My favorite cop car movie.. Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry, 1971 TOP END... UNLIMITED!
4-02: got the rear "HIGHWAY PATROL" stickers from my buddy Leo Shaffer @ S.C.R.
.5-03: finally have all the parts to put a correct 440 HP back together
6-03: finally got the motor back together and ready for install
7-03: finally got the motor installed and fired up. WOW she sounds sweet and runs like a striped ass ape!!
now i know why the CHP loved these cars!
7-03 : installed the correct rear deck lights
just a few more items and she will be ready to go.
12-04 : Finally got the door decals for my CHP car
thanks to my buddy Leo @ SCR.
OK, I need to thank "Rick" in Reno, Nevada for helping me to find an original unmolested 1971 440 with heavy duty torqueflite transmission. This came about when he purchased a car from the original owner in 2006. Can you imagine finding a 1971 Dodge in it's original condition still running and owned by a little old lady? It has all the correct parts dated as they should be with an assembly date 3 days after my Polara. ... incredible!
I disassembled the engine. It is a regular 440 with 4bbl but shares many of the same parts that the CHP engines had from the factory. I am using a few of the parts to complete the rebuilding of the engine that came in the car when I bought it to factory specs. This has been a long term learning experience. The 1970-71 440 HP has heavy rods, a special crankshaft and balancer because it is externally balanced. It is the last of Chrysler's high compression motors. I found a business in New York that supplied me with a NOS factory HP camshaft to replace the worn one in this motor. I want to thank the 440 source for selling me replacement valve springs correct for the application. They have also been a great souce of information about 440 engines in general. I expect to get the connecting rods back this week resized with the pistons pressed on. I have the correct and original torque converter, rebuilt and externally balanced for the heavy rods/ six pack lower end. The transmission was serviced and the seals have been replaced. It is in excellent condition. I installed the engine during the weekend of Thanksgiving, 2007. This motor is conservatively rated at 370 horse power and 480 lb/ft of torque. As it turns out, when I got under the car to ready it for the install, I checked the transmission case to find that this car still has it's factory installed HD torqueflite. This was quite a surprise since I have been under the impression the transmission came out of a motorhome. I just never looked before.
The heavy duty torqueflite will be installed in the 1971 County Sheriffs car behind the 383. Most of the parts I saved from the parts car are destined for the County Sheriffs Polara. I have already installed several body parts and the wheels. The original transmission is tired and leaks from the converter seal. It also gets the front bumper and some engine parts.
