Just bought this 68 440 4 spd charger (originally 383) w/ A/C - opinions?

[Pistolpete]

Hey Gang,

This is why I've been asking about 68 production numbers, didnt realize this was an A/C car until after I bought it!
It should arrive here in T.O. around tuesday or wednesday next week, I'll post pics when it shows up!

I know that I will be dressing up the engine compartment and "correcting" the trunk stripe right away! (What do you think about charcoal grey stripes so they "ghost" into the paint instead of standing out?)

Opinions please


you can see pics here............. http://imageevent.com/hermansclassics/1968dodgecharger?p=0&w=2&n=1&c=2&m=4&s=0&y=0&z=2&l=0

Pete

[bull]

That car looks gorgeous (except for the wrong tail stripe). I love that color.

[SFRT]

sweet.

[rav440]

  nice score 

[bakerhillpins]

I saw that pop up on the classified section last week (?) and was thinking that was one nice ride. Correct strip or not, that is one beautiful 68. I am hoping one shows up like that when I have the finances.

Your a lucky dog. 

Can't make any comments other than those that revolve around vanity though. Don't have anything but bad experiences buying old vehicles. 

Bryan

[69_500]

Side note here but I"m going to have to say to check the information on the car first. Because as far as I know they never made a 383 4 speed Charger with A/C. I don't think you could get a manual car with A/C in any of the early years of Charger production. 1st or 2nd generation that is. Not 100% positive on the 3rd generations though.

[CB]

congrats on the buy!! 
the 68 looks killer, really cool ride, enjoy!!

[keepat]

Looks like a great Charger! The color is awesome!

[69CoronetRT]

Side note here but I"m going to have to say to check the information on the car first. Because as far as I know they never made a 383 4 speed Charger with A/C. I don't think you could get a manual car with A/C in any of the early years of Charger production. 1st or 2nd generation that is. Not 100% positive on the 3rd generations though.

383 four speed with A/C was available in 2nd gens
383/400 four speed with A/C was available in 3rd gens

I don't know my first gens that well but I'll bet the combination was available. Here's some info that helps. Just click on the data book of your choice and see what was recommended or available.

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/library.shtml

Four speed A/C cars are not common but they could be ordered.

[TUFCAT]

a 4-speed 383 car? ....cut it up quick!!       JUST KIDDING!!    Serously....  Enjoy that sweet Charger! 

[1969chargerrtse]

Beautiful car, you must be excited.  4spd/ A/C sweet.

[Pistolpete]

As far as I can tell it is a 383 4 spd A/C car, I will certainly do a little more homework once the car gets delivered as to if it is all OE and keep you all posted!
(Once again brings me to why I need access charger production numbers)

Thanks for all the kind words

[Ghoste]

The 4 speed AC question came up in another thread not all that long ago and I believe 69CoronetRT was the one who had the info then as well.  IIRC, they had a slightly tamer cam or something?

[viper r/t]

I can tell you, that you got a great car. I've rode in it 

[twenty mike mike]

Beauty! I'd go with contrasting stripes, but that's just me.

[Pistolpete]

Hey Viper R/T,

Isnt yours for sale now as well?

Seeing as you are somewhat connected to my car, you dont by any chance have any info on it do you?

[CaptMarvel]

Very nice!! I love those black and blue 68's....I think the darker 68/69's look great without a stripe..The lighter ones like mine (Y2 yellow) is where they really work the best..

[TeeWJay426]

Gorgeous looking car! Don't know how much you gave for it, but looks good from what I can see. I think the first thing I'd lose- before even correcting the stripe- is those silly ass Dixie horns under the hood. And if I remember correctly, I've seen a couple of first gen 4-speed 383 cars with A/C as well, so I believe it was available through all three generations.

[69_500]

I guess your correct in part about the 383 being available with the 4 speed and A/C combination. However it should be noted that the 383 2bbl car was not available with A/C or a 4 speed according to the Data Book for 1969. Not sure on 1968 as I don't have one of those here on my desk. So it would have been possible though for a 383 4bbl car to have both A/C and a 4 speed transmission. However it appears that the 383 4 bbl car is the only one possible to have a/c and a 4 speed manual transmission too. Because the 440 you couldn't have the a/c and a 4 speed, and the HEMI didn't come with a/c regardless of transmission type.

