CSS Dilemma

[WD]

That old advertising slogan about Dodge being "different" definitely rings true... Some of my parts came out of a D100 long bed crew cab (had to be an axle and badge swap at some point). Neighbor had a 1/2 ton short bed dually Lifestyle Era, I remember the day he brought it home from the dealership. Old guy in Seattle with a factory installed 426 Hemi Sweptline (I've seen the build sheet, it is legit). My 58 D300 had a Hemi head 315 instead of a Poly head 315 like it was supposed to have...

Hard to say what is and is not "real" on older Dodges, the factory would build just about any screwball combo you could dream up.

[soopernaut]

By the way..............Was the "Cool Comfort" AC factory installed or dealer installed?

I like the thought on the 413 !!!

A/C wasn't a factory option until 68.

Most likely it was added later. The trucks Ben refered to were removed from the assembly line and had special equipment added to them so general rules don't apply to them.

The only way you can prove anything with a Sweptline is going by the build sheet and I'm sure they can have errors too.

[nytemuvr]

Even in '71 when I ordered my Challenger, if the sales person was smart you could have gotten anything, within reason. The Mod Squad TV Show(for you yougins) Challenger was a '72 convertable with a 440 in it. They made 3 of them. Depended how much $$$$ you wanted to spend, they just didn't throw the last year stuff away.

[CSS-Registry]

Most likely it was added later. The trucks Ben refered to were removed from the assembly line and had special equipment added to them so general rules don't apply to them.

the motorhome truck is no different - it may have used the same sequencing to get air installed as the HPP trucks and sold as new. IIRC that setup was debated by Bubba and me as being factory or dealer or subcontractor installed. i think we figured it was installed by the coach builder that installed the camper, cut the cab and removed the console. that truck's sert consists of three stickers worth of info and a console was list though not present in the truck since that space was used to pass through into the back.

The only way you can prove anything with a Sweptline is going by the build sheet and I'm sure they can have errors too.

i agree - my build sheet doesn't even have the VIN on it... though it does have the sales order number that matches up to my truck. also note the hand written text plus my truck included an extra sheet of handwritten info in the seat springs with the build sheet.



dodges are just plain weird.

Ben

[Hobcobble]

Alright Guys I need some input !!! I've got two (2) 1966 CSS trucks I am planning on using to making one. One is the D200 Bubba Storey had and the second is a D100 Short Wide Box I found. The original plan was to take the ~50K documented miles 318 Poly and trans and all the other trinkets from the D200 and put in the Shorty. The thought process is to keep it year correct and true to it's original build as possible.

Here comes the dilemma.......... I now have in my posession a good running 440 which has twisted my thinkin.

Sooooooo.........do I stay period/year correct and continue with my original plan or drop the 440 in? Which direction would add the most value to the truck in your opinion as a buyer/collector? Or does it matter since neither are original to the truck?

I've already touched base with Ben and he had a great idea but I would like to hear what you guys think also.

Thanks,
Stoney

In the event you wish to sell the truck once its restored, keep hold of that Poly.
In the meantime, put the 440 in it and have some fun.
John

[Stoney]

I looked at the Cert stickers and AC was not listed on them. I also found the original sales invoice. AC was listed on it along with 8 Cyl Engine, 70 amp Battery, Axle and Spring callouts, Radio, Heater, Dual West Coast Mirrors, Home Comfort System aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand a Pull Down Bed !!!! So obviously some of the things came from the factory yet others were added possibly by the dealer, and for sure the Coach Builder.

I will take a look and see if a build sheet is there but I would think it would have been found before now.

Ben had an idea I like also. His thought was to use the 440 and dress it up as a 426 HPP tribute.

Not sure which direction I will go but thanks for all the great input !!!

Stoney

[SuperSweptline69]

Do the 440!!!

[66patrick]

Even in '71 when I ordered my Challenger, if the sales person was smart you could have gotten anything, within reason. The Mod Squad TV Show(for you yougins) Challenger was a '72 convertable with a 440 in it. They made 3 of them. Depended how much $$$$ you wanted to spend, they just didn't though the last year stuff away.

You are "sorta" correct. There were three 1971 Challengers for two TV shows - Mod Squad and The Brady Bunch. I'm 99% sure these were all identical 318 cars. These cars had updated sheetmetal to reflect the 1972 cars, but these are 1971 ragtops! Several years ago, there was a feature article in either MCG or Chrysler Power documenting the Challengers. In any case, these were in no way factory 1972 Challenger ragtops, and none had a factory 440, either.

The 1972 season of both shows will have these cars in them. Same color and all.

[nytemuvr]

There's a '66 CSS in South Sacramento, CA with A/C, dash,radio, aftermarket air brakes(trailier?) and an aftermarket cruise control. Probably not a lot of stuff left, been there a month. If your close, check the inventory at Pick n Pull.

[nytemuvr]

Even in '71 when I ordered my Challenger, if the sales person was smart you could have gotten anything, within reason. The Mod Squad TV Show(for you yougins) Challenger was a '72 convertable with a 440 in it. They made 3 of them. Depended how much $$$$ you wanted to spend, they just didn't throw the last year stuff away.

You are "sorta" correct. There were three 1971 Challengers for two TV shows - Mod Squad and The Brady Bunch. I'm 99% sure these were all identical 318 cars. These cars had updated sheetmetal to reflect the 1972 cars, but these are 1971 ragtops! Several years ago, there was a feature article in either MCG or Chrysler Power documenting the Challengers. In any case, these were in no way factory 1972 Challenger ragtops, and none had a factory 440, either.

The 1972 season of both shows will have these cars in them. Same color and all.

Yes they were '71s with '72 sheetmetal, thought I read an ad once on ebay for one that had a 440 in it, the one I saw on ebay was a junker(1 of the 3 made) that someone had put a 440 in it and rebuilt it. My '72 has a build date of April '71 on all the drivetrain. Only difference was the side marker lights, grille and tail lights basicly. Memory fades. I meant to add they were '71s in that post. Forgot about the Brady Bunch one. All were Gold with white interior I think. My car came with the skid pad on the k-member and 2-piece disc brakes, P/S cooler and high compression 340. We checked the order box for a T/A spoiler too, but didn't come though with it. They were schedualed to stop production in '73, but had enough parts for a '74 short run. I hadn't had my coffee that morning I posted that probably. The very first T/As had R/T hoods, I have pics of one somewhere in a magazine, the fiberglass hoods were late to the factory. I used to subscribe to Chrysler Power too then. Challengers were made just so Chrysler could race in SCCA back then, with the 110" wheelbase. I passed up a root beer brown, orange interior Superbird for my Challenger. The saleman said he would paint it if I bought it. It had been on the lot for 2 years and had a 440-6 in it for $3700. Wish I knew now what no one knew then. The guy that bought the Daytona worked at a lumber yard and used it to haul sheets of plywood on the wing and roof.
Supposedly they were a few BB '72s for company big wigs. They were going to make Challenger "kit cars" too.