What determines chrome or black oil breather?

[375instroke]

My '69 440 is black, but I've seen chrome on Galen Govier certified cars.  I must have the wrong one.

[Nacho-RT74]

I allways have thought they are all black

[Ghoste]

Galen Govier certified is NOT the "be all to end all".  Now with that admittedly uncalled for little comment out of the way, I have to say that I've seen both too and wondered about it.  Anyone?

[gtx6970]

As a general rule.
black is lower performance cars and chrome is ususally part of a engine dress up on higher performace cars

as an example, chrome is standard on a 69 383 roadrunner
black is standrard on a 383 2bbl satellite

[Ghoste]

"As a general rule" meaning there are legitimate exceptions then?

[Chatt69chgr]

I think the R/T's had the chrome breather.  As already said, the lower performance engines had the black one.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I also thought it was year specific....didnt '69 start with the chrome breather on the HP engines?

[TylerCharger69]

Ive seen more R/Ts with the black breather than chrome....but ive seen lots of "Commando" engines with the chrome breather.  I'm not sure if the black or chrome dictates anything model specific or not.   I've seen both.   I think what counts as far as specifics are concerned is the pie plate insert

[resq302]

I also thought it was year specific....didnt '69 start with the chrome breather on the HP engines?

 I am pretty sure it was starting in 69 with the HP engines.  Like with my 383 HP engine.  IF you got a manual trans, you got the extra 5 hp with the HP engine.  Otherwise, the big blocks got the push on black breather.

[tan top]

I also thought it was year specific....didnt '69 start with the chrome breather on the HP engines?

 I am pretty sure it was starting in 69 with the HP engines.  Like with my 383 HP engine.  IF you got a manual trans, you got the extra 5 hp with the HP engine.  Otherwise, the big blocks got the push on black breather.

yeah i'm thinking that also 

[mopar_nut_440_6]

My 68 RT has a chrome cap since I have owned the car. My have been changed but it was the numbers match engine and appeared to be the stock one, hose and all!

[694spdRT]

I also thought it was year specific....didnt '69 start with the chrome breather on the HP engines?

Starting with '69 HP's was my understanding too.

[john108]

I am the Original Owner of my '68 Charger R/T and it is Chrome.
Though it Needs Polishing .

[375instroke]

 I am pretty sure it was starting in 69 with the HP engines.  Like with my 383 HP engine.  IF you got a manual trans, you got the extra 5 hp with the HP engine.  Otherwise, the big blocks got the push on black breather.

Didn't the 5HP come from the breather being chrome?

[375instroke]

Here's what mine looks like, by the way.  I was joking about the Govier comment, by the way.  He does admit to learning something new once in a while, so I'll give him a bit of credit.

[Ghoste]

I should probably go easier on him too.  He does irk me and for good reasons but my personal issue with the "Govier Certified" thing comes from auctions and just because he may have decoded someones fender tag does not mean he approved their rebodied clone as a survivor.  He gets credit and shame for a lot of things he doesn't deserve (and some that he does).

[UFO]

It's chrome because the dealer book says so.
(This is from a '69 book)

[gtx6970]

"As a general rule" meaning there are legitimate exceptions then?

as with anything Mopar, there are always exceptions.

Chrome breather was part of pkg cars, And I'm not 100% sure WHEN said breather was actually SUPPOSED to be standard equip .
BUT, I believe it's supposed to be at least 1967 thru 1969  GTX's and R/T's .

earlier cars cuch as the 1965  426 street wedge engines use a chrome breather but it's a different style breather without a nipple on the side

ps- in regards to the  engine pic posted here ,,,,, there's way to much been monkied with on that particualar example to use it for any kind of stock reference

[RCKSTR]

Here's what mine looks like, by the way.  I was joking about the Govier comment, by the way.  He does admit to learning something new once in a while, so I'll give him a bit of credit.

x2 Mine is original as well.

[69CoronetRT]

I also thought it was year specific....didnt '69 start with the chrome breather on the HP engines?

Going through the data books, I can find chrome breather caps advertised on the '64 426SW. I'll bet you can find them earlier than this. Like Bill said, it was common and standard on the HP engine offerings as part of a dress up package.

[69CoronetRT]

My '69 440 is black, but I've seen chrome on Galen Govier certified cars.  I must have the wrong one.

