1971 340 e-bodies with 22" VS. 26" radiators

[6bblgt]

I meet this local guy last week with a 340 SHAKER Challenger R/T & notice the narrow 22" core support & NO 26 radiator call out on his car's fender tag & think WTF?

looking thru my fender tag data I see about a dozen 340 'cudas or Challengers without the 26 on the fender tag throughout the year - anyone else have or know of a '71 340 car with a 22" radiator - what number?  got a broadcast sheet?

[Cuda Cody]

A66 was a 1970 only thing, right? and therefor all 1970 340 Challengers should have a 26" radiator?  But you can get Challenger R/T's with a 22" radiator so then it might be that in 1971 when the 340 became a RT that you could (like the 383's and 440's RT's) get a 22" radiator.   

[6bblgt]

it is in all the advertisements/parts catalogs/etc. that the 26" radiator is STANDARD with the 340 in a '71 e-body

GG's book:
3443969 340 with N51 - "Max Cooling"
3443970 340 with N51 - "Max Cooling" & A35 - "Trailer Towing package"

Chrysler Parts Collision Parts:
3443969 340
3443970 340 with A/C

NO listing for a 22" radiator with a 340 ??

[Cuda Cody]

Did you see what radiator was in the car?  Would like to see some sheets for these cars. 

The parts book lists 26" only too.

[RUNCHARGER]

Hmm: I always assumed they had a 26 as well.

[6bblgt]

the R/T has a no-number 26" radiator installed + a couple extra holes

[cataclysm80]

Does the owner know when that radiator was installed?

[cataclysm80]

My June 1970 'Cuda 340 came with a 26" radiator.
3.23 sure grip, no axle package, trailer towing, or air conditioning, so no reason for "Max Cooling".

I never really thought about it.  I was just happy to have a 26".
I'm not a fan of the 22".

[YYZ]

I cannot recall ever having seen an original '70-'71 340 E-body with a 22" rad cradle/rad and I don't believe that they were meant to come with them.

However, consider this:  all non-A/C E-bodies came standard with 22" rad cradles, except for Hemi and 340.  Only an axle package and/or air conditioning could cause the 26" radiator to be installed for non-340/Hemi cars.

If the operator of the fender tag machine forgot to punch in '26', then the body shop would weld up the unibody with the small, 22" cradle.

Then it would be a matter of if/when the mistake was caught. 

Early enough, and the factory would weld in the correct cradle.

Late enough and they might just swap in a rad that would work and send the car out the door.


For what it's worth I had an original '71 340 4-speed Challenger on which the factory had used a cutting torch to take out the side rad supports, and then stick welded the correct 26" pieces on top of the inner fenders.  The 1.5" strips from the old rad cradle were left, and were factory undercoated.  RestoRick Kreuziger and others have seen the same thing on other E-bodies.

That Challenger was not an axle package car (3.23) -- I note that the one 6bblgt posted also does not have an axle package.  Coincidence?

[cataclysm80]

Certainly an interesting topic, but unless more evidence shows up, I'm also leaning towards it being a factory error.

My early 70 Challenger was factory torched and stick welded through both panels with the oval holes for the trunk torsion rods.
I can't imagine what the problem would have been, that they didn't just install new ones, but it still had original paint over the welds on both sides.

[6bblgt]

it could be an error - the others I have are mostly partial info from broadcast sheets & I have no broadcast sheets that aren't "69" or "70"

he claims to have a sheet - I'll see if I can get a copy of it

[cataclysm80]

he claims to have a sheet - I'll see if I can get a copy of it

That's good news.   It would be very interesting to see what it says! 

[fc7cuda]

Not to get off topic, but that is a sweet looking Challenger!!   

[RUNCHARGER]

My parts books are packed up. Does the parts book even have a listing for a 340, 22 inch rad?

[6bblgt]

My parts books are packed up. Does the parts book even have a listing for a 340, 22 inch rad?

not for 1970
not for 1971
22" standard for 1972