64 Plymouth GT/EA in Ennis

[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

[Dave Turner]

Terry, that's just too much detail and reference laden not to be factual!!

[X-TECH MAN]

P.S. one more note. In every picture of S/S run offs at the Indy nationals of 1964 the Hemi cars are shown WITHOUT the Magniesum front wheels and running steel replacement wheels so should we assume that NHRA said NO to the lite wt. front wheels in S/S and only allowed them in FX? It could be the same story on the hood hinges on 1964 cars as the 1965 cars later came with bolt on hoods and without mag wheels. Are there any 65 + year old Hemi racers still out there who could shed more info about this?

[troublemaker427]

All four of the '64 AFX cars "2%" cars started as max wedge cars. In early photos they even had the double hump hood scoops. All of the available 426 Hemis were in Daytona going in circles....

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by troublemaker427

All four of the '64 AFX cars "2%" cars started as max wedge cars. In early photos they even had the double hump hood scoops. All of the available 426 Hemis were in Daytona going in circles....

I have a picture of Bud Faubles "HONKER" after it set the NHRA record at Cecile County in early 1964. It is a 440 bench seat 2 door hardtop with the alum front end (X Max Wedge car). It still has the Max Wedge hood scoop but the grill was changed to the single head light grill with the 426 Hemi under the hood. Never assembly line produced but pass NHRA tear down anyway so anything was possable.

[BIGDAD]

WOW !!!

Looks like a swatted a hornets nest ?

I am not the sharpest pencil in the box but, two things I "think" I seen ..

The hood to me appeared to be glass and the heads appeared t o be alum (seen what looked like alum poking thru the paint ..but, I'm not positive so do say I said for sure on either of those..

Here it is

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by BIGDAD

WOW !!!

Looks like a swatted a hornets nest ?

I am not the sharpest pencil in the box but, two things I "think" I seen ..

The hood to me appeared to be glass and the heads appeared t o be alum (seen what looked like alum poking thru the paint ..but, I'm not positive so do say I said for sure on either of those..

Here it is

Fiber Glass was never accepted as a legal replacement for the Alum front end components in NHRA. IHRA does allow it due to cost and avaliablity. That is a " 2 door hard top" so the hood would HAVE to be hinged and was most likley a Max Wedge car when new unless its a put together car "born: with a different engine.

[RJ]

Originally Posted by BIGDAD

WOW !!!

Looks like a swatted a hornets nest ?

I am not the sharpest pencil in the box but, two things I "think" I seen ..

The hood to me appeared to be glass and the heads appeared t o be alum (seen what looked like alum poking thru the paint ..but, I'm not positive so do say I said for sure on either of those..

Here it is

Looks a lot like Chuck Rayburn's car.

[Bobby DiDomenico]

Originally Posted by troublemaker427

All four of the '64 AFX cars "2%" cars started as max wedge cars. In early photos they even had the double hump hood scoops. All of the available 426 Hemis were in Daytona going in circles....

Hey Jody, nice car. Can we see a larger image?

In any case I think it will be cool to see a big car in these classes. And I can't wait until someone does a 440 car, so will it be Shaker Hood or the 340 Sixpack scoop?

[John Lang]

X-TECH-MAN,,,,,, All I can tell you is the way these cars came from the dealer, which is the way I stated, Period. No arguing meant or intended ,just as I saw then ! I went with both Gentlemen to pick up these cars, the Belv steel car, he drove home , and I followed ! The Alum car he borowed a single axle trailer to get it home ! The steel car price was around $3645.00 ,don't remember what the Alum car cost ! The gentelman that purchased the steel Belv, passed away about 5years ago, and his grandson got the car. The Alum car got sold in around 70 or 71, don't know where it went ! When my friend passed and gave the car to the grandson, it was like it came off the truck, except for the wheels ! He kept the steel wheels !. Now much Later,,,,,,,,, John