E body vs B body R/T

[Rusty knuckles]

General discussion topic as I genuinely don't know the answer.

In B bodies, to have an R/T required you to have a 440 or 426 hemi.

In e bodies it seems basically anything except a 318 or /6 can be an R/T. Most commonly 383's as the non-440/426 option but even a 340 could be optioned in an R/T.

Why is that?

 

[XS22J8R]

E bodies were designed to compete in the pony car market, and performance cars they were marketed against like Mustang and Camaro offered small blocks in their performance variations like the Mach 1 and SS. Therefore all performance engines were offered in the R/T with the exception of the 340 in 1970 (though it was in 71).

 

[chargervert]

In 1970 a Challenger with a 340 package was called a rallye. It was not designated as an R/T. It was known as an A66 package. The writing was on the wall for Muscle cars by 71. The U code 440 Magnum was dropped from the Challenger R/Ts list of available engine options,and the 340 Magnum engine was added to the list of engines in the Challenger R/T. The 340 Magnum engine was also added to the new 71 Charger Super Bee model in 71. The Charger R/T still offered the same engine choices as the 70 Charger R/T did. The 440 Magnum,the 440 Sixpack,and the 426 Hemi. I believe Dodge adding the 340 Magnum engine in 71, was done to skirt the rapidly rising insurance rates of big block powered muscle cars. By 72 the 340 Four Barrel engine would become the largest engine available in a Challenger,until 74 when the 340 engine was dropped in favor of the 360 engine,in the final year of E body production!

 

[DeltaV]

Everyone needs a nose-heavy, short wheelbase car with lots of power at the rear axle. I know I need one!

Anyway, a performance small block E-Body fitted nicely in the price/market.

 

[33 IMP]

Everyone needs a nose-heavy, short wheelbase car with lots of power at the rear axle. I know I need one!

Anyway, a performance small block E-Body fitted nicely in the price/market.

I've got a couple. Unfortunately, not mopars. Little foreign stuff.

 

[Dennis H]

E Body: Buckboard ride.
B Body: Cadillac luxury by comparison.

 

[terrywalker]

I like having a choice of which to drive. The 2015 is even nicer than the 71 Challenger and 74 Charger for travelling. I love the 340 in the 71 convertible although it was not designated as an R/T like the 340 hardtop was. I've had four 70 Challengers with the 383. An R/T SE hardtop, an R/T convertible, an R/T hardtop and a non-R/T SE. The 383 was a great engine but heavy in the front end compared to the 340 which I bought in 1972. The 340 handled better comparing them. I would love to have an R/T B-body to compare to the 74 Charger 360. I removed the rubber mounts from the k-member and put in solid spacers which I now regret. I have wondered why the Charger R/T never had the 383 as an option. In 71, wasn't the SuperBee the 383 option?
Terry W.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

E Body: Buckboard ride.
B Body: Cadillac luxury by comparison.

You need to ride in a properly sorted E body.... I'll admit, if you choose all the wrong parts an E body will ride like a HD truck... But with the right parts they are pretty good...

 

[XS22J8R]

The thread was started asking why small blocks and 383s were offered in Challenger R/Ts, unlike in B body R/Ts, but has devolved into posting whether or not they suck!
A teenage crush that was instigated by seeing vanishing point when I was 14 is what got me into Challengers. I wasn’t from a Mopar family nor had any brand allegiance until that fateful evening as an impressionable kid watching TV!
As I’ve gotten older I’ve found E bodies more uncomfortable to spend a lot of time in driving in compared to B bodies, but again they are what made me a Mopar fanatic, so they’re all good! I have a B body keeping 2 Challengers company in my garage now and probably will have more at some point. But I’ll have at least one Challenger until I die.

 

[Dennis H]

Devolved: Degenerate, change.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I have had several Challengers and B Bodies over the years. I don't think E Bodies ride as bad as some say they do. My 70' was originally one of the A66 340 cars. Drives/Rides just fine to me even with a big inch Hemi in it now.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I have had several Challengers and B Bodies over the years. I don't think E Bodies ride as bad as some say they do. My 70' was originally one of the A66 340 cars. Drives/Rides just fine to me even with a big inch Hemi in it now.

View attachment 1739390

Throw a set of XHD springs and a set of KYB's on the car & get back to me....

 

[6PKRTSE]

I now have Caltracs with split mono leafs and double adjustable shocks front and rear. Any other Challengers I have owned didn't bother me to drive either

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I now have Caltracs with split mono leafs and double adjustable shocks front and rear. Any other Challengers I have owned didn't bother me to drive either

I love my Challengers, but I've had a few that were pretty harsh... A few simple changes makes a world of difference...

 

[71RRHI]

My e-bodies don't ride any harsher than my b-bodies. But I do find my b-bodies are more comfortable to drive the e-bodies. A little more room between the steering wheel and seat.