_ Mopar Max Magazine _ Volume V, Issue 7 - July 2010

Volume V Issue 7 - July 2010 

LEAD STORY 

MIDWEST MOPARS 

Rides and Sights Makes The North Star Bright [07/06/10] 

COLUMNS 

Mopar To Ya with Chris Barnes 

Match Racing with the Canadians [07/06/10] 

Basement Garage with Kevin Thomson 

Hang on St. Christopher….or riding on the short bus [07/06/10] 

Steve Mags Speaks with Steve Magnante 

May Your Travels Take You Full Circle [07/06/10] 

Mopar Musings with Geoff Stunkard 

Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap [06/02/10] 

More Columns » 

RACING AND CAR SHOWS 

SUPER STOCKERS 

AT ST. LOUIS [06/16/10] 

HEMIs at the Beech [06/24/10] 

Mopars of the First O'Fallon Car Show [06/16/10] 

Mopars Down Under [06/02/10] 

More Racing and Car Shows » 

A couple of days late, but still worth 

watching [07/06/10] 

Johnson Claims Runner-up at Norwalk, 

Locks in Spot in Countdown [07/06/10] 

Once-In-A-Lifetime Experiences Up For 

Auction at Walter P. Chrysler Legacy 

Gala 07/06/10] 

Read more Mopar Memos » 

TECH SECTION 

ADDING NITROUS 

TO A HEMI [05/03/10] 

More Tech » 

FEATURES 

DICK LANDY 

Photos found in a trunk! [05/03/10] 

How one man’s love for a car conquered 

death [06/01/10] 

More Features »

Volume V, Issue 7 July 6, 2010 

A COUPLE OF DAYS LATE, BUT STILL WORTH WATCHING 

[07/06/10] 

JOHNSON CLAIMS RUNNER-UP AT NORWALK, LOCKS IN SPOT IN 

COUNTDOWN 

Team Mopar NHRA Full Throttle 

Drag Racing Series Pro Stock 

driver Allen Johnson made the 

20th final round appearance of his 

career and came away with a 

runner-up finish on Sunday, June 

27, at the Summit Racing 

Equipment NHRA Nationals at 

Summit Motorsports Park in 

Norwalk, Ohio. 

The Mopar Dodge Avenger driver 

squared off against Greg 

Anderson in the finals at Summit Motorsports Park, but strayed out of the groove midway down the track to watch 

his opponent take the win light. It was Johnson’s third runner-up finish of the season and provides momentum as 

the team prepares to head off on a three-race Western Swing. 

It was an all-HEMI matchup in the semifinals, as the Team Mopar Dodge Avenger went against the Moparpowered 

Dodge Avenger of V. Gaines. Johnson easily advanced as Gaines slowed to a 6.976-second, 204.05mph 

run vs. 6.740/206.01 for Johnson. 

Johnson’s journey through the first two rounds of eliminations was not as easy. Rookie Shane Gray beat Johnson 

off the starting line in the first round, but the Team Mopar driver ran him down to win by approximately eight inches 

on a 6.718-second elapsed time at 206.16 mph. Johnson then had to run down Greg Stanfield in the quarterfinals, 

but ended up with a more substantial win margin of 15 feet on a 6.734/205.69 pass. 

By virtue of his first round win over Gray, Johnson became the second Pro Stock driver to clinch a spot in the 

Countdown to 1 playoffs. He joins point leader Mike Edwards with locked-in spots with four races remaining in the 

17-race regular season, which runs through the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd Aug. 12-15 and sets 10driver 

fields for the six-race Countdown. The playoffs begin at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and conclude at the 

Automobile Club of Southern California World Finals in mid-November. (Tom Schiltz photo) [07/06/10] 

Mopar Memos - MoparMax.com


ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCES UP FOR AUCTION AT WALTER P. CHRYSLER LEGACY GALA 

(Mopar Max file photo) 

It'll be an automobile enthusiast's dream come true as guests of the inaugural Walter P. Chrysler Legacy 

Gala will have an opportunity to bid on extraordinary experiences - including a day with Richard Petty and a 

private tour of Jay Leno’s Big Dog Garage - in silent and live auctions during the Saturday, July 24, event. 

