Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

Soon to be released.
Mopar's lost A-Body 1/4 mile test results from 1966 thru 1971.
Including special performance up-grades that never made it to the production car.
PC

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

Where can these be found ????

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

HemiParts
I think there to be printed in one of the fall 'Musclecar' magazines.
First one I read, was the 1969 440 Cuda M-Code (automatic only)
Came through, as you know with a somewhat restrictive exhaust
and E-70 x 14" tires.
Standard gears 3.55,,Options 3.91 or 4.10
With 3.55 Gears; 13.92 @ 103
With 3.91 Gears; 13.70 @ 105
With 4.10 Gears; 13.55 @ 106

Note; With E-60 x 14" GoodYear tires on the 4.10 gear car.
It ran a13.35 @ 108, with adjusted tire pressure.

Note: A proto-type M-Code 440 4-speed car was produced in the Cuda.
With 3.91 gears (only one tested). Ran 13.56 @ 107

PC

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

Are they going to have anything on the D/Darts?

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

Paul, can you imagine what type of fine piece of driving whomever did the test with those 14inch tires. My cousin bought a 68or 69 Dart with automatic and the tires would just melt once you stabbed the gas pedal. Must of been Ronnie Sox.

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

Can you imagine what a neat car they would have been with a 440 six pack engine combo and fiberglass lift off cold air hood like the road runners and superbees. Chrysler dropped the ball on not building them. They would have sold thousands.

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

Terry you're right it would have been the car, eventhough I never owned Dodge or Chrysler products(since I was corrupted at an early age with Chevrolet products) I've always enjoyed their great appeal. It would have ruled the street at an affordable price which they probably knew would affect sales of Road Runners and Coronet. They could have it called "Six Shooter". They would have sold a pile of them, look how popular the 340 option was, imagine it with a six pack in the right hands(mechanic and driver). Claude

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

With E-60 x 14" GoodYear tires on the 4.10 gear car.
It ran a13.35 @ 108, with adjusted tire pressure.






I wonder what it could have run with a pair of current 26x9" Slicks.....

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

Yes,
A fastback with 4.10 gears, and GoodYear E-60 x 14's.
I would imagine adjusted tire pressure, meant 20 lbs. or so.

General Info; Tread width of E60 x 14 = 7.50" (26.10" tall)
General Info; Tread width of E70 x 14 = 6.25" (25.92" tall)

Imagine the possibility, of that 440 with Super/Stock rear springs, and
an adjustable pinion snubber, and 50/50 rear shocks.
A 'Drag Traction Package' with the E-60 x 14's.
Maybe low 13,00's

X-Tech,
I can think of many possibilities with that car. But your right on, with
the 440 6-barrel and fiberglass lift-off hood with a cold air package
Other smart things would have been, a trunk-mounted battery, aluminum intake manifold and aluminum water -pump housing.
With the battery, you move 30 lbs. of weight off the nose, and put it over the right rear tire. An aluminum intake good for another 25 lbs or so, and the water pump-housing another 15 lbs.
Fiberglass hood, minus the hinge-hardware, probably 50 lbs.
A cold-air package utilizing the small (back of hood positioned) faux-vent scoops. Whether the car had a Tri-carb 6-Pack package, or aluminum DP 4-barrel. it would be some monster.
Only thing that needed tweaking, would have been the exhaust system. A 3-piece cast iron unit for the drivers side would have been a possibility.

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

One more I found, on the 1969 cars
1969 Cuda Coupe, 4-speed w/E70 x 14's (Weight #3183 lbs.)
383/330HP engine (Standard stock engine w/440 camshaft, #906 cycinder heads and 625 AVS carb)
Standard gears; 3.23,, Options; 3.55 or 3.91 (Note: 4.10 gears were not part of the standard option list on the Cuda 383)
w/3.23 Gears; 14.67 @ 95 mph
w/3.55 Gears; 14.44 @ 96 mph
w/3.91 Gears; 14.19 @ 98 mph
w/4.10 Gears; 13.99 @ 100 mph (Test car only, with G-70 x 14" GoodYear Polyglass GT tires, (6.90" width x 26.81" tall)

