Hemi Dart or Barracuda
 

I have noticed that it seems there are more barracudas running SS/AH, than Darts? Is there a aerodynamic advantage or weight balance to running the barrcuda over the Darts





Stephen Johnson #2162
Horace Johnson #2167
SS/D 427 Ford Fairlane NHRA-IHRA
National Record Holder

Re: Hemi Dart or Barracuda
 

Main difference is wheelbase. The Cuda is 108 and the Dart from the factory is 111 but as noted in the class guide under 68 dodge, any 68 Dodge (Dart only) with the race hemi has a 1 inch reduced wheelbase which makes the Dart 110 to the Cuda at 108. The Cuda might be a little better in the aero department and the big back window might add 5-10 pounds to the rear over sheetmetal.

Re: Hemi Dart or Barracuda
 

Stephen,
Phil Mandella was asked about the aerodynamic advantage on the ?Monsters of Launch? video by Larry Pfister and he said at that time that they had not been able to see any advantage in one body style over the other.
Bob Rice

Re: Hemi Dart or Barracuda
 

Bob,, I guess great minds think alike. I was going to say the same. I remember Phil saying that on the video also and so far it has'nt really been proved one way or the other. I believe other than Barton's Dart, all the national record holders in recent years have been Cudas (Holton, Hess). Perhaps someone a little closer to the action can pipe in. Julie are you out there?
Danny Durham

Re: Hemi Dart or Barracuda
 

Didn't Fred Henson and his dart have the record before Jim Pancake?

Re: Hemi Dart or Barracuda
 

Outlaw, you may be right, which is why I called out anyone who is up on this class. It just seems the Cudas have had the record more often than not in recent times. Danny Durham

Re: Hemi Dart or Barracuda
 

I don't think anyone's ever done a back-to-back comparison between the two body styles. The only way to really be able to tell would be to either put the cars in a wind tunnel or to switch the running gear between the two cars and see if the performance stays the same. The patriarch of West Coast Hemis doesn't believe there's a difference between the two cars, although aesthetically speaking he prefers the 'Cuda. I've been told that CW believes there's two mph difference between the Cuda and the Dart. To answer your question, I guess it really just depends on who you ask. Henson's Dart has gone a .48 @ 153 and Bucky's 'Cuda has gone a .46 @ 156, but they were at different tracks in different air.

Re: Hemi Dart or Barracuda
 

The old Direct Connection book had a section on aerodynamics; if I can recall, the drag coefficient number was better on the Barracuda. You have to take in to account the crosssection of the front end and also the windshield rake. My belief is the cross section is smaller on the Cuda and also the windshield rake is greater.