Mopar B-Body Power Upgrades - Make Your B-Body Boogie

Make The Right Kind Of PowerThe basic laws of physics tell us that to get a car moving off the line takes torque, and the heavier the car, the more torque your engine needs to make for quick acceleration. In the world of Mopars, most B-bodies are second only to C-bodies in terms of sheer weight, so when it comes to making power, this factor needs to be considered. Building an engine that makes torque, especially at low rpm, is paramount to getting a heavy car moving; so the right engine and the right combination of parts are both mandatory. Of course, the easiest way to make torque is to increase displacement, so if your car came with a 318 you should consider a swap to a 360 or a stroked 360. And if your B-body is powered by a small displacement big-block, consider upgrading to a 440 or even a stroked 440 for more torque. Additionally, engine upgrades to your B-body should be geared toward improving low and mid-range torque instead of peak horsepower. This means if you plan to install headers, smaller primary tubes will generally work better. And for that intake manifold swap, dual-planes generally make better torque at lower rpm than single-planes will. The same theory can be applied to camshaft selection. If your car is heavy, pick a cam that makes good low rpm and midrange power to get your heavy B-body moving more quickly.

Get The Torque To The PavementSince spinning tires are counterproductive to rapid acceleration, the B-body has an advantage to smaller, lighter cars. That's right, while our B-bodies may be a little heavier than the A- or E-body Mopars, much of that additional weight is over the rear tires. Additionally, most B-bodies can accommodate a much larger rear tire without modifications like moving leaf springs inboard, or cutting fenderwells. When we build our B-bodies we try to exploit these advantages by installing large tires and suspension parts that will enhance our car's traction.

Owning a B-body does have...        read full caption Owning a B-body does have advantages, and one of them is traction. B-bodies can accommodate larger rear tires, and have more weight over the rear tires than most other body styles, which can equate to less tire spin and better acceleration.	Most B-bodies have plenty...        read full caption Most B-bodies have plenty of room in the rear wheelwells, so we recommend installing the largest rear tires that will fit without rubbing for maximum traction.	Sure a B-body is a little...        read full caption Sure a B-body is a little hefty, but with big tires like these 255/70R15s and significant weight over the back wheels, B-bodies are certainly capable of leaving smaller cars spinning their tires at the stop light or starting line.
An aftermarket pinion snubber...        read full caption An aftermarket pinion snubber can be adjusted to contact the floor quickly during acceleration, planting more weight on the rear tires for maximum traction.	Shimming the rear axle for...        read full caption Shimming the rear axle for a more aggressive pinion angle will also give your car more bite. We suggest 5-7 degrees for leaf-spring equipped cars.	For maximum traction, we've...        read full caption For maximum traction, we've had good experience with CalTrac bars and monoleaf rear springs from Calvert Racing.
If your B-body isn't equipped...        read full caption If your B-body isn't equipped with a Sure-Grip, you're likely giving away half your traction. A Sure-Grip rear is a sure way to improve your B-body's acceleration.	This rear triangulated four-link...        read full caption This rear triangulated four-link suspension system by Unlawful Racing (a Division of Irons Works) is a self-contained unit that utilizes the original front leaf-spring mounting points with its own subframe that fits between the original framerails. The subframe requires minimal welding, or it can be bolted in! Their triangulated four bar system is completely adjustable for the ride height, stance, tire clearance, pinion angle, instant center and more, making it appealing to all forms of racing applications and on the street. With its awesome design, it not only works, it also looks great on the show field.	Special shocks that extend...        read full caption Special shocks that extend easily and compress slowly, like these 90/10 shocks from Calvert, will allow the front end to lift and more weight to be transferred to the rear tires during acceleration.
Lower rear gears are another...        read full caption Lower rear gears are another way to take advantage of torque and traction. We never run higher than a 3.23 ratio in a B-body, and 3.91 gears or lower will really wake up a heavy car.