Why wasn't the 440 available with a 4 spd after 1972?

[sdweatherman]

Watching the Mecum Dallas auction today and noticed the 1973 Pontiac 455 super duty 4 speed car sell for some pretty high dollars. Did some looking and the 4 speed was available behind the 455 super duty in both 1973 and 1974. Does anyone know why Ma Mopar didn't allow the 4 speed behind the 440 in the Road Runners and Chargers for 1973 and 1974?

[twodko]

That was the time the insurance companies were giving muscle car manufacturers
a lot of grief about their huge HP cars and abysmal gas mileage.
Maybe it had something to do with that? 

[Chargerguy74]

The 440 bolted to a 4 speed wouldn't pass emissions tests.

[moparjohn]

Emissions?  I'm sorry, can anyone explain why an auto would change the emissions vs 4spd. I'm serious, not being a wise ass. MPJ

[sdweatherman]

The 440 bolted to a 4 speed wouldn't pass emissions tests.

I second that vote John. I am not an emissions/engine expert by any means, but I would need a much better explanation to accept that a change in transmission would alter the emissions enough to disqualify it for use.
Scott.

[ws23rt]

I'm interested too--
Along the same line the 09 man trans. challenger has a skip shift mechanism. When shifting from 1st at 19mph or so it will not allow moving into second. This is a messed up system because fourth gear is where one will get when not expecting it.  I am led to believe it is meant to train us to drive in a more economical way to stop the weather change
Was this same thinking in play in the early 70s?

[Ghoste]

In the case of the new Challenger it's likely a way to get as much mileage as possible during testing for CAFE standards to keep the fleet average high.

[Baldwinvette77]

I got my stupid emission testing license, the only thing they state about the 2 transmissions is that manuals idle higher (important when you are measuring a car at idle) , other than that, theres no major difference between the 2 in the real world, unless you shift at 7000 rpm  , but i was only told about '88 and newer cars since thats all we test in southern ontario 

[74Rallye]

Cost of insurance was higher for a 4sp.

[sdweatherman]

Two chimes for the insurance reason so far. But I don't think I am ready to call it all on insurance quite yet. You could still get the 4-speed behind the 400 big block. You would think that if it was just insurance, it would have been axed for the 400 also. Great dialogue so far guys - keep it going. 

[RiverRaider]

Hello,
It may have been market driven if the 72 model year had fewer ordered 440 four speed cars and/or they were selling slower than the automatics.
RiverRaider

[JB400]

I'm going to through my vote behind image.  For 73, Chrysler shifted their Charger lineup to a more luxurious car instead of the high performance car like the earlier cars.  Since they was trying to market the car to little old ladies and retirement age men, the last thing Granny is going to want in a car is a cheap manual trans.

[BrianShaughnessy]

I'm going to through my vote behind image.  For 73, Chrysler shifted their Charger lineup to a more luxurious car instead of the high performance car like the earlier cars.  Since they was trying to market the car to little old ladies and retirement age men, the last thing Granny is going to want in a car is a cheap manual trans.

Yup.   'Personal Luxury' car.

[dyslexic teddybear]

IIRC.......from an article I read, mid 70's, emissions were a big part of it.

Can't remember the car mag, but it stated manuals were a lot harder pass then autos.....there was a "puff" effect from shifting. Given the fairly crude emission and lack of FI at the time......makes sense to me.

[odcics2]

IIRC.......from an article I read, mid 70's, emissions were a big part of it.

Can't remember the car mag, but it stated manuals were a lot harder pass then autos.....there was a "puff" effect from shifting. Given the fairly crude emission and lack of FI at the time......makes sense to me.

[Chargerguy74]

The 440 bolted to a 4 speed wouldn't pass emissions tests.

This was something I first read quite awhile ago. I thought it was common knowledge. Guess not. I don't have any of my literature with me, but did a few google searches to try to find a credible source. I came up dry. I rember coming across this info in the shop recently as well, and read it out to my dad, who owned a 74 400HP 4 speed back in the day, but I have no clue what I was reading at the time. I'll try to find it.

[Nacho-RT74]

I thought it was still available in 73 but not anymore in 74

[Chargerguy74]

I thought it was still available in 73 but not anymore in 74

I recall us discussing this not too long ago on another forum lol

[Ghoste]

I didn't think it was but not too up on the 3rd gens.   

[EccentricMagpies]

I thought it was still available in 73 but not anymore in 74

I recall us discussing this not too long ago on another forum lol

I had to look at the numbers again because I thought it was a 73 option as well. There was a thread ~2 years ago on this topic.

[Ghoste]

And what did the numbers show?  Or the old thread?

[Nacho-RT74]

yea I remember have talked about that too, but couldn't recall the conclusion...

however 1973 dealership data book shows the conclusion LOL

[JB400]

Any ideas on the production numbers?  Has anyone seen a 73 equipped with the manual?

[EccentricMagpies]

here was that thread I was thinking of... somewhat of a different topic but it hit this one too.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,97437.msg1126399.html#msg1126399

Nice post Nacho.. thanks!

[Ghoste]

Any ideas on the production numbers?  Has anyone seen a 73 equipped with the manual?

Production figures show zero made.