Do you have trouble with the rear brakes locking up? Most of the '70-'72 cars were horrible about locking up the rears when the brakes were stomped on hard... wondering if you were able to correct that little problem?
What other major components did you have to replace on your car during resto? Those poor things were run into the ground by the time they were sold off, so it must take a great deal of money to get one back in decent shape. Hope you didn't have to replace too much sheet metal -those things were really welded together, so it seems like it would be a royal pain cutting them apart to replace a panel. BTW, some pics of the beasty would be cool! <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Fri Mar 18 2011, 02:12AM ]</span>
Unrestored, 1966 cop motor equipped car. I don't know ANY factory stock C body that can fry the tires like that from a ROLLING start ..... at least one that hasn't been modified in some way.
This car is untouched, unmolested, still running points. It's faster than any 440 stock car I've ever been in. It will scare you....if you're not used to powerful motors.
The only explanation for it is that the motor was "massaged" as to the "legend" that remains "from the factory" as a "police motor". This I have from the original owner, to whom the car was delivered with the RCMP motor.
Maybe a B or and E body with a regular 440 magnum or six pack could do that, but a full size loaded C body? (Power seats, power windows, power this power that.....)
How else to you explain it? <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Fri Mar 18 2011, 10:26AM ]</span>
Joined: Fri May 18 2007, 04:59PM
Location: Vegas
Posts: 82
69DH23 wrote ... At the end of day, parting police/CHP cars and engines, restoring/rebuilding CHP cars and engines, and sharing road stories (no matter how impressive) is still nothing more than conjecture and heresay. Pretty sure that given the conditions these motors were operated under, finding an unopened, untouched, unmolested virgin original 440 police engine nowadays is unlikely and thus anything you find now will likely not represent how they were actually built new.
I've parted close to two hundred Mopar cop cars decades ago. Never once were they molested in any way.
All were factory stock, from numerous Police / Highway patrol agencies, from numerous municipalities, cities, counties and four states.
I never bid on anything that was rebuilt/major repair.
Many of these had all paperwork included, including some Police/CHP specific brochures, and order/option forms.
I guarantee that there was no such thing as a special police engine _ No conjecture or hearsay! I'll stake my life on it!
The problem with the internet is that (genuine) reality will never trump a good myth, and any myth, repeated often enough, becomes the modern day reality.
Q-ship wrote ... The problem with the internet is that (genuine) reality will never trump a good myth, and any myth, repeated often enough, becomes the modern day reality.
Joined: Mon Oct 10 2005, 06:00PM
Location: 5000 ft above sea level
Posts: 1521
wrote ... I've parted close to two hundred Mopar cop cars decades ago. Never once were they molested in any way.
All were factory stock, from numerous Police / Highway patrol agencies, from numerous municipalities, cities, counties and four states.
I never bid on anything that was rebuilt/major repair.
Many of these had all paperwork included, including some Police/CHP specific brochures, and order/option forms.
I guarantee that there was no such thing as a special police engine _ No conjecture or hearsay! I'll stake my life on it!
The problem with the internet is that (genuine) reality will never trump a good myth, and any myth, repeated often enough, becomes the modern day reality.
Whos to say your not spreading a "myth"? You can't prove to any of us here on the board that the cars you parted did NOT have anything special about them or even that you parted out hundreds of cars, pure conjecture I say. You have the right to be a non believer, I get it, but clearly the possibilities are there. Until you can prove Kraut DID NOT catch a 20 pound Sunfish......... I believe.
"Why the 1969 CHP Polara was such a big deal (by Mike Sealey) It held the record on the Chrysler test track in Chelsea, MI for highest top end achieved by a factory-built 4 door sedan (149.6 mph). The record was eventually broken by a 1994 Caprice with an LT1 but it took 25 years and a Corvette engine to finally do it. CHP and LAPD were prized enough customers that Chrysler made specific parts for each department, factory part numbers and all. CHP even had its own cam grind among other things.
Do you have trouble with the rear brakes locking up? Most of the '70-'72 cars were horrible about locking up the rears when the brakes were stomped on hard... wondering if you were able to correct that little problem?
What other major components did you have to replace on your car during resto? Those poor things were run into the ground by the time they were sold off, so it must take a great deal of money to get one back in decent shape. Hope you didn't have to replace too much sheet metal -those things were really welded together, so it seems like it would be a royal pain cutting them apart to replace a panel. BTW, some pics of the beasty would be cool!
It locked up the pass rear wheel due to being out of adjustment, when I restored the car I did the wheel cylinders/ drums/ pads/ hoses and I replaced the proportioning valve. All good now, stops very good and very straight without lock up...not to say that if you REALLY stomp it from a decent speed they wont lock...they will.
