1960 Dart Phoenix Torsion Bars

[John Lau]

Hello!  I manage a clasic car collection for a gentleman in Durham, NC.  One of his cars is a 60 Dodge Dart Phoenix with an interesting background.  It was purchased new by a 20-year-old kid who was a racing fanatic in Pennsylvania.  He ordered the car with the Police Package, which was (in theory) not available to the public. This package included a 383 4-bbl engine, a 4.10 rear and a T-85 three-speed trans.   All of these items were available with that package only.   A lot of documentation is included with the car, including the IBM card.  Under engine, the card is blank, the trans is listed as the T-85 (available only with the high-perfoprmance B cars), and the rear says "3," which Chrysler says means "N/A."  So much for the history of the car.  As Elwood Blues would say, "Cop engine, cop tires, cop suspension."  This car was used to race at the strip and on on the street.  It became kind of a legend in and around Lebanon, PA.  I even contacted Darrell Davis, author of the book, "The 1960 Dodge D-500 Guide."  He was neither able to verify or disqualify this car as being the rare car that it was sold to us as.   

 

Anyway, the ride is incredibly stiff and not enjoyable to drive (except for acceleration purposes).  After all of these years, it is still, apparently, a race car.  We are trying to identify the front torsion bars so we can possibly update or replace them.  The numbers on the back end of them are1867552 and 1867553.  We don't know if they are Mopar parts or not.  I have run them on-line with no results.  Any help in determining if these are original to the car would be appreciated.  

 

Thank you for your time,

John

[keiser31]

You might try Galen Govier (MoPar guru in my opinion). He usually does 1962 and up stuff, but he may just know what the part number is from. Tell him John Keiser says, "HI".

https://galengovier.com/gts-home/services/decoding/

Edited May 26, 2017 by keiser31 (see edit history)

[John Lau]

Thanks, John K!

[Guest BillP]

Maybe the kid put in 90-10 shocks. 

[JACK M]

20 hours ago, BillP said:

Maybe the kid put in 90-10 shocks. 

 

That is a definite possibility.

Easy to take the shocks off and see. Easier than taking the torsion bars out.

I cant help with the part numbers but They very well could be heavier. Maybe measure the diameter and compare with a non police package.