Held at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, in Auburn Hills, Mich., the 7-11 p.m. Legacy Gala will celebrate 85 

years of Chrysler heritage and honor four automotive and entertainment icons - who will all be in attendance 

- with the Walter P. Chrysler Legacy Award: Former Chrysler Chairman and CEO Lee Iacocca; Tonight 

Show host and car collector Jay Leno; and NASCAR Champion Richard Petty. Former Chrysler Design 

Chief Virgil Exner will be inducted posthumously, represented by his son Virgil Exner, Jr. 

A limited number of gala tickets are available for public purchase online at www.wpchryslermuseum.org 

and by phone at 800-987-9807. Gala tickets, benefiting the nonprofit Museum, are $500 per person, a 

significant portion of which is tax-deductible. 

The silent and live auctions are just one highlight of an amazing event that will begin with a strolling dinner 

throughout the Museum's three floors and feature the inaugural Walter P. Chrysler Legacy Circle induction 

ceremony of Iacocca, Leno, Petty and Exner; a full-length performance donated by Jay Leno and a dessert 

and coffee afterglow. 

Among the particularly remarkable items up for auction, with proceeds benefiting the Museum, are: 

-- A Day with Richard Petty - hold court with "The King," in North Carolina, and tour Petty's Garage; visit the Richard Petty Museum with exhibits 

spotlighting his career; get a behind-the-scenes look at Richard Petty Motorsports and four of NASCAR's most popular teams and drivers: Kasey 

Kahne, AJ Allmendinger, Elliott Sadler and Paul Menard; and visit Victory Junction Gang Camp, serving children with serious illnesses on 84 acres of 

land donated by Richard and Lynda Petty. 

-- Jay Leno's Big Dog Garage and Tickets to "The Tonight Show" - take a private tour of 

Jay Leno's Big Dog Garage in southern California featuring one of the world's greatest car 

collections. The 17,000 

square-foot custom-built garage has enough space to work on a dozen cars and, with nearly 

a quarter of the space occupied by a machine shop, is one of the best-equipped private 

garages on the planet. End the day in "The Tonight Show" audience, enjoying the 

merriment that has made Leno America's late-night leader for nearly two decades. 

-- Chrysler Tech Center Behind-the-Scenes Tour - enjoy a casual stroll with Ralph Gilles, 

President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Car Brand and Senior Vice President of 

Product Design, Chrysler Group LLC into the massive Chrysler Technology Center, in 

Auburn Hills, for a peek into the inner-workings of the automaker's design office, 

engineering labs and other key areas, including the wind tunnel. 

-- Chrysler Historical Vehicle Collection Behind-the-Scenes Tour – talk shop with Brandt 

Rosenbusch, Manager of the Chrysler Historical Vehicle Collection, while marveling at more than 

250 heritage vehicles tucked away in this private automotive oasis. Enjoy a fascinating history 

lesson while exploring a wide range of models in various stages of restoration. 

-- SRT Track Experience at the Michigan International Speedway - enjoy an entire day of fullthrottle 

action! The SRT Track Experience includes guidance by professional instructors from the 

Richard Petty Driving Experience to ensure fun and top-level instruction in a safe and structured 

setting through four driving modules: Autocross, Full-Throttle Challenge, Hot Laps and 

Performance Driving. 

-- 2011 Daytona 500 all exclusive weekend passes - experience a trackside view of "The Great 

American Race" on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011 at the Daytona International Speedway, Daytona, 

FL. The very special weekend passes include tickets and two VIP credentials for the Daytona 

500 Race. 

Mopar Memos - MoparMax.com 

(James Drew photo) 

ADVERTISEMENT 

Visit www.wpchryslermuseum.org for auction item updates and complete Legacy Gala 

information, including details about Contribution Opportunity packages offering additional gala enjoyment, such as an exclusive pre-gala reception 

attended by the inductees, posed photos with inductees at several giving levels and more. [07/06/10]


THINK THEY’LL BE GOING BACK TO THE ASSEMBLY LINE? 

Fourteen Chrysler workers from Michigan have claimed half of Ohio's second Powerball jackpot. 

