70 Cuda 440-6 4spd Replacement Block

[Cuda Cody]

In 1970 the steering columns did not have the lock out portion on the column section as yours does.  That's a 71 and up column.  Look at these ebay auctions and you'll see the 1970 does not have the lock out and the 71+ does.  Items 120728419770 & 300585285539

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-SPEED-MANUAL-STEERING-COLUMN-70-AAR-CUDA-CHALLENGER-/120728419770?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c1bf97dba#ht_1294wt_939

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cuda-4-speed-steering-column-and-wheel-use-complete-/300585285539?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item45fc4777a3#ht_500wt_1182




Also, all the 70 / 71 rallye dashes I have or have seen do not have the white artwork of the wipers next to the knob.  I think that only came on later 72+ dashes.

Here's the 1970 your should have had... ebay 130559985382
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/70-71-CUDA-CHALLENGER-RALLYE-GAUGES-3-SWITCHE-BEZEL-/130559985382?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e65fb46e6#ht_793wt_1165

And here's the one I see... ebay 130559977633
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-74-CUDA-CHALLENGER-RALLYE-GAUGES-3-SWITCHES-BEZEL-/130559977633?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e65fb28a1#ht_1125wt_1165

I have some photos of the metal warranty plaque that I will try to find and post.

Do you have the fender tag?  I would not be surprised if your car originally came with a Dana.

[cudamax2343]

Wow why would mine have a 71 style column with the lock the dash too man I just dont know. Thats the way its always been and I've had it since I think the mid 80's. I'd sure love to see a metal warranty plaque and exactly where they put them. Thanx's man I got to try and figure this **** out.

[73Chally]

Could it have been an original column shift car that was changed to the floor shift?  If so, they would have changed the column out then.  It also could have been in an accident where they had to replace the column.  That could also explain the dash difference.  Also might not have been an original rallye dash car.  As was mentioned before, if you can come up with more of the history and paperwork, you should get better money for it.  Just be prepared to have people pick through it pretty closely.  When trying to sell what could be a pretty desirable car, buyers are going to expect a lot of documentation before they pay the big bucks.

[cudamax2343]

I don't know man. I do remember it did have the 71 tail lights and I changed them out to the 70 ones. Core support is original to the car. The car looks to have never been hit. Dont really know why thats in there and didn't even ever noticed it. Is it for sure that no 70 ever came through with a 71 style column with the lock. Sure wish I could find the tag and broadcast sheet in my house

[cudamax2343]

Could it have been an original column shift car that was changed to the floor shift?  If so, they would have changed the column out then.  It also could have been in an accident where they had to replace the column.  That could also explain the dash difference.  Also might not have been an original rallye dash car.  As was mentioned before, if you can come up with more of the history and paperwork, you should get better money for it.  Just be prepared to have people pick through it pretty closely.  When trying to sell what could be a pretty desirable car, buyers are going to expect a lot of documentation before they pay the big bucks.

Wow thats a Thought. It could of been a 440-6pac column shift. Wow. How many of those were made. If so that could of made this super Rare. Was their any 4spd column shifts even made

[Cuda Cody]

No column shift 4 speeds, ever.  And no known 70's with the 71+ steering column.  Especially yours with a mid year build date.  They wouldn't even have designed the changes to the next years column when your car was built.

You MUST find the tag to know what's going on.  I would like to see the frame rail and firewall more closely.  This is looking like a auto that was changed to a 4 speed?  Find the fender tag or build sheet and get the answers.  Those items would add about 3K+ to the value of the car.    If you do need to sell, contact that top bidder and see if they will still buy it.  That's really fair money for that car.

Wow thats a Thought. It could of been a 440-6pac column shift. Wow. How many of those were made. If so that could of made this super Rare. Was their any 4spd column shifts even made

[GranCuda1970]

He's right about the steering column. I took my 3 on the tree column out and bought a replacement 4 speed column that I thought was a 70 Until I had it professionally restored . The Shop owner told me I had a 71 column,.. it has the lock he showed in the picks. I thought I had bought a 70.

