Charger as police interceptor

There was an article in yesterday's Virginian Pilot (a Norfolk
newspaper) saying that the Virginia State Patrol had taken receipt of
several specially-equipped Chargers for service as unmarked cars. It
went on to say that the V-8 engine put out 340 hp and did 0-60 in six
seconds.

That got me thinking...In 1968 I purchased a Barracuda with a 340-S
V-8. It was advertised then as putting out 340 hp. It was the
quickest car that I have ever owned; it was difficult to start from a
stop light without burning rubber! I wonder if this is the engine
they're using in the Charger police car.

Cheers,
Jerry
--

 

I saw a new Charger police car the other day in one of the Kansas City
suburbs.

It's funny how police cars always look like police cars, even unmarked
police cars, no matter what make, model or year.

 

The highest horsepower advertised for a 340 was 290 for the 6
barrel engines in the 1970 Trans Am cars, the 4 barrel versions
were advertised at 275 from 1968 thru 1971 and went down after
that.
Was yours a special dealer package like a Mr. Norms?

I seriously doubt that is the engine used in the new Chargers.

 

The hemi is a new engine made in Mexico. Yesterday hp ratings were
overblown compared to todays.

 

Previous to 1971 SAE horsepower rating were GROSS, i.e. without
accessories such as belts for power steering etc. Beginning in 1971
they went with NET ratings as more realistic.

 

Here in the western suburbs of Toronto our regional police force has some
unmarked Camry's and Volvo's parked on arterial roads looking for speeders.
They also use Beetle's for special events just to show a peaceful police
presence. I don't think the beetle would be an interceptor.

The same police force took delivery of marked Chargers (LX). Chargers are
built in my county whereas the crown victoria are built 90 minutes away and
the impalas are built 60 minutes the other way. The Charger purchase by the
police might just be for show. Most police forces on Ontario use Impalas
and the provincial police use Crown victorias.

There is a also a V6 package that Chrysler is making available for the
police cars to make it more attractive for cities to purchase.

 

I find that hard to believe, Jerry, that you'd find two horspower figures
separated by 40 years likely to have come from the same motor. I don't
think you're really wondering about that.

 

No. The 340 hasn't been built since the 1973 model year, and the last of
its smallblock relatives (the 360/5.9Magnum) went out of production
around 2003. The current Charger use the same 5.7 liter Hemi v8 as the
300C, Magnum, and Ram trucks. There is also a "base" Police model that
uses the H.O. 3.5L v6, and interestingly even *it* is faster from 0-60
than the Ford Police Interceptor 4.6L.

 

A few things...

One, the 340 was always absurdly UNDER rated. Two, the horespower took a
big drop in '71 solely due to the change from using SAE Gross ratings to
SAE Net (SAE Net is still in use, but the specified test conditions have
changed a lot since 71, so a 1971 SAE net horsepower isn't the same as a
2007 SAE Net horsepower).

Definitely not.... although it does still use the same transmission bolt
pattern

 

Depends. Some were seriously UNDERblown compared to today's. A lot of
carmakers were deliberately under-advertising horsepower to stay below
the insurance companies' radar in the late 60s. And ALL of the early
years of the SAE net ratings (starting in 71) were on the low side
compared to today. Short answer- the only way to tell is to either find
a pristine engine from that era and dyno it today, or rebuild one as
close to original spec as possible and dyno it. When collector magazines
have done this, they usually find that the factory rating was on the low
side.

 

Well...yeah. But I can think of at least one example spanning 30 years
where it is true: a 230 horsepower 5.2 in a 1998 Ram truck was actually
the same engine as a 230 horsepower 318 in a 1868 Dart. At least from
the cylinder heads down... ;-) nevermind the difference between a carb
and MPEFI.

 

I understand all of that Steve. I was commenting on the OPs
statement that "It was advertised then as putting out 340 hp."

hey, I was just trying to be nice (for once). ;-)

 

1868 ya say...

Wouldn't want to run NOS tires on that!

 

Jerry, in 2007, they will not be using a cast iron 60's designed V8.
It'll most likely be a special High Output 3.5 V6