1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Looking at the NHRA stock car classification for the 1966 Belvedere I w/426 Hemi. Highlited note "available as flat hood with battery in engine compartment OR battery relocation in trunk with hood scoop and manifold 2780544 unmachined as cast".
I am aware that this was available in 1967 (RO23 package) but did not know it was a 1966 option. Is the classification correct?

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

The Chrysler contingency has the ability to get NHRA to see history through their eyes.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

That RO package, although not designated as such in 1966, was available in mid 1966. My dad opted for that in June 1966. The dealer had never ordered a "performance car" and screwed up the order. He was offered a '67 RO23 to be delivered in November of 1966. My mom did not want to wait and my dad had to compromise and bought a recently traded 1965 426 wedge wagon.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Yep, metric 200 behind BBC engines, milodon oil pans on FE's, etc

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

That oil pan is a big plus for the Ford guys.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

The metric 200 is a big plus for the GM guys, I wish the 904 TF would bolt up to a BB Chrysler, not quite as good as a 727 Pro Trans but about 7 thousand dollars cheaper.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

The things we do for the women we love!

Thanks for info/history. I did not know that.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Not a terribly tough job to convert a 66 Belv. to a 67 Belv. or the other way around.
Mostly Grille/Tail lights/Trim Items. So it really doesn't matter a lot about how guide shows it.

Kind of like several years of Duster or couple years of Demons....easy to change around. I've done it several times myself and still do.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Is that specific intake manifold required or can the "street" version be legally substituted?

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Yep, 3 speeds in PG equipped Drag Packs and Edelbrock intakes on 273s and 340s and Edelbrock heads on everything!!!

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Looking at the NHRA specs , I don't think they recognize the "Vanke" intake or the "cheater" carbs .

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

we had one about 25 yrs ago...it had fiberglass hood scoop that i always thought wasnt factory ...maybe it was...

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Uh........You nailed it Dwight !

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

still waiting for that ch4b for the 440

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

MY understanding is the Production Unmodified Street Hemi Manifold is ONLY accepted
intake in stock.

I race one in stock when they were new....Then the big carbs and modified manifold were
a Super Stock ONLY deal!

BTW: NO Alum Heads/Manifolds on our 340 Mopar Stockers and the still run competitively!

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

NHRA has to throw us a life preserver every once in awhile.
I guess stock could end up like pro stock, then everyone would have a GM car, so easy to tech and get anything you want, no bitching, moaning or crying.
Mike

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Blueprint specs list 2780543 as the manifold for the street hemi for 1966-1971 with no alternative. The only reference to the RO23 manifold 2780544 is in the highlited note in the classification guide.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

I'm not selling this, just saying............LOL

66 426 hemi plymouth - $75000 (poland ny)
ALL ORIGNAL, 4 SPEED ALL #S MATCH DRIVE ANYWHERE. FACTORY KIT WHEELS. SEECOND OWNER.
https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/...479731677.html


https://images.craigslist.org/00L0L_...ch_600x450.jpg

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Do you believe it, here's another one..................

1966 426 HEMI Plymouth Belvedere II - $74995

https://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/d...462669314.html

https://images.craigslist.org/00i0i_...SB_600x450.jpg

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

1966 Hemi Plymouths are not rare. 1966 is the highest production model year for all 426 Hemi cars from 1966-71.

As far as the scoop thing...

There are some internal memos floating around that describe a proposed package for the 1966 model year. It never got any further than that though. There was never any paperwork or information released to the public. The '67 car package is similar to the '66 package, but a little more tamed down. I seem to recall that the '66 package was to include a '65 style engine, I may be wrong on that though.

As far as the hood scoop, they were all steel on the '67 cars, and even the '65 cars for that matter. The '65 and '67 scoops are different. As for fiberglass scoops, it's either a repop or a '65 A/FX scoop, which would be noticeably different than the standard '67 scoop.

I do not agree with scoops on the '66 cars, and I'm a Mopar guy. The scoop does not offer much for a performance advantage in the way of "fresh" air, but in S/S I guess it would help with a taller intake if one would go that route.

