Gettin' back into it..

[Chris Barnes]

Why not run a Max Wedge or a Hemi? Seriously, the carb on a street wedge is a bottle neck and the heads are on the mediocre side. Maybe the low horsepower factor would mitigate these shortcomings.

We did some testing on the flow bench and found that the 516s flowed equal or slightly better than the 915s. Remember you only get .424" lift so ginormous numbers aren't that important.

I've got enough problems without jumping into the Super Stock side of the pool but none the less I am intrigued by the GT classes. What about building a '77/'78 440? It comes with good heads and a huge carb...

Good luck. Run the '64--the world needs more ugly old Mopars!

Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
'64 Plymouth Savoy Max Wedge Wagon
Stock 6621

[borninamopar]

Originally Posted by Chris Barnes

Why not run a Max Wedge or a Hemi? Seriously, the carb on a street wedge is a bottle neck and the heads are on the mediocre side. Maybe the low horsepower factor would mitigate these shortcomings.

We did some testing on the flow bench and found that the 516s flowed equal or slightly better than the 915s. Remember you only get .424" lift so ginormous numbers aren't that important.

I've got enough problems without jumping into the Super Stock side of the pool but none the less I am intrigued by the GT classes. What about building a '77/'78 440? It comes with good heads and a huge carb...

Good luck. Run the '64--the world needs more ugly old Mopars!

Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
'64 Plymouth Savoy Max Wedge Wagon
Stock 6621

Hey Chris, I am considering all the possibilities. The GT class is interesting, and I have a few of the late 440 motors layin' around. One is a motorhome motor with a huge 1000cfm thermobog that was runnin' like a mule when I tore it out of the house on wheels. Yea, I love the old ugly mopars, I have a few sittin' around, I have an even uglier 63 sedan.
Maybe, I'll just start buildin' them all. I can run the 64, my wife can run the 98 Dak R/T, and my daughter can run the ugly little Valiant. 'Preciate all the help everyone is giving...I am tending to lean to the Mopar guys..I just don't trust those Ford and Chevy guys.

[GTX JOHN]

Hi Chris: The late 76- 78 440 have terrible compression due to a -.120 deck
and 82 or 83 CC heads compared to -.027 and 79 CC for earlier motors with almost same HP factor ( 350 vs. 345 Stk. 340 SS )
We have found considerable more airflow and performance with 915 compared with 516 ......we think ourselves.
426 street is a slug but it has been re factored from 365 to 300 HP or so over the years..... which is a bunch.
Me and the kid are looking forward to seeing you this year again.
Good Luck!............Irving Family Racing

[borninamopar]

Hey John,
Saw that RoadRunner you were tryin' to sell...Are those wheel tubs? As far as the 915's compared to 516's I have always followed the most current head work write ups , and from the old Mopar Muscle write ups until now; Everyone seems to get more flow from the 915's. It seems the most important part of work is the floor and valve to floor transition area. The print I have from way back, shows the difference as compared to the larger HP head. Thanks for the advise. Got the print from one of my old bibles in the head section.

[Chris Barnes]

Borninamopar,

With the 383 you now get to run the #666 '70 intake manifold, not a bad piece, especially compared to the original thing.

Hi John,

I'm looking forward to being back. Racing beats the heck out of singing the broken motor blues. I'm sure you're right about the 915s vs. the 516s as far as potential goes but what about unmodified with similar valve size? Do the new rules allow us to modify the 915s enough to maximize the potential?

Thanks for being such a sage and positive voice on this forum and at the track. Good luck in 2011!


Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock 6621

[borninamopar]

Hey Chris, not to savvy on all the engine rules, but I bought a 383 not long ago from some yard that had pulled the motor out of an old racecar and it had the 666 intake on it, with a set of 66 915's on it with a hemi oil pan and some other neat stuff in it...! I realized that this was a stocker motor after I did some talking to people and checking the numbers NHRA allows. So, I have the motor and all sorts of parts to go that route. I've considered going that route, cause you can spin the hell out of that motor. What gear should I run in the rear to get the most out of it?

[Phillip marvetz]

Where will you be doing your racing? Sea level or waaaaayyyyyyy up high?

[borninamopar]

Hey Phillip,
I can throw a rock and hit the Gulf, and the State of Cajuns:
I live in SW Mississippi: So, about a few hundred feet above sea level:
Depending on how high the tide is that day. NPR, Capital City , Hub City. I just don't like Fords and Chevvies, and figure I should go class racin' and throw another old ugly mopar into the mix: Figured I could get lots of help from all the Mopar racers here: Seems like this is a great bunch of racers here.

[GTX JOHN]

Those are the stock fender tubs and they are Huge......will fit 11 wide slicks nicely. Please do not give tech any ideas.....We were protested for illegal windshield angle at Vegas 2010 Div. and had to find another one for Div Tech Director to measure for 1/2 an Hour! The 73/74 B body Plymouths had the biggggest quarter panels mopar ever produced.....also widest track and widest spring spacing. After 35 plus years I am finally getting to like the styling......we are currently running two in stock eliminator!

[Chris Barnes]

I agree with Phil. We have a 4.56, a 4.88, and a 5.13 set and the 4.88s seem to be the best. We're still wandering in the dark, though and my advice on the subject is worth every penny you didn't pay for it.

A little off the subject but you should budget for a complete CalTracs set up for your Dodge--bars, springs, shocks--all of it. It will put your hot rod in the ball park right away no matter what combination you decide to run.

Good luck!

Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock 6621