Mike,
It is sort of a typo. I was using the Canadian parts catalogue which lists
the Coronet V8 as a 325 on page INF-4. Every other list I have, including
the American Dodge brochure, lists the engine as a 326. I guess the
Canadian computing the size of the engines based on the bore and stroke
rounded the result down instead of up. Or the typesetter made a typo.
I should have caught that, too, as I have used the 326 figure in previous
messages on the 1959 Dodge engine line-up!
And thanks for the info on the Checker. I knew Checker switched to
Chevrolet engines from Mopar (and Continental), but never knew why the
change was made.
Bill
Vancouver, BC
> --- Bill Watson <wwatson@DIRECT.CA> wrote:
>
> > ...while the Dodge Coronet V8 used the "A" block
> > 325-cid V8.
>
> I know Bill knows the deal here, so I'm guessing this
> to be a typo (and the easiest kind to make)...
>
> The '59 Coronet used a 326 V8, which is indeed an "A"
> block and is often mistaken for a 318 poly. AFAIK this
> engine was used exclusively on '59 Coronets and a
> small number of mid-'60s Checkers. (There may be some
> truck/industrial applications I'm unaware of.)
>
> Slow supplies of the 326 were the basis for a lawsuit
> Checker filed against Chrysler, alleging that Chrysler
> failed to live up to their part of the supply
> agreement because they feared Checker as a competitor
> in the taxicab market. Checker got out of this
> contract and started using Chevy V8s, also replacing
> their Continental Sixes with Chevy Sixes after a very
> brief period of trying Rambler OHV Sixes.
>
> The 325 poly is an earlier engine, with a scalloped
> pattern at the bottom of the valve cover as opposed to
> the sawtooth pattern seen at the bottom of the
> 277/301/303/313/318 poly/326 valve cover.
>
> =====
> Mike Sealey, San Francisco CA
> '57 Plymouth Sport Suburban
> '64 Chrysler 300-K 2dr Hardtop
>
>
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