Thats great Dean!! I cant imagine how excited you must be....look forward to saying hello and seeing your hard work in person.....Congrats!
Mr. Colesy, Thanks. Thats it. All those little Mopars had the same deep oil pan, Lunati Camshaft and Racing Head Service Heads. I think they won the 68' Springnationals in N/SA, without spinning the slicks. 14.67 was the N/SA record. Roger, June 1968; I/Stock record 13.11,,,,J/Stock record 13.14 Yes, the 273/235HP Commando Cuda's and Darts (#2940 lbs.) ran in J/S in 68' The cars kind of flattened out at 13.90 @ 101. It took some tricks and good driving skills to get them into the 13.60's. Some negatives to overcome. Valve springs 210lb. open, small-port heads (1.78 intake / 1.50 exhaust), solid lifter camshaft .415./425 lift w/248 duration, a Carter AFB 500 cfm (w/small jets and metering rods), a low-plane X-shaped cast iron intake. Good low-end and mid-range, but lacked it on the "Big-End". Also, cars came through with a 9 1/4" clutch unit. Unless you had a Weber unit in there, you were dead (slippage galore) coming out of the hole. Big problem with valves floating out at 6000rpm, as the car stopped pulling about 200 feet from the traps. The cars peak power (factory rated) was at 5200 RPM. With 4.56 or 4.88 gears, you would be in the range of 6500 at top-end. The "D" Dart wasn't all that it was cracked up to be either.. No way was it a 12.90 car out of the factory. I think 13.80's was a closer number for those who ran them (without much success), except for the handful who knew had to tweak them. It woud have been classed in F/Stock in 1968, and needed 12.90's for National Event wins. The record was 12.78
Tony, I did not know that. He would have been 58 years young. Still a 'Lucky Kid' back then. The Coletti's also developed a trick pinion snubber for the 8 3/4" Mopar rear-end unit,s back then, among other little tricks for the 340. Not too many people knew that the 1968 340 4-speed engine camshaft was a little more radical than the automatic engine camshaft, OH,, That Riddler! PC
Sway-Bar, "Doc" Burgess ran a 1967 442 in D/S, in 1968. He was not the original owner. The car was re-painted white, and lettered "Black Arrow". Usually had Cragars on it, or at least for the slicks. Did hit 12.60's or so. Though he lived only a mile or so from Dover Drag Strip, I think he raced it at New England Dragway and Lebanon Valley too. PC
Saturday at York is 10am to 8pm so how about 1 pm under the hobby horse in the lobby for the junior stock guys?? Does that work??
The York show runs 10am to 8pm on Saturday. How about anyone interested meets under the hobby horse in the lobby of the expo center at 1 pm. Does that work??anybody??
"The York show runs 10am to 8pm on Saturday. How about anyone interested meets under the hobby horse in the lobby of the expo center at 1 pm. Does that work??anybody??" That works for me. Skip Asay
Wow...I didn't know that. What a bummer. Do you mind telling us what was the cause, i.e., illness, etc.? Regards, Pete
Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend. All I ask is that someone take a lot of pictures. Have fun! Pete
This morning there is a note at York for all former Junior Stock crew to check in at the Truppi Kling display in the west hall and to see Kevin. Thanks guys
Pete, Looks like the 71' Indy Nationals. Dave Boertman in a 71' Dodge Charger 383/300 HP J/SA. The 71' 383's were super competitive, when the HP went down from 335 (previously) to 300. Also gave the 71' Cuda 383's and Challenger R/T 383's a slight edge in I/S for 71' Mickey Mouse, That I/S 68' Camaro convertible, looks like a SS350 350/295HP. Front rallye stripe and hood vents. The regular Camaro did not have the front striping and/or hood vents. Also, I'll check on the 68' Dodge Dart GTS info. In 68' the 383 got bumped up to 300HP (from 280HP in 67'). Due to the #906 casting heads (bigger ports and bigger exhaust valve 1.74), a better cast iron intake (bigger port design and larger carb. bore holes), and a Carter 625 AVS carb. Later in the year 68 1/2', improved flow exhaust manifolds were designed, and installed on the later year cars, as well as the 440/375HP Super Commando camshaft and valve springs. Those engines were rated at 330HP. That was the standard 383 for the 69' Darts and Cuda's. In 1968, a 383/300HP Dart would be classed in F/S, but the later production engine 383/330HP would be classed in D/S. Only a few were out there. The 330HP version was made available in April 68'. I think Tom Wilson ran a 68 1/2' 383/330HP Dart GTS in D/SA at the 68' Springnationals. From what I have found, the 383/330HP engine for mid-year production 68' was only available for the Dart GTS, and not the Cuda. That's one I can't figure out. PC
Yes Paul, you're right, Indy 1971 the year that Mopar swept ALL eliminators from Top Fuel all the way down to Stock. Quite a feat I say and one never that'll never be accomplished by any other make. It almost happened twice before that same year at the Summernationals and Gatornationals with seven out of eight eliminator wins. And to further add salt to the wound, so to speak , Mopars won six of eight eliminators at the Winternationals, Springnationals, Grandnationals* and World Finals with their 'worst' showing that year with only five of eight eliminator wins at the season finale Supernationals. Pete *Not sure what brand Competition eliminator Jim Mehalik drove but I'll give Chrysler the benefit of the doubt.
Thanks to our man Steve, H.A.M.B.'s reporter on the scene, for the great photos! The In-Bomber really came out nice! Pete
I remember looking at the Flack & Comstock Plymouth laying on its top at Muncie Dragway at the IHRA Northern Nationals and thinking that is the cleanest car I had ever seen...on the bottom. It was painted as bright of white on the bottom as it was on top.
Yes, it sure did Pete ... great detailing! If any of you folks make it to the show, be sure to say Hi to nice-guy Big Al Andrews. He'll be glad to fill you in on the history of his ... *Hydrophobia (*TOO) !
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