A couple of Mopar "legality" questions...??

[Jerry Hatch]

The white 4 door Hemi car was indeed in Garlit's Museum the last time I was there.

[Bill Rolik]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

You are correct.

Reportedly there was another issue with the Challenger Shaker. Not only was there a shortage from the supplier on Challenger shaker assemblies but the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). The Challenger hood is a full length hood (regardless of application); from front edge to wiper / cowl assembly. The Barracuda or 'Cuda does not extend as far forward as it has a front header panel. In a frontal impact the Barracuda hood has some protection offered by the header panel, the Challenger hood is not protected. On a Challenger hood with a shaker opening there is less material and the hood easily buckles. This can cause the rear of the hood to raise, go through the front windshield and possibly decapitate the front occupants.
For that reason the shaker shortage was directed to the Barracuda when ordered and the T/A hood was used as a fresh air hood when ordered on the Challenger (if Shaker was not available for installation).
Thaqt's my story...I'm stickin' too it!

Jeff,

Not only that, but 70 Shaker hoods and 71 Shaker hoods structurally are not the same. 71 Shaker hoods incorporate what are referred to as "crush zones" into the stamped inner panel of the hood. Once you lift the hoods of subject cars, the difference is quite obvious. There are also differences in the hood hinges from 70 to 71, and they changed again in 72.

Bill Rolik

SS 1514

[Bill Rolik]

Originally Posted by bigshow2966

One also has to consider that on a lot of the Shaker cars the scoop package was dealer installed, not factory.

Just to clarify, the Shaker hood option was certainly widely available on Cuda and Challenger. And there were certainly those who added the whole setup at a later date by contacting their local dealer prior to, or after delivery. But as far a Shaker "package" being available as a stand-alone part number, there was no such option. All of the components needed to be ordered individually.

Bill Rolik

SS 1514

[Bill Rolik]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

Jeff Teuton said, "Anybody anything else while I'm looking?"

Yes.... I have two reference books that specifically state that for the model year, 1972, the 340 could be special-ordered in ANY mopar. Just that one year, only.

I have a '72 Valiant 4 door sedan and wondered if what those books say is true. I've never seen a 340 in a sedan, but then, I haven't seen EVERYTHING.

Is there anything you have that goes baxck to 1972 to see if there's any truth to what these books say?

Shipping weight on a 318 Duster is 2875; 2900 on the 4-door Valiant. The 340 Duster is 3100, so a 340 Valiant 4-door might reasonably assumed to be 3125 (since there is a 25-pound difference in the 318 cars.)

Just some food for thought; my sedan already has a lot of the equipment (8.75" rear, "built" T-flite, good headers, fuel cell, etc.) that a Stocker would need.... all I'd have to do, basically, is drop a '72 "built" 340 Stocker engine in it and go racing... but, it's not in the Classification Guide, so I'd have that hurdle... IF they ever built any.

Guess the next stop would be the Chrysler Historical outfit, IF it's still in existence, with the bankruptcy business...

Just daydreaming, here...

Thanks for any information.

Bill,

With Chrysler, you can never say never, as my 40 years of being involved with these cars from when they were new, whether for pleasure or for business, has told me. I know that in 72, you could actually order a Duster with a 340, and delete the stripes, as opposed to ordering a 340 Duster, if you catch my drift. As far as a 340 in a sedan, I have never, not once, heard of that scenario. Of course, very few people outside of the hobby have never heard of a 72 440+6 ANYTHING, but some Chargers, GTX's and Road Runners actually do exist, and are real.

Bill Rolik

SS 1514

[Bill Rolik]

Originally Posted by treessavoy

This is the first solid info I've gotten on Max Wedge wagons, thanks. I still wonder about the tritak/morgan and the Dvorak wagons?

Incredibly, Pete Tritak is still in business at the same shop on Lexington Ave. in Clifton, NJ, although he is primarily in the air conditioning service business now. You could always ask him. His shop is packed full, so he is usually working outside!

As far as the 62 383/343 combo, some of these cars were used by specific police agencies in CA. I once talked to a retired officer from Garden Grove PD, and he says they were real, but not sold anywhere except in the SoCal area. To my way of thinking, with all of the HP taken off of this combo for SS, and the fact that this is a relatively light car, and the fact that this is an INLINE 2-4 barrel setup (can anyone say HOGAN "TUNNELRAM"), this could be the ultimate sleeper in SS! Jerry Bennett seems to do well in STK, despite the lowest low-rise manifold on the planet. If I was not a small block devotee, this combo, especially for SS would be too cool!

Bill Rolik

SS 1514

[Jeff Lee]

I've made mention of this to a few racers. '68 HEMI A body package car with a 383 2x4 tunnel ram in SS/GT

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by Bill Rolik

Incredibly, Pete Tritak is still in business at the same shop on Lexington Ave. in Clifton, NJ, although he is primarily in the air conditioning service business now. You could always ask him. His shop is packed full, so he is usually working outside!

As far as the 62 383/343 combo, some of these cars were used by specific police agencies in CA. I once talked to a retired officer from Garden Grove PD, and he says they were real, but not sold anywhere except in the SoCal area. To my way of thinking, with all of the HP taken off of this combo for SS, and the fact that this is a relatively light car, and the fact that this is an INLINE 2-4 barrel setup (can anyone say HOGAN "TUNNELRAM"), this could be the ultimate sleeper in SS! Jerry Bennett seems to do well in STK, despite the lowest low-rise manifold on the planet. If I was not a small block devotee, this combo, especially for SS would be too cool!

Bill Rolik

SS 1514

Bill, how about the 413/395hp version (inline) with the new indy wedge "ratroaster" tunnel ram for SS.

Jim R

[Chris1529]

Jeff, how about an AMX with a hemi to run in SS/GT?

[cudadoug]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

I've made mention of this to a few racers. '68 HEMI A body package car with a 383 2x4 tunnel ram in SS/GT

Now THAT is interesting...

What carbs are on that 343HP package??

[Bill Rolik]

Originally Posted by treessavoy

Bill, how about the 413/395hp version (inline) with the new indy wedge "ratroaster" tunnel ram for SS.

Jim R

Excellent point, but I would think that all else being equal, heads would favor "seeing" the 383 based on feeding less displacement. Unless there is some recent acceptance of currently available and/or Mopar Perf heads, the 62 is allowed to use the closed-chamber 915 heads as found on the 67 GTX.

Bill Rolik