What was the ultimate "normal production" factory A Body?

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How bout one of these? In order 4spd, 4spd, auto, 4spd, 4spd
 

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The 1965 'A' Bodies 'Top Performers', based upon the overall performance.

1) Barracuda 'Formula S'....... 273/235 HP w/4-Speed
2) Valiant V-200................. 273/235 HP w/4-Speed
3) Barracuda 'Formula S'.......273/235 HP w/Automatic
4) Dart GT.........................273/235 HP w/4-Speed
5) Valiant V-200 4-Door.......273/235 HP w/4-Speed
6) Valiant V-200.................273/235 HP w/Automatic
7) Dart GT.........................273/235 HP w/Automatic
8} Signet (convertible)........273/235 HP w/4-Speed
9) Dart GT (convertible).......273/235 HP w/4-Speed
10) Barracuda....................273/180 HP w/4-Speed
 
I must be a lot older than you guys, but I remember a 62 dodge dart 383 with factory dual quads, solid lifter cam , 11 to 1 that ran really well, I have driven these cars and they handle reasonably well and were quite quick....

I had one,..62 Dart, Model 330 (Canada) 383, dual-quad - 343 h/p, pushbutton T/flight,..

Was a great car,, won me some hardware,

and then I put a Hemi in it..

I like my Swinger better...
 
I would have to do top Three because it seems their is never just ONE!

1) '71 Duster High Impact color 340 stripes options
2) '72 Duster High Impact color 340 Stripes options
3) '69 Valiant Stroker Motor I love an underdog!
 
Based upon 1/4 Mile Elapsed Times, as per Chrysler Performance Technical Staff

#1......1969 440 Cuda' Automatic 440/375 HP w/Special Order 4.10 Gears
In complete stock mode, with E-70 X 14 tires.

A best elapsed time of 13.44 @ 106.55 MPH

Included a performance tune-up and air cleaner removed.
 
Based upon 1/4 Mile Elapsed Times, as per Chrysler Performance Technical Staff

#1......1969 440 Cuda' Automatic 440/375 HP w/Special Order 4.10 Gears
In complete stock mode, with E-70 X 14 tires.

A best elapsed time of 13.44 @ 106.55 MPH

Included a performance tune-up and air cleaner removed.

This sounds good but it wouldn't be a factory built car. The 440 'cuda and Darts came standard with 3:55 gears with 3:91's as the ONLY option. It's actually pretty rare to have any '69 A-body with 3:91's from the factory. There are very few '69 440 'cudas with 3:91's from the factory that i know of, as i run a '69 440 'cuda ONLY registry.
 
BB-Dave,

My 1969 440 Cuda' had 3.55 Gears (as per standard gears), when I got it in 1971.

As per 'option codes', the 3.91 was the only factory option listed. But digging a bit,
it appears that 4.10's could have been ordered, but I'm guessing as a dealer only
installed option.

Chrylser Performace was able to get that 440 Cuda' down to 13.19 @ 109.10 MPH
by installing a set of 7" M & H Racemaster slicks, mounted on specially made 15" x 5.5"
steel rims with the 4" bolt pattern.
 
I must be a lot older than you guys, but I remember a 62 dodge dart 383 with factory dual quads, solid lifter cam , 11 to 1 that ran really well, I have driven these cars and they handle reasonably well and were quite quick....
I had my share of 62's they ran but I never had one that would roll hard in the corners. unless a stabilizer was added.
 

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The 1969,

440 Cuda and 440 Dart, were specifically built with C/SA in mind for 1969.

C/SA = 8.50 - 8.99 Wt/Hp or SS/GA

The #3310 lb. Fastack 440 Cuda' had a very nice 8.82 Wt/Hp.

Chrysler Performance never had any intentions of putting a 4-Speed in
the car, in fear that the 440 would rip apart the drivetrain in 'violent' off
the line launches.
 
Not mine but this car makes my knees weak.....



Wilson
Ontario Canada
 

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BB-Dave,

My 1969 440 Cuda' had 3.55 Gears (as per standard gears), when I got it in 1971.

As per 'option codes', the 3.91 was the only factory option listed. But digging a bit,
it appears that 4.10's could have been ordered, but I'm guessing as a dealer only
installed option.

Chrylser Performace was able to get that 440 Cuda' down to 13.19 @ 109.10 MPH
by installing a set of 7" M & H Racemaster slicks, mounted on specially made 15" x 5.5"
steel rims with the 4" bolt pattern.


When did they do this?
I know enough about the Chrysler go-fast guys to expect that it probably had a few hidden tricks. Like how "stock" was the 440?
IIRC, the magazines of the day had the 440 M codes running low 14's. I assumed this thread would be about cars that theoretically just rolled out of the dealership with maybe some break-in miles.
I talk to a local guy who owns an almost perfectly restored 440 FB but he won't run it on the strip at all because of the E70x14 tires and the drum brakes scare him. (maybe the value is an influence too) He has a couple other well known 69 cudas that are modified.

