Author Topic: To Clone or Not to Clone ?? (Read 2638 times)

GCC · « **on:** November 19, 2005 - 06:44:27 PM »

I am currently restoring my '70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Convertible, original 318 2-bl, 904 auto, 7-1/4 rear axle car. Metal work is complete. Original motor is gone; now has a 318 4-bl (from my '71 Cuda), 4-speed/pistol grip, 8-3/4 rear with 3:55 gears. Question: Keep the current drivetrain, or clone the car to a 440-6 or crate Hemi motor?? I don't really like cloning, but the original drivetrain is no longer in the car. Should I spend the $$ to get a period correct 440-6 or Hemi, or a new crate Hemi... what is the market out there spending on clones??

Carlwalski · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2005 - 06:57:07 PM »

Defintely "clone" it, you have nothing to lose. :-) The clone market is hug and I'd have to say probably it it's biggest stage of it's life with shows like Rides and American Hotrod etc these cars are becoming wanted items.
Viper drivetrain conversions also being done. Here's the best site IMO for custom cars, not clones, custom.

www.moparx.com

You should defintely consider going custom, make it your way, use modern parts to if you like.

Cheers,
Carl

Oldschool · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2005 - 07:01:51 PM »

Definitely clone it. The original drivetrain is missing anyway--nothing to lose there. You have an excellent platform to build whatever you want. If you are concerned about the clone market, do a little research and you will discover that old Mopar clones are bringing a ton on the market. You are in a great position--go as mild or as wild as you want....................Oldschool

hemi71 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2005 - 07:06:38 PM »

I'd say clone it....I dont like customs, but then thats just my opinion.

If you are looking for a well balanced cruiser, build up a stroker small block for it.

If you want the "impact" car...go for the hemi!

A well done 70 Cuda clone droptop with a hemi is a 80-90K car today...a 440-6 car is about 10-15K less. You have a 4 speed in it, so that makes it a real plus.

With the small block stroker...I'd say it's worth 60-70K....this is a very nicely done car we are talking about.

I sold the car below for 55K in 2004 at Carlisle....original 383 2bbl auto converted to 440-4 4 speed. It was a clean driver type car (original FC7 car with buildsheet), and included the original drivetrain. I'd say it's worth an easy 70-75K today.

528 Hemi Cuda · « **Reply #4 on:** November 20, 2005 - 01:01:16 AM »

Since we have 1 1971 Cuda clone and a 1971 Cuda custom I would say clone the car. Like everybody has already said the clones are bringing great money. We like to take cars that no one else wants and make them beautiful drivers again. Our Black 71 started out being almost a basket case. The Black one was almost unrestorable because of the rust. The Pink one was in much better shape body wise. Now when you see these cars you can't even tell what they were before. When we clone a car we never change the fender tag or VIN. So when someone sees them they know the cars started out being 1971 318 Barracudas. Post some pictures when you get done.
Pink Ice

GCC · « **Reply #5 on:** November 20, 2005 - 12:39:30 PM »

Thanks for all the valued opinions. Here's another temptation: I have a line on a 440-6 motor in town here. I went to look at it - it was pulled from a '70 Cuda some 20 years ago (not original to that car) and has been in attic storage since then. It has the carbs and an unpainted, alum. intake. Missing the pulleys, exh. manifolds, air cleaner. Casting numbers are 5-14-69 and 2536430-6. Owner wants $6k for this motor. It sounds steep, but could be a monster with the 4-speed in my project. What is a mostly complete, 1970's 440-6 motor going for these days?

? Thanks!!!!!!!

Street_Challenged73 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 20, 2005 - 01:55:15 PM »

I'd say go for the 440-6 Pack setup. As for the price, it does sound a little steep, but it'd be a perfect engine for that car.

chevyconvert · « **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2005 - 04:36:30 PM »

I'd like to add that my 440 6 pack came with an unpainted edelbrock intake installed. The guy I bought it from was telling me a story about how the factory installed them when they ran low on the cast iron ones.
I was thinking to myself "whatever" , it wasn't a deal breaker.
Since then I've read a couple of articles in my older magazines that confirmed his story.
Any thoughts from the old timers?

hemi71 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 20, 2005 - 06:33:06 PM »

Well, anything is possible, but from all the cars I've seen, aluminum intakes are from 69 B bodies, and 70 models have the cast iron intakes. If I'd say anything was possible, it would be that a few early 70 cars got leftover 69 aluminum intakes. Maybe someone else has heard about this?

AARudy · « **Reply #9 on:** November 20, 2005 - 09:14:31 PM »

My 71 barracuda convertible is all numbers matching 383 2bbl/auto....and I'm most likely going to make the hemi clone.... of course I will keep the original engine etc. with the car...Mopar is now re-poping the gilled fenders soon, so its not realy hurting the car at all, just replacing parts.... I dont think a date coded hemi is a huge issue... but who knows... I think I'd want a brand new one.... I am a BIG fan of originality...but when I stare at it, all I see is a shaker hood, billboards, go wing, and new Tor red paint!!!! that easily takes away from the 2bbl, single exhaust car I have now.... why not own a 4� or 5 million dollar car for pennies on the dollar? It's also money in the bank...

dazza · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2005 - 12:11:32 AM »

Hi
I have a 1970 challenger matching #s A66 high performence 340 car. At the moment it is being fully restored ground up. I plane to have most of it original but the engine trans and diff (go fast). Im thinking of putting in a hemi but not sure. THIS CAR IS NOT A T/A CHALLENGER if it was i would not even think about it. What would you do?

Chryco Psycho · « **Reply #11 on:** December 10, 2005 - 12:59:08 AM »

Welcome Dazza
I can`t tell you what to do , it is your car & I have no idea how original or complete the car is at this point
Do what you want , it is your car

dazza · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2005 - 05:28:52 AM »

Thanks for your reply chryco psycho. When I got the car it was very original and complete it is now pulled down and on a frame table ready to go to the body shop. I have been watching rides and over haulin with CHIP FOOSE and neally all the mopars that he dose gets a HEMI any mopar fans dream. Its making me think shoud i do this to mine.

chevyconvert · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2005 - 12:04:36 AM »

if you have an all original #'s car, which is very important to some people, why not sell it and buy a car without matching #'s for less money. The difference in cost between the two deals could help pay for you hemi or whatever it is you want to build.

dazza · « **Reply #14 on:** December 12, 2005 - 05:33:13 AM »

Thank you all for your replys. Im sticking with my original plane and that is to keep the car matching #s and to be built to original specs. Can someone please tell me how many non T/A 340ci challengers were built in 1970?

A66 1970 only 340ci high performance pack. One of the option codes.
Thank you.

Author Topic: To Clone or Not to Clone ?? (Read 2638 times)

GCC

To Clone or Not to Clone ??

Carlwalski

Re: To Clone or Not to Clone ??

Oldschool

Re: To Clone or Not to Clone ??

hemi71

Re: To Clone or Not to Clone ??

528 Hemi Cuda

Re: To Clone or Not to Clone ??

GCC

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Street_Challenged73

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chevyconvert

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hemi71

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AARudy

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dazza

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Chryco Psycho

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dazza

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chevyconvert

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dazza

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