Gerry Gerken

1969 Chrysler 300
I'm a member who moved to LA a few years ago to go to school and got tied up in a PhD program. Hoping to be back in ABQ by August '02. In the meantime, there don't seem to be many C-bodies on the Web Site, so I thought I'd send mine in. It's a '69 Chrysler 300 that came originally with the HPII 440 (TnT package). I bought it in '79 with about 23K miles on it, and drove it til '86, when I traded it. Immediately realized my error, but it took me until '92 to get it back. By then it was very tired and needed a full restoration.

It has ported and polished 906 heads, an Isky Mega 270 cam and all the heavy-duty stuff. It has 2-1/2 mandrel bent exhaust running through 2 chamber Flowmasters. It runs 235/60s up front with 275/50s in the rear all on 8" aluminum wheels. Recaro seats mounted on Chrysler 6-way power bases and a 12 disk Alpine CD player with 150 watts into Boston Acoustic speakers provide the creature comforts. The controller for that and four new gauges reside in a custom panel hidden in the console.

I worked for Edelbrock last summer and scored an aluminum Performer intake manifold and 750 cfm 4-barrel carb. Since the carb hasn't been installed, I'm going to see if I can trade it for a newer 800 cfm model. Those parts are waiting to be installed until I get a pair of Edelbrock's new aluminum heads and a set of Creative Industries tri-y ceramic coated headers. (A photo of this car taken out by Laguna Pueblo is attached.) it has been in about 5 magazines, and was the headliner for an article in the April '99 issue of Car Craft called "50 Budget Built Super Cars". It was also named one of Hot Rod Magazines "Hot 50" for their 50th anniversary party in September '99.

Last year I had a panhard bar made for it, and it was terrific in taming the beast. Then I put new Richmond 3.55s and a new HD Sure Grip in it and promptly tore a hole in the frame when the panhard bar mount was torn loose. So I have to take care of that shortly. I have a rear sway bar in the garage in ABQ and am considering using that instead, but I am still leaning toward building a stouter mount for the panhard bar. If anyone has experience with a C-body with and without the rear sway-bar, please tell whether the rear bar is of much use.
The 300 is painted its original color, with mostly original interior, except for seats and carpet. Any panel or parts modifications were done on replacement pieces...the originals are still in the garage in ABQ.

I have three other MOPAR or MOPAR-powered projects in the mill: a '40 Ford Woodie with a 354 hemi and 833 4-speed. It's in Florida getting the frame boxed and mounts and crossmembers built, plus an ifs with power rack and pinion steering and power disk brakes and coilovers.. The rear is getting a new 9" with power disk brakes and double coilovers. Then there is a '52 Willys AeroLark post coupe that is getting a new Morrison 2''x3" mandrel bent frame with the same suspension/steering/brake parts as the woodie, and it is destined to be powered by a 392 hemi with a blower, and a race 833 with a Hurst vertical gate shifter.

I plan to have the top chopped on this one. Then there is a '55 Dodge with a 270 baby hemi. This past winter I scored a Weiand 3-2 aluminum manifold for it. I plan to set up the 3-2 with Rochesters. The Dodge will largely be restored with a few updates for safety and performance. Finally I have a 276 DeSoto hemi on an engine stand looking for a project.
Sadly, work on these toys has ground almost to a halt the past three years, but will get fired up when I finish my PhD August '02.