Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger

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    Author Topic: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger  (Read 4780 times)

    Offline Fleet 500

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    Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « on: September 23, 2006 - 03:31:52 PM »
    On another car board, someone claims that the (old school) 'Cuda and Challenger handle poorly but the Charger doesn't. He says it's because the Charger had McPherson struts and the 'Cuda/Challenger didn't. I've never heard of that and I'm quite sure he's wrong. Besides torsion bars, what else does the suspension of the 'Cuda/Challenger/Charger have?

    Link is here to the thread I mentioned:
    http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28621
    Posted by "Juggs," post #12.

    Thanks.
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    Offline 422STROKER

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #1 on: September 23, 2006 - 05:10:24 PM »
    They have the same basic suspension features. :dunno:

    Tom
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    Tom
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    Offline Fleet 500

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #2 on: September 23, 2006 - 06:33:21 PM »
    Okay, thanks for verifying. I pretty much thought so. The person making the claim is kind of anti-Mopar and it looks like he is not very familiar with them!
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    Offline duodec

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #3 on: September 23, 2006 - 10:18:49 PM »
    Torsion bar envy can be insidious, and cause much harm to those stuck with silly coil springs that need 5 and 600 (or more!) pound rates to do their job...
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    Offline Four-Forty-fied

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #4 on: September 23, 2006 - 10:54:05 PM »
    No B-body came with McPherson struts, including the Charger. Although there may be some minor differences, B-body K-frames (and possibly the suspension components attached to them) will bolt up to E-bodies. I don't know about parts interchangeability, but the front suspension is exactly the same set up.

    As far as the rear ends, I believe the B-bodies up to 1970 had leaf springs that were more or less parallel, whereas the E-bodies and 1971 & up B-bodies had leaf springs that kick out slightly. Don't know if that affects handling at all.

    Other than that, the only difference would be wheel base. That probably had an appreciable different feel. I don't know; never drove a B-body.

    And what does he mean by old school 'Cuda? Old school as in A-body when 'Cuda was simply a nickname, or the official 'Cudas that are the high performance E-body Barracuda?
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    Offline Fleet 500

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #5 on: September 24, 2006 - 12:38:47 AM »
    Quote from: Four-Forty-fied on September 23, 2006 - 10:54:05 PM
    No B-body came with McPherson struts, including the Charger. Although there may be some minor differences, B-body K-frames (and possibly the suspension components attached to them) will bolt up to E-bodies. I don't know about parts interchangeability, but the front suspension is exactly the same set up.

    Thanks for the info. I kind of had an idea that he didn't know what he was talking about. I think he's a Chevy man.  :eek7:

    Quote
    As far as the rear ends, I believe the B-bodies up to 1970 had leaf springs that were more or less parallel, whereas the E-bodies and 1971 & up B-bodies had leaf springs that kick out slightly. Don't know if that affects handling at all.

    That's something I didn't know; I never realized that the leaf springs on the E-bodies kick out slightly (and I've been reading car mags for 30 years). Always interesting to learn something new.

    Quote
    And what does he mean by old school 'Cuda? Old school as in A-body when 'Cuda was simply a nickname, or the official 'Cudas that are the high performance E-body Barracuda?

    I used the term "old school" so as not to confuse the old Charger with the new one.
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    Offline jvike

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #6 on: September 24, 2006 - 07:28:46 AM »
    I've heard that B-bodys had bether weight distribution than the e-body (closer too 50/50).
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    Offline 360 'CUDA

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #7 on: September 24, 2006 - 11:05:50 AM »
    Hey Fleet!!   :wave:

    The suspension parts do in fact interchange (mostly) but there are minor things that are different for instance the swaybars, steering knuckles ect. 
    The best way to find out about changes is to buy a Mopar Chassis book. It has all the info you need.  ONLY $10.00!!!!!!
    Here's a link

    http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/mopchas8thed.html

    Here is a link for all Mopar performance books

    http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/mopper.html
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    Offline Grancoupe

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #8 on: September 24, 2006 - 05:45:15 PM »
    I owned a 74 Charger and now have a 70 cuda. The cudad definitely out performs the charger as far as handling. Maybe the charger was a bit more stable up at top end.
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    Offline 360 'CUDA

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #9 on: September 24, 2006 - 06:16:26 PM »
    Sadly,  '73 '74 and up B-bodies have the "iso" suspension and are built for comfy ride over performance. Similar to Cordoba.  Almost nothing interchanges after 1972
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    Offline willhaven

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #10 on: September 24, 2006 - 09:32:05 PM »
    Quote from: Four-Forty-fied on September 23, 2006 - 10:54:05 PM
    As far as the rear ends, I believe the B-bodies up to 1970 had leaf springs that were more or less parallel, whereas the E-bodies and 1971 & up B-bodies had leaf springs that kick out slightly. Don't know if that affects handling at all.
    I would assume that having them at different angles would lead to less side-to-side movement of the ass end.

    I also recall one of the guys from XV Motorsports saying how, when testing the stock E and B body suspension setups for Dream Car garage, that the B body car was far more composed and drivable than expected. "Maybe even better than the Cuda" I believe he may have said. Something to that affect thought.
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    Offline 360 'CUDA

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #11 on: September 25, 2006 - 02:36:21 AM »
    Quote from: willhaven on September 24, 2006 - 09:32:05 PM
    I would assume that having them at different angles would lead to less side-to-side movement of the ass end.

    I also recall one of the guys from XV Motorsports saying how, when testing the stock E and B body suspension setups for Dream Car garage, that the B body car was far more composed and drivable than expected. "Maybe even better than the Cuda" I believe he may have said. Something to that affect thought.

    While it is possible that it is easier to slide the B-body around because of the longer wheelbase I don't think any classic Mopar platform is better then the E-bodies.  Those guys on DCG are trying to sell viewers their suspension products so they are going to trash talk our cars.  I wasn't too impressed with that episode anyway because the '71 'CUDA didn't even have disc brakes.

    I would bet 4 wheel discs with big torsion bars, modern wheels/tires, swaybars and shocks on that same car would come with in 99% of going all out and adding new tube K-members and independent rear suspension.
    (and if anybody wants to build me such a car I would be glad to test it for you)

    Interestingly the E-bodies rear springs are closer together in the front and further apart in the rear but the '71 up B-bodies are closer together in the rear and further apart in the front.  It beats me what the advantage could be  :dunno:
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    Offline whitesatinmopar

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #12 on: September 25, 2006 - 06:47:28 AM »
    I'd say the biggest reason for the Charger to ride better ( and it does) than the E-bods is length of wheel base and weight. As far as handling, really about the same with stock set up. X branders just wish and dream about torsion bar suspension, so why not put it down if you don't have it and aren't willing to get it?
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    Offline widing'cuda

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #13 on: September 25, 2006 - 03:51:57 PM »
    I think the cuda and the Charger are very similar. I have own both a 70 Charger 500 and a 70 'Cuda (still own the 'Cuda). The only difference I find is that it's easier to straiten the Charger up if the rear slides, than the 'Cuda. And basically that's the length of the wheel base that does that.  As for the suspension, I think they are pretty much the same. But I think the 'Cuda handles better in turns than the Charger. But I never tried a Charger R/T. And my 'Cuda is lowered a lot on suspension. So I really can't say for sure.
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    Offline Fleet 500

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    Re: Suspension: Challenger/'Cuda VS Charger
    « Reply #14 on: September 26, 2006 - 11:54:47 PM »
    Well, "Juggs," the guy who made the claim that 'Cudas and Challengers handled poorly, hasn't replied to my last post, so maybe I convinced him that he's wrong.   :-\
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