My first zero option car! I think

[dibbons]

What did the fleet taxis use back then?

 

[chinze57]

What did the fleet taxis use back then?

I talked to someone who used to be a taxi driver back in the 60’s. He said he drove a Chrysler 4-door with a slant 6 and a 904. Said he couldn’t have gotten it to higher than 60 with all the weight of the car and passengers but that it was reloable

 

[dibbons]

I figured taxis used a slant six, but which one?

 

[chinze57]

I figured taxis used a slant six, but which one?

Good question. Don’t know if it was the 170 or the 225. I could see it being a 225 with the heavy duty package for suspension

 

[hosehead]

My '64 Dart 170 was just like that '66. No options. I put in a 3.55 rear gear and an overdrive 4spd behind the stock 170. Nothing but a carb off a 225, and a 2" pipe with a thrush muffler. While it was by no means fast, it was fun to drive. The best part is you could drive it flat out 100% of the time. With the overdrive, you could get on the interstate and hold it flat on the floor as long as you want. It would never go over 80mph.

We put it on a dyno once for kicks, and it made a legitimate 56whp and 90ftlbs. We then stuck an electric leaf blower down the throat of the carb and made nearly 61whp!!!

I've still got that engine in my shed. Hell, it powered my brothers '65 Coronet sedan for a couple of years. Never had one problem out of it!

Honestly, I love that little 170! I should build it up and put it in the lightest body I can find!

Man, this sounds like a fun car.....lol

 

[cojohnso]

The Chrysler slant 6 made the "Best engine design list" on every motor site I've seen. Because it's inline it will out torque the V-6. (Of comparable size and flow) And because it's a slant? It can "ultimately" out HP the true inline 6 cylinders. A very decent working compromise. Just never had the chance to develop.

 

[vntned]

The slant if the slant six is ultimately the deciding factor in it NOT making horsepower! If it was a regular inline 6, there would be enough room to run a crossflow head and actually make some big power. Counterflow heads are very limited.

 

[sccachallenger]

I never drove a 170, on paper you'd think it would wanna rev. But of course it would need to breathe first.
Should be good with a manual trans, and a good tune-up, valve adjustment, etc. I'm sure you'll let us know.

 

[sireland67]

I agree about the 198.I can see going from a 170 to 225 but a 198 ?

I had a 198 in an old 68 dodge van, is was a big a dog as any other slant six.
Reliable, but no power.

 

[vntned]

My 170 did seem snappier on the revs, but the 1bbl carb limited it at 4500rpm.

One time I did switch the tach over to 8cylinder to screw with an old timer Mopar guy I know. He was always bashing slants because they don't turn up very far. With the tach on the V8 setting, it showed 7000rpm when I wound it out. He was blown away that a slant could turn that high! I never did tell him how I cheated!

 

[FISHYPETE]

The 66 Fury and Belvedre taxis were 225 and 318

What did the fleet taxis use back then?

 

[Commando66]

I had a pretty bare bones 64 Valiant wagon. 170/3 speed on the column, no radio, no rear arm rests. The most surprising thing was the normally chrome strip that separates the door panels from the upper door was painted the blue interior color. The 170 was very underwhelming. It liked to be in second gear around town.

 

[hosehead]

I had a pretty bare bones 64 Valiant wagon. 170/3 speed on the column, no radio, no rear arm rests. The most surprising thing was the normally chrome strip that separates the door panels from the upper door was painted the blue interior color. The 170 was very underwhelming. It liked to be in second gear around town.

Thats kind of what I'm expecting....
But aside from the little slant rather than the 225, I'm pretty excited about it. I'll see how it runs but may end up building a beefed up 225 and a floor shifted four speed for it down the road. I love the strippo optioned cars. Especially the sedans.