"The engine is designed for maximum acceleration from a standing start and should be excellently suited for special police pursuit work," Dodge Chief Engineer George W. Gibson said.
The aluminum intake manifold will be a new, one-piece, short (15-inch) ram tube which fits between the rocker covers and acts as a tappet chamber cover. Hot tappet lash can be set with the manifold installed -- an important servicing advantage. The tapered-branch manifold is tuned to increase output in the ranges above 4,000 rpm.
The port areas of the cylinder head are about 25 percent larger than standard, and the deck structure has been strengthened to provide surer gasket sealing. The heat cross-over passage has been eliminated. The 2.08-inch intake valves are streamlined for higher air flow. The 1.88-inch exhaust valves, 1/4-inch larger than standard, will provide improved exhaust flow. The head gaskets will be stainless steel.
The streamlined cast iron exhaust manifolds are of the long-branch, high-capacity type. They have a 3-inch outlet. The tailpipe will be 2 inches in diameter.
The valve gear has been specially designed. There are new high-strength valve spring retainers and double high-load valve springs for higher rpm operation. The rocker arms will include a lock nut on the lash-adjusting screw. The valve gear is rated stable to 6,500 rpm on the standard test fixture.
A smaller crankshaft pulley limits belt speeds. All pulleys are deep-groove, and an air-conditioning water pump is used. The crankshaft has hardened .0005-inch undersized journals and shot-peened fillets. F-77 tri-metal Clevite 413 bearings will be used. The connecting rods will be magnaflux checked.
The oil pan will have a deeper sump than the standard unit, and will be equipped with anit-slosh baffles.
The heavy-duty Torqueflite automatic, push-button transmission will have high-capacity components and an upshift speed up to 5,600 rpm. The prop shaft will be similar to the stock police car shaft but will have a cemented boot. The shafts will have low runout and good balance.
The engine package will be called the "Ram-Charger" -- a name suggested by the intake manifolding of the engine.