[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by John Lang

X-Tech nab, I hate to say your wrong, BUT, 64 Ply & Dodge Hemi cars had hinged hoods, with very lite springs ! Two guys from my home had HEMI cars in 64, 1 had the alum package, in a Savoy, the other had the HEMI in a 64 Belvedere 2 Dr Htp which was a Steel car, except for the Scoop Which was Alum !! There was only 13 HEMI cars built with the Steel Package in the only available body which was a BELVEDERE 2 Dr HTP ! Dodge also built the STEEL version using the 440 2 Dr HTp, and the HEMI ,also with the Alum scoop ! Dodge also built approx 13 Steel cars, the rest of the HEMI cars had the THE ALUM package ........! Later,,,,,,,, John

I will have to argue that point. I grew up next to a neighbor (Dan "SMOKER" Smith) and I was 17 years old at the time (1964) so I was really into cars at that time. His Original 1964 Alum 2 door Hemi Savoy had wing nuts on all 4 corners of the hood from the factory to hold the hood on. No hood hinges were present. Same deal on the 1964 Hemi Alum 2 door sedan 330 Dodges (Color Me Gone, Ramchargers, etc.) Some had Alum dash boards and some didnt. Some had Alum doors and some didnt. After all the time has gone by I believe most made the hood eaiser to handle by themselves by making the hood attached by hinges. No argument on the steel Hemi cars although the number built is 12. ALL of the steel cars were built on June 8, 1964 AFTER the lite wt. package cars were built and these were built to satisfy NASCAR requirements at that time. ALL of the lite wt. sedans were built in May 18, 21, and 22 of 1964. That is well documented. The 1964 Max wedge Alum cars had lite wt. springs no matter which body style the Alum was mounted on though most were 2 door sedans. All of the early Mopar stuff was not written is stone. Note proof of what I say is a picture of a 64 Dodge Hemi 330 sedan on page 52 of "MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE" Mopar Super Stock Drag Racing 1962-1969 written by Jim Schild. On page 53 there is mention in the text about the light wt. body package on the Plymouth (code 311) and the Dodge (code 611) using four threaded and plated hood pins being used with large plated wing nuts. Dont forget that a lot of Max Wedge racers converted their cars to Hemi power later in the year (Bud Fauble, Tommy Grove) so these could have had hinged hoods. Some continued to run the original Max Wedge hood scoop instead of the Hemi scoop at that time. As far as A/FX cars their were only 4 produced from original S/S cars (2 Dodges & 2 Plymouths). These were called 2% cars. Dave Strickler "Dodge Boys", RamChargers, Tommy Groves Melrose Missle, and Al Eckstrand's "Law Man". Tom Groves car was originaly a wedge car. They also show a 64 Dodge 330 Hemi car on page 55 of this book as a restoration (not a perfect restoration as in no Magniesum front wheels. All of the Lite wt. package Hemi cars were so equip from the factory with these wheels) showing hood hinges and NO lite wt. springs attached. It was 45 + years ago when these cars hit the strips so who is to say what is correct or not? Later back at you. Terry