The group that calls themselves "The Lucky Thirteen Plus One" (13 are from Michigan and one from Ohio) were at the Ohio Lottery's regional office in 

Toledo Monday, June 28, to claim half of the $97 million jackpot from a June Powerball drawing. The winning ticket from the multi-state lottery game 

was sold to one of the group's members at Shirley's Carryout in Curtice, Ohio. 

The group, comprised of workers at a Detroit-area Chrysler paint shop, has chosen a cash option of approximately $25.1 million. After federal and state 

taxes, each group member will receive a one-time payout of $1.2 million. [07/06/10] 

BUSCH HANGS ON FOR 3RD AT NEW HAMPSHIRE 

ADVERTISEMENT 

Jimmie Johnson continued his resurgence in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series by winning the June 27 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 after taking the lead 

from Kurt Busch with less than two laps remaining at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. 

Johnson, who also won last weekend's road-course race at Sonoma, CA, took the lead from Jeff Burton just after a restart with 12 laps remaining. 

Burton did not pit, while the other leaders came in for the final time following an incident with Juan Pablo Montoya and Reed Sorenson. 

Two laps after losing the lead, Burton, on old tires, got loose and crashed into Kyle Busch while the two were battling for position. The final caution set 

up an eight-lap shootout to the finish. After the last restart, Kurt Busch chased down Johnson and made a bump and run move on the four-time 

defending series champion to take the top spot for the first time in the 301-lap race. 

But Johnson came storming back and took the lead with a lap and a half to go. Johnson then cruised to his fifth victory of the season and the 52nd of 

his Cup career. 

"Kurt knocked me out the way, and I thought, 'I don't care if I win this race or not, and I don't care if I finish this damn thing, I am running into him and 

getting back in line one way or another'," said Johnson, who won at New Hampshire for the third time. 

Tony Stewart passed Kurt Busch on the final lap to take second, while Busch ended up third. Jeff Gordon and points leader Kevin Harvick rounded out 

the top-five. 

"At the end, our car was very strong on the short run, and we knew we needed tires to be able to battle these guys," Kurt Busch said. "We didn't have a 

winning car, but we almost put it in position to get a win. While battling with Jimmie, we did what we could to get the lead, and I was just counting the 

laps and saying that there's not enough laps, but we battled as best we could." [07/06/10] 

Mopar Memos - MoparMax.com


WEST COAST AA/FC DRIVER KRABILL SPANKS MIDWEST TEAMS AT 

CORDOVA 

The Gary Tuner-owned “Pedaler” 

AA/FC made the trek from the 

West Coast to race against the 

best cars in the Midwest and 

demonstrated why they are 

among the best AA Funny Cars 

anywhere. With Cory Lee tuning 

and Kris Krabill driving, the California team dominated the race June 25-26 at Cordova (Ill.) Dragway 

Park at the second annual DragRacingOnline.com AA/FC Challenge presented by Lucas Oil. 

The ’77 Arrow was the only car in the fives and one of just two cars that broke the 240 mark. Krabill 

had a best ET of 5.938 and a best speed of 242.28 mph. (Don Eckert photo) [07/06/10] 

CHRYSLER IS FIRST AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY TO INTRODUCE 

VEHICLE-INFORMATION APPS 

Last year, Chrysler Group was the first automotive company to replace traditional, bulky owner 

manuals with DVDs and user guides. This year, the company is introducing the industry's first 

smartphone vehicle-information application. 

In addition to general vehicle information including vehicle operation, maintenance and warranty, this 

new app offers product-feature video demonstrations, connections with fellow owners via the 

company's brands on social media sites, and access to customer care and 24-hour roadside 

assistance. 

"With our vehicle-information app, we are taking customer care to a new level by creating a 

convenient, on-demand channel of communication with our customers," said Pietro Gorlier, President 

and CEO of Mopar®, Chrysler Group LLC. "Creating this new channel of communication will enhance 

the customer experience. And it's a great example of how we can add value to our vehicles and build 

brand identity. This new app will also be a source for potential customers to learn about our vehicles." 

The vehicle-information app for the all-new 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee will be available for 

download on to personal smartphones. The vehicle-information app, developed by Michigan-based 

Tweddle Group, is designed to support vehicles in the U.S. market. The app will first be available for 

iPhone® and later for BlackBerry® and Android(TM) devices on major mobile carriers. 

