70 Cuda U Code: catch and release

[Topcat]

edl,

Use this to help you with the numbers.

http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/motor/36.html

[edl]

thanks steve - yes, i meant cast and not stamped

have confirmed the partial VIN stamped there

i will look for the displacement and date castings there

i have not noticed square pad on top of the motor - but i'll look for that and in particular that it sys F440 and the number that will represent HP (which should be 375)


by the way, pulled the trigger on the car Saturday - so now i am engaged not in due diligence to avoid making a mistake, but post-mortum to see how big of a mistake i made - stayed in the range of prices indicated by Steve - so hopefully the burn won't be too bad

[MEK-Dangerfield]

i have not noticed square pad on top of the motor - but i'll look for that and in particular that it sys F440 and the number that will represent HP (which should be 375)

The pad in question is just to the right of where the distributor goes into the block. If the block has been repainted, the numbers could be covered up.

[tommyg29]

I think the letters HP do not refer to the horsepower rating. It just means its an "HP" block.
They can be viewed on the block from under the car on the passenger side.
I agree without at least a few good pictures and verified #s it is VERY hard to estimate a value. It could be worth anywhere from $9,000 to even $25,000, depending on how rare the options, condition, originality, color, etc etc.
Making your assumptions, I would say maybe somewhere in the teens, so....90% there....
I dont think so!
Anyways, keep asking questions, and good luck.
Hope it works out.

[edl]

thanks tommyg29; thanks MEK-Dangerfield

[quapman]

The top pad will actually have the letters "HP" or "HP2", not a horsepower rating.

[73Chally]

If it's an HP block, it just means that it might have had some beefed up internals from the factory, but if it has ever been rebuilt, then it means nothing.  HP blocks could have also been used with standard internals just because they happened to grab an HP stamped block because it was next in line by mistake.  Basically, an HP stamped block does nothing to add value, but people still like to say they have an HP block.

[edl]

So I changed the subject line - i think it is now much more fun to give the blow by blow on what i ended up with rather than what to pay since that ship sailed

So - today's good news - the motor seems like the real deal

I checked the pad and here are the stampings:

F 440                   B
     C
10 .  9      HP2


2 things to note - the is not that orientation on the pad - take the top of the "B" and rotate 90 deg left - that is the orientation; and, not sure if it will show this way when i post, but the C is roughly between the 10 and the 9 but a row or so up

So, seems like it is a 440 - more importantly, I take that the 10.9 means that it was made in October 1969? - that seems to fit because the sticker on the driver door jamb shows a Dec 1969 build date...so that seems to dovetail nicely

Together with the partial Vin, i say we all agree that the car has its original motor - do you guys agree?

if yes, so far i have:

1. a 1970 Cuda, 440 4 BL
2. yellow
3. 4 speed
4. Numbers matching body and engine
5. NOT the original tranny
6. NO fender tag (yet - I have original owner's contact information and so need to see what i find through him)
7. NO paper work (yet - I have original owner's contact information and so need to see what i find through him)


Next on the list is the dana rear end - at the moment, i am told by the seller that it is indeed a Dana by the 10 bolt - is it a Dana 60? - 44? - i know from earlier whacks upside the head that the rear end is not vin stamped - so i assume i am looking for casting (stamped?) numbers

thanks - hope this thread will keep people entertained - after all it is a "reality thread" - so you get to discover alongside me!

[Challenger6pak]

Here is a Dana 60.

[Challenger6pak]

This is a car Dana 60 from the yoke side.  Note the provisions for the pinion snubber.

[Challenger6pak]

This is a truck Dana 60 from the yoke side.  It is smooth.  It does not have provisions for the pinion snubber.  A truck Dana can be modified to run car axils.  If your car has the original Dana or a car Dana, it will have the pinion snubber mount provisions.

[edl]

Thanks challenger6pak - this is very helpful

OK - so i have a 60 and here are the pics - excellent - i'll try to get under her to tonight and confirm what rear i've got - you'll know when i know

 

[tommyg29]

the dana 60 numbers are on the passenger side tube, on the trailing (back) side.
Sometimes they can be hard to find since they can be faint.
There is a great site about the dana 60 numbers and specs, but I cant find it now.
But here is a good site about the block:

http://www.yearone.com/updatedsinglepages/Id_info/mopar/mopar%20casting%20numbers/castingnumbers3.html

[edl]

thx tommyg29

[the_engineers]