My 1969 M Code 440 Dart GTS

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George Greene

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I am done with the motor, extremely rare block, left side exhaust manifold and motor mount.

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The block because it is an RB with bosses for the drivers side motor mount? Are there other differences for the A body?
 
Welcome to the forum! How many blades are on that fan? Wow
 
Hyper_pak said:
The block because it is an RB with bosses for the drivers side motor mount? Are there other differences for the A body?
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The internals for the RB 440 HP's were all the same. The bosses were also common but only the M Codes got drilled and tapped. Having said that, some C body big blocks had drilled bosses too. The left side exhaust manifold is peculiar due to the raised block (RB) and slightly different to the 383 B block (B) which was used in the 383 cars. Also the oil pan was different since the engines set lower in the crossmember so as to give top side clearance for the air cleaner. There is a "notch" in the front of the pan so the tie rod could clear when turning. The 383's and 440's got a beefier idler arm, more weight from the bigger motors. There were some other oddities but I won't go on. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks George, you posted extremely rare block. I was just wondering what about the "block" made it rare. I know there are quite a few special parts for the installation in an A Body.
 
George Greene said:
The internals for the RB 440 HP's were all the same. The bosses were also common but only the M Codes got drilled and tapped. Having said that, some C body big blocks had drilled bosses too. The left side exhaust manifold is peculiar due to the raised block (RB) and slightly different to the 383 B block (B) which was used in the 383 cars. Also the oil pan was different since the engines set lower in the crossmember so as to give top side clearance for the air cleaner. There is a "notch" in the front of the pan so the tie rod could clear when turning. The 383's and 440's got a beefier idler arm, more weight from the bigger motors. There were some other oddities but I won't go on. Hope this helps.
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I don't mind hearing any other "oddities." Interesting.
 
Lord Sparky said:
I don't mind hearing any other "oddities." Interesting.
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Well, they had a limited warranty, 12 month 12,000, but no drivetrain warranty from the u-joint back, no P/S, A/C, P/B or PD/B, all automatics 727 big block housing with the short "A" body tail shaft (no 4 spds. since Chrysler required Dana’s with all manual transmissions for 440’s, 440-6, and 426), all came with 3:55 ratio but you could option for a 3:91, they were a mid year option for the GTS engine, Chrysler even retro fitted some with the 3 x 2 carb setup (quickly rejected that because of traction problems), a brake proportioning valve heat shield came on them and probably on the 383 cars. It is controversial but Chrysler has been reported to have built these cars as 383 cars minus the engine/transmission and wreckered them nearby to Hurst-Campbell for completion. The radiators are hard to find since they were 22” three row, part no.: 2949065, I had to buy a whole car once just to get the radiator out of it ( 1968 Dart 383 car with the ‘69 radiator in it). Google Hemmings 2010 M, M Good 1969 Dodge Dart GTS for a good tech read.
 
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George Greene said:
Well, they had a limited warranty, 12 month 12,000, but no drivetrain warranty from the u-joint back, no P/S, A/C, P/B or PD/B, all automatics (no 4 spds. since Chrysler required Dana’s with all manual transmissions for 440’s, 440-6, and 426), all came with 3:55 ratio but you could option for a 3:91, they were a mid year option for the GTS engine, Chrysler even retro fitted some with the 3 x 2 carb setup (quickly rejected that because of traction problems), a brake proportioning valve heat shield came on them and probably on the 383 cars. It is controversial but Chrysler has been reported to have built these cars as 383 cars minus the engine/transmission and wreckered them nearby to Hurst-Campbell for completion. The radiators are hard to find since they were 22” three row, part no.: 2949065, I had to buy a whole car once just to get the radiator out of it ( 1968 Dart 383 car with the ‘69 radiator in it). Google Hemmings 2010 M, M Good 1969 Dodge Dart GTS for a good tech read.
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That's the first time I've ever heard the 3 x 2 carb. from Chrysler story relative to these cars.
 
davescuda said:
Yes its true, They were supposed to be 6 pack cars.
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Damn! There was a green M code fastback for sale out of Phoenix, Az many years (12 or so ) ago that had a six pack on it. The guy that I spoke with said that Norms may have installed it soon after it was purchased, but he wasn't really sure. He eventually put it up for sale but remove the six pack because he couldn't get it to run properly. The last time I saw the car it was in Tennessee.
 
