426 Hemi intake bolts

[chargervic]

I'm working on a 1968 model year 426 Hemi built Nov 67. Any one know if early build 68 Hemi's used the same intake manifold attaching bolt package as the 66-67 engines? These would be the Allen style socket head screws and washers. The information I have for 68 and later intake hardware calls for hex head bolts and some ¼" studs of varying length with fine thread nuts.
This particular engine came with the 66-67 bolt package in it, but had been taken apart at least once before, so I'm not sure if these bolts are correct. I want to make this engine correct for my customer.


Thanks for any help with this, guys, (and girls). I have had other early build date issues with this car and you have come up with what I needed.

[Dino]

I really don't know anything about hemi's but it is clear that the early 2nd gens had some things going on the later ones did not.  I would think it not uncommon for Chrysler to use what was available first instead of retooling.

Maybe your customer can dig around a bit and make the call himself?  Finding out the little things is one of the fun parts of the hobby no?

When I restored cars and a detail was unclear, I'd ask the owner to do the research which most all enjoyed immensely because it made them a part of the restoration.  And that's about all you can do when you can't do the actual work.

[chargervic]

Thanks Dino for the reply. The owner has been working on it with me and has some good resources that I don't have, but we try and get info from different areas just to see if we can get a consistent answer. The members on this site have been very helpful on other questions, so I respect all of them and yourself for taking the time to help. I'm fortunate that I have another customer's car that was built on the same day and line as this car was, so many of the body details are easily confirmed. But the second car is a 440 car, so the engine bay issues are different. I did get some info that the early 426's did use the Allen head fasteners until late December, so that's the route we're using. I just remember working on another Hemi 68 car for the same customer and it had the hex bolts and studs, so I wanted to confirm which way to go.
I bought a brand new Coronet 500 Hemi car in 66, but that's a long time ago and I never had to do anything more than set the valves on it, so the memories are a bit dull after 48 years.
You are right about oddities in the early cars, I have found several running changes that happened during December 67. Not many of these are well known.
Thanks again for your time to answer.

[Dino]

My pleasure, I just wish I had a better answer for you.  I would go with the early bolts as well, something tells me that's how they came early on.