Mine had front sway bars with 10" drum brakes. . It was a HD suspension option with better torsion bars, HD shocks. HD rear leaf springs, 5.5" wide 14" wheels.
A true Charger HIPO 273 66 Dart?
- Thread starter Slantsix64
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Charger 273 was Dodge's version, Commando 273 was Plymouth's version.
65 Darts were available in a Charger model. Out of California. HP 273's under the hood, special badging, 13" Cragar SS wheels and all pale yellow color with black interior.
In 66 there was a Dart only model available "D Dart" which was made to compete in the D Stock class in NHRA. It was a modified Charger 273 with 275 horse, Camcraft camshaft, Holley carb, Doug Thorley headers, a Hurst shifted 833 and a 4.86 gear in the 8 3/4 rear.
In 66 there was a Dart only model available "D Dart" which was made to compete in the D Stock class in NHRA. It was a modified Charger 273 with 275 horse, Camcraft camshaft, Holley carb, Doug Thorley headers, a Hurst shifted 833 and a 4.86 gear in the 8 3/4 rear.
AB with a 31 under it on the fender tag means 273 2 barrel. 32 was the 4 barrel engine.
I found a pic . It seems they were also available as a convertible . It looks like they came with a black vinyl top. The one in this pic doesnt look like it has the top but has the trim.
That's Ulf's car. It's a beauty. There are volumes written about that car and the others in his collection. @65dartcharger is his member name.
Seems to me somebody was having fun swapping lids...
Thats what the lituratue says for aure. Maybe the dealer swapped them. Maybe some discrepancies off the factory line. Who knows.
In 1966!
You can check if the body and fendertag match. On the drivers side on the radiator support there are stamped some production numbers. The five last digits is the order number the zone reps got from Chrysler. Those five last numbers can be found under NUMBER on the fendertag. Then you know if it's a match or not.
Got a nice little 340, almost stock. Wanta race?
jeff alder
Well-Known Member
Maybe it's a D Dart transplant with that Holley carb on top? and the headers were just lost when it was switched to a Commando engine...LOL Maybe it just has commando/dart charger valve covers and a cast iron 4bb swapped on to a 180HP 2bbl engine. For all we know from the picture it could be the right engine for the fender tag as we can't prove any of it in 1966.
if you have access to the car you can take a boroscope and scope out the top of the pistons to see if they are flat topped (9:1) or dome topped (10.5:1), and check out how rusted the cylinder walls may be. Boroscopes are cheap to buy on amazon.
If you are looking to buy/rebuild it, squirt some marvel oil in each plug hole, to start loosening up the rings.
cudajoedart
Well-Known Member
The 66 dart hipo came with a single plane intake and an AFB carb
I have had one since 1967
cudamark
Well-Known Member
Just going by the fender tag and what we can see in the photos, it's a 1966 Dart GT 2dr HT, Sept 22, 1965 build date, 273 2bbl engine, 4 speed trans, Dark Turquoise paint, black interior, bucket seats, originally had a console, a remote outside mirror, and if it actually says R4 and not a damaged R1....an AM/FM radio. Visually, the engine is a "Frankenmotor". It could be a 273, 318, 340, or 360 for all we know. We'd need some engine numbers to decipher. As mentioned, '65 4bbl valve covers, aftermarket dual plane intake, Holley carb, wrong thermostat cover, etc. Other nits include a missing W/S washer pump and reservoir, wrong alternator pulley, and bypassed heater core...probably a leaker.
Jim Lusk
Well-Known Member
'65 and '66 valve covers were the same. '67 had the rubber grommet for the PCV.
Each year had differences-
Charger/Commando valve covers.
Charger/Commando valve covers.
cudamark
Well-Known Member
The difference between '65 and '66 valve covers are the wire holders, or, lack thereof.
Never say never with Ma Mopar. Yours could have come that way.
Jim Lusk
Well-Known Member
I've had one 1965 set, one '66 set, and several '67 sets. 1965 and 1966 are the same for 273 four barrel engines.
Not to be argumentive but this shows how the 65 and 66 are different-
Charger/Commando valve covers.
65 valve covers could have been used in the early 66s; the same for 66s fitted to early 67s should the correct ones be not available or let’s use up the stock of old ones
Yes
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