life after Super Stock for the Hemi A-bodies?

davezinn · 09-08-2010, 10:47 AM

does anyone have pictures of these cars from the 70's-80's they would be willing to share? i'm also interested in what were common modifications of those era's applied to these cars, suspension modifications, engine parts, etc. one thing i'm pretty curious about is how the cars were modified to fit the bigger slicks and still retain the leaf springs. i know that the springs were relocated but where the frame rails moved in too or were they replaced?

i noticed too that the team of DeFrank & Cohen have had at least two Hemi A-bodies, maybe more?

Dave

Paul Ceasrine · 09-08-2010, 08:04 PM

Dave,
The 10.5" slicks fit within the wheel-well of the Cuda.
The Dart required rear fender-well opening modification.
The frame-rails were not modified on the factory cars.
The cars were basic 68' 383 cars. Came through with
welded-in 'torque-boxes'.
pc

Charlie A · 11-01-2011, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davezinn

does anyone have pictures of these cars from the 70's-80's they would be willing to share?

Dave

Best I know of is right here: http://classracer.com/classforum/showthread.php?t=13002

treessavoy · 11-02-2011, 03:00 AM

I read an article back in the day about how primative the 68 A bodies were.

Fiberglass didn't fit; most that weren't picked up at the factory showed up with broken glass; one was delivered with 7 12:50 pistons and one 11:50 piston and some racers had to wait for the manifold to be shipped to them.

There was a story about a guy at Hurst whose job was to take a sledge hammer and pound out the inner fender so the valve cover would clear.

Chrysler said the they new the cars would be completely rebuilt by the racers so they sent them out to the racers in basically unfinished condition.

On the other hand the 62 through 65 cars were well thought out and well executed and did run well right out of the box.

JimR

Paul Ceasrine · 11-02-2011, 11:44 AM

I remember reading, that Chrysler Performance forbid any
racer with a 68' Hemi Barracuda or 68' Hemi Dart from running anything
other than Super/Stock in 1968.

In no uncertain terms, they were told to stay away from A/MP,,,,,,,,,,,
as that record was being 'reserved' for the 'special factory-backed
teams', when they felt the time was right to 'crush' the record.

If anyone raced in A/MP in 1968 with any A-Body Hemi car, they would be outted from getting any factory help,,,,,,,,let alone replacement parts.

More or less,,,,,,,,,,,stay in line with the Chrysler Racing Program,,,,,,
or else....

09-08-2010, 10:47 AM	#1
davezinn Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 42 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: life after Super Stock for the Hemi A-bodies? does anyone have pictures of these cars from the 70's-80's they would be willing to share? i'm also interested in what were common modifications of those era's applied to these cars, suspension modifications, engine parts, etc. one thing i'm pretty curious about is how the cars were modified to fit the bigger slicks and still retain the leaf springs. i know that the springs were relocated but where the frame rails moved in too or were they replaced? i noticed too that the team of DeFrank & Cohen have had at least two Hemi A-bodies, maybe more? Dave

09-08-2010, 08:04 PM	#2
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: life after Super Stock for the Hemi A-bodies? Dave, The 10.5" slicks fit within the wheel-well of the Cuda. The Dart required rear fender-well opening modification. The frame-rails were not modified on the factory cars. The cars were basic 68' 383 cars. Came through with welded-in 'torque-boxes'. pc

11-02-2011, 03:00 AM	#4
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: life after Super Stock for the Hemi A-bodies? I read an article back in the day about how primative the 68 A bodies were. Fiberglass didn't fit; most that weren't picked up at the factory showed up with broken glass; one was delivered with 7 12:50 pistons and one 11:50 piston and some racers had to wait for the manifold to be shipped to them. There was a story about a guy at Hurst whose job was to take a sledge hammer and pound out the inner fender so the valve cover would clear. Chrysler said the they new the cars would be completely rebuilt by the racers so they sent them out to the racers in basically unfinished condition. On the other hand the 62 through 65 cars were well thought out and well executed and did run well right out of the box. JimR __________________ Jim Rountree

11-02-2011, 11:44 AM	#5
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: life after Super Stock for the Hemi A-bodies? I remember reading, that Chrysler Performance forbid any racer with a 68' Hemi Barracuda or 68' Hemi Dart from running anything other than Super/Stock in 1968. In no uncertain terms, they were told to stay away from A/MP,,,,,,,,,,, as that record was being 'reserved' for the 'special factory-backed teams', when they felt the time was right to 'crush' the record. If anyone raced in A/MP in 1968 with any A-Body Hemi car, they would be outted from getting any factory help,,,,,,,,let alone replacement parts. More or less,,,,,,,,,,,stay in line with the Chrysler Racing Program,,,,,, or else....