5th digit in Vin is P on my 68 Plymouth Sport Satellite

[warren_64]

Hi, I am hoping you all can help me out. I have a 68 Plymouth sport satellite that came factory equipped with a 340. The fifth digit in the vin code is a P. I have been told different things from this is rare to not possible as all 68 Sport Satellite came with a 318 or 383. I am trying to sell the car and want to determine a fair value for this car. Thanks!

 

[Roadbird]

My 70 Roadrunner has that "P" too and stands for a Premium Package on mine. I would think it means the same for your year model, but I could be wrong.

 

[thomas patti]

my paperwork clearly shows a"P" code in `68. a 340 4bbl hp was in fact offered. have never seen one but with momma mopar, never is not a word. patti

 

[patrick66]

The 340 was not a "B"-body engine in 1968. It was purely in "A"-body cars. The '68 engine code in the VIN is "F", "G", and "H" for 318, 383-2 and 383-4, respectively. You're probably looking at that "F" as a "P". You have a 318 car, from the sound of things. You might have a 340 that someone put in the car at one time; and if that is the case, it's worth what a 318 Sport Satellite would bring. Look at the partial VIN stamping along the rail above the oil pan. It'll read F8xxxxxx.

RP23F8 is what you have.

 

[monaco66coupe]

To date Chrysler never put a 340 in a 68' B body. Please Give us the complete VIN# again. I would love to see that Vin# in a picture. You should have RP23F8 for 318, G for two barrel, H for four Barrel.

As Patrick66 says above, look at the Six digit Sequential order number on the body and the tag. Then the tag will Identify which engine you have.

 

[patrick66]

@Patti - Yes, a 340 WAS offered in '68, but only in the Dart GTS and Barracuda S. I'll bet $$$ that you CAN indeed say "never a 340 in a '68 B-body" with absolute certainty.

 

[Car Nut]

aboard!

 

[Budnicks]

welcome to FBBO

 

[warren_64]

The fifth digit is definitely a P on the car and the title. When I am at the shop next I will post a photo. I do not have the original 340 as the car has a for 440 now just finding out that it may be extremely rare. I am trying to sell the car.

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RP23P8xxxxxx

 

[A383Wing]

would need pictures of VIN tag along with rivets and clear picture of fender tag as well

 

[warren_64]

Sorry Patrick66, I have to disagree with you. I understand where you coming from but clearly know the difference between an F & P. I know you could special order just about anything back then. Just have a feeling the car maybe worth may more than I'm asking.

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I will get that for you A383 W ing

 

[detmatt1]

The 340 was not a "B"-body engine in 1968. It was purely in "A"-body cars. The '68 engine code in the VIN is "F", "G", and "H" for 318, 383-2 and 383-4, respectively. You're probably looking at that "F" as a "P". You have a 318 car, from the sound of things. You might have a 340 that someone put in the car at one time; and if that is the case, it's worth what a 318 Sport Satellite would bring. Look at the partial VIN stamping along the rail above the oil pan. It'll read F8xxxxxx.

RP23F8 is what you have.

'68 engines didn't have a vin # stamped by the pan rail, at least the big blocks didn't, that started in '69. It may have been elsewhere on the engine but since he doesn't have the original engine its a moot point. My assumption would be that it was an error on the tag if in fact it has a P on it for the engine code. Wouldn't be the first example of a error on a vin tag.

 

[YY1]

There was that P code 74 Duster a while back...

VIN typos don't really add value unless a potential buyer is really into that kind of thing.

I've seen more than one VIN stamp that was missing the engine digit completely.
.

I for one would have loved to get hold of that Duster.
I'd build it like the factory would have built a big block Duster.

 

[69Coronetrt]

Sorry Patrick66, I have to disagree with you. I understand where you coming from but clearly know the difference between an F & P. I know you could special order just about anything back then. Just have a feeling the car maybe worth may more than I'm asking.

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I will get that for you A383 W ing

The 'special order' line is always a good fall back position if you don't know what you are dealing with but most of the supposedly 'never built' cars are either: fakes, document frauds, readily available cars but built in very small numbers or simply misstamps. IF one could order 'anything that one wanted', then you would see Hemi C bodies, '70 big block A bodies, etc, etc. The theory doesn't wash when examined closely. (see the "recently discovered" 1970 440-6bbl A/C Charger for an example)

This whole issue can be easily solved without a peeing match....

Is there a VIN on the passenger's side of the block and if yes, what is it? If no, is there a VIN on the back of the block? If yes, what is it?
If no, what is the engine assembly date stamped on the block? (on the front of the block under the driver's side head)

 

[super-bee_ski]

Welcome aboard and thanks for joining the forum.

 

[snakeyes]

hi and welcome to the site :headbang:

 

[cudak888]

Sorry to bump this up, but I'm full of curiosity for one reason:

According to every parts interchange I've looked at (I know, not 100% reliable, but hear me out), there is a 340 (P-code, no less) listed for both the Satellite and the Road Runner. Equally curious is that there isn't a 340 listed for either the Belvedere, or GTX, had this been in error.

Let's assume for a brief moment here that - despite all printed literature, parts books, and sales manuals - that Chrysler really did plop a few 340's out. That would explain the VIN code in the parts interchange, as that's the one thing that ChryCo might have updated for a few oddballs while leaving the print material ignored. It's a much more plausible explanation than an entire VIN code popping up in the parts books for two models that supposedly don't exist.

It's a long shot, but Warren - if you're still around, do you have pictures of your car and it's engine bay on hand? This sounds like it's worth seeing.

-Kurt

 

[polywideblock]

well warren hasn't been seen on here since the 4th jan 2015 and never got back to us with pics of vin tag or fender tag so .....
I'm guessing he found it wasn't so

 

[cudak888]

Might just have to bug him...

-Kurt

 

[patrick66]

Why? It"s pretty much a moot point. No '68 B-body 340 cars were built. I believe this can be said with 99.999999999999% accuracy.