Newbie - 70 Cuda

[Cudatali]

Hi there everyone, new to the site. Hoping to learn from the fellow Mopar fans as well as help in any way I can. I bought a very clean 1970 Barracuda over 4 years ago and got half way done with needed sheetmetal replacement and just haven't had time to finish. Owning a body shop is both a blessing and a curse at times. Hoping to getting it done within the next year. Now if I could only decide on the powerplant

[anlauto]

Welcome...I can relate, I own a small restoration shop and I find it impossible to get my own stuff done too !

[Cudakiller70]

Welcome to a great site! For power I vote for a small block, but Ya know if I needed a complete motor I would look into a modern motor and adapt a carb just me. If your doing a resto then that's all together different. You need to build what you want.

[dfrazz]

Welcome from CO!  I would either stroke a 360 (more readily available) or 440 depending on what kind of HP and TQ you want.

[js29no]

  welcome, yet another shoe maker's kid going bear foot! my self I like A big block, and I love A pistol grip 4-speed. 

[734406pk]

Welcome to the site! Was this Cuda a small block car originally?

[Cudatali]

Thanks everyone, yes car was originally a 318 powered car. I have all the parts needed for 3 different powerplants; 340 six pack, a very stout 440, and 426 HEMI. My main and really only intention was the HEMI, I ended up with the 440 during the deal of the 426 and the 340 is for a Demon I'm gonna build. My dilemma is old school Hemi or modern 392 or the hellacious new Gen III 426. All I've ever wanted was an old school '70 Hemi Cuda, but I have no experience with driving one to really know what kind of quirks or driveability issues are normal to the dual quad 426. I have been considering a fuel injection setup as I've done some of those before and those come with baggage as well. A modern engine would offer same power, lighter front end, great driveabilty and more trouble free. It wouldn't have the menacing look of the elephant motor under hood. 

[734406pk]

Im partial to a gen II 426 Hemi 'Cuda if it's in the budget. You'll have to do the chassis mods to hold this beast though...

[Racer57]

The engine depends on what your planning on doing with the car. If you want to hop into it at anytime and just cruise around town and/or hit the interstate then that's a whole different animal than the shake rattle and roll fire breather or the "looks cool at the car shows but bucks and belches if a cloud goes over." 

[70cudageorge]

I vote for the old school hemi. I would way rather have a 1970 set up in a 70 cuda. I  have a lot of old dirt bikes from 1969 to 1986.  I love the old stuff . Just has more character and way cooler.

[69ChargerRT]

welcome to the site!  if you have the means you definitely have to go hemi.  nothing like a hemi in an ebod!

[Cudatali]

Yup after some more research on different setups I decided to stick to my Gen II 426 but I'm going to do a dual quad efi setup. I feel that will get me exactly what I want. Now I just got to start hitting it on evenings and weekends to get this babe running

[jimynick]

Welcome to the site and good luck with your hemi conversion!