The application, which is free to the consumer, will eventually phase into future Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, 

Jeep and Ram Truck vehicles in the U.S. by the end of this year. [07/06/10] 

HOLLEY EMERGES FROM CHAPTER 11 

Holley Performance Products Inc., Bowling Green, Ky., has announced that it has significantly 

improved its capital structure and liquidity through a successful voluntary bankruptcy reorganization, 

effective June 22. 

As a result of the reorganization, the company reduced its debt by more than $59 million and obtained 

new credit arrangements including a revolving credit facility that provides Holley with substantial 

flexibility to pursue its growth initiatives, according to a press release. 

“Holley has emerged with an extraordinarily strong balance sheet, which provides us with the flexibility 

to reinvest in our business and positions us well for continued growth,” said Tom Tomlinson, Holley 

CEO. “We have accomplished a true restructuring in a cooperative, efficient and timely manner and 

we are deeply grateful for the support and loyalty we received from our customers, dedicated 

employees, suppliers, lenders and shareholders. With our new balance sheet, we now have the 

financial strength to create value through long-term sustainable organic growth and appropriate 

strategic acquisitions while continuing to enhance the reputation and reach of our core stable of 

brands.” [07/06/10] 


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Robert Kubica extends his Formula 

One contract… 

Peugeot says connecting rods are 

behind its Le… 

Sauber to drop BMW from F1 team 

name 

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NOSTALGIA PRO STOCK SHOW IN OHIO 


Grand Marshal for the event is Super Stock and Pro Stock legend “Akron” Arlen Vanke. (Mark Westfall photos) 

THE END IS NEAR FOR PT CRUISER 

The last Chrysler PT Cruiser soon will roll off the assembly line, signaling the end of the line for a 

historic and beloved little car. 

The PT Cruiser went on sale in 2000, during the SUV craze. Despite that, the compact sedan's 

quirky styling and useful interior made it a sensation. It helped establish Chrysler as a design leader, 

sold far beyond the automaker's expectations, and became one of the rare American small cars 

that's an undisputed hit. For a while, it was the best-selling Chrysler-brand vehicle. 

When production ends July 9, Chrysler will have sold more than 1.3 million PT Cruisers. The PT 

was one of the first modern retro vehicles, coming after the VW Beetle and Plymouth Prowler, but 

before the Mini Cooper, Chevrolet HHR, Ford Thunderbird and Fiat 500. 


Thompson Raceway Park has held an 

Independence Eve Pro Stock Shootout 

for several years, but this year a group of 

10 nostalgia Pro Stockers will make an 

appearance. 

Among the Pro Stockers expected at the 

track just east of Cleveland, Ohio, for the 

first ever Nostalgia Pro Stock 

Shootout are Billy the Kid Lyons, “Queen 

Bee”, Ron Hutter’s “Canned Heat”, 

Shawn Loboda's "Pain Killer", the Marfizio 

Farmanchik Duster, the “Bionic Bird” and 

more, all running 9.70 ET’s along with 

rosin dry hops and burnouts. [07/06/10] 

Production of the Fiat 500 retro car will replace the PT at Chrysler's plant in Toluca, Mexico. (photo courtesy Chrysler Group LLC) [07/06/10] 

THE ELEGANCE OF THE SNAKE 

The 28th Annual Dana Point Concours d'EleganceTM took place 

on Sunday, June 27, on the Monarch Beach Golf Links at the 

prestigious St. Regis resort in Dana Point, California. This year's 

event featured 100 years of Alfa Romeo and celebrated 80 years 

of design from Pininfarina. 

The 2010 event Honorary Chairman, Don "The Snake" 

Prudhomme, exhibited four of his classic Funny Cars, as well as 

his recently restored transporter. 

Headlining the exhibit was Prudhomme's original restoration of 

the only remaining Mattel Hot Wheels 1970 Plymouth Barracuda 

Funny Car as made famous during the "Snake vs. Mongoose" match racing promotion, which saw 

Prudhomme and Tom McEwen square off in match races across the country while also making 

countless appearances at toy stores, retail outlets and other locations. 

