My Christmas gift wouldn't fit down the chimney

[Big D A12]

Do I correctly assume that this is the date code on the alternator....

Alternator date codes are (week - year). Looking at the picture posted it appears to be 3 - 68, or third week of 1968. This would be extremely early for a May 1969 built car. Even if the date is 3 - 69, it is still early but at least in the ballpark. Can you see any of the pinwheel date codes on the alternator. There will be one on the front and one on the back.

D

 

[The Rebel]

E = 1969
383 = Engine
4 25 = Assembled April 25, 1969
2 = 2nd Shift

It reads...
E383
4 25. 2
HP

 

[4mulas]

The RH engine pad shows E383, with a 4 below. Is there another number that I should look for?

Thanks for the info. While I did get a set of manifolds with the car, they are not the originals. The left manifold has a casting date of February '68 & the right manifold doesn't seem to have the same style casting date & I can't tell what it is. So, I guess I'm on the hunt for some correctly dated manifolds. What date range should I be looking for, March - April?

It’s possible they are the ones that came with the car but not likely, which is too bad as I just sold a set that would be the perfect date code for your car.

On another note, after looking at your brake pictures it got me thinking ‘why didn’t the rear have an adjuster mechanism?’ It has been a long time since I’ve seen my own and forgot. The service manual shows police and heavy duty 11” drum brakes not having an automatic adjuster front or rear and my question is:
- does anyone know why?

 

[70runner]

Alternator date codes are (week - year). Looking at the picture posted it appears to be 3 - 68, or third week of 1968. This would be extremely early for a May 1969 built car. Even if the date is 3 - 69, it is still early but at least in the ballpark. Can you see any of the pinwheel date codes on the alternator. There will be one on the front and one on the back.D

Nice find! Definitely check the frame pinwheel codes to verify but as noted does look like 3-68, which by the book would be very early. OTOH, there is the remote possibility the plant had a box of 68 alternators they wanted to empty, though logically that would have likely happened with the earlier 69 build dates. Daughter's 2 owner 69 Charger RT was a survivor with one exterior repaint. The only "unmatching" component was the alternator, a later model squareback. The original owner kept all his receipts, so sure enough there was an alternator replacement in 1978. Eventually located an alternator with assembly date (the 3-68 in your case) about 4 weeks ahead of the Charger, and the frame casting date codes were consistent. There's a good explanation of alternator date codes here: http://www.mymopar.com/alternator.htm

 

[dadsbee]

..also another note on manifolds, my drivers side was cast 2 days before my engine build, but my passenger side (definitely OE) has no casting date on it.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Never been smoked in.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Check out the sloppy masking job and overspray when they sprayed the organisol on the cowl.

 

[Richard Cranium]

More sloppy workmanship on the passenger door....

 

[HawkRod]

More sloppy workmanship on the passenger door...

Just be glad you don't find a joint from 1969 laying around! That's just the way it was back then!

I'm sure if we could go back in time and order our dream car, we would be appalled when it was delivered new to us!

 

[Ranger16]

Someone must have added the fan shroud, but what confuses me is why is the upper radiator hose on the right side? My 383 is on the left side.

 

[dadsbee]

It's a square top radiator as well... is it a 26" Mark?! If it's a 22" radiator it should be a round top 053 rad. If that's what you're supposed to have Steve has one for sale...

 

[moparwacko]

That's a rebuilt alternator.
Besides the date code, first giveaway is the double groove pulley.
Btw Mark, that has to be the best preserved broadcast sheet I have ever seen. The underside of that seat looks absolutely new.
I've worked on a lot of old Mopars, and those brakes look like they would only have a few thousand miles on them.
Wow, what a car!

 

[Michael R/T]

Very nice car. Big congrats from Germany.

 

[Richard Cranium]

View attachment 1048355

Someone must have added the fan shroud, but what confuses me is why is the upper radiator hose on the right side? My 383 is on the left side.

It's a 26" 054 radiator which is correct for this car with 3:91 gears.

That's a rebuilt alternator.
Besides the date code, first giveaway is the double groove pulley.
Btw Mark, that has to be the best preserved broadcast sheet I have ever seen. The underside of that seat looks absolutely new.
I've worked on a lot of old Mopars, and those brakes look like they would only have a few thousand miles on them.
Wow, what a car!

OMG (!!!)I've got the wrong alternator. Why did you have to tell me that, I'm devastated.

I too was surprised with the condition of the broadcast sheet too. No discoloration or spring impressions, just some wrinkles.

 

[Richard Cranium]

..also another note on manifolds, my drivers side was cast 2 days before my engine build, but my passenger side (definitely OE) has no casting date on it.

Hmmmm, I have a line on a pair that has a casting date of 4-18-69 on the left & no casting date on the right. My engine build date is 4-25.

 

[dadsbee]

PERFECT!

 

[Richard Cranium]

This was in the glove box...

 

[Richard Cranium]

That's a rebuilt alternator.
Besides the date code, first giveaway is the double groove pulley.

Being that this car has the HP axle package, what amperage should the alternator be?

 

[moparedtn]

This was in the glove box...

View attachment 1049261

Dang, is that a vial of smelling salts I see?

 

[moparwacko]

Being that this car has the HP axle package, what amperage should the alternator be?

Being it's a Roadrunner, my guess would be 60 amp. If i recall, 383's & up required a HD battery? The rebuilt one on there is probably a 60. Is it on the build sheet?
If not listed separately, it will be tied to an equipment package.
I will look through my stash to find a corresponding date code, but I'm down to only 3 or 4 round back cores.