[bill dedman]

Paul, I think I do remember reading that article, now that you mention it.

Hard to imagine that Chrysler engineering would put such a poor match for that engine's potential in a vehicle designed for clutch abuse. That is way out of character for that group.

It wasn't the only one, though. Can you imagine how different the street scene would have been through the '60s if Ma Mopar had had the imagination and determination to build
1. A 440, 6-Pack A Body car such as a bare bones 1969 Valiant 2-door sedan, or '70 Duster with that same motor, or

2. an assembly-line available, 340 or 360 motor with heads that had W-2 flow capabilities, solid lifter cams with .550"+ and 260-degree duration at .050"-lift, and a lighter reciprocating assembly?

3. Small blocks with correct lifter-angle lifter bores and 5 head bolts?

It's amazing they ever outran anybody with the truck/tractor parts they put in those reciprocating assemblies (SO heavy!!!) And, the "X" heads had great intake ports, but, the world's worst exhaust ports....

If they'd not been so intent on Hemi technology, at the expense of everything else, it could have been a whole different ballgame out there on the street in '62 thru '71...

All the parts were already right there (with the exception of the cams and the lifter-bore geometry.)

It was almost like they didn't really WANT to win...

Chevrolet had nothing LIKE a 440, 6-pack '69 Valiant.... the 396 Chevy Novas would have been dead meat; they were 200 pounds heaver and had 44 less cubic inches.

Can you imagine a Stage III, Max-wedge/727-equipped '64 Valiant on the street??? In 1964??? LOL!

Somebody ay MoPar was asleep at the wheel... or, didn't care.

Too bad.... It could have been so very different, if they'd concentrated on A-Bodies instead of B-Bodies for the street. Weight = Horsepower....