“Number 1” to reflect his fourth consecutive NHRA World Championship season. (Ron Lewis photos) [07/06/10] 

ADVERTISEMENT 

Also on display and transporting the Yellow 'Cuda was Prudhomme's 

frame-off and fully restored 1967 Dodge D-700 crew cab Hot Wheels 

Ramp Truck which famously toted his Funny Cars during the 1970's match 

racing era. 

Prudhomme’s exhibit also featured the white 1972 Hot Wheels-sponsored 

Plymouth 'Cuda funny car, 1974 Army-sponsored Chevrolet Vega funny car 

and the 1978 Army Plymouth Arrow funny car which proudly carries the

Match Racing with the 

Canadians 


couple of months ago my friend Polara Pat, a founding member of the 

Wagons of Steel North team, took my advice and read the outstanding 

book "We Were the Ramchargers" by Dave Rockwell. Like anyone who 

has ever brought a Mopar to the drag races, Pat found the book to be 

inspirational. He decided to challenge us to a best of five match race at our local track. They would, of course, 

make the monster tow from their home base in Nelson, British Columbia to meet us at Bremerton Raceway, ten 

miles and a ferry ride from our shop. The catch for us was that our car, the Mighty Josephine II, was a shell sitting 

in the corner and theirs was a scienced out mid eleven second race car. We had a month to get the big '70 

Chrysler Town & Country ready for the track. The chassis work was basically done. We had installed sub frame 

connectors and a complete roll cage. We had fabbed up a really cool fuel system. There was no engine or 

transmission but we had put 

together a custom Dana 60 with 

4.56 gears and a spool. There 

wasn't one inch of wiring in the 

whole car. We decided to accept 

their challenge. 

I just had to laugh at myself as we 

embarked on the project. The 

thing that I hate about most of the 

car building shows that I've seen 

on TV is that under-the-gungotta-be-done-yesterday 

thing. I 

mean, isn't this supposed to be 

fun? But here we were up against 

the clock trying to do in weeks 

what would normally take us months. We started by making a list. The thing that made this project economically 

feasible was that we had many of the expensive components on hand, notably a motor, transmission, and 

converter. The brakes that come stock on a '70 Chrysler are huge discs up front and drums out back for slowing 

down a family of six towing a boat with a fifty five hundred pound wagon. That's plenty of stopping power for our 

purposes. We adapted them and the steering to a manual configuration. We gutted as much weight out of it as 

possible. We cut all the metal and 

window mechanisms out of the 

doors, replaced the glass with 

Lexan, then reinstalled the 

original door panels. The inner 

fender wells are not structural in a 

"C" body and can be unbolted 

and discarded. Everything is gone 

that doesn't make the car go with 

the idea in mind that I want her to 

look more or less original from the 

outside. 

The motor is a 480 cubic inch 

stroker 440. It was originally built 

for a guy who wanted to drive on 

the street with something that 

looked like an original Max 

Wedge. He had Dvorak work over 

a set of "516" heads to accept a 

Max Wedge sized intake (no 

small feat!) and fitted the short 

block with custom soap dish pistons for pump gas friendliness. 

Mopar to Ya - Match Racing with the Canadians - Page 1 of 3 - MoparMax.com


He died before it was done and we took over the project. We installed an ancient 440 Six Pack Stock 

Eliminator cam and Shubeck solid lifters. With 1.6:1 rockers it's probably getting .550" lift with some 

kind of typically crazy stocker cam duration. It has that rat-a-tat-tat-tat sound to it. It runs on pump 

gas so it doesn't smell good. This motor made the four thousand pound Savoy run eleven flats a 

couple of years ago. The fuel cell is from Jeg's and feeds almost directly into a Magna Fuel Pro Star 

500 fuel pump leading to a Barry Grant 4 port regulator and the big 1050 cfm Holley Dominator. If 

you look into the fuel cell while the car is running it looks like a toilet flushing! Headers are Hooker 

Super Comps that I've had for fifteen years. 

We painted everything in the 

interior True Value X-O Rust 

Satin Black with rollers and 

paint brushes. We eventually 

want to replace the original 

steering wheel and column 

but we didn't have the time. 

The plastic fantastic race 

bucket is another necessary 

annoyance. These things are 

very uncomfortable even for 

short periods of time. I put an 

old pillow under the cover 

and makes it bearable until 

we find a good seat. I wired it 

but don't tell anyone. Just 

kidding--wiring a race car is 

easy, fun, and satisfying. I've never been able to afford to have someone else do it and even if I 

could, are they going to come to the track with me the day my ignition box takes a powder or my 

water pump dies? 

