Earlier, the seat tracks and frames had been sent off to be sandblasted and repainted; the frames were wrapped in Legendary black covers and filled with all new seat foam. With the high-back bucket seats finished, new carpet (also from Legendary), door panels, headliner, and vinyl top were installed. the craftsmen at American Classic Restorations restored the dash gauges, added a Tic-Toc-Tach, rechromed the gauge bezels as well as all the metal trim on the dash and center console. New woodgrain labels were adhered to the original interior accents, giving the GTX that classy look that distinguished the model. The last little detail to the interior cabin was the addition of a modern CD player. Yeah, we were a little surprised to see the Franks put a CD player in their '70 GTX, but you can't blame them for wanting to listen to their music in style. The CD changer was hidden in the trunk, and the controller was tucked up in the dash ashtray. The stock-appearing AM radio still resides in its factory position in the dash face with nobody wise to the modern music box hidden from sight.
So what if it's not numbers...
So what if it's not numbers matching? The Franks made this '70 Plymouth into exactly what they wished for. The 440 block is date-correct, along with the 906 heads, intake, and CVS Cater carburetor. Inside is a Comp Cams bumpstick, Keith Black hypereutectic pistons, Manley valves, and Comp springs, retainers, and pushrods. The exhaust is dead on, as is the rest of the car.
A GTX is nothing but a regular old B-Body without the big-block powerplant. Some time earlier, Don had stumbled across a Chrysler E-Series 440 engine block and built the engine himself. He did have all the machine work handled by a local shop, but he took care of the final assembly. The block was bored .030-inch over with a factory 3.750-inch stroke. Keith Black hypereutectic 10.25:1 slugs fill the chambers spun by an internally balanced, stock forged crankshaft. Comp Cams provided a Magnum-series cam and lifters at .470-lift. Chrysler 906 heads were fitted with Manley valves and Comp Cams springs, retainers, locks, adjustable rocker arms, and pushrods. He kept the externally stock appearance with a factory intake and AVS Carter carburetor. Electronic ignition by Mopar Performance, date-coded plug wires, a stock-appearing ignition coil, and a set of Jet Hot-coated factory exhaust manifolds were the sum of the equation. Don and Tracy went with factory-style Hemi mufflers with an H-pipe and stock chrome tips with an aluminized 211/42-inch pipe. The transmission was sent to A&A Transmissions in Camby, Indiana, returning home with an 11-inch, 2,600-stall torque converter and fresh new internals, including a mild shift kit and an option-correct transmission cooler. A 26-inch radiator replaced the absent cooler, and a three-speed wiper motor replaced the broken unit. The Air Grabber scoop and all its mechanisms were meticulously restored and are operated by a pull-tab just like in 1970.
The Air Grabber hoodscoop...
The Air Grabber hoodscoop was new for the '70 model year and made a big splash with new and returning Chrysler loyalists. It took several years of hunting, but Don and Tracy found everything they would need to build a restored GTX performance hood.
Keeping the GTX on all fours is a perfectly restored heavy-duty suspension package with new bushings, super-duty springs, HD power brakes, including front discs and power steering. Four 15-inch Rallyes wrapped in BFG rubber keeps the big B-Body planted at all times, while the stout Chrysler 831/44 rear filled with freeway-friendly 3.55 gears spins the Sure Grip well over the posted speed limit. A Denny's balanced driveshaft ensures drivetrain harmony at any speed.
Though the numbers don't match, the look and performance sure does. The Frank's Plymouth took Second Place in its class at the Chryslers at Carlisle show, as well as Second Place at this year's Mopar Nationals. fitting since it was these events that were instrumental in helping the Franks build their GTX in the first place.