1966 New Cars ~ "Mopar vs. Chevy"

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69 Cuda 440

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1966

New Cars ~ 'Mopar vs Chevy'

* Mopar gave us the '426 Street Hemi', but in limited supply.

* Dodge offered the 'modern' Dodge Charger.

* And the 1966 B-Body style was now 'boxed-type'.

* For the Musclecar, unfortunately it was the 're-hashed' 383/325 HP.

* For the Compact, more 273/235 HP 4-Barrels.

* And a few 'Special Order' D/Darts with a 273/275 HP combination.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plymouth_____________________________________NHRA
* Valiant ~ 273/235 HP............................................. F/S
* Barracuda 'Formula S' ~ 273/235 HP........................ G/S
* Belvedere ~ 383/325 HP......................................... C/S
* Satellite ~ 383/325 HP........................................... D/S
* Belvedere ~ 426 'Street Hemi'................................. A/S
* Satellite ~ 426 'Street Hemi'................................... A/S

Dodge_____________________________ _________NHRA
* Dart GT ~ 273/235 HP............................................ G/S
* Dart GT 'D/Dart' ~ 273/275 HP................................ D/S
* Coronet ~ 383/325................................................ C/S
* Coronet 500 ~ 383/325 HP..................................... D/S
* Charger ~ 383/325 HP........................................... D/S
* Coronet ~ 426 'Street Hemi'................................... A/S
* Coronet 500 ~ 426 'Street Hemi'............................. A/S
* Charger ~ 426 'Street Hemi'................................... A/S

Unfortunately, a large gap was left. As there was no true 'High Performance' street-wise small Pony Car,
as the 273/235 HP was woefully outmatched against the 327 Chevy.

And the 383/325 HP was 'never' really considered much more than a low-revving mild performance engine,
as the 1966 Belvedere/Satellite/Coronet Mopars were really no match for the Chevy 396 Big-Block Chevelle's.

And the 'heavy' Aerodynamically-style Charger was not a 'terror' unless it had a 426 'Street Hemi' under the hood.

Waiting in he wings was the 440, but it was only reserved for the Big-Body Boats and 'Police Pursuit Vehicles',
and was only rated at 350 HP for the Dodge Polara, and 365 HP for the Chrysler and Plymouth 'Q-Ships'.
 
That was temporary, but yes, it sucked in '66.
In '67 they got it right with the GTX and the Coronet R/T, just a year too late to fill the gap. The 383 a bodies in '67 helped too, again, a year too late.
In '68 they knocked it out of the park with the Road Runner and later the Super Bee, as well as the Hemi super stock a bodies. The restyled Charger was a hit too with the new Coke Bottle design. The '68 GTS and Formula S Barracudas with the 340 and to a lesser extent the 383 caused big waves back in the day.
That made the competition look twice on who's pants were caught down now!
It got even better in '69 with the M code 440 a bodies and the M code 440+6 Road Runner and the 6 pack Super Bee.
 
Chevy's for 1966

Nova___________________ NHRA Class
* 283/220 HP......................... G/S
* 327/275 HP......................... D/S
* 327/350 HP 'L-79'................ A/S

Chevelle {300, Malibu, El Camino}
* 283/220 HP......................... H/S
* 327/275 HP......................... F/S
* 396/325 HP......................... C/S
* 396/360 HP......................... B/S
* 396/375 HP......................... B/S

Biscayne/Bel Air/Impala
* 327/275 HP......................... G/S
* 396/325 HP......................... D/S
* 427/390 HP 'L-36'................ C/S
* 427/425 HP 'L-72'................ B/S

Corvette
* 327/300 HP........................ D/SP
* 327/350 HP........................ B/SP
* 427/390 HP 'L-36'............... B/SP
* 427/425 HP 'L-72'............... A/SP

Too Many Chevy's
 
Really enjoying these threads! I'm a big fan of both "old" Chevys and mopars. Mostly Mopar though lol
 
Dartnut said:
That was temporary, but yes, it sucked in '66.
In '67 they got it right with the GTX and the Coronet R/T, just a year too late to fill the gap. The 383 a bodies in '67 helped too, again, a year too late.
In '68 they knocked it out of the park with the Road Runner and later the Super Bee, as well as the Hemi super stock a bodies. The restyled Charger was a hit too with the new Coke Bottle design. The '68 GTS and Formula S Barracudas with the 340 and to a lesser extent the 383 caused big waves back in the day.
That made the competition look twice on who's pants were caught down now!
It got even better in '69 with the M code 440 a bodies and the M code 440+6 Road Runner and the 6 pack Super Bee.
Click to expand...
the same 383 in 68 as the 383 in 66..no difference
 
I wasn't there but my guess is that the 66 Nova, 327/350 HP would have been hard to beat if it got traction.

