based on early '60's Mopar Logo

1962 Chrysler Saratoga

1962 Chrysler Saratoga drag racing Nathan writes: I have owned my 1962 Saratoga for 3 (or so) years. A motor that was going into another car got delayed so I decided to throw it into the 1962: it is a 440 w/4.15 crank so it adds up to 496ci. Best drag race time so far is 12.77 @ 106.71 mph. Best 60': 1.827 1962 Chrysler Saratoga, front

Some facts about the Chrysler:

Engine:
  • 496 ci
  • 1968 440 block bored .040
  • 4.15 eagle crank, cross drilled
  • Aluminum main caps
  • '906 heads, oversize valves
  • roller rockers
  • solid cam
  • Edlebrock Performer RPM
  • Edlebrock 750 cfm carb.
  • 1/2 inch oil pickup
  • Milidon 7in oil pan windage tray
  • 1 7/8 primary, 2 1/4 collector
    stubby Headmen headers (I'm trying
    to find some better headers.)
  • MSD Pro Billet distributor
  • Auroura ing.
  • Built to be safe for 7000 RPM shifts
Transmission:
  • 1963 push-button
  • Stage 2 shift-kit
  • RV clutches
  • Torque converter: 11 inch Pro west
    1200 RPM stall
  • Roller bearings
  • Drive shaft new 3 inch tube from Danco
 Rear differential:
  • 8 3/4 from a '68 New Yorker
  • 3.23 ratio
  • SureGrip
 Interesting notes:
  • The car was originally sold, to the day, 20 years before I was born.
  • I bought it when it was twice as old as me. I was 20.
  • I found it a block from my home. And drove it home.
  • At a race 3 gentlemen approached me and said that they thought that this was their aunt’s car. Since I met then I have checked my paperwork and it is the car. I have the original lean check from 1963.
  • I have all the original power train on the floor at home.
  • I drag race in sportsman class up at Ashcroft, I finished 3rd in points.

Background and Plans

After I bought the Chrysler 3 (or so) years ago I did some work to the driver’s fender. Then the Mopar sat for a year before I found a newer 383 to put into it. I drove it a little but the Chrysler failed the air care emissions. And so the Mopar sat again for a year.

Meanwhile, the motor in the car I was racing spun some bearings so I pulled the 383 out of the Chrysler to put in the race car until the new motor was built. However, that 383 blew up, cracked cylinder wall and so on, (5000RPM and the rod caps quit).

So the Saratoga sat for another year.

In the mean time, I started body work on the race car. But it did not get finished in time for the race season. So I figured I’d quickly sand the Chrysler and throw on a coat of paint to make it presentable. I also rapidly dropped in the new 496 ci. Even so, I still missed the first quarter of the race season.

The Chrysler runs slicks on the track, and weighing in at a touch over 2 tons it has no problems hooking up. I did have some problems, about the 15th pass it sounded like the engine was missing. I still ran a 14.6, it turns out that I leaned it out and burned a grove between 3 and 5 cylinders in both the block and head! But it was fixable and got welded up. There was several things that lead to this breakage: too hot spark plugs, carburetor jets a little small, but the major one seems to have been the brake booster was shot.

I’m looking at doing some changes for this next season: new rear springs, 4.10 gears, new axles, a different cam, new exhaust, and some other stuff to make the Chrysler a little faster and more consistent.

I’m always looking for parts, like fenders and doors and a continental spare.

The Chrysler is 2 tons of fun!
Thanks, Nathan!

These Chryslers are noted as highway cruising machines.

You prove they are no slouch at the drags too!   smile!

Gary H.

Page posted on November 22, 2005
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