I was fortunate component wise that the original motor/trans was in the car and I bought it from a retired CHiP. They werent supposed to buy their own cars so he bought it thru a friend (Don Graff) for $905.00 bucks at the auction. The officer took very good care of it so rust was a non-issue, it was two years old and had 70K on it, the officer didnt put much more on while he had it. I bought it in 1999 with 101k on it. needed seats recovered, and the usual mechanical..exhaust, power steering pump rebuild, brakes and I had to rebuild the steering column rag joint and bearings. I drove it two years to document what had to be done then went thru it from bottom up. Its like new today EXCEPT for that dang heater core crapped out...that will keep me busy next weekend for sure!! OK, heres a pic of it...Click on the thumbnail to enlarge.
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Fri Mar 18 2011, 10:48PM ]</span>
For you to find one with only 70K on patrol duty is nice (and rare)! California must have had a time limit on their cars rather than a cost limit like ours did. A good car that didn't need a lot of parts could last four years or more before it's budget ran dry. Most of our cars were smoldering heaps by the time they went to auction: many had over 200K on the odometers, shot front suspensions, and crap for motors.
Anyone crazy enough to buy a car that beat up could pick one up for $250-$400. We weren't supposed to buy them either, but nobody wanted them anyway, they were so tired and so plain (rubber floor mats, plain bench seats, no radio, white plastic steering wheels that were flaking apart). Wow how times have changed -we couldn't perceive at the time that they would one day be sought after collectors items!
Post more pics, that one you've got is a beauty! I always thought that was the best looking model of them all - sort of like a steel fist in a velvet glove! I like that push bar- it completes the package, and those fat arse tires are perfect! Do you have all the radio and PA equipment too?
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Sat Mar 19 2011, 03:12AM ]</span>
Krautmaster wrote ... For you to find one with only 70K on patrol duty is nice (and rare)! California must have had a time limit on their cars rather than a cost limit like ours did. A good car that didn't need a lot of parts could last four years or more before it's budget ran dry. Most of our cars were smoldering heaps by the time they went to auction: many had over 200K on the odometers, shot front suspensions, and crap for motors.
Anyone crazy enough to buy a car that beat up could pick one up for $250-$400. We weren't supposed to buy them either, but nobody wanted them anyway, they were so tired and so plain (rubber floor mats, plain bench seats, no radio, white plastic steering wheels that were flaking apart). Wow how times have changed -we couldn't perceive at the time that they would one day be sought after collectors items!
Post more pics, that one you've got is a beauty! I always thought that was the best looking model of them all - sort of like a steel fist in a velvet glove! I like that push bar- it completes the package, and those fat arse tires are perfect! Do you have all the radio and PA equipment too?
I dont know if it was a time limit or just at a certain mileage, alot of the CHP polaras went to auction in fairly good shape from what I am lead to believe. Prior to auction the cars went to Vandenburg Motors for an assesment, I gather it was for liability reasons. I have the inspection sheet for my car and it faired very well, I havent seen another sheet around so I cant say for sure that ALL cars went there?
sort of like a steel fist in a velvet glove---AWSOME I'm useing that at shows this summer LOL.
I do have all the radio gear, lights sirens etc. I tracked down the correct lights from John Dorgan at Beacon Sales, The sirens were found through word of mouth and the CHP radio was an Ebay find (very lucky to get it). I missed a radio head on ebay the first round then the seller called me and said he had ANOTHER head with the CHP radio ID decal still on it....Not Cheap but worth every penny. CHP didnt use gumball dash lights, in fact all they really used was a driver side mounted red spot light and highbeams on the pursuit dedicated cars, I use the Polara for funerals of fallen officers/fundraisers and parades and wanted a bit more lighting for safety.
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Sat Mar 19 2011, 10:35AM ]</span>
That car looks like it's only a week old, great job on the resto!!! Even the steering wheel is intact and you've got the ''easy clean" seats and floor mats...being one of the younger guys, I was volunteered to clean up messes from drunks and accident victims-yuck (but at least it was easy-just get out the hose and spray). Does yours have the 1/8" thick sheet metal plate in the back of the front seat (to prevent a criminal from attempting to stab the officer)? I wonder if the Police still use any of the radio bands yours uses since they were supposed to change them (the reason we had to switch to digital TV to open up more channels for the police/fire dept) - it would be interesting to listen in.
NM cars didn't have gum balls or light bars either - slowed them down too much- those were for the city cops and sheriffs. Our lights were two red ones in the back window and a red and blue one in the grille with a separate circuit to make the high beams flash-wouldn't work too well with the headlights flashing at night! They had one hand held spotlight that sat in a bracket on the dash where your clip board is-right next to the shotgun.
Management and detectives had all off white (actually kind of very very light tan) cars with light bars and 383's - no go fast goodies for them!
Now for the fun question: do you ever get to take her out on the highway and open her up? There is nothing that sounds as good as a big block Mopar trying to suck the hood down through the carb while the exhaust pipes roar! One thing that always peeved me was that we weren't allowed to drive them any further than in and out of the shop bay and parking lot- to test our handi work we had to ride along with an officer- I would have loved to have gotten behind the wheel and opened one up... Should you ever feel the desire to want a convertible, I'll gladly trade cars with you!
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Sat Mar 19 2011, 12:03PM ]</span>