Side note...I don't believe the '67 package cars were officially announced until very late '66, if not early '67. From my research, Sox and Landy were running standard hood cars at the AHRA Winters, and NHRA Winters in '67. I have determined that RO/WO production did not start until late February or early March of '67, and lasted for 6-8 weeks in small batches. While the cars did have sequential Shipping Order numbers, the VIN number spread between the earliest and latest cars I have recorded is quite large dispelling the "two batch" theory that has been purported by many.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Just an FYI, when you're looking to find out what was REALLY available on these cars, look at the B-J and Mecum cars. I'd love to hear the sellers explanation for the LD340 on his mint, super low mileage 71 Demon when he's asking 40 or 50 K for it.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Steve, you are correct. The '66's never came off the assy. line with hood scoops. -Al

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Weren't all those WO/RO cars 2dr hdt's, not post sedans?

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

I know I am. I have a '66 Hemi Coronet Sedan. It's been a race car since it was a month old, no scoop. The scoop being used on the '66 cars was not available until the Spring of '67.

amxron, Correct. The '67 R/W cars were hardtops only. Belvedere II, and Coronet 440's.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

The Chrysler contingency has the ability to get NHRA to see history through their eyes.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

When the AAR/TA snorkel started showing up on a lot of E bodies, I had quite a contentious conversation with Hakim. It started out with me kidding him about all these "barn finds" with factory snorkels suddenly appearing. He referred to a letter from Mopar stating it was legit that "had just been located".

I told him then I wasn't buying it, and still don't. I like mopars a lot, having owned a bunch and raced a few. But I like the idea of keeping to the rules even more.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Was not my intention to open a can of worms. Anyway, had a thought. With the over the top FS cars here to stay how about an FX (factory experimental) stock class. All vintage combinations currently running in SS/AH-D combine into one 6.5 lbs/HP stock class stick/auto heads-up. Stock rules. Not sure what/how HP would be determined.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

All you proud GM boys can look in the mirror. Your beloved NHRA allows plenty of "items" to be used when they never were available. And you know it, so quit you cherry picking. Teenage daughter is at her moms for the weekend and I don't need to hear it here. Thanks.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

I agree, my goodness it was a half century ago,
like the "famous" lady said, "what difference does it make"
Mike

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

No...like the famous lady said "Never mind"

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Don't we have some kind of racer rules committee that can address these issues, I guess not? What do we need to start one?

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

We have one, SRAC. They're well intentioned but the people at the top rarely listen.
One thing that I have learned over the years about the Racers that run in the NHRA, they are (individually) some of the most brilliant people I have ever met. When we are put into groups (2 or more), we become so collectively stupid, we couldn't open a can of beans if we were starving. NHRA has always taken full advantage of that.
What would we need to start a "functional" racers rules committee? Divine Intervention!

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

When the famous lady was diagnosed with a terminal illness, she also said "It's always something".

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

The Classification is correct. Believe Jason McCormack and Arlen Vanke had the only two 66 cars. Both were 4 speed cars, with radio, heater, sound deadener delete, hood scoop and battery in trunk. My info source says they were actually Chrysler cars. There was a lot of advertising back then that never came to pass in 66 or 67 model run years.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

I believe Jason's car is a real car. Hemi, 4 speed, race car.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

You are correct, There was no RO/WO designated package in 66 although there was advertising mentioning hood scoop, battery in trunk, radio/heater and sound deadener delete, was never available to general public as such. Sales man was trying to order package that wasn't really available. Also would have been hard to deliver 67 RO 23 car in November of 66 since they weren't built until February of 67

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

And yet, NHRA won't accept a 67 L-88 Corvette.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

I believe Jason's car was actually one of factory cars that Jack got ahold of because Jason wasn't old enough to be involved at that time.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

The 2780543 and 2780544 are one and the same Street Hemi intake. For some unknown reason Chrysler saw fit to have 2 casting numbers on the Street Hemi intake. As far as I know all Street Hemi intakes have those two casting numbers on them. So to answer your question the 2780544 casting number is just one of the two casting numbers and not a separate number for a different design manifold.

Re: 1966 Ply Belvedere
 

Are we talking about different famous lady's? The one I'm taking about should be in jail.
Mike