A 69' Cuda Fastback with the 4-speed was also tested (Weight #3279 lbs.)
w/3.55 Gears; 14.42 @ 97 mph
Though the car was heavier (96 lbs. than the lighter Coupe), it was a shade quicker. All of the weight was over the back-end (heavy full glass panel) giving it better off-line traction.
PC

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

If you look at your old "Direct Connection Bible", DC never gave any credibility to the B/RB engined A-bodies being competitive as they seemed convinced it was too nose heavy. DC went on to compare the 440/375 to the 428/335 which were classed equally as I recall. DC found the HP rating of the 440 4bbl unfavorable to be competitive against the CJ.

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

.....and/or the -.02 and extra 1 mph @ +96 lbs. could have been an indication of better aerodynamics also!

Cool stuff.

Direct Connecetion did do a lot of big block A-body testing. Didn't they have a list of cams and respective ET's in a 400 ci Dart Sport or Duster?

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

What was cool about DC was they gave you a shopping list of parts to have to make ET ranges. If you wanted a 13 to 14 second 340 Dart, use this stuff. If you wanted it to 12 to 13 seconds, use this. On down the line to 10 second range and quicker. I always found it worked. In fact, my experience was I would be on the fast side of the table so there was plenty of cushion. I still have that "bible" and would never part with it. A lot of racing and dreaming memories in that book!
They also gave great formulas to show what ET could be predicted from MPH. Man, did I use that a lot and it is where I learned a lot. Today I use a simple formula of 1320 / MPH. It always seems to PO some people but those that can accept it become better racers. At least as far as the car goes.

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

Jeff,
On the 440/375HP rating verus the 428/335HP Cobra-Jet rating.
Yes, unfavorable HP ratings.
But, in 1968, Dick Landy's GSS 440 Dart ran in SS/EA versus the
Ford factory automatic 68 1/2' 428/335HP Cobra-Jets. (NHRA re-factored to 365HP in 68')
Landy won the class, and had the lowest SS/EA time at 11.91.

With 7" slicks in the stock class. a major problem for the A-Body.
As I had one, and can testify.

I would agree though the 375HP a little high with that hydraulic cam,
cast iron intake and 750 AVS, and 10.1-1 compression.
What is the HP factor now. 350HP for stock and 356HP for S/S. More in line.

PC

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

P-F Flyer,
The 1967 Barracuda 383/280HP results,
Fastback weight (#3202 lbs.)
The car was only available with the 3,23 Sure-Grip Posi rear.
Front disc brakes were part of the Formula 'S' Package, on the 67' Cuda 383.
As well as the little D-70 x 14" tires (6.00" width x 25.75" tall) on 5.5" rims.

4-speed; 14.81 @ 93 mph
Automatic; 15.11 @ 91 mph

* Besides the factory results, I think it was Popular Science who compared both the 67' 383/280HP Cuda fastback 4-speed w/3.23 gears,
and the 67' Pontiac Firebird convertible with 400/325HP 4-speed w/3.55 gears. The magazine (March 1967) also said, the Cuda was quicker.

PC

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

Myron
Yes Chrysler Did alotta Testing with a74 360 Duster, that Eventually End up with a Tunnel ram 440 S,g style and It Was called "The Red car"it Burned up Bad in the Late 70s when Testing The Gold Box ecu. Also Paul Adjusted Tire Pressures would have Been 35 to 40 lbs as the Tires Were Polyglas And the Work Better with Higher Pressure.How i know This Cause i was Parts Guru at one Of The Biggest Dc dealers in the Country.Did a Few Clinics with Larry sheppard when the Came out West. Jeff Lee i can rember when the "BIBLE" was available in indivual Booklets 1.00 apiece Tune Up Tips they were called.
I had chevy racers Buyin the" Bracket Racer Science".Mopar had the Best Performance stuff around.Stuff was cheap and it worked.

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

There were 2 cars then..the red Duster was the 400 cid test mule and the old Flack and Comstock gas class car was the car they did the 440 tunnel ram engine with.They used Paul Rossi's Rampage for 360 testing,ran a 360 S/S engine in it with a TQ and went 9.80's real easy.

