If you wanted a big block muscle car with a stick then you had to settle for a 383. I don't know if there was a limit to the rpms but my '69 RR came factory equipped with 4 speed and a 3.55 peformance axle package. Still have a copy of the build sheet. Besides the AC it had power windows, pdb, ps, am/fm, tinted glass, rear defogger, road wheels, fender turn signals, bucket seats, and hood perf. paint. And of course it was green. The intake manifold, heads, and 1/2 the AC system are still sitting out in the garage. The last owner didn't want them.

All these '68-'69 383-4v RR's and SBees with a/c (stick or auto) came with a slightly detuned 383 with a 10% lower compression ratio and a weaker cam). This was a 383 Commando engine even if some or all of them were badged or called Magnum or "road runner" engines. I never saw a factory documented 440-4v stick car with A/C. But saw a couple of them that "claimed" to be legit (ie undocumented).

I just had a conversation with an older gentleman asking about my 66 Charger that said he had one he bought new in 1966. He said it got terrific mileage and that it had a /6 with a 4 speed. I asked if he was sure about that combination as all the printed info shows the 318 as standard and no /6 available in a 1966 Charger. He said "well, that is wrong because I had one new." He said that he had a 65 Barracuda with a 318 that got horrible mileage and the dealer worked on it for months and they could not figure it out so when the 66s came out he traded for the 66 Charger and they gave him his original purchase price on the Barracuda back in trade because of the problems with the car.

Just goes to show you that these things did happen.

it was probably another Barracuda 40+years/details & memories SUCK!!

Uh, no. Not buying either part of that one.

I don't think his Barracuda would have come with a 318 then. I'd say it had a 273 unless it was changed when the car was fairly new.

Were any big block 4 speed cars available with a "smaller" gear than 3.23 (2.94 or 2.76)?

1. First of all I find it interesting that people behind their key boards that did not have a face to face conversation with the original owner as I did can question his memory. The guy is not senile, is still driving and seem very sharp to me.

2. My bad. I said 318 he said V8 in the 65 Barracuda.

3. The guy and I talked fro quite a while and he was a car lover. He still has the 78 Ford pick up he bought new and was driving it. I still looks like new with 300 miles on it. He was spouting facts about it as well. The guy obviously has a great memory.

There were many Corvette special built cars for execs. that survived mainly because more people revered Corvettes from the beginning of them. They did not simply become just old cars that ended up in the junkyard like an A/C equipped 4 speed 440 car likely did.

The factory would build nearly anything a customer was willing to pay for to make a sale. There were only a coulpe of things for them to consider. If the parts were standard readily available but not necessarily available in a particular model they would build it if the customer would wait for the scheduling. If there was a concern that the special order may have a negative effect warrany wise for the corporation then likely it would not get built unless someone internally would approve it. Say a factory exec or corporate officer wanted a 4 speed 440 with A/V for themselves or a family memeber then it would get built. For the average customer off the street likely did not happen. In the case of the /6 manual trans 1966 Charger, why not? The Coronet built on the same platform was available that way. All the parts were available and a 4 speed fits the same bellhousing as a 3 speed.

What the factory would and would not do is pretty easy to figure out it is simple common sense as to what they would and would not do.

Ask Doug Hammer how many 69 Chargers he has on file that came from the factory with a 383 magnum and then try and find it as an option in any dealer info. It was supposed to be a Super Bee and RR engine only but there were a lot of them factory installed at the factory.

1966 Sport Fury 440 4spd and air factory was dual snorkle air cleaner engine saw it rode in it and almost bought it Know the right people and any combo is possible

I caught up with my buddy and his Charger. It was born an automatic. My bad, everyone.