Anything with a 396/325 HP was not very quick.
 
I had a 66 sat 383 4spd,3.55's,pretty good runner,dont think the chevys would take it,none of them ever did...
 
rbdart said:
I had a 66 sat 383 4spd,3.55's,pretty good runner,dont think the chevys would take it,none of them ever did...
Click to expand...

Agree,

Both were classed in D/S or D/SA in 1966 = {10.60 to 11.29 Wt/Hp}


The 1966 Satellite with a 383/325 HP {#3450 lbs. Shipping Weight} usually ran away from the
1966 Impala SS with the 396/325 HP {#3700 lbs. Shipping Weight}.

Torque-Flite vs. Power-Glide was a complete mismatch.

With 4-Speeds, it was a little closer, but the Mopar was a 1/2 Second quicker, or at least a couple of full car lengths.
 
Deke,

There was a 'weight difference' between the 1966 Belvedere 383/325 HP and 1966 Satellite 383/325 HP.

In 1966, the Belvedere was classed in C/Stock {9.50 to 10.59 Wt/Hp}

In 1966, the Satellite was classed in D/Stock {10.60 to 11.29 Wt/Hp}.

The Belvedere had a horrible weight break, and was non-existent in C/S or C/SA in
1966.
 
Kip,

Plymouth and Dodge 'Brother/Sister'________________Shipping Weight___NHRA Class___Weight/Horsepower

383/325 HP

Belvedere......................... Coronet Deluxe 'Sedan'..................... #3407 lbs. ............ C/S .............. 10.42
Belvedere II 'Hardtop'........ Coronet Model 440 'Hardtop'.............. #3427 lbs. ............ C/S .............. 10.54
Satellite........................... Coronet 500 'Hardtop'....................... #3472 lbs. ............ D/S .............. 10.68
 
terzmo said:
the same 383 in 68 as the 383 in 66..no difference
Click to expand...

The cam, heads, and exhaust were different. Same with the intakes and carbs. slightly different, but different nonetheless.
Chrysler learned that ''package'' cars really were taking off.
The '66 Street Hemi cars were the start......
 
Dartnut said:
The cam, heads, and exhaust were different. Same with the intakes and carbs. slightly different, but different nonetheless.
Chrysler learned that ''package'' cars really were taking off.
The '66 Street Hemi cars were the start......
Click to expand...

Correct,

The 1966 383/325 HP B-Body cars were a struggle.

Headers, 4.10 Gears, Slicks and a tricked up Distributor was only going
to get you into the 14.60's @ 95 MPH.

* 10.0-1 Compression-Ratio
* #2406516 Cylinder Heads
* 2.08" Intake Valves / 1.60" Exhaust Valves.
* Carter AFB {575 CFM}
* Poor-Flowing Intake Manifold
* Weak Valve Springs
* .431"/.443" ~ 256*/260* Duration ~ 32* Overlap > Camshaft {Hydraulic}..........ECH !!!
 
Kip,

Mopar did have plans to put together a 'High-Performance' 383 for 1966, but I believe
it was to come in mid-year {January 1966}.

And 'only' to be available for the Satellite and Coronet 500, in time for the 1966 NHRA Winternationals.

* High-Compression Pistons
* High-Lift Camshaft
* 300-J Cylinder Heads
* Aluminum Intake Manifold
* Holley Carburetor

Mopar was going to put forth an effort to challenge the 1966 NHRA C/Stock Class {Manual} {9.50 to 10.59 Wt/Hp}.

Mopar already had A/S, A/SA, B/SA, C/SA and D/SA locked up, but they needed a new 1966 package for
C/Stock {Manual} which was called 'Factory/Dealer Stock'.

C/Stock Competition

* Mercury Cyclone ~ 390/335 HP
* Ford Fairlane GT ~ 390/335 HP
* Oldsmobile 4-4-2 ~ 400/360 HP
* Pontiac GTO ~ 400/360 HP
* Chevelle Malibu SS ~ 396/325 HP
 
1968FormulaS340 said:
I wasn't there but my guess is that the 66 Nova, 327/350 HP would have been hard to beat if it got traction.

Anything with a 396/325 HP was not very quick.
Click to expand...

Solid posts,both. Even in 83,to a bunch of high school kids.
 
Abodybomber said:
Solid posts,both. Even in 83,to a bunch of high school kids.
Click to expand...

