Mopar Dodge And Plymouth Muscle Race Cars - Shootout In E-Town

We're back to hold a shootout at Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey. For this return engagement, we enlisted the help of two previous shootout participants and their friends-some very enthusiastic Pentastar people. It was a diverse gathering of cars and owners.

This shootout has no trophies, prizes, or winners. It's just a great get-together for a bunch of Mopar maniacs to share stories and information while having fun racing their cars. Kudos to Englishtown for the use of their facilities. we appreciated the help from Primedia coworkers-Jim Campisano, Evan Smith, Steve Baur, and Mike Galimi-for making sure everything went smoothly.

We stayed away from race cars and used only street-driven-type cars that can be enjoyed by the average Mopar fan. The seven owners let us in on their vehicle's total specifications (engine, tuning, drivetrain, suspension, wheels, tires, weight, launch, and shift rpm). We detailed each run's 60-foot times, quarter-mile e.t., and quarter-mile mph. Any of these tested and proven combinations could be duplicated for a similar buildup.

The weather was typical for a November in the northeast (39-42 degrees). Beneficial to the racers was a high rising barometer (30.19 to 30.28) and low humidity of 38-43 percent. These weather conditions enabled those "little blocks" to inhale some air. Even though Englishtown sprayed down some sticky stuff, the cold track surface gave the group (most used street tires) a tough time hooking up. But with the great air conditions, some of the participants ran their best ever e.t.'s. Unfortunately, we had a few mishaps, but that's racing. Read on for all the gore and glory.

Bill Worley
Bill has devoted many years to small-block Six Pack performance. Currently, he works at a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealership and still loves building up performance for the '60s and '70s Mopars. His AAR was purchased from the original owner in 1996 after it was stored for 20 years in a local barn. Many people had asked to buy the 'Cuda, but Bill got the call since the owner knew of Bill's beautiful Challenger T/A. The numbers-matching motor and transmission were put aside for a more powerful 372 small-block combo. The AAR is occasionally driven instead of his T/A (slap stick auto) just to bang gears with that pistol grip.

Strip Specs
Owner: Bill Worley
Year/Model: '70 AAR 'Cuda
Race weight: 3,470
Curb weight: 3,280
Engine: 340, .030 over, 360 crank, 372 ci
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Heads: X, 915 casting, ported, 2.02/1.60
Intake: Factory six pack
Carbs/Jets: 350, 500, 350 cfm, 72 front, 64 center, 72 rear
Camshaft: Comp Cams solid street roller, .575 lift, 255 duration at .050
Ignition: MP Electronic, 36 degrees at 3,000
Exhaust: 1 7⁄8-inch headers with 3-inch Dynomax Race Magnum mufflers
Trans: A-833 Hemi four-speed, filled with Pro Shift Liberty gears
Clutch: Ram metallic 11-inch
Shifter: Hurst pistol grip
Rear: 8 3⁄4, 4.10 gears
Brakes F/R: Factory disc/drum
Wheels F/R: 15x5, 15x8 Weld Draglites
Tires F/R: 205/75R, 35 psi,/L60s, 14 psi
Shocks F/R: factory
Chassis/Suspension mods: Adj. pinion snubber
Safety mods: driveshaft loop
Interior mods: Stock w/shift light
Paint: Original Lemon Twist
Best e.t. prior to event: 11.46 at 119.00

Tom Cannon
Tom purchased his Challenger from Bill Worley about 10 years ago. When he was a teenager, Tom liked to hang out in Bill's garage learning about Mopars. Tom tells us it was Bill and his T/A that paved the way for him to indulge in the F.A.S.T. class of racing. Tom's F.A.S.T. Challenger (416 ci) is quick, going 11.57 at 123. That makes his T/A the baddest small-block car in that class. He doesn't consider his car a race car or a single purpose machine. Taking the T/A out on cruise night or down to the ice cream stand is always a pleasure.

Strip Specs
Owner: Tom Cannon
Year/Model: '70 T/A Challenger
Race weight: 3,490
Curb weight: 3,290
Compression ratio: 13:1
Heads: X, No. 915 casting, ported, 2.02/1.60 valves
Intake: Factory Six Pack
Carbs/Jets: 350, 500, 350 cfm, 72 front, 64 center, 72 rear
Camshaft: Comp solid roller, .550 lift, 244 duration at .050
Ignition: MP Electronic, timing 36 degrees at 3,000
Exhaust: Manifolds with 2 1⁄2-inch X-pipe, Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers
Trans: Aluminum case A-833, four-speed
Clutch: Advanced Clutches adj. multi-disc
Shifter: Hurst pistol grip w/positive stops
Rear: 8 3⁄4, 4.10 gears
Brakes F/R: Factory disc/drum
Wheels F/R: Factory 15x7 steelies
Tires F/R: F60 40 psi, G60 35 psi
Shocks F/R: 90/10s, adj. QA1
Chassis/Suspension mods: Adj. pinion snubber
Safety mods: Driveshaft loop
Interior mods: Stock
Paint: Hemi Orange
Best e.t. prior to event: 11.57 at 123