[69CoronetRT]

I guess your correct in part about the 383 being available with the 4 speed and A/C combination. However it should be noted that the 383 2bbl car was not available with A/C or a 4 speed according to the Data Book for 1969. Not sure on 1968 as I don't have one of those here on my desk. So it would have been possible though for a 383 4bbl car to have both A/C and a 4 speed transmission. However it appears that the 383 4 bbl car is the only one possible to have a/c and a 4 speed manual transmission too. Because the 440 you couldn't have the a/c and a 4 speed, and the HEMI didn't come with a/c regardless of transmission type.

The four speed was N/A with 383-2bbl after '68.

The 69 Data book says you couldn't get A/C with a 383-2bbl?

[69_500]

Correct the 1969 Data book has it listed like this on page 44.

H51  Aic cond- front unit (NA 382 2bbl. or 440 w/man. tras. or w/HEMI)
              (Tinted glass should be ordered)



then down a few lines is the Engines section and it goes as follows

E61    8-cyl 383-cu-in. 2-bbl., 290-hp. (NA 3-spd. and 4-spd. man. trans.)
E63    8-cyl 383-cu-in. 4-bbl., 330 hp. (NA 3-spd. man. trans.)

[TruckDriver]

SCHWEET!!!

[Troy]

I think that reads:

Correct the 1969 Data book has it listed like this on page 44.

H51  Aic cond- front unit ((NA 382 2bbl. or 440) w/man. tras. or w/HEMI)

Otherwise it'd say:
H51  Aic cond- front unit (NA 440 w/man. tras. or w/HEMI or 382 2bbl.)

Never mind the bit about the 4-speed not being available on the 383 2bbl because they probably just carried that over from the 68 book (proofreaders aren't perfect and the limited line space forced unreadability). Just my thoughts...

Troy

[69CoronetRT]

Correct the 1969 Data book has it listed like this on page 44.

H51  Aic cond- front unit (NA 382 2bbl. or 440 w/man. tras. or w/HEMI)
              (Tinted glass should be ordered)



then down a few lines is the Engines section and it goes as follows

E61    8-cyl 383-cu-in. 2-bbl., 290-hp. (NA 3-spd. and 4-spd. man. trans.)
E63    8-cyl 383-cu-in. 4-bbl., 330 hp. (NA 3-spd. man. trans.)

The only 383-2bbl with three speed trany availability was in the C body Monaco/Polara (I'm referencing only Dodge here...). The Monaco came standard with the 383-2bbl and three speed tranny. With that combination, A/C was NA. B body 383-2bbls all came with automatics and A/C was available.

I think the section quoted means: If you have a manual tranny behind a 383-2bbl or the 440 or you have a Hemi, you can't get A/C. It doesn't mean you can't get A/C with a 383-2bbl. Here's an E61 H51 car...

[tan top]

 nice looking charger   good deal

[70charginglizard]

Very nice.

[69_500]

I think that section meant NO A/C with a 383 2bbl and no 383 2bbl cars with a 4 speed. The fender tag posted isn't for a 69, things could have changed by the year that car was built.

Everything is changeable though, the dealer data books aren't the gospel's. And they aren't 100% accurate on everything that was possible on these cars either. Just my 

I was thinking that on the 69 site there was an entire data book available to look at. I'll see about taking a picture of the mentioned page 44 and post it. But from what I'm reading in there it wasn't an option to get a/c with a 383 2bbl charger in 1969.

Granted this whole thread is about a 68 though.

[69CoronetRT]

I think that section meant NO A/C with a 383 2bbl and no 383 2bbl cars with a 4 speed. The fender tag posted isn't for a 69, things could have changed by the year that car was built.

Everything is changeable though, the dealer data books aren't the gospel's. And they aren't 100% accurate on everything that was possible on these cars either. Just my 

I was thinking that on the 69 site there was an entire data book available to look at. I'll see about taking a picture of the mentioned page 44 and post it. But from what I'm reading in there it wasn't an option to get a/c with a 383 2bbl charger in 1969.