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

I started out buying the individual Tune Up Tips. Had probably 10 of them when I decided it made sense to go "all out" and get the bilble. What was it in 1978, $15...$25? Whatever it was, I had to save to buy it!

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

There was tons of information exchanged between MOPAR cars and the Corporation in the early days. MOPAR published letters and books with all the information in them. When I started building our Duster, a couple of years ago, I found out about the books and newsletters. I got a hold of a copy of a book on just the suspension modifications. At the Drag Race Reunion in Henderson I was discussing the information in the book with a factory, MOPAR car builder and he told me that if a team car designed something that worked, meaning kept them in front of the other manufacturer's, then the Corporation would send out letters to all of the "team car" giving them all of the information necessary to build and set-up the parts. As he said the Corporation did not care which car was in the winners circle on Sunday as long as it was a MOPAR. They swapped and changes tons of pieces on those cars from week-end to week-end.

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

Don't know if any of you guys remember the Chrysler Performance
Blue & White book (really an encyclopedia with all the special part #'s and trick stuff).

P-F Flyer.
No, the 67' Cuda with the 383/280HP engine was only available
with 3.23 Sure-Grip Posi.
The front disc brakes were mandatory on that car with the 383.
The 3.55 and 3.91 gears were not available on that car.
But, a little trick. If you ordered the special 'Tow Package', you could get
stiffer rear shocks (1 1/8" piston), and short-helper leaf spring, and
4.10 gears.
Not sure if a heavier clutch disc was provided on the 4-speed,
but Dino said the A-727 transmission came from the factory with a
B & M valve body RV/Towing shift kit on that option.
PC
A-727 transmission came with a B & M valve-body shift kit

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

P-F Flyer,
I'll try to make it easier to understand.
1967 Barracuda (Fastback) 273/235HP Commando (weight #2952 lbs.)
4-Speed results
w/3,23 gears; 16.30 @ 85 mph
w/3.55 gears; 16.08 @ 87 mph

Automatic A-904 results
w/3.23 gears; 16.66 @ 83 mph
w/3.55 gears; 16.37 @ 84 mph

The results are from Plymouths own testing, with a race-proven driver at
the wheel. Results were kept quiet from the insurance companies.
Nothing special done to the cars, other than adjusted tire pressure
and mild tuning and track adjustments.

On their own special testing, to see if they could get the 273/235HP Commando into the 14.90's (sub 15-second range). I'll post that after I dig it up.
PC

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

This is what we are referring to as "The bible"

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

Jeff,
I remember when my father got that soft cover enyclopedia book.
About 2" think. He got the book 'Bible" from the Parts Manager
at Meadowland Chrysler-Plymouth, Carmel, New York back in
1969. Not too many people had it, or knew about it.

Still remember the desription of the Super/Stock springs for an
A-body 2800 - 3000 lbs, with a 4-speed.
Also, the trick with 50/50 rear shocks, and reversing the front perch
mount for the driver side Super/Stock leaf spring.
Utilizing 6-cylinder torsion bars (.83 thickness) and Valiant V-100
6-cylinder front shocks.

PC

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

I have the paperback version of the bible and I used it until it was in shreds. I still have it and it's held together with lots of tape.
It's the best book I ever read!

Re: Mopar To Release Lost A-Body 1/4 Mile Test Results
 

P-F Flyer,
Found it.
1967 Plymouth Barracuda (convertible), Formula "S"
383/280HP (A-727 Automatic)
Weight #3224 lbs.
The 67' 383 cars were only available with a 3.23 Sure-Grip Posi Rear.
The only way to get steeper gears was to order the optional
"Tow Package".
Not too many people knew about that one.
*Equipped with a 1 1/8" piston size for the rear shock, and self-leveling
spring adjusted (ie; Monroe-Matic) shocks.
*Some say an additional short leaf spring was added (a 7-leaf rear spring). Others say, a short 16" helper spring was added under the
back section of the 6-leaf rear spring.
* A "B & M" shift improver kit was installed in the valve body, and
heavier spring ? for the 2nd to 3rd up-shift.
* 4.10 gears
The convertible 383/280HP automatic was tested with this option.
14.67 @ 95 mph
PC