Barry Conrad
Back in 1987, Barry picked up a Petty Blue '72 Demon 340 for $1,700. After a year of daily driving, he decided it was time to restore his Demon and paint it Plum Crazy. During the restoration, its numbers-matching 340 was rebuilt and reworked to be a strong street/strip contender. Through the years the Demon has done well at show-and-go events, such as the Musclecar Nationals and NMCA events. Demons were only built for two years and Barry's is a real 340 car (most were Slant Sixes and 318 cars). Future plans call for a 416 stroker and a return to the original Petty Blue hue.

Strip Specs
Owner: Barry Conrad
Year/Model: '72 Demon
Race weight: 3,378
Curb weight: 3,210
Engine: 340, .030 over
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Heads: J 915 casting, bowl ported with 2.02/1.60-inch valves
Intake: MP M1 single plane
Carb/Jets: 750 Holley vacuum secondary, jets No.72 primary, No.76 secondary
Cam: Comp solid flat 529 lift, .254 at .050 duration
Ignition: MP electronic with 36 degrees at 2,800 rpm
Exhaust: 1 5⁄8-inch Hooker headers with 3-inch Flowmasters
Trans: 904 w/reverse manual valvebody
Converter: TCI 10 inch, 3,500 stall
Rear: 8 3⁄4, 4.10 gears
Brakes: F/R: Factory disc/drum
Wheels F/R: 15x6,15x8 Weld Draglites
Tires F/R: 215/70R, 35 psi, G-60, 15 psi
Shocks F/R: 90/10, 50/50
Chassis/Suspension mods: Adj. pinion snubber
Safety mods: Adj. pinion snubber
Interior mods: Stock (black)
Paint: Plum Crazy
Best e.t. prior to event: 12.86 at 106

Dave Verna
When Dave was 17, he found this '66 Barracuda resting in a local backyard and bought it for only $500. The 'Cuda began life as a baby blue Slant Six car. Dave and his dad rebuilt the early A-Body over the course of five years. The suspension, disc brakes, and 811/44 rear were salvaged from a '74 Dart and rebuilt with poly bushings. A lightly modified 318 resided between the fenders until two years ago when a mild, yet radical looking, tunnel-ram 360 took its place. With two 390-cfm Holleys and 3.23 gears, Dave drives his ride "all over the place," averaging 14 mpg.

Strip Specs
Owner: Dave Verna Jr.
Year/Model: '66 Barracuda
Race weight: 3,470
Curb weight: 3,300
Engine: '78 360, .030 over
Compression ratio: 9.4:
Heads: No. 587 castings, stock 1.88/1.60
Intake: Edelbrock tunnel-ram
Carbs/Jets: 2-390-cfm Holleys, 52 jets
Camshaft: MP Hyd with .474 lift and .280 advertised duration
Ignition: MP Electronic with 36 degrees at 2,600
Exhaust: Spitfire shorty headers w/2 1⁄2-inch head pipes, 2-inch full exhaust
Trans: 904 w/B&M Transpak
Converter: MP 175K, 2,500 stall
Rear: 8 1⁄4, 3.23 Sure Grip
Brakes F/R: '74 A-Body disc/drum
Wheels F/R: 14x5.5 Rallyes
Tires F/R: 205/70R 40 psi, 245/60R 20 psi, 26x8.5 slicks 18 psi
Shocks: KYB gas
Chassis/Suspension mods: '74 A-body K-member w/S6 T-bars, SS leaf springs, pinion snubber
Safety mods: Driveshaft loop
Interior mods: Black vinyl seats/door panels, all metal sprayed Plum Crazy
Exterior mods: Hillborn scoop
Paint: Plum Crazy
Best e.t. prior to event: 13.3 at 102 uncorked

Moe Keys
About three years ago, Moe heard about an all-original Duster 340 that was available and just had to have it. After owning big block B-Bodies most of his life, this LA-motored A-Body was a welcome change. The small-block has remained quiet (stock manifolds and mufflers) so Moe can go out cruising with his wife and 7-year-old son. Moe tells us, "my big-block cars are loud enough." The bone-stock 340 ran numbers representative of the typical A-Body back in the day.

