First 1966 Hemi produced?

Anyone have any ideas on what month the first Hemi was produced in 1965 for the 1966 model year? Help.

[size:11pt][/size]Old story was the first 426 hemis sent down to Daytona for the 500 in early February of 66 had cylinder wall issues from being too "green". I'd read where it was common to cast blocks then " season" them outside for a couple months before finish machining. I could be thinking of 1964 also. Before they were forced to install them in production cars. Off topic but drag racers always prized motors out of station wagons for their easy life and many stress relieving heat cycles.

I believe it was a 66' Belvedere to be claimed as the first production street Hemi. Obviously, there were hundreds of pre-production race engines that went to NASCAR and drag racing cars/teams.

the first production 1966 model year HEMI B-body street cars were "scheduled" mid-December 1965 at the Lynch Rd & St. Louis assembly plants

This is what the guy that I talked to who worked there at the time said but in late November. He also said both Dodge and Plymouth were built, with Hemi, in same house at first. He also said there were issues with either engine or car for the late builds. I must have talked to him for three hours over the phone. Mine car was built Jan 66.
I’ll add, he was at the St Louis plant

Dan, On the hemi street cars do you have any data that would show how many hemi cars of all types built per each month?

While this data doesn't pin point anything specific, I believe the earliest Hemi Carburetors are K5 dates which means normally beginning to mid October assembly at Carter. Then get them to the Chrysler plant. I know the assembly line Aug scheduled Hemi C500 used F8 carbs. Jun build for Aug scheduled cars. This is the group of first 32 or so Hemi C500s. To me it points to Dec, not to say they didn't run a test car through or something in Nov.

I've always thought NO '66 HEMIs until after Thanksgiving 1965
I don't have any per month HEMI build records - I have a total number of 426 cu.in. engines for model year 1966 at 3,629 (but this would include WEDGE & HEMI engines)

a GSD Mr. Norm's 426 WEDGE Coronet 440 was recently found and discussed on For B-Bodies Only - its SPD is B22
https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/426-wedge-in-a-66-coronet.261204/

the earliest Lynch Rd. HEMI car I have anything on is SCHEDULED C10 (Friday 12/10/65) & the earliest St. Louis HEMI car I have anything on is SCHEDULED 113 (Thursday 1/13/66)

....... here's an article from 1/7/66 National Dragster

So "Hemi Orange" is actually Omaha Orange or " Double O" orange Thanks for posting that

Mike

today it is often referred to as "RACE HEMI ORANGE" when talking "engine enamel" ***** "STREET HEMI ORANGE" didn't show up until the 1969 model year

From what Tom Hoover told me one of the reasons for the '66 "street Hemi" was to get back into NASCAR for the '66 season so they at least had to have record of 500 Hemi car sales (orders) before the first NASCAR race (Daytona ?) of the 1966 season. Don't know how true that is?

I guess we'd have to see if HEMIs raced at Augusta and/or Riverside ....... of course, Richard Petty won both of those races & Daytona

Mine are K5 dated

Dan would you have a breakout by Year for the rest of production?

what were the XP29's ? chargers ?