Actually the tag is from a 69 Coronet 500.

Yes, there are references in the data books that changed throughout the year. Some things are listed that were never offered and some things are not listed that were offered after the book was published.

Here's are a couple of 69 Chargers with E61 H51. One has an August production date indicating E61 H51 was available all year.

[69_500]

That would be my mistake in the response. I was meaning it wasn't for a 69 Charger. Shows how much I proof read what I write huh? I get to thinking and think faster than I type and make plenty of mistakes.

But you are correct, that they did change things after those books were made, and they definately didn't mail out exceptions for every change that they made. Kind of how the color and upholstery books don't have V2 orange or F6 but we all know those were later available.

[NYCMille]

Dude... VERY NICE!!!

[69CoronetRT]

I get to thinking and think faster than I type and make plenty of mistakes.

Boy don't I know that. I have to edit my posts 3-4 times before they make sense to me....

We have gotten of track. Let's not forget what a cool car PistolPete got.

[Pistolpete]

Ya, back to me...........LOL

I gotta tell ya, I was heartbroken when I sold my 69 but I am so happy that I jumped back into a charger this quickly! Some things were just meant to be I guess.......

[RT/SE]

Hey Pistol,

That is one beautiful Charger you just bought - congrats on the purchase!!! I went to high school with a kid who had a 69 Runner with a 383 4sp + factory a/c.  I always thought that was a great combination.   You can look forward to banging through the gears on a hot summer day with the a/c cranking.  You just don't see many 383, 4spd + a/c cars out there.  You made a great purchase..........RT/SE

[viper r/t]

I don't know "alot" about it but it runs/rides great on the road, think my uncle said he bought it from the same owner for alot of years. If I didn't have mine, I'd have bought it, if that tells ya how much I liked it 
But really it is a nice Charger 

[MaMopar]

  Awesome score, even with the tail stripe.  That is a beautiful Charger.  Happy Cruisin

[firefighter3931]

I gotta tell ya, I was heartbroken when I sold my 69 but I am so happy that I jumped back into a charger this quickly! Some things were just meant to be I guess.......

Why did you unload that 69 ? Wan't that your dream car ? 



Ron

[Pistolpete]

Sure was, but I made the same mistake that I've heard others talk aobut on the forums; I basically went overboard and built a trailer queen when my intention was always to have a #1 or #2 DRIVER.
Put simply I believe these babies were meant to be driven (sometimes hard but never put away wet.....LOL) and I just wasnt enjoying the car the way I wanted. So I sold it to someone who was more interested in a trailer queen than a driver - Win/Win.

PS............thanks for all the kind posts but just to clarify  - the 68 ...HAD a 383, now has a 440!

[skip68]

I knew that car wouldn't last long at that price.  A 4 speed car with a 440 that clean for that price was a great deal in my opinion.           Chuck................

[TUFCAT]

I would like to see some pics of the car you sold... if that's possible 

[six-tee-nine]

I think that section meant NO A/C with a 383 2bbl and no 383 2bbl cars with a 4 speed. The fender tag posted isn't for a 69, things could have changed by the year that car was built.

Everything is changeable though, the dealer data books aren't the gospel's. And they aren't 100% accurate on everything that was possible on these cars either. Just my 

I was thinking that on the 69 site there was an entire data book available to look at. I'll see about taking a picture of the mentioned page 44 and post it. But from what I'm reading in there it wasn't an option to get a/c with a 383 2bbl charger in 1969.

Actually the tag is from a 69 Coronet 500.

Yes, there are references in the data books that changed throughout the year. Some things are listed that were never offered and some things are not listed that were offered after the book was published.

Here's are a couple of 69 Chargers with E61 H51. One has an August production date indicating E61 H51 was available all year.

My 69 is E61 with H51 it has a 727 auto trnas tough...

[JW69]

My first Charger back in 1979 was a 383 4 barrel 4 speed with a/c.originally Light green metallic with tan interior Although painted black with black vinyl top.Wish I still had it.