parted 68 on ebay/pie pans

["Rob P" <fristpenny@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I meant to ask whether you thought the TNT was the same as a regular 440 or 
that this car didn't have a TNT.  I think the exhaust manifolds are supposed 
to be a fairly significant difference, but I'm biased because I have a Super 
Commando 440 in my 'cuda. I probably learn more here to help with that care 
as I do for my '80's Imperials.  For '70's it's easy, you just check the vin 
#. U is 375 hp Super Commando/Magnum/TNT, V is 440 six pack.

Now, what years do Imperials have air cleaner pie plate stickers?  I think I 
saw one with the LeBaron emblem that I'd like to put on my non-stock 360 
'83.  Does anybody repro' them?


>From: dardal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: RE: IML: parted 68 on ebay
>Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2004 10:13:43 -0500
>
>Quoting Rob P <fristpenny@xxxxxxxxxxx>:
>
> > >  Cheap source for a TNT 440 for his rubber burning toy.  I told him 
>there
> > >is
> > >nothing special with that 440 even though it says TNT on the air 
>cleaner,
> >
> >
> > I'm with you on keeping restorable cars together, but aren't the TNT 
>motors
> > somewhat different than the regular 440s?  Like the Super Commando
> > (Plymouth) and Magnum (Dodge)?
> >
>
>Rob, this was/is supposedly a low mileage car, so it probably has the 
>original
>engine.  The high output 440 with the bigger cam (I think called TNT on the
>Chrysler line) was not offered in the Imperial.  The only engine option
>available in the 68's only as far as I am concerned was the dual 440, which 
>had
>a dual exhaust and dual snorkel air cleaner.  Even though this offers a 
>useful
>performance improvement, its not the "TNT".  So, what I suspect is that his 
>car
>just had the TNT stickers/air cleaner cover.  I did suggest to him that he 
>can
>check the ID plate behind the AC compressor, this will tell him for sure
>whether or not he has the "high output" 440.  But at any case, what really
>makes the "hp" an "hp", is its 268/284 duration cam (as opposed to the 
>256/260
>of the standard 440), so if the engine comes off the car, replacing the cam 
>is
>trivial and relatively inexpensive.  The other differences, like the high 
>rise
>exhaust manifolds and windage tray make little performance difference, but 
>they
>can also be added (the former may be hard to find or expensive).  So, as I 
>told
>him, his 440 is nothing special, and he is better off leaving where it is 
>and
>try to sell the car as a unit.
>
>Most of his items have zero bids anyway, so far.  I hope it stays that way, 
>so
>the guy can realize fast that he won't make a fortune out of these parts 
>and
>put it back together again.  As for IML members that may be tempted, there 
>are
>many people in the IML that have unrestorable parts cars just for this 
>reason,
>and are willing to hod on to them for years.
>
>D^2
>
>