https://www.mecum.com/auctions/kissimmee-2020/collections/tony-dagostino-collect

[odcics2]

The Daytona Parts List calls out a part number when the rectangular slotted screen is cut to size from the bulk piece of embossed metal supplied by H&K. 

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=26247.0

When I worked at the Chrysler Trenton Engine Plant in 1976, I saw a 4 bbl. camshaft get installed into 2 bbl. engines.  Yes it did happen!

But putting a hex screen that wasn't being produced yet into a Daytona nose at Creative, well, hard to believe.   

Now, if BOTH cars were being produced at the same time, YES, it could have happened at assembly.   

[nascarxx29]

  where the mythbusters these days Adam an&Jamie. Can a existing piece of superbird hex screen only being creased In the middle fit exactly to Daytona.With no other modification.And vice versa a Daytona screen flattened fit the superbird opening.Without no other modification?

[nascarxx29]

Part numbers aside from owning both types of wingcars some parts will interchange.Can the screens interchange between the two?

[odcics2]

where the mythbusters these days Adam an&Jamie. Can a existing piece of superbird hex screen only being creased In the middle fit exactly to Daytona.With no other modification.And vice versa a Daytona screen flattened fit the superbird opening.Without no other modification?

Great idea!    

I believe I still have an extra Daytona screen.   I don't have a Bird screen.  
Thinking a Bird screen would have to be cut down to fit.   

Any Birds around with Daytona screens??  

[moparstuart]

when i got my Superbird nose it had the Daytona style screen in it     

[TONY]

letter from Dave Patik and 2 pics (the front spoiler and grill/surround had been painted red)

"To: 1969 Dodge Daytona car owner, restorer, judges of car #XX29L9B390018

This car has a grill screen not commonly seen on a Daytona. Here is a summation of research since 1975 by the Winged Warrior Auto Club regarding Daytona grill screens.

There was no evidence that the front end of this car had ever been apart, This car was last driven in 1974, and previously owned by that prior owner from 1972-1974 when it was sold to the next owners, then parked until 2005.

The picture I'm looking at shows a hexagonal grill screen, which has evidence of ripping outward. Perhaps the screen caught on something, and ripped when the car was pulled back from that object caught on the screen.
If the damage occurred when the car was still being driven, a new grill screen almost surely would have been available new from a Mopar dealer prior to 1972.

Daytona one-owner cars were occasionally seen at Winged Warrior car shows in the mid-and-later 1970s, and several of these cars had hexagonal grill screens. When I asked the owners about this, the answer was always "that's what the car had when I bought it new."

It is difficult to make a Daytona grill screen by hand; not only is it bent obviously horizontally, but it also is pooched out vertically, in the middle. This takes a die to form.

This car's grill screen was indeed formed correctly, and the screen in the picture, when removed from the nose, had vacated holes for the upper row of studs, and for the lower row of screws. It would be very unlikely that a dealer-replacement grill screen would have vacated pass-through holes. The grill frame hardware all appeared to be matching.

Superbird one-owner cars have been reported with "Daytona" grill screens, meaning rectangular holes. The car restorer reports that a new-old-stock hexagonal grill screen has been installed on the car now.

I believe this car originally had a hexagonal grill screen.

David J. Patik
Owner/Operator
Performance Car Graphics
Writer for Winged Warriors/National B-Body Owners Association"

[moparstuart]

letter from Dave Patik and 2 pics (the front spoiler and grill/surround had been painted red)

"To: 1969 Dodge Daytona car owner, restorer, judges of car #XX29L9B390018

This car has a grill screen not commonly seen on a Daytona. Here is a summation of research since 1975 by the Winged Warrior Auto Club regarding Daytona grill screens.

There was no evidence that the front end of this car had ever been apart, This car was last driven in 1974, and previously owned by that prior owner from 1972-1974 when it was sold to the next owners, then parked until 2005.

The picture I'm looking at shows a hexagonal grill screen, which has evidence of ripping outward. Perhaps the screen caught on something, and ripped when the car was pulled back from that object caught on the screen.
If the damage occurred when the car was still being driven, a new grill screen almost surely would have been available new from a Mopar dealer prior to 1972.

Daytona one-owner cars were occasionally seen at Winged Warrior car shows in the mid-and-later 1970s, and several of these cars had hexagonal grill screens. When I asked the owners about this, the answer was always "that's what the car had when I bought it new."