The 1966 Chevelle Malibu 'Super Sport' 396/325 HP cars with a Power-Glide, were fair on the Street.

But in 1966 at the Drag Strip classed in 'C/SA' ....... they were clobbered.

Even with 4.56 Gears, they usually ran around 13.80's @ 101 MPH.

But, they were one of the 'sharpest cars' around.



HA0413-149889_1.jpg
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
The 1966 Chevelle Malibu 'Super Sport' 396/325 HP cars with a Power-Glide, were fair.

But, they were one of the 'sharpest cars' around.

HA0413-149889_1.jpg
Click to expand...

Yes they are,"sharp looking" I fell for it, as a kid., Glide,ugh. Lotsa gear,a solid lifter cam(my choice)/ or a hot hydraulic stick(not many reliable then?) ,and a lot of gear then. Heat porting ,was a black knowledge then,for the everyday street racer(JMO).....Nice ,to see you back.
 
1966 ~ 396/325 HP

Was more of a 'stop-gap' mild-performance Big-Block. Just to fill a need for the
Bigger-Body {Biscayne's - Bel Air's and Impala's}.

* 10.25-1 Compression-Ratio
* Oval-Port Cylinder Heads
* Holley #4160 Carburetor {600 CFM}
* Camshaft {Mild Hydraulic}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The poor 383/325 HP.

Ridiculously over-rated at 325 HP {closer to 290 HP} had to replace the 426-S {365 HP Street-Wedge}
which also was 'way' over-rated at 365 HP {closer to 325 HP}.

Mopar desperately needed an injection of proper up-grades to the 383, and a more favorable Horsepower
factor to be competitive at the Drag Strip.
 
Po-Ke-No

1966 Dodge Coronet 426 'Street Hemi'

All 1966 Dodge Coronets were classed in A/S or A/SA in 1966.

_______________________Shiping Weight__Curb Weight
Coronet 2-Door Sedan..............#3632............#3781
Coronet 440 Hardtop................#3643............#3792
Coronet 500 Hardtop................#3720............#3869

Coronet 500

1966-dodge-coronet-500-2-door-hardtop.jpg
 
R/T,

The dominant Mopar Cars in Stock Class in 1966.

A/S........ 1966 Plymouth Belvedere 'Sedan'........... 426/425 HP 'Street Hemi'
A/S........ 1966 Dodge Coronet 'Sedan'.................. 426/425 HP 'Street Hemi'

A/SA...... 1966 Plymouth Belevdere 'Hardtop'........ 426/425 HP 'Street Hemi'
A/SA...... 1966 Dodge Coronet 440 'Hardtop'......... 426/425 HP 'Street Hemi'

B/S....... 1964 lymth Belvedere............................ 426/365 H
B/S....... 1964 Ddge 440..................................... 426/365 H

B/SA..... 1963 Plymouth Belvedere 'Station Wagon'. 426/425 HP Max-Wedge
B/SA..... 1963 Dodge 300 'Station Wagon'............. 426/425 HP Max-Wedge

C/S....... 1963 Plymouth Belvedere...................... 383/325 HP
C/S....... 1963 Dodge 440................................... 383/325 HP
C/S....... 1965 lymth Satellte............................... 426/365 H

C/SA..... 1962 Plymouth 'Sport Fury'.................... 383/343 HP
C/SA..... 1962 Dodge 440................................... 383/343 H
C/SA..... 1965 Ddge crnet 440............................ 426/365 H

D/S....... 1966 Dodge Dart GT 'D/Dart'.................. 273/275 HP
D/S....... 1964 and 1965 Plymouth Belvedere......... 383/325 HP
D/S....... 1964 and 1965 Dodge 440...................... 383/325 HP

D/SA..... 1962 Plymouth 'Sport Fury'.................... 361/305 HP
D/SA..... 1962 Dodge 440................................... 361/305 HP

E/SA..... 1965 Plymouth Valiant........................... 273/235 HP
E/SA..... 1962 Dodge 440 'Station Wagon'............. 361/305 HP

F/SA..... 1966 Plymouth Valiant........................... 273/235 HP
F/SA..... 1965 Dodge Dart GT.............................. 273/235 HP

G/S....... 1965 and 1966 Plymouth Barracuda....... 273/235 HP
G/S....... 1966 Dodge Dart GT............................ 273/235 HP

G/SA..... 1965 and 1966 Plymouth Barracuda....... 273/235 HP
G/SA..... 1966 Dodge Dart GT............................ 273/235 HP

1/SA..... 1966 Plymouth Valiant.......................... 273/180 HP

J/S....... 1966 Plymouth Barracuda...................... 273/180 HP
 
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