Author Topic: From Georgia - Just got a 72 Cuda 340 4 speed 6 pack  (Read 6219 times)

Offline Super Blue 72

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Re: From Georgia - Just got a 72 Cuda 340 4 speed 6 pack
« Reply #15 on: October 28, 2011 - 10:14:00 AM »
Cool, thanks for the info.  From what I heard in Foxboro at Gillette stadium they have seom really nice car shows there every other week.  I wonder if this car showed up there?  Very nice car!
1972 Dodge Challenger Rallye 340, AT, Code TB3=Super Blue, SBD=8/17/1971.  Yes, a Rallye without the fender louvers from the factory because of the body side molding option.

Pic #2 and 3 of my ARII 1/24 scale model car 

Phil in New England-Massachusetts  Always thank God for what you have!

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/456046/1972-dodge-challenger




Offline cuda346pk

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Re: From Georgia - Just got a 72 Cuda 340 4 speed 6 pack
« Reply #16 on: November 13, 2011 - 12:45:22 AM »
@ Super Blue 72 - possible from an earlier owner, the guy I got it from appears to have only had it a month or so. I did however get some interesting papers with the car - including the build sheet - torn in a few places but almost complete and legible.
An original title from the guy who got it used 4/10/76 with 32,887 miles. He lived in Quincy, Mass. Has the previous owners name and address as Squantum, Mass, same street address and last name (I bet it is dad). Is signed over on reverse to another guy in Quincy, Mass. - less than a mile away - on 10/16/87 at 48760 miles - so only 16, 000 miles in these 11 1/2 years. So I have the names and addresses of probably the first 3 owners. would like to verify and try to track down to see if they have any items still, from dealer maybe. Also some receipts from the 2nd owner, ring and pinion replacement at Foley Chrysler-Plymouth in Quincy in 77. Body work at Bodycraft in Quincy. Receipt from 89 with name Jay, could be 3rd owner but it is from Morgans auto parts in Littleton, Mass. 45 or so miles away - for single angle valve job and some gaskets. Some Crane cams literature with section circled for model 1196 and the specs. then some dyno sheets for 1 month later at Williams Racing in Harvard, Mass listing it as Engine Description: Berry -340 six Pack 1196 244 502 (duration and lift specs) ultra+104++real-Lead. Test Description: 1 3/4x36 3x24 (not sure what this means) 340Cent 440ends jets?? Hi-intensity@1Turnc - max torque 354.1 @ 4750rpm and max hp 346.5 @ 5750 rpm. Now the story goes that it was recently "restored" but the guy got in some trouble and had to pay a lawyer with the car and then the guy I got it from bought it from him. Plus within 30 minutes of listing it on ebay a guy within 25 miles of Foxborough, Mass had high bid at the reserve price. He came to see the car and had high bid until in the final 17 seconds I beat him. He tried to get it after the auction ended but I said no. Now that I see the paper trail the car lived within a 60 mile range its whole life and would have stayed in the same range had I not won it, I kinda feel bad but am very happy to have the documentation. Now if only the motor was original. I was told it is a 71 motor but now I need to verify just to make sure before I go to "ruining" an original with paper trail. Well I couldn't wait - a quick search and found a phone and address, hopefully current, of the 2nd owner. Will call tomorrow, to probably find out that last week he cleaned out his attic and threw away all the original papers.
Ok now for the update:
Well she arrived Monday night, gotta say I love her and can't imagine how I went so long since my last real car. Runs and drives great, manual steering brakes and all!! Already squaring away a few things and and ready to start with the questions.
Should the dash emblem say Cuda or Barracuda for an original Cuda in 72?
How should I reinstall the cap on the pistol grip shifter? It was loose and rattling so I popped it off, thinking I will silicone it then try to flatten out the metal like it appears factory did to trap it.
Ever seen headers that have so little ground clearance? They even welded on a skid plate, thankfully! See pics.
What should I replace with for quality and clearance - from the ground and steering linkage?
What should my height from the ground be at whatever point - say maybe the middle of each bumper center...? car has 255/60R15 rear and 235/60R15 front. Not sure yet of rim width.
Should I be able to get the factory tach to work with a Crane/Allison XR3000 electronic ignition? It is hooked to the neg. side of the coil. How can I test the signal to the tach or test the tach itself?
Was told the intake and center carb were from an AAR, how can I verify and find anything? Intake says Edelbrock on the front of it.
Alright I think that is enough for tonight. I will start asking individual questions where they belong now, just thought I would cover it here real quick while I updated that it is official now, and man oh man does my 17 y/o daughter think I am cool now. She has fallen in love at first sight.
David - In Georgia

1972 'Cuda In-Violet 340 6 Pack 4 Speed 3.91 Sure Grip - Finally, after 27 years of waiting and dreaming it is real. Now the fun begins!

