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Correct engine color for 66 383

#1Charger

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Hi guys, I'm new here so thanks in advance. I'm looking at a supposed numbers matching 1966 Charger with a 383. It's orange, not blue or turquoise. Can that be correct? Were there some 383s made that year that were orange from the factory? The car isn't local so I'm limited as to hands on details. Thanks so much, this might make or break my decision to purchase.
 
Hi guys, I'm new here so thanks in advance. I'm looking at a supposed numbers matching 1966 Charger with a 383. It's orange, not blue or turquoise. Can that be correct? Were there some 383s made that year that were orange from the factory? The car isn't local so I'm limited as to hands on details. Thanks so much, this might make or break my decision to purchase.
Didn’t really have numbers matching in 1966. Ask for the production date of the car, and a picture of the engine pad (flat spot by the distributor) this would tell you what date the engine was built. Also the casting date on the block has to be before the car was assembled to be correct. Others might describe it better. The stamp on the engine ID pad needs to have a B.
 
Turquoise would be the correct color.
I wouldn't base my buying decision on the engine color or even the correct engine year for a 66 Charger.
There is much more to a Charger than that.
 
The only engine painted orange in 1966 was the Hemi. The 273 was red, and the 383, 413, and 440 were turquoise.
 
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Turquoise would be the correct color.
I wouldn't base my buying decision on the engine color or even the correct engine year for a 66 Charger.
There is much more to a Charger than that.
Didn't mean to imply that was the only reason, mainly that it raised a red flag as to being the original engine which could be the deal breaker.
 
You need to have pictures of the fender tag, engine cast date, and the stamp pad by the distributor to verify a date code correct engine. Still not necessarily the original engine in 66. All you know at present is whatever engine it is its been out for some reason and got a repaint in the process.
 
I agree back in the day everybody painted their engines Hemi orange and some still do . nobody was concerned with correct engine colour back in the day , even I did it . car sold better .
 
Thanks everyone, I'm trying to get the necessary info to confirm the engine is original to the car.
 
It's MUCH easier to find and install a "correct" engine in a car built prior to 1968.5.

You can actually find correct date coded blocks versus trying to find a needle/haystack scenario serial numbered block for a late 68 and newer car.
(The only practical option is really a non-serialized "warranty" block, and even those are hard to find)

I agree a non original engine should NOT be a primary consideration on a 1966.

More important IMO is what engine it was built with.

A G code 383 car (all four barrels in 66) is more valuable than a all but a 426 car or a slam loaded car with a smaller engine.
 
For a 66 Charger specifically, I'd be MUCH more concerned about:

A- has there been any body work or is body work needed on the hard to find and hard to repair quarter panels?
B- do the headlights work and rotate correctly?
C- do the dash lights work (including the radio)?
 
For a 66 Charger specifically, I'd be MUCH more concerned about:

A- has there been any body work or is body work needed on the hard to find and hard to repair quarter panels?
B- do the headlights work and rotate correctly?
C- do the dash lights work (including the radio)?


Well I do know that the lights don't rotate, and the heater core has been bypassed. I'll have to wait on an inspection to get more info on the body(can't trust pictures). This is a driver, not a show car by any stretch. For me personally, unless someone has dropped a hemi in there I like the idea of having the original engine. Thanks for all the input.
 
For a 66 Charger specifically, I'd be MUCH more concerned about:

A- has there been any body work or is body work needed on the hard to find and hard to repair quarter panels?
B- do the headlights work and rotate correctly?
C- do the dash lights work (including the radio)?

As a 1967 Charger owner, I’d totally agree except with B. If the headlights can rotate manually (easy to do with a flat blade screw driver), then you can work with the rest. It’s not a deal breaker. Worst case you can flip them manually or (heaven forbid!) you can leave them flipped all the time. There are people who can do dashes, but this can be more expensive.
 
Thanks everyone, I'm trying to get the necessary info to confirm the engine is original to the car.
On the passenger side of the engine from underneath the car you will see the vin number stamped on the front side of the block it should match the window dash vin number,
 
On the passenger side of the engine from underneath the car you will see the vin number stamped on the front side of the block it should match the window dash vin number,
also the block casting number 2468130 was used on all 383's from 1959-1971 except 1965, the 1965 casting number is 2532130.
 
Hi guys, I'm new here so thanks in advance. I'm looking at a supposed numbers matching 1966 Charger with a 383. It's orange, not blue or turquoise. Can that be correct? Were there some 383s made that year that were orange from the factory? The car isn't local so I'm limited as to hands on details. Thanks so much, this might make or break my decision to purchase.
You needn't go to all the work of checking codes, etc. The correct block color for a 66 383 or 440 is the turquoise. I have it on my 66 coronet. You can look at it on the pics of my car "007dodgeboy"
 
Turquoise is the correct block color for a 383 or 440.

66 coronet motor pic - Louisville car show - July 2019.jpg
 
#1Charger, this is what I used for my car and the result. B. Oh Mike, I did scrounge up a different Battery and Hold down. :)

IMG_4969.jpg
IMG_4970.jpg
 
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