Steve writes:
Check out Bruticia,
my 1964 Chrysler 300:
Update, February 2004
A lot of progress has been made on the 300 lately. I've got the Mopar Electronic Conversion kit, MSD Wires/Coil ready to
install. But the greatest news....... After months of searching, I have found Shorty Headers that will work on 64's etc! The vendor is ssautochrome.com. I don't know if they have 3/8th inch flanges but with an "old school" exhaust person they will fit quite nicely. The "shorties" are center dumps on both side and the pipe flanges are angled and adjustable.
I finally found a shop where the owner is a true gearhead! Last week I took the '64 in with pictures of the headers as well as pictures of Heddman shorty headers. He said it would be no problem putting on the Chrome Shorties from ssautochrome.com but to stay away from the Heddman's as they are a mid-length header that angles back and down requiring a mini starter. He also said that the Shorties were the way to go as the pipes can be bent to clear the starter/linkages much easier.
All together the exhaust will cost under $500.00; $155.00 headers (includes shipping) $85.00 for Summit 2 1/4 inch Welded Mufflers and $240.00 for a 2 1/4 inch system with X-Pipe and 2"x3" rectangular tips out the back. This will give my 383 a little more room to breath for the following cam change which will be in by Fall 2004. I'll be getting the Competition Cams XE268h kit.
I already have a '72-'73 400 Spreadbore intake with a 750cfm. Q-Jet that I've "tuned" using Doug Roes' Q-Jet book. No drilling on passages just different jets/primary rods/hangers/secondary rods and "tweaking" the tension on the "air doors". Q-jets work nice when set right. I stand behind them 150%. A little trick...I used a '69 Buick Q-jet with the straight in fuel feed for obvious reasons.
But came to a full-on-stop with the linkage/Chrysler Choke. [GM?] Since the 1964's have "pusher" linkage it can be awkward to say the least! I went to a local boneyard where the owner had a hatchback full of Q-jets. I got three for $60.00. When I got them home I traced the numbers and one was from a 1973 Caddy. The Caddy carb had a linkage plate that was bolted to the throttle shaft by 2 scews [screws?] and 2 locating pins/holes. I drilled out the screw holes to fit the locater pins and flipped the plate upside down which turned the "Q" into a "pusher" (this plate could be made easily with plate steel/grinder/welder; and some knowledge of fabricating).
The ABSOLUTE hardest part was tweaking the [GM?] Chrysler manual choke sring [spring?] to accept a rotation that it's not made to and fit a Q-jet that shouldn't be there in the first place! After trying for hours to get it to fit with the rod that's on the choke assembly I disassembled the entire mechanism. There is a small tab that keeps the spring inside from turning on itself. I took off the tab and cut a slot into the center of the stop tang using a hacksaw. I then reversed it and installed it back on the pivot using trusty JB Weld. Afterwards I re-tensioned the spring (3-4 turns). I located the modified tang onto the housing and JB Welded that into place. The final step was taking a linkage rod off of one of the donor carbs, heating and bending a sharp angle to go back into the choke spring, which is a very tricky step. The rod needs a bed [bend?] or "arc" to clear the spring, then straighten out, then another bend to set the height to the choke plate linkage at the carb. To keep the rod in the spring I cut two slots it the rod and used a 1/8th inch e-clip. Slight grinding will probably be needed to keep the rod from grinding on the housing, causing
the choke to hang-up. All told, about 75 hours into reworking the internals of the intake rebuilding the carburetor and designing a "new" linkage. The main linkage from the pivot to the carburetor will also need tweaking (USE A TORCH). I found an "el cheapo" propane torch works fine.
A "T Quad" would have been more practical but I'm not to fond of the Bakelite bodies or the scarcity of them overall. All told, I've got about $90 into the conversion. It is extremely involved and labor intensive. But actually looks fantastic and works equally as well! I think it's a great conversion for going to a Sreadbore Carb for cruising or all-out pedal-to-the-metal fun. It looks great, works great, and it is easy to find parts/kits for.
When those Big Ol' Secondary Lungs kick in you know ya got it happening!
Fun ride Steve!
