"...I couldn't stand getting beaten by the local rice burners, so we took the car apart and set it up for the 440".--Dan Neilson
Fast Facts
'71 Cuda Convertible
Owner: Dan Neilson, East Bethel, Minnesota
Mopar Power
- Engine: The engine is an OEM-exact 440 put together by Jim Spetzman of Pure Stock 440. It's set up as a standard 390hp package using a circa-1969 Edelbrock aluminum intake with three Holley two-barrel carburetors. The cam came from Bob Karakashian, the noted guru of Six Pack fuel systems from Michigan, while the car uses the factory extreme-duty reciprocating assembly, Mopar electronic ignition, and cast iron manifolds.
- Transmission: A 727 that was built for the environment, with a standard Six Pack converter.
- Differential: A power ranger 3.73 Sure Grip is housed in an 8-3/4 differential.
- Horsepower and Performance: Dan admits that, like many Six Packs, this thing can hunt even Hemis on the street. He has a 12.3 time slip to prove it...
Sure Grip
- Suspension: Rebuilt to stock specs.
- Brakes: Factory he-man layout, manual in all four corners. Ashley handles it nicely...
- Wheels: 15-inch Rally wheels with 15x8 raised-white-letter Goodyear tires on all four corners.
High Impact
- Body: Dan handled almost all the work himself, taking the drop top apart and rebuilding or replacing whatever was needed. The restoration took about two years.
- Paint: From one High Impact to another: the OEM color was EV2 Hemi Orange, but today, the FY1 Lemon Twist bright enough for sunglasses. Dan bought it that way and did not have to repaint it.
- Interior: Everything's been replaced or rebuilt, complete with Rallye gauges, fresh vinyl, and a stereo by Audio King.