The 69 parts books specifies chrome for the 440 HP. IMHO...I would think most people would agree that sources point to chrome as being correct for a 69 440 HP engine. It's also my opinion that if you have to decide between the two, you would be more correct going with chrome.

[resq302]

Also shows chrome for the 383 4 bbl.

[Tilar]

Also shows chrome for the 383 4 bbl.

But not for the 69 Charger. It shows one available for a 383 powered Barracuda, Belvedere, Dart and Coronet. The only chrome one for the 69 Charger is the 440HP. The 68 Charger book shows the chrome available for the 426 and the 440 but doesn't specify an HP engine. It shows it available on a 383 for the Valiant, Barracuda and Dart in 68.

[69CoronetRT]

Also shows chrome for the 383 4 bbl.

yes...but it doesn't say WHICH 383-4bbl does it?

[69CoronetRT]

Also shows chrome for the 383 4 bbl.

But not for the 69 Charger. It shows one available for a 383 powered Barracuda, Belvedere, Dart and Coronet. The only chrome one for the 69 Charger is the 440HP.

There is usually no separate model line listing across the top columns for the Charger models. Chargers are generally covered under the Coronet designation and differences specific to the Charger are listed in the left column.

A 69 383 four speed non A/C Charger would have the chrome breather as it got the 335 horse HP assembly. An automatic or A/C car would get the painted cap.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

For what it's worth, my 1969 Super Bee 383 Magnum (auto trans.) built in August of 1968 came with the chrome cap.   

P.S.
I disagree with the thinking that all automatic trans cars with the 383HP engine were rated at 330 horsepower, 5hp less than the four speed 383HP cars. The way I understand it is if you bought lets say a 1968 thru 1970 Super Bee or Roadrunner with the 383 engine, it was rated at 335hp. 

[Tilar]

Also shows chrome for the 383 4 bbl.

But not for the 69 Charger. It shows one available for a 383 powered Barracuda, Belvedere, Dart and Coronet. The only chrome one for the 69 Charger is the 440HP.

There is usually no separate model line listing across the top columns for the Charger models. Chargers are generally covered under the Coronet designation and differences specific to the Charger are listed in the left column.

A 69 383 four speed non A/C Charger would have the chrome breather as it got the 335 horse HP assembly. An automatic or A/C car would get the painted cap.

You're right for the 69's, I read that parts list wrong, But in 68 it is pretty specific.

[69CoronetRT]

For what it's worth, my 1969 Super Bee 383 Magnum (auto trans.) built in August of 1968 came with the chrome cap.   

P.S.
I disagree with the thinking that all automatic trans cars with the 383HP engine were rated at 330 horsepower, 5hp less than the four speed 383HP cars. The way I understand it is if you bought lets say a 1968 thru 1970 Super Bee or Roadrunner with the 383 engine, it was rated at 335hp. 

Again, speaking only of 68 cars: Road Runners and Super Bees without A/C recieved the 760 (four speed) or 761 (automatic) 335 Horsepower engine assembly. Road Runners and Super Bees with A/C got the lower rated 330 horse non HP engine with either transmission. All other B body (Belvederes, Coronets and Chargers) cars got the 330 horse engine with either transmission or A/C.

Which engine assembly you actually received depended on the model, transmission and A/C or not.

1969 and 1970 are totally different and the application rules change year to year.

The engine assembly can only be documented by the broadcast sheet or a 69/70 Lynch Road fender tag. The administrative VIN or sales code does not tell you.

[69CoronetRT]

Also shows chrome for the 383 4 bbl.

But not for the 69 Charger. It shows one available for a 383 powered Barracuda, Belvedere, Dart and Coronet. The only chrome one for the 69 Charger is the 440HP.

There is usually no separate model line listing across the top columns for the Charger models. Chargers are generally covered under the Coronet designation and differences specific to the Charger are listed in the left column.

A 69 383 four speed non A/C Charger would have the chrome breather as it got the 335 horse HP assembly. An automatic or A/C car would get the painted cap.

You're right for the 69's, I read that parts list wrong, But in 68 it is pretty specific.

The problem with the 68 parts book is there is very little distinction given to the RR or SB models and parts specific to them. One must be careful using it as a single source.