******

My 69 'cuda 340:
340, Hurst 4 speed, manual drums, manual steering w/wood wheel, rallye dash, bench seat w/ fold-down armrest, factory 3.91. I found the build sheet in the front seat cushion and it still has the original driveline) It also has factory front AND rear torque boxes and 15/16" diameter front sway bar. (std was 7/8") Everything is heavy duty and I'm guessing it's because of the 3.91/4 speed. The floor pan is smashed in right above the pinion snubber and the spare tire that came in the trunk has the wheel lip drilled for screws. :burnout:Shows about 42,000 miles. It was obviously ordered with one thing in mind.

If it ever sees the light of day again, you bet your a** I'll take it down the strip just because I need to know. But......I still say a 68 4-spd notchback should be a little faster because of the lighter weight and hotter cam. Or does the heavier FB rear glass actually help the traction?
 
The 1969,

440 Cuda and 440 Dart, were specifically built with C/SA in mind for 1969.

C/SA = 8.50 - 8.99 Wt/Hp or SS/GA

The #3310 lb. Fastack 440 Cuda' had a very nice 8.82 Wt/Hp.

Chrysler Performance never had any intentions of putting a 4-Speed in
the car, in fear that the 440 would rip apart the drivetrain in 'violent' off
the line launches.
In fear that the 440 would rip the drivetrain apart??? are you serious?? that is the most absurd comment I have read all day. Your should have told Chrysler that when they installed hemis and 4 speeds in the 68 SS cars.
 
In fear that the 440 would rip the drivetrain apart??? are you serious?? that is the most absurd comment I have read all day. Your should have told Chrysler that when they installed hemis and 4 speeds in the 68 SS cars.

By making that statement, you really don't understand what Chrysler was thinking.

Why didn't Mopar put a 4-Speed in the 1969 440 A Body cars. Because they were
fearfull of drive-train breakage, and warranty replacements.

The Hemi Cars were a completely different story. They were Racer Only cars.

Learn your Mopar History before making a 'foolish statement'....
 
But they DID put 440/ 4 speed combos in B bodies... which are heavier cars, so your logic still doesnt make alot of sense to me!
 
In fear that the 440 would rip the drivetrain apart??? are you serious?? that is the most absurd comment I have read all day. Your should have told Chrysler that when they installed hemis and 4 speeds in the 68 SS cars.

Those '68 hemi 4 speed A-bodies had Dana rears, not 8 3/4.
 
When did they do this?
I know enough about the Chrysler go-fast guys to expect that it probably had a few hidden tricks. Like how "stock" was the 440?
IIRC, the magazines of the day had the 440 M codes running low 14's. I assumed this thread would be about cars that theoretically just rolled out of the dealership with maybe some break-in miles.
I talk to a local guy who owns an almost perfectly restored 440 FB but he won't run it on the strip at all because of the E70x14 tires and the drum brakes scare him. (maybe the value is an influence too) He has a couple other well known 69 cudas that are modified.


Kosmic, i didn't post the part you quoted......"69 cuda 440" did. I never heard what he posted either??? He had his M-cuda in '71 and i was only 8 years old........so i'll have to believe him! I can only WISH i was his age so i too could have been old enough to drive in the heat of the muscle car era!!! LOL
 
But they DID put 440/ 4 speed combos in B bodies... which are heavier cars, so your logic still doesnt make alot of sense to me!


The little A-Body will twist and flex more than the B-Body.
Plus the 4-Speed linkage controls would be problematic.

This is what Chrysler stated in late-1968 (December).

You have answered your own question. If it wasn't problematic,
why didn't they offer a 4-Speed in the nose-heavy 1969 440 A-Body.

The 383 was offered with one,,,,,,,,,

Power and Torque of the 440.
 
In March 1969 Chrysler Performance performed a test and tune on a 69' 440 Cuda'
fastback,

I would imagine, that a set of colder spark plugs, and distributor tweaking was
performed on the 4.10 Gear-equipped Cuda.

I'll see if I can locate the Newspaper (not Magazine) article, and with the Car Club that was part of the test.
 
Hey did you guy's know that a 73 dart sport Hood would bolt on a 69 cuda . Allowing a taller intake on that big motor.
 

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BB Dave,

I'll get some pictures to you.

I bought my 1969 440 Cuda' Fastback in May 1971. I paid $2200 for the car with
7000 miles on it.

The owner of the car was the Service Manager from a Route 7, Danbury, Connecticut Chrysler-Plymouth Dealership. He was the 'original owner'.

It was green, with green interior, and 3.55 Gears. The owner had raced the car a few times in 1969 (3 Class wins in C/SA), and 1970 (1 Class win in D/SA), just to see what it could do. I have a couple of Time Slips from Connecticut Dragway, and the
best E.T. was 13.83 @ 103 MPH

The Cuda was completely stock, except for a dual-point distributor which I think came out of a 440 6-Pack car.

Morgan
 
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