It is difficult to make a Daytona grill screen by hand; not only is it bent obviously horizontally, but it also is pooched out vertically, in the middle. This takes a die to form.

This car's grill screen was indeed formed correctly, and the screen in the picture, when removed from the nose, had vacated holes for the upper row of studs, and for the lower row of screws. It would be very unlikely that a dealer-replacement grill screen would have vacated pass-through holes. The grill frame hardware all appeared to be matching.

Superbird one-owner cars have been reported with "Daytona" grill screens, meaning rectangular holes. The car restorer reports that a new-old-stock hexagonal grill screen has been installed on the car now.

I believe this car originally had a hexagonal grill screen.

David J. Patik
Owner/Operator
Performance Car Graphics
Writer for Winged Warriors/National B-Body Owners Association"

worst case its a cool as found conversation piece and sets it apart from all the other daytonas   

[TONY]

worst case its a cool as found conversation piece and sets it apart from all the other daytonas

[odcics2]

Found the original screen from XX29L9B383272.

What's the dimensions of a Bird screen?

Tony - Cool info for sure.  Documented at least as far back as the early 70s.
 
Man, wish there was a pic at a dealership, or better yet, at Creative!

[Mopar John]

What I find ironic about all this is that another Daytona also restored by Mike Mancini has the same style grill screen!
I have attached a picture of this Daytona when I still owned it.
I can attest that the grill screen was in there all the way back to 1973!
MJ

[moparstuart]

Found the original screen from XX29L9B383272.

What's the dimensions of a Bird screen?

Tony - Cool info for sure.  Documented at least as far back as the early 70s.
 
Man, wish there was a pic at a dealership, or better yet, at Creative!

i still have my bird mounted  daytona style mesh at home on the wall in the garage ill try and measure it tonight and post pictures 

[nascarxx29]

Great reference info

[Mytur Binsdirti]

What I find ironic about all this is that another Daytona also restored by Mike Mancini has the same style grill screen!
I have attached a picture of this Daytona when I still owned it.
I can attest that the grill screen was in there all the way back to 1973!
MJ

Could it be that it was replaced with the bird screen because that's what the Daytona grille screen part number superseded to as a replacement in the early 70's?

[odcics2]

Great reference info

This kind of digging for info is great!   

[nascarxx29]

Now we got could Daytona front spoiler be black or body color
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=84260.0;all

[nascarxx29]

Look thru my pics and magazine for Daytona details screens etc

[moparstuart]

mine is 8 x 24  inches  and it came mounted in my Superbird nose  , im sure not original , but maybe as a dealer replacement part . My parts came off a car that was parted out circa 1978 and my nose was pretty beat up already and full of thick bondo when i got it.

[nascarxx29]

Also have been seeing chrome grille frames on orig cars

[odcics2]

Here's a close up of a press release photo.

Grille is already caved in and bent up when the cars were NEW.   

[nascarxx29]

Your knee could take out Daytona square mesh.Guess the octagon mesh was more resilant to damage?

[moparstuart]

Here's a close up of a press release photo.

Grille is already caved in and bent up when the cars were NEW.   

they bent just driving it on the highway in hi winds   

[odcics2]

Here's a close up of a press release photo.

Grille is already caved in and bent up when the cars were NEW.   

they bent just driving it on the highway in hi winds   

[odcics2]

Your knee could take out Daytona square mesh.Guess the octagon mesh was more resilant to damage?

Being under the nose helped, but was not the optimum place for the air intake.  Another compromise by styling that increased drag.
Plymouth was too cheap to make a correct rear glass too!  Should have been like a Daytona, leading to a shortened deck lid.   

[moparstuart]

Your knee could take out Daytona square mesh.Guess the octagon mesh was more resilant to damage?

Being under the nose helped, but was not the optimum place for the air intake.  Another compromise by styling that increased drag.
Plymouth was too cheap to make a correct rear glass too!  Should have been like a Daytona, leading to a shortened deck lid.   

well they did have to make alot more cars   

[odcics2]

Your knee could take out Daytona square mesh.Guess the octagon mesh was more resilant to damage?

Being under the nose helped, but was not the optimum place for the air intake.  Another compromise by styling that increased drag.
Plymouth was too cheap to make a correct rear glass too!  Should have been like a Daytona, leading to a shortened deck lid.   

well they did have to make alot more cars   

Plymouth was cheap and didn't want to pay for the optimal package.