1970 slant6 barracuda transformation to 440'cuda, structural reinforcements??

[nr1freak]

hi!

a few years ago i started restauration on a 1970 slant six barracuda. i wanted to pull out the 6cilinder engine and fit the allmighty 440, which i purchased in the meantime. along with the 8 3/4 rear axle, the K-member and the 4-speed gearbox
i've just about finished changing the rear quarterpanels, firewall, trunk floor, etc..)  but now i've learned that the more powerfull cuda's had structural reinforcements (which the slant6 version hadn't...) so now i'm looking for someone who has does this kind of transformation or any online explanation on where those reinforcements should be!

anyone?

[7071 challenger]

hi!

a few years ago i started restauration on a 1970 slant six barracuda. i wanted to pull out the 6cilinder engine and fit the allmighty 440, which i purchased in the meantime. along with the 8 3/4 rear axle, the K-member and the 4-speed gearbox
i've just about finished changing the rear quarterpanels, firewall, trunk floor, etc..)  but now i've learned that the more powerfull cuda's had structural reinforcements (which the slant6 version hadn't...) so now i'm looking for someone who has does this kind of transformation or any online explanation on where those reinforcements should be!

anyone?

You need "torque boxes", 4 of them. If you search on the net with "Mopar E body torque boxes", you should find something. Other members might know better. The slant six had the smallest torsion bars for an E-Body. Numbers stamped on them are probably "774" & "775". You need at least "778" & "779". The real bars for 440s are "780" & "781". Mopar performance has replacement bars, but they're not cheap. You will also need stiffer rear springs. Your Barracuda probably doesn't have front sway bar. If you want to add it on, you will need te replace the front lower control arms.

Robert

[brads70]

Mine was also a  /6 car originally too.
Here is a post with lots of good pictures for torque boxes!
 http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=62801.0

You will need these as was said above. You will need to pull back/out the carpet to weld them in.
http://www.rosevillemoparts.com/product_info.php/p/70-74-e-body-front-torque-box-set/products_id/622
http://www.rosevillemoparts.com/product_info.php/p/torque-box-rear-set-e-body/products_id/623

Go with 1" torsion bars  PST usually has them on sale
http://www.p-s-t.com/s.nl/it.A/id.6907/.f?sc=12
I got mine here....   http://www.justsuspension.com/pro-touring-torsion-bars.html


If your car didn't come with a sway bar you can as suggested swap out the LCA's or weld in these tabs.
http://www.hotchkis.net/late_mopar_control_arm_bracket.html

For sway bars I'd go with Hotchkis or PST protouring bars . They are hollow and weigh less and are bigger to help with handling. Rear sway bars are also available.
http://www.hotchkis.net/front_sport_sway_bar_set_7074_mopar_e_body.html
PST is cheaper?
http://www.p-s-t.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7085/.f?sc=12

[nr1freak]

thx! this will put me in the right direction!

[KFD]

To give you a good idea of what delineates a slant car from it's hemi and six pack sisters, here is a photo of the underside of "El Hemi" owned by the Escalante family. El Hemi became legendary on Woodward, then made it's way to Argentina, and then back to the states...



Those are your torsion boxes to the extreme right of the photo. Also, take note of the extra metal above the pinion snubber area. Hemi and Six Pack cars got those.

Other things they got:

*K-frame with skid plate

*3/8" Fuel line

*Bigger Torsion bars (7/8 versus 13/16, I think, but that's already been covered).

*No A/C.

*Torque boxes

*Pan over pinion snubber

*Extra half leaf on passenger's side spring pack.

That's all I can remember off the top of my head, I know I am missing a few things (big radiator, I think there is structural reinforcements elsewhere) but a subtle thing that will carry you a long with these cars is extra welding. Remember that some stiff with an a-hole of a boss was slapping these things together! I remember seeing a thread on here of a '71 Barracuda (I think) that showcased some beautiful welding in mostly factory locations. That will stiffen that unibody pretty good!

Later
KFD

[GranCuda1970]

You need "torque boxes", 4 of them. If you search on the net with "Mopar E body torque boxes", you should find something. Other members might know better. The slant six had the smallest torsion bars for an E-Body. Numbers stamped on them are probably "774" & "775". You need at least "778" & "779". The real bars for 440s are "780" & "781". Mopar performance has replacement bars, but they're not cheap. You will also need stiffer rear springs. Your Barracuda probably doesn't have front sway bar. If you want to add it on, you will need te replace the front lower control arms.

Robert

 I bought the heavy duty torsion bars from summit racing years back they are 785's.

[nr1freak]

never thought about that extra welding, that's probably a great idea! thx for the help!