which engine for 1970 cuda?

[boss351]

hello to everyone .. i'm building a 1970 cuda pro touring and now we have to choose the engine (first we had a 572 hemi but I sold it.)
we are undecided about:
- 6.1 hemi and prepare it
- 6.4 hemi and bring it to 550 hp
- r5 p7 engine. I do not know much about that engine .. do you give me some feedback?
which among these engine do you recommend me?
thank you

[badazz81z28]

hello to everyone .. i'm building a 1970 cuda pro touring and now we have to choose the engine (first we had a 572 hemi but I sold it.)
we are undecided about:
- 6.1 hemi and prepare it
- 6.4 hemi and bring it to 550 hp
- r5 p7 engine. I do not know much about that engine .. do you give me some feedback?
which among these engine do you recommend me?
thank you


Pro-Touring? Easy answer....Fuel Injected modern hemi. If you really have the cash, I would go for the Hell Cat crate engine.

[raustinss]

X2 what badazz says

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Hellcats are coming down and should have a good return on investment for the entire car. Since they announced the $15k Hellcat crate engines, I have seen a pulled 6.2L going for $10k obo. They were all running up near $20k just a few months ago.

Of the options you mentioned, I would go toward the 6.4L, 6.1L parts are over-priced. You can also pickup a Hellcat shortblock pretty reasonably and build up the rest. That being said, I have a little 5.7L that is ready for a few psi once the 'Cuda fund recovers from this year.

[boss351]

Hellcats are coming down and should have a good return on investment for the entire car. Since they announced the $15k Hellcat crate engines, I have seen a pulled 6.2L going for $10k obo. They were all running up near $20k just a few months ago.

Of the options you mentioned, I would go toward the 6.4L, 6.1L parts are over-priced. You can also pickup a Hellcat shortblock pretty reasonably and build up the rest. That being said, I have a little 5.7L that is ready for a few psi once the 'Cuda fund recovers from this year.

My budget is 13k for engine and wiring.. Hellcat is too expensive for me

[boss351]

Pro-Touring? Easy answer....Fuel Injected modern hemi. If you really have the cash, I would go for the Hell Cat crate engine.

Does anyone know the actual size of width and height about new hemi (6.1, 6.4 and Hellcat)?? my 572 was too high and he was leaving out of the hood..

[boss351]

Pro-Touring? Easy answer....Fuel Injected modern hemi. If you really have the cash, I would go for the Hell Cat crate engine.

now I'm looking for this adv on Ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2017-Supercharged-6-2L-Dodge-Charger-Challenger-Hellcat-Motor-And-Transmission/272945679927?hash=item3f8cd48e37:g:ZqUAAOSwzppaElY d&vxp=mtr

how do you think about? I will have wiring problems?

[sccacuda]

now I'm looking for this adv on Ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2017-Supercharged-6-2L-Dodge-Charger-Challenger-Hellcat-Motor-And-Transmission/272945679927?hash=item3f8cd48e37:g:ZqUAAOSwzppaElY d&vxp=mtr

how do you think about? I will have wiring problems?

If you want an automatic and want to use the Chrysler NAG like in the ad, you'll have to run the Chrysler PCM, TIPM, ABS, and WIN module. You'll need wheel speed sensors and a few other things to make the NAG work. Would be easier to use a manual trans and stand alone controller, like a Holley Dominator. The Dominator would give you the option to run a Chevrolet 4L60/80 trans behind the Hemi if you want an auto. Adaptor kits for the trans are available and pretty cheap. I've done them both ways, manual trans is the easiest and cheapest. If you have to have an automatic transmission, the Chevy auto is MUCH easier and cheaper in the long run than making the NAG work.

[Schwartz Performance]

I'd go the 6.4L route, cam it, & put a 4L80e behind it.

As SCCACUDA pointed out, the Mopar transmissions are a pain to work right. Get a standalone trans controller for the 4L80e (US Shift is what we use), and a wiring harness kit from Hotwire set up for a manual trans.

-Dale

[boss351]

I'd go the 6.4L route, cam it, & put a 4L80e behind it.

As SCCACUDA pointed out, the Mopar transmissions are a pain to work right. Get a standalone trans controller for the 4L80e (US Shift is what we use), and a wiring harness kit from Hotwire set up for a manual trans.

-Dale

Thanks Dale.
Now I'm looking for a 6.4 crate engine.. I prefer manual transmission for this engine.. Even though I just have a 4l80e transmission by Phoenix transmission for my ex 572 Hemi..

[boss351]

If you want an automatic and want to use the Chrysler NAG like in the ad, you'll have to run the Chrysler PCM, TIPM, ABS, and WIN module. You'll need wheel speed sensors and a few other things to make the NAG work. Would be easier to use a manual trans and stand alone controller, like a Holley Dominator. The Dominator would give you the option to run a Chevrolet 4L60/80 trans behind the Hemi if you want an auto. Adaptor kits for the trans are available and pretty cheap. I've done them both ways, manual trans is the easiest and cheapest. If you have to have an automatic transmission, the Chevy auto is MUCH easier and cheaper in the long run than making the NAG work.

with Holley Dominator Kit I can't use the original hellcat auto transmission ?

[andrewb70]

with Holley Dominator Kit I can't use the original hellcat auto transmission ?

Holley only supports the GM 4L60/65/70/80/85 and some Ford transmissions (don't recall the codes).

Andrew

[boss351]

Holley only supports the GM 4L60/65/70/80/85 and some Ford transmissions (don't recall the codes).

Andrew


my problem is this: I have a budget of $ 17,000 to buy at least 600 hp hemi engine and tremec transmission with "open" wiring.
the hellcat kit cost too much (23k) and 6.4 kit cost 14.5k but with original wiring and 485 hp... help me!