The driver's name may be Polara Pat but this wagon is actually a '67 Monaco that we sold him many 

years ago. After the nightmare of registering a Yankee wagon to get into Canada, making it a racer 

was easy work. Not! The Wagons of Steel North team has been racing and working on this machine 

with intense dedication since day one and the results are one of the most unique drag racing vehicles 

on the planet. They are currently running dual Holleys on a tunnel ram on a 440 (of course!) with a 

727. They are able to get away with running an 8 3/4" rear end assembly because this wagon weighs 

a paltry 3600 pounds with driver. These boys know how to play with fiberglass. Check out the custom 

hood scoop. Custom headers exit right behind the front wheels. Oh yeah, it's very loud. 

Mopar to Ya - Match Racing with the Canadians - Page 2 of 3 - MoparMax.com 

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I'm pleased to say that we actually made it to the track. We had no time to test 

it except on the street in front of the shop. The neighbors love us. Really, they 

stand in their driveways and wave when we drive up and down the street in 

our race cars. How lucky is that? My partner/crew chief Mike Brenno took the 

first hit because he owns the engine. Unfortunately, we had left a 6000 chip in 

our rev limiter so it wasn't a fast lap but at least everything hung together. I got 

the next run. 

The big wagon felt smooth and powerful. I got a decent 1.56 second sixty foot 

time on the way to a 11.7 quarter mile. After that it was time for our designated 

driver, Matt Hatfield to take over the wheel for the match race. Matt drove this 

car regularly when it was a low fourteen second Sportsman racer, including a 

semi final finish at the 2007 Division Six Bracket Finals at Woodburn. 

Mopar to Ya - Match Racing with the Canadians - Page 3 of 3 - MoparMax.com 

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Matt did his job well, cutting a .003 light and hitting every shift perfectly on the 

way to a 11.62. Unfortunately, the Canadians still had us by a bumper running 

in the 11.5 second zone. The crowd loved it. The next pass was more of the 

same. The Canadians were up on us 2-0. Then the weather gods intervened. It 

started raining and didn't stop for the rest of the weekend. We had gone in 

thinking that our wagon might run ten second quarter miles. That would have been cool but running so close was better. Now we'll have to meet them 

to finish it off sometime later this season. We've already found a tenth or two for them. Maybe they'll have to put a third carburetor on their tunnel ram! 

On July 18 we'll be at Woodburn Drag Strip for their annual Mopar show. We are planning to make our first passes in Brutus with our legal Stock 

Eliminator 383. Dvorak is shipping it as I write this. We are very excited about that. The Savoy is my favorite race car ever, of course, but Brutus is 

something that we are all very proud of. We will also bring Josephine II and a bunch of Wagons of Steel swag. Be sure to come out and have a good 

time with us if you're in the neighborhood!


Hang on St. Christopher….or riding on the short bus 

om always said a fast car was trouble and she’s right. The adrenaline rush of a torquey big block is addictive and 

the urge to use it doesn’t always rear it’s head at the best of times. When I bought my old yellow Satellite back in 

1994 it was the fastest thing I had ever driven and I had just turned 30 years old. I didn’t use my teen years to get 

my fast car yaya’s out or get into trouble––nope, that all started at age 30. The following is a list of anectdotes from my 

stupidest moments behind the wheel. I will point out that the car has a certain magical luck it about that kept me and my 

passengers in one piece. Whenever these sort of things happened it was because I was showing off, pissed off, buzzed, or 

just plain being dumb…short bus. 

Back in the spring of 1995 I was still happily married and very much into taking little cruises all over the peninsula, back 

and forth over the mountains then up and down the coast. A favorite road at the time was Alpine Road. Alpine is a twisty 

one and a half laner with poor pavement, steep grades, and amazing views. On a beautiful day with all the windows down, 

my wife, our dog Sullivan, and I were cruising Alpine from Skyline to Route 1. I had just put 14X6 Magnum 500’s on the car 

and she felt so sure with her new rubber and wider rims. I was going too fast but staying in control and really having fun 

when a nasty downhill S-curve showed up. 

