When it comes to the phrase “numbers matching,” no group of aficionados understand it better than Mopar fanatics. Any Mopar lover with his (or her) salt will be able to decode their ride for you by heart, right down to whether the little light in the glove box was part of the Light Package option group or an a-la cart pick. Of course, to gearheads it’s the under-the-hood identification that matters most, and Year One has an incredibly handy guide on just how to do so! This information comes in handy not only at cocktail parties, but also when purchasing 6-figure collector cars that may or may not be the Real McCoy.
The guide goes over the entire range of Mopar engine identification beginning in the late 1950’s and up through the early ’70’s. It includes in depth discussion of each of the following categories right down to the bore, stroke, carburetor options, and compression ratings. It is absolute must reading for anyone with Mopar leanings!
Here are a few highlighted areas:
- G or RG Engines: The “Slant-6”, also known as “G” (170 and 198) or “RG” (225) engines.
- A Engines: The “wide block” or 1957-66 318 “A” engine. This engine faded away as the muscle car era came into full swing.
- LA Engines: The small block “LA” engines which include 273, 340, 360, and the 1967 to present 318 (which has nearly nothing in common with the 1958-66 318 “A” engine).
- B Engines: The big-block engines which include the B-series consisting of the 350, 361, 383, and 400 engines.
- RB Engines: Includes the 383 (RB), 413, 426 Wedge, and 440 engines.
- Finally, there is the 426 HEMI which is its own animal, and is not to be confused with the 1951-58 “Old Style” HEMIs (Generation 1). The old style HEMIs had the distributor in the rear instead of the front like the 426 version.