[GoodysGotaCuda]

my problem is this: I have a budget of $ 17,000 to buy at least 600 hp hemi engine and tremec transmission with "open" wiring.
the hellcat kit cost too much (23k) and 6.4 kit cost 14.5k but with original wiring and 485 hp... help me!

This should be achievable with a $5k 6.1L, $4-5k a whipple, a $1.2k mega squirt ECU and a $3k TREMEC of your choice.

[redmist]

I would go Hellcat Crate if you can get the scratch to do it. You know you want to. : )

[boss351]

ahahah Yes i love the Idea of hellcat engine.. but I don't have money anymore... 17k it's my limit if I want to finish her..

[boss351]

someone know A2speed? they can do a 6.4 engine with 585 hp with all the pieces I need including transmission and wiring at 16.5 k

[boss351]

no one know A2speed???????

[GoodysGotaCuda]

no one know A2speed???????

They are reputable. Keep in mind this forum only has like 4 Mopar people on it, Hemi-specific vendor feedback may be limited!:poke:

[andrewb70]

They are reputable. Keep in mind this forum only has like 4 Mopar people on it, Hemi-specific vendor feedback may be limited!:poke:

C'mon now...we have at least 6 Mopar people here. Lol

Andrew

[boss351]

I am happy to inform you that I have bought a 392 hemi prepared by modern muscle extreme.. 620 hp aspired engine ;)

[boss351]

why are there so few Mopar people?

[kochevy67]

Cause they cost a fortune to build. Just my.02

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Cause they cost a fortune to build. Just my.02

This and part of the reason they cost so much is because fewer were built. About 305,000 Barracuda/Cudas from 1970-1974, there were about 567,000 Camaros over the same years, which is not too far from double..

[Rolling_Thunder]

I did a 6.1L swap in my 68 Charger about 9 years ago now when not many people had done it... if I had to do it again today... 6.2L short block (all forged internals for like $4500) and cap it off with some ported heads, and a modman EFI intake - use an MSIII to control it and back it up with a Viper spec T-56...

Right now I just have a stock 6.1L with the MSIII and T-56... but short blocks are cheap and I may be going boost in the future if my career plans work out in the next 6 months or so.

[Rolling_Thunder]

This and part of the reason they cost so much is because fewer were built. About 305,000 Barracuda/Cudas from 1970-1974, there were about 567,000 Camaros over the same years, which is not too far from double..

Fact - I looked up production numbers on my Challenger... was like 27,XXX for the year... crazy low production

[badazz81z28]

I am happy to inform you that I have bought a 392 hemi prepared by modern muscle extreme.. 620 hp aspired engine ;)



What are the specs on it? I would guess the cam is pretty aggressive for 620na.

The problem with Mopar is nobody seemed to like them when they were new back in the late 60s-70s hence they didn't produce a whole lot of them. Now parts are scarce, not the same level of after market support as GM and Ford and now popular...The demand is high and so is the price. IMHO a Hemi Cuda is going to be worth a ton more in Restored stock form versus Pro-Touring, but to each their own. Enjoy your car how you want to enjoy it.

I really like the 70s Cuda but will never buy one because I can get so much more in a Camaro for the same price.

[mikedc]

People don't modify Mopars as much because of a few factors.

They didn't survive as well as GM/Ford stuff because of rust. Assembly tolerances & coatings weren't as good as GM stuff. The E-body Challenger/Cudas were particularly bad on the QC because they were such a rush job. Fewer cars, fewer parts, higher prices on everything.

Mopars handled better than a lot of GM/Ford stuff from the factory. Of course there is room for improvement now. But it's not as big of a drawback in stock form so fewer people are motivated to make major changes.

The stupid expense & rarity has made Mopars more garage queens. People don't like to beat on their car as much when it took so much money & effort just to get one in decent shape.

The repro & modifying industries don't cater to Mopars as much because of supply & demand. Half as many buyers = twice as high prices.

[redmist]

People don't modify Mopars as much because of a few factors.

They didn't survive as well as GM/Ford stuff because of rust. Assembly tolerances & coatings weren't as good as GM stuff. The E-body Challenger/Cudas were particularly bad on the QC because they were such a rush job. Fewer cars, fewer parts, higher prices on everything.

Mopars handled better than a lot of GM/Ford stuff from the factory. Of course there is room for improvement now. But it's not as big of a drawback in stock form so fewer people are motivated to make major changes.

The stupid expense & rarity has made Mopars more garage queens. People don't like to beat on their car as much when it took so much money & effort just to get one in decent shape.

The repro & modifying industries don't cater to Mopars as much because of supply & demand. Half as many buyers = twice as high prices.


This is correct.

I drive the snot out of my Charger, and have modded it to a "Mopar Purist Hating" level.

But in the back of my head, I know that if I kiss a wall in it, I probably can't fix it in this day of Mopar expense. If I pile the truck in, I can find another one for sheet metal every 4 miles out here in farm land. But I will say.... The Charger gets a lot of attention.


Honestly, the Modern Hemi is the best thing to happen to Mopar lovers in the last 10 years. If I could do it again, I would have gone G3 instead of dumping the money and time into the 440 and EFI.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Tincup]

Yes, Mopars are expensive to build, and parts are hard to find, but if you want to stand out from the crowd, it's the way to go...

[High Plains Mopars]

Honestly, the Modern Hemi is the best thing to happen to Mopar lovers in the last 10 years. If I could do it again, I would have gone G3 instead of dumping the money and time into the 440 and EFI.]

That is on gorgeous 440 though.