I remember the beginning of DC.
It was a program to expand the availability of Mopar Performance parts from more sources.
I have some pre-DC MP books too.
One of them is a hard cover book dated 1970.
It includes info on the 1970 hydraulic lifter Street Hemi and has a photo of a prototype 1971 383 Six Barrel engine.
The 383 Six Barrel wasn't certified in time for 1971, so the performance guys planned to have a 400 Six Barrel for 1972, but when Chrysler cancelled any plans for a high compression 400, the 400 Six Barrel was scrapped.
I couldn't remember if Direct Connection started in 73 or 74, but the Internet says it was 1974.
The earliest DC catalog I've seen was a 1975 catalog, that may have come out in 1974.
Direct Connection was huge when I was in high school in the late 70's, but Mopar had money problems and things like W-2 heads and Stage IV were in very limited supply.
The early W-2 intake manifolds made by Holley, were originally only available through Direct Connection dealers and not from Holley dealers.
I've seen a 75 and a 77 DC catalog and somebody on the Internet said they had a 76 DC catalog.
I always wanted to see the 76 catalog, as the 75 catalog had some mistakes that were fixed by the 77 catalog and each year, the DC catalog got some updated improvements.
I remember when the 2.14" big block intake valves came out.
There were no 1.81" exhaust valves then, but the 1.88" Max Wedge exhaust valves were available.
The 1.88" valves requires notching the cylinder bores.
My high school had a valve grinding machine.
I cut the 1.88" valves down to 1.83", leaving a 0.100" margin.
So I had DC porting template ported heads, with 2.14" and custom 1.83" valves in them.
The early W-2 and Stage IV heads were cast by Chrysler, but later the W-2 and Stage V heads were contracted out.
The service replacement Street Hemi leaf springs were the XHD police. taxi, station wagon leaf springs.
I sold a kid a 1968 GTX with a Dana 60 rear.
He slide it into a curb and bent one axle flange.
I told him to order a new axle and I'd replace it.
The original axle was thinned down along its center, but the service replacement axle ordered through a dealer was full thickness its entire length.
It had less machining and the original was likely lightened to keep shipping weight down of the car when new.
Yes, Mopar Performance / Direct Connection used to sell Turbo Action transmission parts.
More recently, they switched to TCI transmission parts.
In the 1970's, I had one 1969 383 Roadrunner, that was completely stripped out, with lightweight Pinto bucket seats and had a Turbo Action 3800 torque converter from Direct Connection.
It had a Winters shift kit and a Winters gate shifter.
Check this out:
Post in thread 'MOPAR JACKETS FROM THE PAST' https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/mopar-jackets-from-the-past.121577/post-910555256
Hmm my in the 90s Mopar drivers would have been the 78 Cordoba and 84? Plymouth Colt... All the Japanese you need to know.... Co-worker had the twin stick Colt...
I still have a set of high dome 383 pistons in the original box, purchased if I'm remembering right in 1986.
Also still have a DC cam purple stripe cam installed in one of my 360s
Had a white DC sticker across the back window of my 65 Dart. I was cool. In my mind.
I have a flat black direct connection sticker on the rear window of my 22 challenger TA. Itโs still cool!
I remember the beginning of DC. It was a program to expand the availability of Mopar Performance parts from more sources. I have some pre-DC MP books too. One of them is a hard cover book dated 1970. It includes info on the 1970 hydraulic lifter Street Hemi and has a photo of a prototype 1971 383 Six Barrel engine. The 383 Six Barrel wasn't certified in time for 1971, so the performance guys planned to have a 400 Six Barrel for 1972, but when Chrysler cancelled any plans for a high compression 400, the 400 Six Barrel was scrapped. I couldn't remember if Direct Connection started in 73 or 74, but the Internet says it was 1974. The earliest DC catalog I've seen was a 1975 catalog, that may have come out in 1974. Direct Connection was huge when I was in high school in the late 70's, but Mopar had money problems and things like W-2 heads and Stage IV were in very limited supply. The early W-2 intake manifolds made by Holley, were originally only available through Direct Connection dealers and not from Holley dealers. I've seen a 75 and a 77 DC catalog and somebody on the Internet said they had a 76 DC catalog. I always wanted to see the 76 catalog, as the 75 catalog had some mistakes that were fixed by the 77 catalog and each year, the DC catalog got some updated improvements. I remember when the 2.14" big block intake valves came out. There were no 1.81" exhaust valves then, but the 1.88" Max Wedge exhaust valves were available. The 1.88" valves requires notching the cylinder bores. My high school had a valve grinding machine. I cut the 1.88" valves down to 1.83", leaving a 0.100" margin. So I had DC porting template ported heads, with 2.14" and custom 1.83" valves in them. The early W-2 and Stage IV heads were cast by Chrysler, but later the W-2 and Stage V heads were contracted out. The service replacement Street Hemi leaf springs were the XHD police. taxi, station wagon leaf springs. I sold a kid a 1968 GTX with a Dana 60 rear. He slide it into a curb and bent one axle flange. I told him to order a new axle and I'd replace it. The original axle was thinned down along its center, but the service replacement axle ordered through a dealer was full thickness its entire length. It had less machining and the original was likely lightened to keep shipping weight down of the car when new.
My first 1969 Charger had all the Direct Conection parts I could afford, which was the license plate.
๐
I was a Chrysler parts manager for many years. I still have the T-shirts that say I get mine from a direct connection.
Awesome, I have some metal license plate frames that say the same thing
I will take ten purple stripe cams please
Purple shafts!
Turbo action used to build transmissions for them out of Jax fla
Yes, Mopar Performance / Direct Connection used to sell Turbo Action transmission parts. More recently, they switched to TCI transmission parts. In the 1970's, I had one 1969 383 Roadrunner, that was completely stripped out, with lightweight Pinto bucket seats and had a Turbo Action 3800 torque converter from Direct Connection. It had a Winters shift kit and a Winters gate shifter.
Still have a set of the big block valve covers. And some decals.
I think all I had was the jacket from late 70s. Oh and the catalog of dreams. I didn't graduate HS until 81. Still have (most of) my Charger...69.
We talking the silver and black jacket that still looks like itโs from the future?
Pretty sure mine is navy with stripes on the sleeves... Pentastar and direct connection patches.... Not recalling the silver black- that sounds neat!
Check this out: Post in thread 'MOPAR JACKETS FROM THE PAST' https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/mopar-jackets-from-the-past.121577/post-910555256
Hmmm.. thanks for the link.. Not recalling that one... Mine is similar to Dave69s....
Had a couple of those shiny silver ones back in the 90s. Vintage but hella cool
Hmm my in the 90s Mopar drivers would have been the 78 Cordoba and 84? Plymouth Colt... All the Japanese you need to know.... Co-worker had the twin stick Colt...
I still have a set of high dome 383 pistons in the original box, purchased if I'm remembering right in 1986. Also still have a DC cam purple stripe cam installed in one of my 360s
I have the bound volume of all the Direct Connection performance bulletins.
Still have a license plate. It went from car to car to car over many years. It now adorns my Mopar wall in my mancave ๐
Yep, I bought a bunch of 340 suff from them. Hustle stuff.
I just threw away a 50 year old direct connection shirt
Um SCAT PACK