The 405 Aired Nov 9th, 2026
Want to again welcome you to The 4:05 Coffee Break. Get your cup of coffee, glass iced tea, beverage of your choice. Let's see what's happening out there.
OK Solberg:Spring wheat $5.66 a bushel. Nothing to write home about, that's for sure. 550lb steer calf, they're moving now, $4.20 a pound, all the way up to $4.35. And a 100lb fat lamb in Billings, they're going down $2.94 a pound on the top end. But guys, there's more, much more.
OK Solberg:It's Monday, so that can mean only one thing. It's Jay and Joe's Motor Monday, the day we look at horsepower one Monday at a time. Now last week, we looked at the Ford 300 cubic inch displacement, and we talked briefly about General Motors iconic 350. Right?
OK Solberg:But I said, since this is an equal opportunity employer, next week we have to talk about Chrysler's Slant 6, known locally as a leaning tower of power. Do you remember the slant 6? Detroit gave us some remarkable engines. Like I said, Ford had the legendary 300 cubic inch inline 6. Chevrolet gave us a small block 350, an engine that seemed to fit into almost anything.
OK Solberg:And Chrysler? Well, Chrysler gave us something a little different. The Slant 6 introduced for the 1960 model year, the Slant 6 was an unusual looking engine. Instead of standing straight up, its 6 cylinders lean 30 degrees to one side. Now that wasn't a styling gimmick. It allowed Chrysler to build lower hood lines and made more room under the hood.
OK Solberg:It came in 3 sizes, small, medium, and large. A 170 cubic inch, 198, and the 225. And the 225 became the best known workhorse of the family. You could find one under the hood of a Plymouth Valiant or say a, well, Dodge Dart, Dodge Lancer, Plymouth Barracuda, Duster, Dodge Challenger, and numerous other Chrysler products.
OK Solberg:It also found a home in Dodge trucks and vans. But here's what made this engine special. It just kept running. Its cast iron construction, sturdy bottom end, and relatively uncomplicated design helped establish a reputation for extraordinary durability.
OK Solberg:Mechanics and owners have told stories of cars whose bodies were rusting away while the Slant 6 under the hood was still doing its job. How long would it last? Well, there's no magic expiration date, but a 150,000 miles was certainly within reach.
OK Solberg:200,000 miles was, well, entirely believable and there are documented owners' accounts of engines going considerably further before needing a major overhaul. Think about that. Now, guys, that's understandable today in 2026, but remember, this was decades ago.
OK Solberg:The Slant 6 powered Chrysler passenger cars through 1983, Dodge trucks through 1987, and continued in industrial applications all the way up until 1991. It wasn't fast, it wasn't glamorous, and nobody was gonna mistake it for a Hemi.
OK Solberg:But but it was dependable. Ford had its 300. Chevrolet had its 350. Chrysler had its slant 6, especially the 225. Three engines, 3 different designs, one common accomplishment. They earned the trust of the people who depended on them.
OK Solberg:And you know what? Perhaps the greatest compliment ever paid to Chrysler's leaning tower of power was this. Sometimes, the automotive body gave up before the engine did, and that's something worth remembering.
OK Solberg:And now guys, see if I can find a bible verse that fits, and I think I can. Proverbs 22 verse one. A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1.
OK Solberg:The slant 6 wasn't famous for being flashy or powerful. It earned a good name. It earned a good name through dependability. Its reputation was built over decades 1 mile at a time.
OK Solberg:And there's a little reason and a little lesson in that, for us too, guys. A good reputation isn't something you advertise, it's something you earn.
OK Solberg:So until next time, as you go out there, remember now, don't be bitter.