Strip Specs
Owner: Moe Keys
Year/Model: '70 Duster 340
Race weight: 3,470
Curb weight: 3,240
Engine: Stock 340 with 74,000 miles
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Heads: J 915 casting with 2.02/1.60
Intake: Stock
Carb/Jets: Stock AVS four-barrel
Camshaft: MP Hyd .430-inch lift and .252-degrees advertised duration
Ignition: MP Electronic with 36 degrees at 3,000 rpm
Exhaust: manifolds, full 2 1⁄4-inch exhaust and OEM-style mufflers
Trans: stock 727 TorqueFlite
Converter: Factory hi-stall 10-inch
Rear: 8 3⁄4, 4.10s
Brakes F/R: Stock disc/drum
Wheels F/R: Rallyes 14x511/42, 14x8
Tires F/R: 195/75R 50 psi, L-60 18 psi
Chassis/Suspension mods: Frame connectors, SS leaf springs
Interior mods: None, black w/silver
Exterior mods: Fiberglass hood w/six pack scoop
Paint: Lime Light
Best e.t. prior to event: N/A

Jim Blackmore
Jim loves performance Pentastars so much he named his dog Mopar. When the opportunity arrived in 1989 to purchase a factory four-speed, bench-seat, ragtop Dart for only $650, Jim jumped at it. The drop-top Dart GT was restored in time for the '92 Mopar Nats, where it was raced as well as shown. During the restoration, the original 318 was replaced with a '73 340 rebuilt to earlier 340 high-compression specifications. Jim says he drives his pride and joy about 1,500 miles a year.

Strip Specs

Owner: Jim Blackmore
Year/Model: '68 Dart GT convertible
Race weight: 3,550
Curb weight: 3,370
Engine: '73 340 .030-inch over
Compression ratio: 10.0:1
Heads: J 915 castings, bowl ported
Intake: Edelbrock Performer
Carb/Jets: 650 Holley double pumper, 76 primary, 80 secondary
Camshaft: Crane hyd with .474 lift, 292 advertised duration
Ignition: MP Electronic with 34 degrees at 2,500
Exhaust: Manifolds with 2 1⁄2-inch exhaust
Trans: A-833 four-speed
Clutch: Stock 10 1⁄2-inch
Shifter: Hurst Competition Plus
Rear: 8 3⁄4, 3.23 Sure Grip
Brakes F/R: 10-inch drums
Wheels F/R: 14x5 Rallye
Tires F/R: 235/60R, 50 psi, 28 psi
Shocks F/R: Stock
Safety mods: Driveshaft loop
Interior mods: Stock bench (blue)
Exterior mods: GTS hood
Paint: Light Blue Metalic
Best e.t. prior to event: 14.90 at 95 mph

Jeff West
Jeff was born with Mopar blood running through his veins. His father worked as a mechanic at a Mopar dealership from the early '60s into the '90s. A passion for Pentastar cars came early to Jeff, and he owned a few nice E-Bodies ('70 Challenger R/T, '71 'Cuda) before he was even of driving age. a year ago, a coworker told Jeff about a Challenger that was owned by a guy whose wife had put him into credit card debt, forcing a fast sale. A deal was made for only $9,700 for the Go Mango beauty. considering E-Body prices these days, we say, "what a deal!"

Strip Specs
Owner: Jeff West
Year/Model: '70 Challenger
Race weight: 3,740
Curb weight: 3,500
Engine: '71 340 .030-inch over
Compression ratio:10.5:1
Heads: J 915 castings with 2.02/1.60 valves
Intake: Edelbrock Performer RPM
Carb/Jets: 750 Holley vacuum secondary, 74 primary, 78 secondary jets
Camshaft: MP .484 lift, 284 advertised duration
Ignition: MP Electronic with 36 degrees advance at 2,500
Exhaust: Hedman 1 5⁄8-inch headers with 2 1⁄4-inch stock-style mufflers
Trans: '70 727
Converter: 10-inch B&M 2,800 stall
Shifter: Stock slap stick
Rear: 8 3⁄4, 3.91
Brakes F/R: 10-inch drums
Wheels F/R: 15x7 Magnum 500s
Tires F/R: 215/70R 50 psi, 255/60R 20 psi
Shocks: Stock
Chassis/Suspension mods: Pinion snubber
Safety mods: driveshaft loop
Interior mods: Stock (black)
Exterior mods: R/T hood and stripes
Paint: Go Mango
Best e.t. prior to event: 14.22 at 96.1

At The Track
With the help of two former shootout veterans, Moe Keys and Bill Worley, we were able to organize this shootout before E-Town closed for the winter. This get-together happened on the track's last day before shutting off their timing equipment. Even though there was cold weather and less than optimal track conditions, we had a diverse group of gearheads willing to beat-on and track-tune their cars.

On the night before the event, Tom Cannon was busy pulling out the 416 that served in three years of F.A.S.T. class competition because he discovered a 55-percent leakdown in the number three cylinder. he installed his old high-compression (13:1) 340. His old motor was used in the T/A before the F.A.S.T. class racing took off. On that swap night, a new adjustable multi-disc clutch was put in place. For the first pass, Tom forgot the 340 (less low-end power) liked to be launched at 1,500 rpms higher than the 416. Tom tells us he wishes he had more time to adjust the clutch and practice his launch technique. Still, running 12s at over 111 mph on Polyglass street tires through restrictive manifolds with only 340 cubes is mighty impressive.