Help with 63 Polara 500

[fmahannah]

Can anyone decode a fender tag for a 63 Polara 500? VIN is 6432173780. Pic of the tag is attached.

Also, can anyone tell me correct parking procedure for the push button 727? I ordered an owners manual but it won't be here for a while. Currently I put in in neutral, set the parking brake. The park lever under the push buttons I can't figure out. Only moves to the right about half way and does not feel like it actually does anything? I don't want to have my new baby rolling down a hill by itself that is for sure.

Thanks!

 

[eric383]

Welcome to FBBO. VIN decoder info is on this link. Apparently the fender tag is more involved. Do a search on the parking cable. Sounds like it may need an adjustment. Good luick.
http://www.lhmopars.com/vin62-65.htm
http://www.blight.com/~tony/6265/6265faq-numbers.html#fendertag

 

[khryslerkid]

Your park leaver doesn't have much resistance if any when applying. Find a slight incline where the car will roll. Apply the park leaver and see if it holds. Or jack up the rear wheels and check.

Welcome to the site!
Stop by the "Welcome Wagon" when you get the chance. Post some pics if you have some!

 

[fmahannah]

Does the vehicle have to be rolling a little for the park lever to engage? Read somewhere that if you engage the lever while moving it will break something.

Thanks!

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VIN says it came with a V8, but most sites show the V8 as being a 383 2 or 4 barrel. This car has a 413 and am trying to figure out if a 63 was available with the 413 from the factory or not?

Thanks!

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[khryslerkid]

Don't engage it while the car is moving.

What is stamped on the engine identification pad? It's a flat boss at the front of the engine block.

Real nice looking car!

 

[fmahannah]

The only numbers I see after taking the paint off are a 41 by itself and a 1123 separate

 

[khryslerkid]

The 41 is 413. Is there a letter in front of the 41? Like a "T" would be a '63

 

[aldal]

Welcome....gotta say I really like your car especially the interior.:headbang:

 

[fmahannah]

Thanks. I like it too I don't see a letter there is a mark but would be a 1 or an I maybe a T But could a 63 be ordered with a 413?

 

[khryslerkid]

A 1963 Polara wouldn't have a 413 from the factory.
Not saying some dealer out there didnt do some swapping. There are a couple '62 owners on here that have an unexplainable 413 J, (two inline four barrel) engines, that look factory but we know that didn't take place. We're thinking a dealer option took place. They're just missing the paper work to prove it.
Anyway back to your engine. Is it a turquoise color engine? Four barrel, do you have a broadcast card? You can normally find a card under a seat, behind the rear seat, taped under the glove box. They will normally give you some.good info on special orders.
Would you have a picture under the hood?

 

[Jackpot50]

Park lever should go all to way to the right. If not it needs adjusted.
Put it in park should also put it in neutral, then open the door and see if it rolls.

 

[6t4polara]

6432173780

This vehicle is a 1963 Dodge Polara 500 8 Cylinder
and was the 73,780th car scheduled for production at the
Hamtramck, MI assembly plant.

 

[fmahannah]

Motor info

Will check on the card. Engine is turquoise, but has been rebuilt. From what I was told it is a 413 heavy duty block bored 60 over, 9.6 comp, ported 906 heads, purple mopar cam, torker II intake, edelbrock 750cfm, adjustable rockers. 700 miles since rebuild. Balanced and dynoed at 365. I am just curious if it is the original motor or not. Not critical to me. I have seen parts sites that list only up to a 383 for a polara 500 and others that list the 413, 426, and the wedge motors for it. Pic is attached, and no I did not put the 426 sticker on it lol

 

[khryslerkid]

That's still a nice choice for a nostalgic combo. 413s are underrated sometimes. Sounds like a perfect build for your '63. I would love to own your car. I see it has all the comfort options too.What a great cruiser. It will get a lot of attention for sure.
I was going with a 413 for my '62 but two small cracks were found during the cleaning so changed directions with a 440. Building a 413 is not that easy for the piston availability and they are expensive when found. Not much to choose from unlike the 440. Yours is already built so your good to go!
Keep us up to date on what you find on your "park" situation.

 

[eric383]

X2 on the interior, it is nice! In 63 there were approx. 7200 Polara 500's made. Sweet ride.

 

[fmahannah]

Car drew a big crowd just unloading it at the Walmart parking lot .... but now I have yet another problem. The Edlebrock carb is running way too rich at all rpms. Guy I bought it from had paid to have it tuned to the car. It never ran rich for him but he did not drive it much at all. 300 miles in 5 years. He lived in Michigan. Car is from CA. I am in GA. I have messed with these carbs on my Javelin but it is not a radical cam so vacuum is good. This one has a summit vacuum accumulator to run the brakes etc so I am not sure if I can tune the beast myself and not screw it up. Right now the exhaust burns your eyes. Electric choke is opening correcly.

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Interior colors and side stripe are what convinced me to buy the car. Interior is original, which amazes me. AC works but owner had to install shut off in heater hose because the doors or whatever under the dash are not working. Said something about a vacuum actuator and that he could not find one for it. Car also has disc brake conversion done, fatman drop spindles, just suspension kit, sway bars front and rear, 3.91 posi etc already done

 

[fmahannah]

Today I parked on a slight uphill grade and for whatever reason the park lever went all the way to the right and stayed there. On a level surface it does not seem to engage anything.

 

[khryslerkid]

The leaver is spring loaded. The spring will either hold it to the right or left. Right being park position. The leaver doesn't feel like its hooked to anything. When you had it on an incline, did it hold the car from rolling?

 

[eric383]

That sounds like my park lever. If it isn't going to roll in neutral(parked on slight incline)then it doesn't go all the way to the right and hold. Welcome to the wonderful world of push button trans.

 

[fmahannah]

Thanks guys. Glad the emergency brake works. Now if I could just get this stupid Edelbrock to run right. Never had good luck with them when the cam reduces
engine vacuum at idle, even after changing to weaker springs.