How does this happen?

[Rumble984]

I bought a '72 Road Runner that had the long rear spring shackles and shock extensions that were popular back in the '80's. One of the control arms was cracked like this one and both pin sockets on the k-frame were wallowed so bad that I had to replace the k-frame and both torsion bars.

thank god the pivot pins stayed tight in k frame
pivot pin on bushing end was cooked

 

[Davea Lux]

its a PL41
T code
matching numbers car

PL code would not usually be a police package car. That does not necessarily mean that it is not a police vehicle. The order number will usually start with the letter "P" if it was spec'd as a cruiser. Some jurisdictions built their cruisers line by line on the order form rather than ordering a preset police package. "P" on the order number will also usually generate a "Special Order" tag next to the build tag.

Dave

 

[Rumble984]

PL code would not usually be a police package car. That does not necessarily mean that it is not a police vehicle. The order number will usually start with the letter "P" if it was spec'd as a cruiser. Some jurisdictions built their cruisers line by line on the order form rather than ordering a preset police package. "P" on the order number will also usually generate a "Special Order" tag next to the build tag.

Dave

 

[Rumble984]

PL code would not usually be a police package car. That does not necessarily mean that it is not a police vehicle. The order number will usually start with the letter "P" if it was spec'd as a cruiser. Some jurisdictions built their cruisers line by line on the order form rather than ordering a preset police package. "P" on the order number will also usually generate a "Special Order" tag next to the build tag.
Car ordered by pa state police

Dave

PL code would not usually be a police package car. That does not necessarily mean that it is not a police vehicle. The order number will usually start with the letter "P" if it was spec'd as a cruiser. Some jurisdictions built their cruisers line by line on the order form rather than ordering a preset police package. "P" on the order number will also usually generate a "Special Order" tag next to the build tag.

Dave

 

[Davea Lux]

Looks to have been a police vehicle, is it yours?

Dave

 

[Rumble984]

Looks to have been a police vehicle, is it yours?

Dave

Yes
Found in Georgia
A38 car

 

[Davea Lux]

Yes
Found in Georgia
A38 car

View attachment 354840

Nice find. Could not see the 440 script from the front view. Chrysler built PL, usually Fury II and PM cruisers Usually Fury III, In addition to the more common PK series Fury I.

Dave

 

[Rumble984]

Looks to have been a police vehicle, is it yours?

Dave

Original colors still visible under the battleship grey

 

[Rumble984]

Nice find. Could not see the 440 script from the front view.

Dave

Yes
Hidden nicely

 

[Rumble984]

Nice find. Could not see the 440 script from the front view. Chrysler built PL, usually Fury II and PM cruisers Usually Fury III, In addition to the more common PK series Fury I.
Rear antenna
Roof light support
It’s a real nice car
Dave

 

[Joseph James]

thank god the pivot pins stayed tight in k frame
pivot pin on bushing end was cooked

I just finished my lower control arms with some great advice from @Davea Lux . My bushings were worn out but not bad enough to damage anything.

 

[Rumble984]

I just finished my lower control arms with some great advice from @Davea Lux . My bushings were worn out but not bad enough to damage anything.

Yep
Replaced everything
Car rides like a big sofa now
Lol

 

[Davea Lux]

Back in the day a lot of these cruisers had a a steel whip antenna for the old Motorola radio mounted at the rear location. If there was an AM radio it would be on the front fender. At time of disposal, most police agencies pulled the radio, light bar and the antenna which usually left a hole in the rear deck. In some case the holes would be filled and the cars repainted. Here in Oregon, the cruisers were EW1 and they would send the cars to the state prison for removal of the push bars, radio, and light bar and the cars would be repainted in EW1, poorly, and the cars would be sold at auction. I still have a U-Code'70 F1 cruiser I bought way back in my stash of cars. Oregon bought very basic cars in those days, no A/C, radios or much of anything else outside the police package. Most of the cruisers were turned at 70K or three years, which ever happened first. And in the mid '70's, you could not give away a 440 cruiser, most sold for about $750 or less. I paid $600 for mine because it had a light guard rail stripe on the passenger side. Still a good driver.

Dave

 

[Rumble984]

Back in the day a lot of these cruisers had a a steel whip antenna for the old Motorola radio mounted at the rear location. If there was an AM radio it would be on the front fender. At time of disposal, most police agencies pulled the radio, light bar and the antenna which usually left a hole in the rear deck. In some case the holes would be filled and the cars repainted. Here in Oregon, the cruisers were EW1 and they would send the cars to the state prison for removal of the push bars, radio, and light bar and the cars would be repainted in EW1, poorly, and the cars would be sold at auction. I still have a U-Code'70 F1 cruiser I bought way back in my stash of cars. Oregon bought very basic cars in those days, no A/C, radios or much of anything else outside the police package. Most of the cruisers were turned at 70K or three years, which ever happened first. And in the mid '70's, you could not give away a 440 cruiser, most sold for about $750 or less. I paid $600 for mine because it had a light guard rail stripe on the passenger side. Still a good driver.