[cudamax2343]

Photos on the way and thanxs for all the input and Honesty. Like I said I do remember pulling the 1971 style tail light assy and installing the 1970 ones and this is got to be an original 4spd car. I'll show you everything I can next to pulling the carpet and showing photos of the floor pan tranny tunnel

[cudamax2343]

Here ya go and tell me what you guys think also did they ever stamp the rear ends? because I agree most if not all 6pac & Hemi cars came with a Dana or I think its called the Trac-pac. This babbys got the Quick-change Banjo that I love. Ever try changing the ring & pinion on a Dana in 30 mins.






I'd still like to see the warranty block replacment medalion, if ya got and don't mind posting it

[GranCuda1970]

Super Track Pack with the Dana!!

[Challenger6pak]

My guess is that this car is a late 70's to early 80's redo.  We know it fits into that period from it's not being driven since the 80's.  I used to race and rebuild the ebodies during that time.  We used to get rid of the 70 columns.  We went to the 71-up column so that the car could not be stolen easily.  The linkage on the 70 columns would give people fits so they disconnected it and went to the 71-up column.  It was not uncommon to take the Dana out of these cars when they were raced.  The 8 3/4 was easier to work with and it weighed less.  The things that were done to these cars when they were 10 years old would make us cringe today.  Then the cars were just used cars.  This car looks like one that falls into this scenario.  Things were just changed to keep it going, 'back in the day'.  To me it is a 6 pack car without the original drivertrain and rear end.  It has an 80's style interior and paint with some mix-matched pieces.  It looks solid and would be a great car to redo as a non-numbers matching 6 pack Cuda.  If the fender tag and build sheet can be found it will make a huge difference in desirability and a difference, as has been said, in value.

[cudamax2343]

Thanx's man. Thats a great insight and may be true. I'm not here advertizing my car for sale. I want to keep it and I'm trying to do so. I just wanted to stop by and get all this great insight/Info from all of you and that I have. When I got the car way back in the mid 80s it was my dream car because I had always wanted a 70 Cuda 440-6pac Car and never cared or even known how to check to see if it was original up until just lately. Back then I just looked it over jumped in the Drivers seat and took it for a ride and when I floored it at about 55mph and those carbs all opened up and it held 2nd gear upto about 110mph The car was Sold and I was Hooked. Man oh man you can hear those carbs with a stock exhaust 3 blocks away. I remember the first thing I did was pop in the yellow springs in the end carbs.

[Cuda Cody]

Challenger 6pak is probably right.  Very nice car, but there are somethings that could improve the value and the tag / fender is the biggest.  Hope you stick around the board!

[cudamax2343]

There's a lot of things that don't add up on that car.  Do you know why the steering column was changed to a 71+?  Also, isn't half that rallye dash from a 72+ because it has the washer picture?  Where's the fender tag?

I personally would not call this a numbers matching motor as it would have to have the numbers on it to match.  A warranty block would have the metal plaque bolted to it.

I think you answered your own question by putting it on ebay.  Not that it helps, but I bought a 70 V code cuda with Dana last week for about half what yours got to on ebay.  I think you might want to rethink that top bidder on ebay.

Really and do think this guy should do the same and give his car away
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180708817165&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3AWNA%3AUS%3A1123

[Challenger6pak]

With a larger amount of the population out of work than normal, it is a buyers market.  Most sellers will have to lose money to sell their cars.  It is just the way things are.  The average American is not spending $20,000 + for something they will use 1 day a week for 8 months out of the year.  The car you pointed out appears to be a built car.  It does not look like it came with a 426.  To a collector what makes value is what the car came with originally and how much of the originality of the car remains.  Personally I would rather have a 440 + 6 non numbers matching car than a 318 car with a Hemi.  Some are different in this thought.  That is good.  We need a variety of people in this hobby to keep it strong.  If you can keep your car, I would do it.  The only way you may not lose on it, if you have to sell it,  is because you have had it for so long.