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George Greene said:
It is controversial but Chrysler has been reported to have built these cars as 383 cars minus the engine/transmission and wreckered them nearby to Hurst-Campbell for completion.
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I saw this car this summer at Norwalk. Tis a beauty. Anybody know the back story on it?? Members car??
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George Greene said:
The internals for the RB 440 HP's were all the same. The bosses were also common but only the M Codes got drilled and tapped. Having said that, some C body big blocks had drilled bosses too. The left side exhaust manifold is peculiar due to the raised block (RB) and slightly different to the 383 B block (B) which was used in the 383 cars. Also the oil pan was different since the engines set lower in the crossmember so as to give top side clearance for the air cleaner. There is a "notch" in the front of the pan so the tie rod could clear when turning. The 383's and 440's got a beefier idler arm, more weight from the bigger motors. There were some other oddities but I won't go on. Hope this helps.
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That's right and that left side manifold you have there was the best flowing out of all of the A body big block manifolds.

Really nice. I am really diggin how you're duplicating over spray in areas like the top of the exhaust manifold and the battery ground cable. That's not an original survivor car you see that doesn't have that.
 
George Greene said:
Well, they had a limited warranty, 12 month 12,000, but no drivetrain warranty from the u-joint back, no P/S, A/C, P/B or PD/B, all automatics (no 4 spds. since Chrysler required Dana’s with all manual transmissions for 440’s, 440-6, and 426), all came with 3:55 ratio but you could option for a 3:91, they were a mid year option for the GTS engine, Chrysler even retro fitted some with the 3 x 2 carb setup (quickly rejected that because of traction problems), a brake proportioning valve heat shield came on them and probably on the 383 cars. It is controversial but Chrysler has been reported to have built these cars as 383 cars minus the engine/transmission and wreckered them nearby to Hurst-Campbell for completion. The radiators are hard to find since they were 22” three row, part no.: 2949065, I had to buy a whole car once just to get the radiator out of it ( 1968 Dart 383 car with the ‘69 radiator in it). Google Hemmings 2010 M, M Good 1969 Dodge Dart GTS for a good tech read.
Click to expand...

Splittin hairs, but the 3.55 is the 8.750 gear. The 3.54 is the Dana.
 
George Greene said:
Well, they had a limited warranty, 12 month 12,000, but no drivetrain warranty from the u-joint back, no P/S, A/C, P/B or PD/B, all automatics (no 4 spds. since Chrysler required Dana’s with all manual transmissions for 440’s, 440-6, and 426), all came with 3:55 ratio but you could option for a 3:91, they were a mid year option for the GTS engine, Chrysler even retro fitted some with the 3 x 2 carb setup (quickly rejected that because of traction problems), a brake proportioning valve heat shield came on them and probably on the 383 cars. It is controversial but Chrysler has been reported to have built these cars as 383 cars minus the engine/transmission and wreckered them nearby to Hurst-Campbell for completion. The radiators are hard to find since they were 22” three row, part no.: 2949065, I had to buy a whole car once just to get the radiator out of it ( 1968 Dart 383 car with the ‘69 radiator in it). Google Hemmings 2010 M, M Good 1969 Dodge Dart GTS for a good tech read.
Click to expand...
Amazing, and still with the 14''x 5.5'' wide, 5 on 4 small bolt pattern
 
A56 said:
Amazing, and still with the 14''x 5.5'' wide, 5 on 4 small bolt pattern
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Yes, and their sales on these cars were not the best because of the heavy motor which caused ill handling and too much weight up front creating excessive loss of traction. The consumer quickly learned that the 340 was cheaper and could eat the 440’s lunch in a street race, of course slicks and other modifications greatly solved that problem.
 
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George Greene said:
Yes, and their sales on these cars were not the best because of the heavy motor which caused ill handling and too much weight up front creating excessive loss of traction. The consumer quickly learned that the 340 was cheaper and could eat the 440’s lunch in a street race, of course slicks and other modifications greatly solved that problem.
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Lol, we all know they didn't build these for auto cross. It still would've been cool if they had put a four speed in them although I believe there also may have been an issue with the z-bar fitment. Didn't they put 4 speeds in '67 440 GTX's with 8 3/4 rears?
 
Back n about 1995 I had the chance to have bought from the original owner, an M code cuda # engine and all, just missing the hood scoops but that's another story. He told me of an original M code 4 speed car in St Louis, he swears was original, supposedly the only one. (one of none??).
I had a #'s 67 383 Cuda but it was changed over from an auto. Surely a 67-9 A body 440 would have been easily doable with the 4 speed.
 
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