Individuality.Individuality is what makes a thing unique from its counterparts. in the realm of Mopars, the quest for individuality has birthed many different manifestations. from pristine, better-than-factory restorations to wild, tube-chassis, pro-street mods, individuality expresses the owner's need to articulate him or herself on a personal level. Chris Jones' '69 Six Pack Super Bee is unique; it's got a personality all its own.
Found in a dungeon-like basement underneath a service station, the Bee's driver side was hidden from Chris' view until the money was exchanged, and the car was towed out. What was revealed was a battered and ill-repaired panel. Chris noted the rear-quarter had been poorly patched with fiberglass cloth and resin, among other things, including an Old Milwaukee beer can used as a rust patch.
The Bee needed a complete run-through. The triple carbs refused to open; the headers were severely bent and rusted from sitting in the damp underground for so long; the electrical was nearly nonexistent.
Starting with the setup, good friend Donald Carter was pulled in to help Chris move the Super Stock leaf springs inward a little, while Chris mini-tubbed the B-Body. Stout Richmond 4.30 gears were paired up to Moser axles in the Chrysler 831/44. Donald's skills were also put to good use when he fabricated and installed the subframe connectors, custom 3-inch exhaust, and X crossover pipe. New 171/48-inch Hooker headers were matched up to the large pipes that ran through twin Magnaflow boxes and out the back.
The big wedge was pulled and handed to John Ringel of Roanoke, Virginia, and Chris stripped the big Super Bee down to bare steel. All the shoddy filler and previous attempts at repair were excavated, revealing the troublesome quarter-panel would have to go. Chris performed the extensive sheetmetal replacement needed to return the body to its former glory.
Chris had contemplated keeping the original Hemi orange paint until the Super Bee was mistaken for a General Lee clone one too many times. Wanting none of that, Chris painted his Bee R-M Diamont Silver, topped with six coats of wet-sanded clear, contrasted with eye-frying red highlights found in the rear stripe and lettering on the hood matching the inferno-red cabin. The interior is chock full of minor details that bring out its flair. White-face gauges from Performance Car Graphics read the vitals behind a dyed Grant steering wheel.
The 440 Six Pack returned as twice the motor it was when it left. Bored to 4.350 inches and align-honed, the block received new Keith Black 10.8:1 slugs matching up to stock rods and the stock steel crank. The wedge's 906 heads were ported and loaded with Ferrea valves and Crane Gold roller rockers flowing an improved 295 intake and 254 on the exhaust. Turning all this is a Mopar Performance solid camshaft with .590-inch of lift. Edlebrock's Six Pack intake with the rebuilt Holleys, along with a MSD ignition, tops the motor off.
But this Bee is no mere showpiece, Chris can boast a respectful best of 11.60 at 116 mph. The TorqueFlite 727 was rebuilt by Keith Lewis of Richmond, Virginia, and sports a Turbo Action 3,500-stall torque converter and a Hurst Quarter Stick. We think Chris will be scraping the low 11s real soon.
For some guys, it's just not enough to be pretty, as seen with Chris' B-Body. It's having the "go" to match the "show" that makes this Super Bee stand out from the rest.
Fast Facts
Owner: Chris Jones, Waynesboro, Virginia
Body: '69 Dodge Super Bee 440 Six Pack
Color: Silver
Engine: 440 Six-Pack, bored .030, line-honed, stock rods, stock crank, Keith Black 10.8:1 pistons, Mopar Performance solid lifter .590 camshaft, 906 Chrysler cylinder heads, ported to 295 intake and 254 exhaust, Ferrea valves, Crane Gold roller rockers, Edelbrock intake, triple Holleys, MSD electronic distributor and ignitionTransmission: 727 TorqueFlite, Turbo Action 10-inch 3,500-stall torque converter, Hurst pistol grip Quarter StickRearend: Chrysler 831/44, Richmond 4.30 gears, Moser axles, Sure Grip, MP Super Stock springsWheels/Tires: Front: Weld Racing 15x4, Hoosier M/T 28x7.50x15Rear: Weld Racing 15x12, Hoosier 29x14.50x15Best e.t.: 11.60 at 116 mph