Hemi Dart or Barracuda

Stephen & Horace Johnson · 12-27-2007, 10:22 AM

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

Stewart Way · 12-27-2007, 11:08 AM

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.

Bob Rice · 12-27-2007, 01:18 PM

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

Geerhead55 · 12-27-2007, 10:31 PM

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

OUTLAWSSAA · 12-27-2007, 10:36 PM

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

Geerhead55 · 12-27-2007, 11:02 PM

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

Jared Jordan · 12-28-2007, 12:02 PM

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.

SSDiv6 · 12-28-2007, 12:28 PM

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.

12-27-2007, 10:22 AM	#1
Stephen & Horace Johnson Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 963 Likes: 341 Liked 161 Times in 52 Posts	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

12-27-2007, 01:18 PM	#3
Bob Rice Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 617 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	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

12-27-2007, 10:31 PM	#4
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	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

12-27-2007, 10:36 PM	#5
OUTLAWSSAA Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Addison,IL Posts: 12 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Hemi Dart or Barracuda Didn't Fred Henson and his dart have the record before Jim Pancake?

12-27-2007, 11:02 PM	#6
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	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

12-27-2007, 11:08 AM	#2
Stewart Way Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 476 Likes: 20 Liked 70 Times in 22 Posts	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.

12-28-2007, 12:02 PM	#7
Jared Jordan Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 613 Likes: 199 Liked 534 Times in 118 Posts	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. __________________ Jared Jordan 9 B/SA 2024 Jeg's D7 All Star - Stock

12-28-2007, 12:28 PM	#8
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,044 Likes: 712 Liked 1,583 Times in 582 Posts	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.