Dave

When I was 16, my first car was a 74 Gran fury, police, 400 car
Wrecked it sadly
Always wanted another big block police car
Found this in Sept.
Been slowly fixing its few problems
Finally got it inspected, yesterday
Runs and drives well
It’s a radio delete car
No r fender hole for antenna
Open rear end w 276 gears, strange I thought
And the beefiest rear springs I’ve ever seen
S16 code on build sheet

 

[Joseph James]

Back in the day a lot of these cruisers had a a steel whip antenna for the old Motorola radio mounted at the rear location. If there was an AM radio it would be on the front fender. At time of disposal, most police agencies pulled the radio, light bar and the antenna which usually left a hole in the rear deck. In some case the holes would be filled and the cars repainted. Here in Oregon, the cruisers were EW1 and they would send the cars to the state prison for removal of the push bars, radio, and light bar and the cars would be repainted in EW1, poorly, and the cars would be sold at auction. I still have a U-Code'70 F1 cruiser I bought way back in my stash of cars. Oregon bought very basic cars in those days, no A/C, radios or much of anything else outside the police package. Most of the cruisers were turned at 70K or three years, which ever happened first. And in the mid '70's, you could not give away a 440 cruiser, most sold for about $750 or less. I paid $600 for mine because it had a light guard rail stripe on the passenger side. Still a good driver.

Dave

Are these the cop cars that can hold 130mph till the tank is empty?

 

[Davea Lux]

When I was 16, my first car was a 74 Gran fury, police, 400 car
Wrecked it sadly
Always wanted another big block police car
Found this in Sept.
Been slowly fixing its few problems
Finally got it inspected, yesterday
Runs and drives well
It’s a radio delete car
No r fender hole for antenna
Open rear end w 276 gears, strange I thought
And the beefiest rear springs I’ve ever seen
S16 code on build sheet

Most of the cruisers were either 2.76 or 3.23 gears. The latter option was more common but some agencies liked the taller 2.76 gears because of slightly better fuel mileage and on high speed chases there was less strain on the engine. Oregon did not run any sure grip cars because the cars were less likely plow out the rear end on high speed cornering. Even with 3.23 gears, these cars could run all day at 130mph. Sure grips were more common in areas with lots of snow.

Dave

 

[Davea Lux]

Are these the cop cars that can hold 130mph till the tank is empty?

With 2.76 gears and the U-Code, a '68 Polara managed 146mph on the test track. At that speed, the flat nose pushed a lot of air under the car which made the front end start to get light. Police sometimes compensated by backing of the torsion bars to lower the front end. They handled better a 100mph+ but ate a lot of tires because lowering the front end screwed up the steering geometry which caused excessive tire wear.

Dave

 

[Chrome58]

Could have wracked a curb or something.

Or it could be simply a defect in the steel that lead to breakage under certain conditions. It's a known failure for steel parts. You just need an imperfection, or an inclusion, and that can be the perfect start for a crack, than a breakage.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Rumble984]

Back in the day a lot of these cruisers had a a steel whip antenna for the old Motorola radio mounted at the rear location. If there was an AM radio it would be on the front fender. At time of disposal, most police agencies pulled the radio, light bar and the antenna which usually left a hole in the rear deck. In some case the holes would be filled and the cars repainted. Here in Oregon, the cruisers were EW1 and they would send the cars to the state prison for removal of the push bars, radio, and light bar and the cars would be repainted in EW1, poorly, and the cars would be sold at auction. I still have a U-Code'70 F1 cruiser I bought way back in my stash of cars. Oregon bought very basic cars in those days, no A/C, radios or much of anything else outside the police package. Most of the cruisers were turned at 70K or three years, which ever happened first. And in the mid '70's, you could not give away a 440 cruiser, most sold for about $750 or less. I paid $600 for mine because it had a light guard rail stripe on the passenger side. Still a good driver.

Dave

would love to see the 70 u code car
probably, would love the stash of cars you have
I love the fuselage cars, especially
Ive had my Gran Coupe for 25 years

 

[detmatt]

Or it could be simply a defect in the steel that lead to breakage under certain conditions.

Like wacking a curb.