I recently parted out a ex State of Texas Parks & Wildlife 1985 Dodge Diplomat which had a 318 / 999 trans set up in it. The most interesting part was finding 360 heads on the 318......
which I took to my machinist for check out / reman spares. My machinist determined that the valve springs were indeed AMC springs because of them being 2.20 spring lengths as Chrysler did not have 2.20 springs according to any information posted in his spring supplier books. Another interesting fact is the fact that the front K member on this Diplomat had a extra 1/4" inch plate welded to the bottom side of the K member as Dave states .......yes The state did this because they knew these cars were to be driven off road on occasion and was a beefed up addition to the second trans cooler (Added in series with the original that went to the radiator) .
I found out from a Texas Fisheries guy that does upgrades on such cars & trucks for the State that extra heavy duty everything available from the factory was checked marked when ordered and is the norm on these special order vehicles............ with a list of other things that were not supplied by the factory is done by state employees in other sections of the State agencies.
which I took to my machinist for check out / reman spares. My machinist determined that the valve springs were indeed AMC springs because of them being 2.20 spring lengths as Chrysler did not have 2.20 springs according to any information posted in his spring supplier books. Another interesting fact is the fact that the front K member on this Diplomat had a extra 1/4" inch plate welded to the bottom side of the K member as Dave states .......yes The state did this because they knew these cars were to be driven off road on occasion and was a beefed up addition to the second trans cooler (Added in series with the original that went to the radiator) .
I found out from a Texas Fisheries guy that does upgrades on such cars & trucks for the State that extra heavy duty everything available from the factory was checked marked when ordered and is the norm on these special order vehicles............ with a list of other things that were not supplied by the factory is done by state employees in other sections of the State agencies.
