1971 Pinion Snubber Plate

[hemicar1971]

On a 1971 E Body what body had a pinion snubber plate welded on above the rear axle. Does is depend on the Motor, Transmission, Axle. I know 1971 Hemi Four Speeds have them, but do 1971 Hemi Automatics, and what about 1971 440-6 Four Speeds and 1971 440-6 Automatics. Does it depend on if the E Body came with a Automatic and Dana or four speed and Dana. I have searched a few locale 1971 Hemi and 440-6 E Bodies and am starting to collect some data to come up with an answer. I have seen a few with out this plate but these things are 50 years old and could of had some alterations. 

[Skdmark]

@hemicar1971

I checked the Faxon 70-71 Challenger assembly drawing book and did not find anything.

The 70-71 factory parts manual lists code 17-19-21 for 70/71 E-bodies as part no. 2963973 for 426 eng.
For the 71 B-bodies (part no: 3445491) it says 426, 440 eng. Maybe it was added to 71 440-6 E-bodies too?

This is what I had found on moparts regarding the topic including input from Rick K who sells repro plates.
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/322702/re-e-body-pinion-snubber-plate.html

Resto Rick's ebay link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/144539507697

[hemicar1971]

I cut up a 1970 Cuda 440-6 in around 1981 and took all the torque boxes and subber plate and front boxes and sold them shortly after. This was a four speed 410 Dana Cuda, I still have the four speed and dana as I said it had the snubber plate. My 1971 Challenger Hemi four speed 456 Dana, I got under it today just to make sure it had the plate that I remember seeing and it does. i can not get to the rear of my 1971 Cuda Automatic 410 Dana to see if it has a snubber plate or not. I had a friend that owned a 1971 Hemi Cuda and it was at the Chicago show and it was missing the pinion snubber plate, it was the FC7 1971 Hemi Cuda but might be an exception and maybe the assembly plant missed welding it on. Anyone else have ever take a look for one on a 1971 E Body.

[hemicar1971]

Restow Rick makes the best E Body Pinion Snubber Plate but with a template or pictures off another E Body plate one can be made by anyone if a Cuda or Challenger takes one. I am trying to see if the pinion snubber plate came on all 1971 Hemi or 440-6 Cudas or Challenger automatics cars Dana or 8 3/4s. I know of one 1971 Cuda 440-6 automatic Dana that does not have a snubber plate.

[Moparmade]

I dont know if you making a list but my 71 cuda 340 4spd has a plate on it that I think your talking about

[Racer57]

There is people here that are a lot smarter than me, so maybe they will corect me if I'm wrong.................   Isn't pinion plates all bolted on instead of welded ?

[anlauto]

This is the EXTRA  plate that he's talking about that was on Hemi cars, it's highly unlikely to be found on a 340 car

[Skdmark]

You would think if the car was a hardtop that was coming with the leaf spring torque boxes that it would include the HD snubber plate too.

Such as part of an axle package or the S15 suspension.

[anlauto]

There is people here that are a lot smarter than me, so maybe they will corect me if I'm wrong.................   Isn't pinion plates all bolted on instead of welded ?

They're bolted to the rear end, but Kevin is asking about the extra reinforcement plate welded to the floor.

[hemicar1971]

Looks like I am going to have to contact the restoration crowd or Companies and I have tried to contract one person but he has not contacted me back that has done lots of 1971 Hemi E Bodies and 440-6 E Body restorations. This Plate I would think was definitely on all 1971 Hemi E Body Four Speed car and looking at mine it is there, SPD May 24th but has a June Sticker on the door. Also the Grothier 1971 Hemi Cuda that was sent to him to make his 1970 Pro Stock a 1971 has that plate and is a four speed. But I looked at another 1971 440-6 Cuda Automatic Dana it was a Chrysler Magazine Car and does not have a Pinion Snubber Plate. Is it a Transmission thing. I can see this being missed in the body shop when the pans were welded together. Body shop workers were a heavy turn over and they would move to a cleaner area or quit so how good was the traning of the new workers if you only put the plate on a Hemi cars. They only built around 212 Hemi E Bodies in 1971 and likely twice or three times as many six pack cars and there were no 440 E Body Cars built in 1971. So number might be as high as 750 and that is not very many when it comes to a year proction. So things could of been missed. I just wanted to know if 1971 Hemi Cudas or Challenger with Automatics got this Pinion Snubber Plate. I would think they did. Looks like in the next four weeks I will pull my 1971 Hemi Cuda out and jack it up and take a look to see what it has. It is an Automatice Dana Car. So one that frequents this board must own a 1971 Hemi Cuda or Challenger or a 1971 440-6 Cuda or Challenger that can go out and look on the floor above the rear end. I believe Alan has posted a picture of the Pinion Snubber plate.

[anlauto]

I've never heard of them being on V code cars, and I've owned a few, but I am younger then you, and still have plenty to learn...

[Skdmark]

@JH27N0B
Do you know if your '71 R/T has the reinforced snubber plate?

[Cuda_mark]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hemicar1971]

I know of one 1971 Hemi Cuda that does not have a Pinion Snubber Plate and I have known this Cuda from around 1976. It had the same owner from around then till about 10 or so years ago till he went for a total restoration. The person that did the restow did not add the Plate to the car. I can see it being missed at the plant when the body was welded. Thanks for posting more pictures.

[Skdmark]

I know of one 1971 Hemi Cuda that does not have a Pinion Snubber Plate and I have known this Cuda from around 1976. It had the same owner from around then till about 10 or so years ago till he went for a total restoration. The person that did the restow did not add the Plate to the car. I can see it being missed at the plant when the body was welded. Thanks for posting more pictures.

Curious if the car you mention is an auto without an axle package?