Offline challengermaniac

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Re: From Georgia - Just got a 72 Cuda 340 4 speed 6 pack
« Reply #17 on: November 13, 2011 - 01:11:25 AM »
Nice tag on this one, but no Cuda in 72, so it's a Baracuda.  With the Eldebrock manifold and possibility of 2 AAR carbs, you could have something there.  What is the casting number on the 340?  Single or dual pt distributor or has that been changed to electronic?  Just trying to determine how much AAR is there as you wouldn't have come close to that HP range with a 72 motor. 
Charlie
70 Challenger 340/4 Purple
70 Challenger T/A Red
Edmonds, WA

Offline cuda346pk

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Re: From Georgia - Just got a 72 Cuda 340 4 speed 6 pack
« Reply #18 on: November 13, 2011 - 02:54:40 AM »
maniac, I was told the motor is 71, converted to electronic ignition with an Allison XR3000 optical system. He said he thought at least the center one was real and I bet he got that from the dyno sheet as it specifies "340cent 440ends". So the Edelbrock logo is correct for the AAR/TA intakes? Since the dyno sheet lists it as having the 6 pack in 89 what would the chances be that reproduction intakes and air cleaner assembly's were around yet, he said he thought the cleaner was real too.
Front stamping below drivers side head is MH 340 P(maybe R)        39028(maybe 3)075 and the drivers side above starter is 2780930-340-2 with a large 4 below to the right. I just tonight got the #'s together so I have not tried too hard yet to decode so any help would be appreciated. It appears that at least in 89 the top end was redone, the receipt for the valve job also has some gaskets including an oil pan gasket but nothing about any bottom end parts, granted this is only one receipt that obviously does not cover everything. I am going to try to call one of the old owners tomorrow and see if I have any luck on more info.
David - In Georgia

1972 'Cuda In-Violet 340 6 Pack 4 Speed 3.91 Sure Grip - Finally, after 27 years of waiting and dreaming it is real. Now the fun begins!

Offline challengermaniac

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Re: From Georgia - Just got a 72 Cuda 340 4 speed 6 pack
« Reply #19 on: November 13, 2011 - 12:58:29 PM »
So the Edelbrock logo is correct for the AAR/TA intakes?

Correct, the six pac manifolds for AAR's & T/A's were Edelbrock's.  Your 71 340 block is not AAR or T/A born.
Charlie
70 Challenger 340/4 Purple
70 Challenger T/A Red
Edmonds, WA

Offline cuda346pk

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Re: From Georgia - Just got a 72 Cuda 340 4 speed 6 pack
« Reply #20 on: November 13, 2011 - 01:29:06 PM »
So those #'s verify it is a 71 motor? So definitely not original. Oh well.
David - In Georgia

1972 'Cuda In-Violet 340 6 Pack 4 Speed 3.91 Sure Grip - Finally, after 27 years of waiting and dreaming it is real. Now the fun begins!

Offline challengermaniac

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Re: From Georgia - Just got a 72 Cuda 340 4 speed 6 pack
« Reply #21 on: November 13, 2011 - 07:45:45 PM »
So those #'s verify it is a 71 motor? So definitely not original. Oh well.

Sorry, I don't know if your 340 block is a match to your car or not.  All I know is that it's not an AAR or T/A block.
Charlie
70 Challenger 340/4 Purple
70 Challenger T/A Red
Edmonds, WA

Offline cuda346pk

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Re: From Georgia - Just got a 72 Cuda 340 4 speed 6 pack
« Reply #22 on: November 14, 2011 - 03:40:57 AM »
Sorry I thought when you said your 71 block you were verifying to me that it was a 71 block.
I called the person I tracked down last night from the old title and talked for about a half hour while driving his old car. He was amazed it was still alive and then to find out it had only a week before left his area. He gave me some info. He was the 2nd owner but his dad was not the first, he was too young for it to go into his name at first. He bought it from Westminster Dodge in 74. He remembered the name on the title he got so I have the original owners name too now. He said it was a Cuda but he added the console and rallye guages, changed the rear to 3.91, built the motor - forgot to ask about the block -  and added the 6 pack, he even knew the name of the guy who owned the purple AAR the 6 pack came off so it is original but the outer carbs he remembers changing to some from a 440 6 pack. I am trying to track the next owner he sold it to as he gave him lots of parts with it. He also put Hooker 1 3/4" to 3" collector headers on it so maybe that is what those are but I do not think they are that old. Well thought it was lots of good info and great leads for possibly more papers or parts from it and maybe I can track the AAR and see if it lives still.
David - In Georgia

1972 'Cuda In-Violet 340 6 Pack 4 Speed 3.91 Sure Grip - Finally, after 27 years of waiting and dreaming it is real. Now the fun begins!

Offline challengermaniac

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Re: From Georgia - Just got a 72 Cuda 340 4 speed 6 pack
« Reply #23 on: November 14, 2011 - 12:32:35 PM »
Well thought it was lots of good info and great leads for possibly more papers or parts from it and maybe I can track the AAR and see if it lives still.

Great history, although it's highly unlikely someone would have removed part of the heart (six pak) of an ARR if the car had any chance of rolling down the road in the future.

Best and hope you have a lot of fun with this.
Charlie
70 Challenger 340/4 Purple
70 Challenger T/A Red
Edmonds, WA

Offline cuda346pk

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Re: From Georgia - Just got a 72 Cuda 340 4 speed 6 pack
« Reply #24 on: November 14, 2011 - 02:12:43 PM »
The guy could not get the car to run right with the 6 pack so he swapped to a 4 bbl. The car was still on the road for a while after the swap, this was back in late 70's sometime so it wasn't too special yet I guess.
Thanks, it is already a blast.
David - In Georgia

1972 'Cuda In-Violet 340 6 Pack 4 Speed 3.91 Sure Grip - Finally, after 27 years of waiting and dreaming it is real. Now the fun begins!