ready them for the next assembly line procedure that worked just needs to know what color identifier torsion bars to pick without looking at the ends of each torsion bark for the cast in numbers. The same goes for most of the items like on your list. Example here with the torsion bars just hanging. Where is the inspector and what did they inspect when they put the (ID) paint on them? I have somewhere a much higher resolution image more clearly showing the torsion bar specification paint markings not yet in the final assembled assembly position. Not all markings are for final assembly inspection, but some are for assembly line ID so line workers are helped to ID the component more quickly and to not have to read the part numbers or spec.

Thank you for the information... Looks like I will be taking a trip to the Phoenix area.

Interesting... Makes sense to me. Thank you for your input.

Yup, as A12 indicates, there isn't the time on a moving assy line to sort through a bin & check part #s.
So it's logical that some parts would have a color code.
Color codes were typical across the industry (GM, Ford, Chrysler) for items like springs, driveshafts, etc.
Re-work for wrong parts kills production efficiency.
That includes sub-assemblies, like engine & trans, where a valve cover often has a 3 or 5 to tell an assembler whether the engine gets a 4-speed or AT attached.

I see that this subject has been on Graveyard carz. And they put the factory inspection markings on. There has to be some factory literature on what color goes where. If you are looking for100% factory correct that's where to look. Might want to check this out.

I'd rather rely on guys like Mike Mancini than GYC - GYC takes some liberties with their restorations, and appear to apply markings based on what "should" be, as opposed to what the car really got.
That's maybe splitting hairs, but if one wants it 100% "correct", the markings that specific car had are the truest, right ?
That said, some markings would seem reliable, as far as parts selection (t-bars, diffs, springs, driveshafts, etc).
Others, like suspension inspections or fluid fills, also seem fairly reliable, at least within that car's assembly plant procedures...or maybe the color a particular inspector used ?
Obviously they can't always be determined due to decay, or prior events, like someone painting over the original markings.

Yea, Mike Mancini and GYC are a distance apart in quality and correctness. Mancini is in an other (upper) league.

Some markings were for part ID and some were for confirmation of assembly. The part ID markings were obviously consistent while the assembly markings varied. This is a complicated subject. Given all the variables, without evidence of the particular markings that your car came with, it will be impossible to get them all 'perfect' again.

I have not seen any information on the '73 models, but there is information available on the earlier models. That should help some by giving you some insight into how Mopar did things. And some markings would probably even be the same. In fact, depending on what your intentions for the car are, you could just use the earlier model information to 'mark' your car and no one (except you) would be the wiser on any differences.

I like to carefully check a car as it is obtained. All marks and details become important. No two are identical.
I'll add to check inside trunk lid, and the jack assembly, individual components, 3 sp wiper, hd alternators, and even some fasteners receive a daub of inspection paint.
Other times it's a grease smear (behind headlights sitting in their cradle.

info at mmc might assist as you investigate. Colors and application won't be identical. Intentional swipes do not look correct.
https://www.mmcdetroit.com/ICCA/References/Inspection_Marks/Inspection_marks_1_23_2003-1.html
https://www.mmcdetroit.com/ICCA/References/Inspection_Marks/

Dave also has a '71-74 B-body Inspection book available for purchase.
LINK

Just to be clear; that is David Wise. Not me.

But my '71 GTX did get O.E. Certed Silver at the 01 'Nats. Missed Gold by less than a point. 2132 (94.75%) out of 2250. 95% for Gold.

Thank you!

Thank you... very informative.

Great... Thanks!