Some ideas for 74 to 79 B Bodies

Paul_G · Mar 28, 2017

Sorry, 75 to 79 B bodies.

I have always liked the last generation of B bodies. I currently own a 72 Charger, SRT-10 pickup, 09 charger, and my 13 Wrangler jku.

Recently this gen of B body has been catching my eye. My idea for the car would be a very powerful personal luxury car. I would need to start with big block car, easier to make big Power with a big block, and well optioned.

Are these cars getting hard to find at reasonable prices?

How much do they weigh? I know my 72 small block Charger weighs in right at #4000.

What about suspension and Chassis stiffening. Nothing crazy, I still want a nice riding car, just wondering if the aftermarket stuff like front suspension, big sway bars, and chassis stiffening for the 71 - 74 B bodies, and the E bodies, will fit this generation of B body?

And that lean burn? Can it be easily removed? What all is needed to remove it, just a carb and aftermarket ignition?

And one more thing. Did they ever come with a manual trans?

PRND21 · Mar 28, 2017

Yeah, they can be made to look right, I'd drive one.

dodge1972 · Mar 28, 2017

Great questions, I have 71 72 74 75 and 78 b bodies. Send me a PM and we can discuss further

YY1 · Mar 29, 2017

Yes to all.

Asking prices for nice and/or high option 75-79s are on the rise, but not sure about selling prices.

chargers777 · Apr 9, 2017

Paul_G said:
Sorry, 75 to 79 B bodies.

I have always liked the last generation of B bodies. I currently own a 72 Charger, SRT-10 pickup, 09 charger, and my 13 Wrangler jku.

Recently this gen of B body has been catching my eye. My idea for the car would be a very powerful personal luxury car. I would need to start with big block car, easier to make big Power with a big block, and well optioned.

Are these cars getting hard to find at reasonable prices?

How much do they weigh? I know my 72 small block Charger weighs in right at #4000.

What about suspension and Chassis stiffening. Nothing crazy, I still want a nice riding car, just wondering if the aftermarket stuff like front suspension, big sway bars, and chassis stiffening for the 71 - 74 B bodies, and the E bodies, will fit this generation of B body?

And that lean burn? Can it be easily removed? What all is needed to remove it, just a carb and aftermarket ignition?

And one more thing. Did they ever come with a manual trans?

chargers777 · Apr 9, 2017

How about this.

Darter6 · Apr 9, 2017

They can be had for very reasonable prices.Right around $4K to $10K ASKING price.$10 would be for a extra nice #1 car.
After market is slowly starting to do more,along with resto parts.
Right now rubber parts,IE door and window.Suspension poly replacement bushings,body to frame and torsion bar to body mounts...

They are great driving,and all drive line performance parts are the same as other Mopars. Lean burn conversion is easy as using regular Mopar electronic ignition parts.Kits can be had for about $200.Only thing is that the lean burn carbs don't have a port for the vacuum advance but most change out carbs anyway.
I just sold my 79 Cordoba 300 for way less than I had in it ($3500)but I had fun with it while I had it. Hope the new owner is enjoying it too.

I forgot to say I think the doors alone weigh more than a new KIA !!

razreddobie · Apr 11, 2017

I love mine and so do all of my buddies. It rides and handles like a dream with just a few changes. It cruises like it should for a Cordoba and right now it'll run 13.30's. I'm getting a new higher horse 440 put in it right now. Hoping to get in the 12's. Don't be afraid they're great cars. Bruce

KingCordoba · Apr 17, 2017

Darter6, i'm currently trying to undo some cob work under the hood of my '76 Doba 400-4v. Now, when you say ELB quads have no port for distributor advance, this is where my memory is failing me... where does the dist. advance vacuum line go? Or am i dealing with the wrong distributor? The plugs were also pulled out of the unit, and it has a 2-blade ballast resistor. i seem to recall it should have a 4-blade. Um, i THINK. Gads, my memory is starting to suck

KingCordoba · Apr 17, 2017

BTW, to simply add to the thread... Yes, B-bodies can be had for good prices. Generally as mentioned, 3-10K range. One thing to look for is rear spring shackles, depending on geography one of these cars can look pretty good only to have a spring pop up through the trunk driving it home. Myself, i prefer to keep them original if i just want to go cruising; on at least 2 cars i've had that Lean Burn system, when it's functioning properly, can really and truly help with mileage. i got 19-25 MPG highway driving, and never once had a mechanical issue related to the system.

i also dragged a '78 LeBaron, driving it for a friend; that was total aftermarket ignition (among other things) and was a BEAST.

As to very powerful personal luxury car, the car in my pic is a good example. Even in original trim (ELB, etc) a big-block or small-block 4-v is plenty powerful. Weights will run in the 3600-4100# range (and yes, a Cordoba door weighs approximately as much as one of today's compact cars). An original my well be worth as much or more at re-sale, too.

As to playing around with things, like anything if it's done well with an eye to minimal visual modification, anything is possible.

Darter6 · Apr 17, 2017

The O.E. Lean Burn distributor has no vacuum unit attached,the can was mounted on the computer attached to the air filter housing.When looking at the base of the ThermoQuad of the L.B. system there is no nipple on the front of the base plate.My 79 360 had a 2 blade ballast.

kkritsilas · Apr 17, 2017

Non-Lean Burn/Non-ESC have a ported vacuum line running from the carburetor to the vacuum canister on the side of the distributor. This allows engine vacuum to have an influence on spark timing (in conjunction with static and mechanical advance), i.e. vacuum advance. ESC or Lean Burn cars control spark advance with the Lean Burn/ESC controller unit, so no need for the vacuum advance line, no need for the port on the carb, or vacuum canister on the distributor.

Two blade or four blade ballast resistors are both available. Which one is used is determined by the ignition module used (4 or 5 pin).

KingCordoba · Apr 17, 2017

Ah. Thanks guys, someone has buggered up my system, so i need an O.E. distributor. This helps clear things up, now i need to sort out some wiring. Possibly the carb was changed too, but it IS a plastic-bodied Thermo-Quad so i'm not sure on that one yet...

Spoolalready · Apr 18, 2017

Man,I'm glad I finally joined this forum.I got a 76 cordoba,definitely not original (to the point that it had an HEI distributor on theach 360). It doesn't have the cruise control box on it anymore and I haven't been able to find the right peice for the tail housing for the speedo.does anyone have a good idea as to where I can find one? I'm not sure if I can just get a one peice speedo cable from an old truck since I'm running g the 727.

roadrunnerron · Apr 29, 2017

Referring back to the original posting, there are three different and distinct ways to go and the answer to the following question(s) will help you figure out what you should consider doing?
Pick one (the most important) of the following three statements:

I want to be in the 12 second club
I want to be in the 150 mph club
I want the best of both but accept that I will be neither.

The questions:
Do I want my car to be recognized? By whom?

My car is close to the 150 MPH club and is recognized be enthusiasts younger than the car who say " I don't care what it is, I just like it."

Again I say My Doba is funner than the Runner

Some ideas for 74 to 79 B Bodies

Paul_G

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PRND21

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dodge1972

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YY1

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chargers777

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chargers777

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Darter6

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razreddobie

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KingCordoba

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KingCordoba

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Darter6

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kkritsilas

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KingCordoba

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Spoolalready

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roadrunnerron

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