1978 Plymouth Fury patrol car

[cbodybob]

Ok I looked at this car today. It’s a former NC Highway patrol car with 440 engine. Three fender tags. I am friends with the seller. This was his patrol car when he was a police officer in a local small town. The town purchased it from the state after they retired it. Heres my question. He says it has a Dana 60. I told him i didn’t think they put Dana 60’s in cars in 78 & it probably was a 9 1/4 rear. So jack it up Bob & have a look. Well I trust my friends eyes as he says there’s a Dana under it. Maybe it was swapped in at some point. Or did the A38 package include a Dana 60 in 1978. So today I would have looked myself & taken measurements, but we just had that tropical storm roll over us & three days of steady sometimes hard rain & the ground is just too mushy. I would like to buy the car for the parts as it’s too rusty to restore and the Dana 60 I have a Magnum i would like to use it for. My friend bought it a month ago to save it from being crushed. That’s what we do. We travel around the area looking old cars to buy. Save & resell the ones we can. Part out the ones too far gone. Funny thing it may be the same patrol car that pulled me in 1978 for street racing. The guy I was racing didn’t stop like I did & the patrolman took off after him. My chance to safely get away. But that story is for another day. I’m all grown up & mature now. Watch my YouTube channel Bobs Classic cars & parts if you want to see some of the cars we’ve come across over the years.

 

[DeltaV]

One of our members has posted this handy spotter's guide:

It would be nice if it's a Sure-Grip differential.

 

[DeltaV]

Ok I looked at this car today. It’s a former NC Highway patrol car with 440 engine. Three fender tags. I am friends with the seller. This was his patrol car when he was a police officer in a local small town. The town purchased it from the state after they retired it. Heres my question. He says it has a Dana 60. I told him i didn’t think they put Dana 60’s in cars in 78 & it probably was a 9 1/4 rear. So jack it up Bob & have a look. Well I trust my friends eyes as he says there’s a Dana under it. Maybe it was swapped in at some point. Or did the A38 package include a Dana 60 in 1978. So today I would have looked myself & taken measurements, but we just had that tropical storm roll over us & three days of steady sometimes hard rain & the ground is just too mushy. I would like to buy the car for the parts as it’s too rusty to restore and the Dana 60 I have a Magnum i would like to use it for. My friend bought it a month ago to save it from being crushed. That’s what we do. We travel around the area looking old cars to buy. Save & resell the ones we can. Part out the ones too far gone. Funny thing it may be the same patrol car that pulled me in 1978 for street racing. The guy I was racing didn’t stop like I did & the patrolman took off after him. My chance to safely get away. But that story is for another day. I’m all grown up & mature now. Watch my YouTube channel Bobs Classic cars & parts if you want to see some of the cars we’ve come across over the years.

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This source says 9-1/4"

Virginia State Police 1978 Plymouth Fury A38 - Code 3 Garage

 

[DeltaV]

Also, see this:

Post in thread 'Dana 60 identification' Dana 60 identification

 

[440 4 speed]

Some of the 78 Fury Highway patrol cars were the FASTEST PRODUCTION cars in the USA.

 

[haywire 440]

Last year for the 440 in the police cars but I’m probably stating the obvious.

This one is mine in Arkansas and combined with yours Bob something good might happen. It had the 9 1/4 rearend. I’ve seen a few of your videos.

Here it is on my trailer and early in a Texas field. It has the tow package and an Arkansas title.

 

[Don Frelier]

I had a 77 fury with a 360 and a heavy duty towing package.
It had a 9-1/4" rear.

 

[Detective D]

99.9% it is a 9.25 with a 3:23 sure grip.
You won't break it. Think you can? Prove it.

You might want that car for other goodies on it too. The brakes should be bigger, probably bigger torsion bars, might have sway bars, probably a bigger alternator, almost certainly a huge radiator, big transmission cooler, probably power steering cooler. If the police wheels are on it yet, clean them up they are worth some change, so are the caps.
Oh you for sure want the dash cluster.
Don't crush it till it is picked clean, the grill and turn signals, the tail lights, all that stuff is unobtainium because people turn their nose up at anything after 1970 it seems like so repops don't exist. Does it have the stainless trim around the wheel wells? All that little stuff is impossible to find.
Want to drop it off for me in WI? LOL, I could use some stuff off it and the windshield to boot. My 78 Monaco only needs a couple items but the windshield is cracked. I might have the only one left in the state, most have returned to the earth or been in the county fair derby by now.

 

[cbodybob]

Last year for the 440 in the police cars but I’m probably stating the obvious.

This one is mine in Arkansas and combined with yours Bob something good might happen. It had the 9 1/4 rearend. I’ve seen a few of your videos.

Here it is on my trailer and early in a Texas field. It has the tow package and an Arkansas title.View attachment 1729805

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I’m wanting to do a 440 4 speed swap on the Magnum which is why I’m interested in the car. It has the stub frame I’ll need if it’s not rotted out. I called the owner tonight & he said the rear end was changed in the early 90’s & he’s pretty sure a Dana 60 was installed. I guess the only way to know is to jack it up & have a look. Your car is cool. Good luck with it

 

[cbodybob]

99.9% it is a 9.25 with a 3:23 sure grip.
You won't break it. Think you can? Prove it.

You might want that car for other goodies on it too. The brakes should be bigger, probably bigger torsion bars, might have sway bars, probably a bigger alternator, almost certainly a huge radiator, big transmission cooler, probably power steering cooler. If the police wheels are on it yet, clean them up they are worth some change, so are the caps.
Oh you for sure want the dash cluster.
Don't crush it till it is picked clean, the grill and turn signals, the tail lights, all that stuff is unobtainium because people turn their nose up at anything after 1970 it seems like so repops don't exist. Does it have the stainless trim around the wheel wells? All that little stuff is impossible to find.
Want to drop it off for me in WI? LOL, I could use some stuff off it and the windshield to boot. My 78 Monaco only needs a couple items but the windshield is cracked. I might have the only one left in the state, most have returned to the earth or been in the county fair derby by now.

It has a lot of cop stuff still with it

 

[jimbosride]

Run your fender tag by Tom at Rocket Restoration. He's very knowledgeable on cop cars

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