1966 dart commando 4 speed id

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Slantsix64

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So, A guy comes up to me at the gas station tells me he has a 66 dart 4 speed v eight he bought 20 years ago. I said cool four speed, he shows me a picture and it has the console four speed and all, but then he shows me a picture of the engine and it has the commando valve covers,four barrel but a Holley on top might be after market.

Any ways he told me to come check it out he wants to sell it. First things I'll check the vin number see what I get, also what are other things? In 1966 it should have a 8.75? Front sway bars? Wonder if it's a commando car, although he didn't say he is actually a Ford guy that owned a tow truck company picked it up. And sat for 20 years.
 
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Dual point distributor? If still orig of course. Chk casting/part # on intake.
If u can remove valve cover chk for adjustable rockers
 
An 8 3/4 would be a good sign though. Take a look at the fender tag. It should have a 32 under the AB if it's an original 4bbl car. A 3 under the C would be correct for a 4 speed. Being a Dart, it would be a Charger 273 car. A front sway bar would be an option. It should also have an Inland shifter if it's original.
 
An 8 3/4 would be a good sign though. Take a look at the fender tag. It should have a 32 under the AB if it's an original 4bbl car. A 3 under the C would be correct for a 4 speed. Being a Dart, it would be a Charger 273 car. A front sway bar would be an option. It should also have an Inland shifter if it's original.
Oh yeah that's right dart charger 273
 
Generally speaking 273/235 cars with a 4 speed got an 8.75 while 2 barrel 4 speed cars got the 7.25. Again, this is generally speaking and things could gave been swapped in the last 55 years or so.
 
Generally speaking 273/235 cars with a 4 speed got an 8.75 while 2 barrel 4 speed cars got the 7.25. Again, this is generally speaking and things could gave been swapped in the last 55 years or so.
What about the vin number? Anything in there, just in case fender tag s gone
 
In 1966, the VIN will indicate the engine size, but, not whether it's a 2 bbl or 4bbl. The fifth digit is the engine size. If it's an original 273 car, it will be a D. If the VIN starts out LL,it's a base model Dart, LH would be a Dart 270, and LP would be a GT. The next two digits are the body style, then the engine, then the year is the sixth digit. Without a fender tag or build sheet, the only way I know to verify what the car originally came with, is to contact Chrysler Historical to see if they have the original IBM card that they can decode and give you that info. Good Luck!
 
If it's an original 273 4bbl. 4 speed, my sources say they made 1561 of them in all body styles. 109 LL's, 215 LH's, and 1237 GT's. In some body styles that combo would be quite rare. I see that they only made 23 273 4bbl. 4 speed wagons, for instance......10 LL's, and 13 LH's.
 
I don't have precise info but subjectively after 50 yrs of sampling I suggest 273 4bbl A-bodies, Barracudas/Valiants/Darts in 1966 were likely 7.25 rears from early in production. By late 1965 build dates the 8.75 started showing up in 4spd cars but still inconsistent. I have never seen a true factory 273 4bbl automatic with an 8.75 in 1966. I've seen factory 4spd 273's with either 2bbl or 4bbl motors with 8.75 or 7.25s. That's an observation based on lots of sampling but no source data from the production side. All I have to offer, for whatever it's worth...
 
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Cudamark's reference adds to the difficulties as the 4bbl variation over 2bbl was not well documented. 1966 factory sales and ordering literature emphasized the 4bbl was not available in any station wagon for 1966. Were 2bbl 273 4spds produced? yes. Were any 4bbls? Can't tell but skeptical. Unless anyone trips over what appears to be a real factory exception to all this and wants to make money on it, who cares. Ultimately its not like we're dealing with Hemi Cudas here...

Any 273 A-body I've owned since the 70's has gotten a 360 with Commando/Charger trim and my next one that looks stock will be a 408. I even use single exhaust with the big resonator... as far as you can tell. 8.75 or practically, an 8.25 work just fine.
 
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My Aug 17th 1965 build date '66 Barracuda 273 4bbl. 4 speed came with an 8 3/4 and disc brakes. I've seen other 4bbl 4 speed cars that year with both 8 3/4 and 7 1/4 years. I also used to own 2 '66 Formula S's that were automatics and had 8 3/4's.
 
Bingo... My August 1965 build date 1966 Valiant V100 2dr post, 273 Commando, 4spd, disk brake, Rally suspension, Blue Streak, 16-1 fast ratio steering, 3.55 Sure Grip was a 7.25. My Feb 1966 Barracuda 273 2bbl, 4spd, "nothing else" had an 8.75. Thus the point...

Big point to me being who cares? Good gosh if you have an early A-body with any performance mechanicals, make them work and drive it. No one (I know) cares enough about "matching numbers" in this realm enough to ruin a good time.

Good point as an old timer to go all "lawn" about the trend to claim "matching numbers" with 318s, slant sixes and stuff. Is it wrong to recommend scrapping anymore? By the way, stay on the sidewalk, that's my lawn... :-0
I'll give you 15 bucks for that headlight bezel before they pick it up though.
 
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My 65 commando 4 speed Barracuda is 7 1/4 and 9 inch power brakes including build sheet.
I'm surprised it didn't have 10" brakes. All the V8 cars I've seen that year came with 10's.....even some 6 cyl cars. Is it an early build date?
 
I'm surprised it didn't have 10" brakes. All the V8 cars I've seen that year came with 10's.....even some 6 cyl cars. Is it an early build date?
Yes it is September 65 and until I found the build sheet I didnt believe it. But hey at least they opted for power assist lol
 
What about the vin number? Anything in there, just in case fender tag s gone
The 5th digit of the 66 VIN will tell you it's a 273 if it is a "D" but you need the tag to find out if it was a HP-273. Like
D/Dart with Holley carb?
The VIN would start out "LO" if it was.
 
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Yes it is September 65 and until I found the build sheet I didnt believe it. But hey at least they opted for power assist lol
Sept 65 build date is a 66. The tail lights on the car in your avatar is 66.
 
The rear axle option is on the build sheet on the 66's. It didn't show up on the fender tag until 67. And it's crazy that the option code books don't differentiate between the axles by code. Just gear ratios. We had a discussion about this a few months ago.
 
Yes it is September 65 and until I found the build sheet I didnt believe it. But hey at least they opted for power assist lol
Is this your avatar car? If so, it's a '66 model. If it's another car....a '65 model, that build date is too late for 1965.
 
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