Reinforcements for Convertibles and/or Police Cars?

[D Cluley]

The question came up as to whether the Police package cars got the same structural changes as the convertibles? I believe the only difference on the convertibles is the torque boxes at the front of the leaf springs, a thicker metal channel inside the rockers & the door wedges. I assume being sedans not hardtops, that police cars wouldn't need the door wedges, but what about the other two. Any other known body changes for the Police package?

 

[Badvert65]

Just an FYI, my 65 Sport Fury Convertible (big block auto) did not come with torque boxes, front or rear. I do plan to add them but, from the factory they are not there. I can't say if the rockers have thicker metal and I am not familiar with what the 'door wedges' are.

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

I didn't notice any stub frame reinforcement plates on my 2 1968 PK21's and I destroyed my 2nd PK21 stub frame with a simple full locked up high speed braking event off road into the woods. As the car plowed into the woods and through a dirt berm the locked up front wheels pulled the front frame horns down via the strut rods requiring some frame straightening which I had done but the straightening was done cold without heating the frame and the whole main part cracked and broke years later.
On my Fury II sedan when I borked that frame I heated the **** out of it during the straightening process and with a good front end alignment that car was still going a decade later. I didn't know anything about the rear spring torque boxes back then so I can't tell'ya if it had anything like that.

On my 1977 Gran Fury PK41 cars the stub frame had reinforcing plates welded to the top and bottom of each frame rail to the rear of the lower control arm and it (I think) is noted on the Broadcast sheet. Also all A pillars for the police cars had factory welded in reinforcement plates on the inside for the spotlight mounting holes on both sides whether the car had 1 spotlight or 2. This is also noted in the Broadcast Sheet along with the roof light reinforcement police package.


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[MrMoparCHP]

Nothing different about my 69 CHP car.


Alan

 

[CBODY67]

The "door wedges" were on convertibles of unibody-style cars. Later on T-top hardtops of unibody-style cars, too.

What constitutes a "torque box" at the rear spring front mounting point? Is that a separate piece or just an additional piece welded to the basic structure? If added, was the front spring eye in the same place afterward, not needing for the spring to be shorter?

Just curious,
CBODY67

 

[SGT FURY]

I have a rusty 61 Plymouth convertible.
Rockers are gone
It has a 1/4 inch reinforcement inside.
I have seen 70s cbodies with a small angle iron reinforcement behind bumper bracket

 

[D Cluley]

The extra rocker reinforcement can be seen here.

Hardtop without reinforcement.

Convertible with reinforcement.

The torque box is just an additional piece of sheet metal that helps tie together the rocker, rear frame rail, the main crossmember under the rear seat, and the small crossmember that the leaf spring bolts to.

It is a plate that covers the bottom of this area.

The oval hole provides access to the nuts that hold the spring hanger to the frame.


I couldn't find any picture online of the door wedges, so will get some from my car later.

 

[D Cluley]

Door wedges

Fixed wedge is fastened to the door.

Spring loaded wedge is on the jamb.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

I would speculate that any changes/reinforcements to the body were requested by the purchasing agency and were not part of the Police package.

In 69 the CHP requested the spare relocated (to the convertible setup), a 1/4 plate on the core support to mount the siren and a 4" round hole in the core support for the siren.
Other than that the body was no different than any other 4-door sedan.


Alan

 

[67valiant 100]

No rear torque boxes on either my '71 PK41U or PE21T cop cars. Must be strictly convertible only thing. If I ever get the opportunity to build my '70-'71 4 speed C-body Ill be adding them to the car cause why not lol.

I think USCT is or did offer them for C-bodies.

Edit: they have three different variations for C-body. I dont know what would be the difference between them as I do not believe the wheel base differences between C/D/P alters that area.

USCT1M2056-Torque Boxes Set of two (2) rear for 1970-1973 Mo

USCT1M2058-Torque Boxes Set of two (2) rear for 1966 Dodge P

USCT1M2060-Torque Boxes Set of two (2) rear for 1968 Plymout

 

[CBODY67]

CHP could request additions/changes (as mentioned) because they were the largest police car buyer in the nation. No big deal for them to spec a white steering wheel, etc., but sheet metal additions/changes would be figured into the selling price of the vehicles.

 

[Owen11x]

This is a good question, 74-78 c bodies it seemed like more so Monaco and gran fury had a special piece of angle iron on the bottom side of the stub in between a arm and the fire wall mounts. Does anyone have a reason why that is or is a 74 only thing. It's hard to find them that have it!

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

This is a good question, 74-78 c bodies it seemed like more so Monaco and gran fury had a special piece of angle iron on the bottom side of the stub in between a arm and the fire wall mounts. Does anyone have a reason why that is or is a 74 only thing. It's hard to find them that have it!

My 1977 PK41's didn't have any angle iron so to say just added flat reinforcing plates welded to the top and bottom of the frame rails that I learned long ago way before the Internet was to keep the 'Crush Zone' from entering the passenger compartment.


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[Owen11x]

I have seen a few and it was definitely angle iron and yes it was exactly where they bend on impact. Just curious why there was so few that had that done and not all of them. Seemed the very very few I've had it done were all on 74's

 

[SGT FURY]

I have seen that on a few of 73s and a 69 polara CHP car.
Looks like a small angle iron bracing frame

I have seen a few and it was definitely angle iron and yes it was exactly where they bend on impact. Just curious why there was so few that had that done and not all of them. Seemed the very very few I've had it done were all on 74's

 

[PursuitSpecial]

Here are some pictures of the mentioned areas on my car, it's a 77 PH41 A38. I didn't see anything directly behind the upper control arms, but there's a hollow box where the frame meets the firewall with some metal gussets on it. Also one at the front leaf spring hanger. The rear hanger has what looks like tow hooks as well.

And according to the fender tag it has A pillar spotlight reinforcment.

 

[PursuitSpecial]

Here are the torque boxes at the leaf springs on a 1981 R body A38, they appear much more substantial since the frame is narrower on it

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

I had these on my 2 1977 PK41's but they weren't on my 1976 Gran Fury Brougham 4dr sedan.
My understanding way back at the time (1980's) via the Service Manual(?), Owner's Manual(?), word of mouth(?) was that it had something to do with towing and the 5mph bumper. Tie down for factory shipping or ramp truck tow? Who knows, but why the 1976 Gran Fury and other civilian cars didn't have them is... All I know is when I saw them and if they got to be a annoying head bump while working under the car I thought about removing them but being tied to the spring mount could be a PITA to remove... but I did have a cutting torch. Well twisting my brain some more I think I recall in the Service Manual is that they had a towing diagram for sling mount tow trucks where you used wood blocks and these mounts with chains to keep the sling off the 5mph bumper to prevent the tow from collapsing the 5mph absorbers. I just had a look at a 1976 Owners manual and saw nothing of this in the towing a disabled car section so it's got to be in the Service Manual. Since my 1977 Service Manuals are long gone and I've found nothing free in a .pdf format and prices of $100>$150 I'm kind of beating myself up about throwing mine away, but then again I couldn't sell or give away all my spare Mopar parts back in the 80's.

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

Shudda used a Oxy-acetylene torch on that pipe and you wouldn't have any leaks, and in some states that require a all welded exhaust system those leaks would be a failed state inspection.

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