70 cuda with viper engine

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Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: 70 cuda with viper engine
« Reply #15 on: March 06, 2009 - 04:53:08 PM »
That is so sweet, Big Jimbo! That engine would be a surprise to anyone that is casually walking by at a car show. I normally wouldn't take a long look till I saw the long red valve covers. Then you have me hooked.

Rob
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

My Pace Car restoration thread:
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=44869.0





Offline Aussie Challenger

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Re: 70 cuda with viper engine
« Reply #16 on: March 06, 2009 - 08:14:22 PM »
  Both the Cuda & Belvedere with Viper motavation are mind blowing. These are the types of rebuilds that make history.   :burnout:   Hot Roding a car especially a MOPAR adds their reputation.   :bananasmi   :cheers:   
Dave

Offline DmanSRT69

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Re: 70 cuda with viper engine
« Reply #17 on: March 06, 2009 - 10:20:46 PM »
I'm not 100% on the details, but didn't the ViperCuda from one of the Mopar mags  need the firewall moved because of engine length?

I can start a thread on this site if people would be interested.  I have lots of pics and stories.  I found the site on a google search looking to see if there was another crazy person out there trying to put a Viper engine in a regular car.  I wanted to add moral and technical support to the crazy individual through my lessons learned over the past 2 years.  This is a cuda-challenger site so I didn't want to start a thread for an old Belvedere. 
For the Cuda/Viper project I would expect the issues to be similar to mine since the suspension in the old 1959 is not that much different from the Cuda.  The thing that amazed me on the 59 was that the viper engine mounts lined up with the front frame cross member, and the rear mount for the Tremec 6 speed mounted right on the old Torqueflite crossmember!  I used the stock viper engine mounts and just needed the frame mounts fabbed.  I bet the Cuda will be similar because of shared engines over the years.  The mounting length appears to have not changed much.  The Viper engine is narrower and lower than the old 318 poly wide block I removed (and a LOT lighter) but is about 6-8 inches longer.  The worst part of mounting it was the long continuous oil pan that is cast aluminum so not changeable.  This required dropping the center of the front frame crossmember.  Then there is the length issue and getting a radiator and fan to fit.  The tunnel only required minor surgery and the shifter comes right out in front of the bench seat.  I bet the Cuda would be similar.  Now if I can only get it started this weekend......I have not yet heard it roar.

Offline DmanSRT69

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Re: 70 cuda with viper engine
« Reply #18 on: March 06, 2009 - 10:24:08 PM »
Here's more....from Popular Hot Rodding.......

Stuffing the V-10/6-speed combo between the framerails required some serious suspension surgery. The entire factory torsion bar front suspension and K-member were ditched in favor of a completely custom setup featuring tubular A-arms and a custom tubular K-member to support the new engine. A rack-and-pinion steering setup was also added. The additional space found after the suspension swap allowed the V-10 installation to fit without any firewall modifications at all. The transmission tunnel needed to be custom-crafted, but according to Jack, "...it was junk anyway, and needed to be replaced." Jack made sure to thank his pals Jose and Pete for their generous assistance in getting the turbo equipment and drivetrain installed and functional.

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/features/0411phr_1972_plymouth_cuda/index.html

I'm not 100% on the details, but didn't the ViperCuda from one of the Mopar mags  need the firewall moved because of engine length?

Offline thedodgeboys

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Re: 70 cuda with viper engine
« Reply #19 on: March 07, 2009 - 09:54:40 AM »
I can start a thread on this site if people would be interested.  I have lots of pics and stories.  I found the site on a google search looking to see if there was another crazy person out there trying to put a Viper engine in a regular car.  I wanted to add moral and technical support to the crazy individual through my lessons learned over the past 2 years.  This is a cuda-challenger site so I didn't want to start a thread for an old Belvedere. 


Please do we love odd stuff with lots of  :picture:
 :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:
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