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The bad pavement had the car yawing, and combined with our speed 

and the 4-wheel drum brakes I wound up momentarily locking a rear wheel, then fishtailing from one 

side of the narrow road to the other. The car was waaaayyy loose. Embankment on the left, pretty 

steep drop off on the right. We went right. With every ounce of my strength on the brakes we slid off 

the road and then abruptly stopped, pointed downward at approximately 60 degrees. 

The dog was out of the car in a flash and sitting up by the road. I looked over at Krista, asked her if 

she was all right and had her go out the window very slowly and carefully. I set the e-brake, put the 

stalled car into park and then gingerly let my foot off the brake. The car didn’t move so I went out the 

window to join my frightened little family up on the road. The car was pointed so steeply downward 

that the rear bumper was nearly at eye level. 

So, what kept us from taking the wild ride all the way down??? The k-frame hung up on a culvert 

sticking out of the hillside. About 20 minutes later a car went by and took Krista up to Skyline and 

over to 84 to use a pay phone and call in a tow truck. About two hours later we were driving home, 

scared but in one piece. Damage: Ego bruised and a bent k-frame. 

Not too long after that incident I got a sure-grip for the car and promptly learned to spin donuts. My 

god! Who would have thought that such an idiotic manuever could be so fun! I loved it and back in 

those days the Mission district was still pretty industrial with an abandoned feel and I left black circles 

all over the place…I am sure cementing my reputation as a pure dumb-ass in the process. Anyway, I 

was cruising with my friend Thalo and I decided to show off my donut spinning skills. Yeeee-haw! We 

spun and spun like there was a giant stake in the middle of the car until I got the crazy notion that I 

was good enough at it to just flip the wheel and spin the other way. Nope. Car got violently out of 

shape and went straight for a fire hydrant. With all four locked up we smacked the curb inches away 

from the hydrant. Damage: mangled self esteem, bent strut rod. 

One day, I was enjoying a new horsepower increase after installing a 750 Holley. As a sales pitch to 

my friend Bob, that he too, should install such a carburetor on his ride, I was punching the Satellite all 

over Soma like a hesher on PCP. Screeeeee, woooo hoooo! Nothing like a stoplight burnout to scare 

the brand new .com wunderkind that were beginning to flood the town. As we headed downtown the 

traffic thickened but I was on it, deftly (so I thought) steering the car at 40 plus through the thickets. 

Basement Garage - Hang on St. ChristopherÉ.or riding on the short bus - Page 1 of 2 - MoparMax.com


Up ahead the middle lane was blocked by construction. I saw my opportunity to pull a fast one and make the light at the same time so I punched it. 

Unkown to me, a small and very attractive woman was about to run the very red light that was still very green for me. As I sailed past the construction 

and into the intersection I heard a huge BANG! and found myself wrestling the car away from a curb packed with pedestrians. We made it scot free but 

the passenger side of the Satellite was trashed. The lady tried to pin it on me but I told her to save it, took her number and was about to drive away 

when a stranger walked up and said, “I saw the whole thing. She ran the light. Here is my card.” The card read, “Special Agent xxx-xxx, US Department 

of the Treasury”. Damage: fixed thanks to special agent’s testimony. I start taking it a little easier around town. 

Back in ’97, one of my favorite watering holes was Doc’s Clock. I not only drank there but worked the door on weekends. My favorite time was happy 

hour––of course. One winter night I stayed on a little too long. A million “should haves” can be inserted here but none of them happened. I got behind 

the wheel and started for home. I had just recently moved to the southern end of the city off 101 and was still getting a feel for this new mini commute. 

Rain was just beginning to fall on Caesar Chavez and I made a terrible split-second decision when I got to the 101 on-ramp…I took it. This on ramp is 

not partcularly dangerous but the merge can be a bit hairy. 

I knew to take it easy in the rain with the sure-grip so I began my merge. Just as I eased over I noticed a car coming on fast so I got on it, momentarily 

forgetting that this could be bad news. The transmission banged into second gear and the car immediately went sideways. I thought I could hold it so I 

stayed in it but I was not nearly capable. I was now all the way across up to the guardrail so I panic steered the other way and spun the car across 4 

lanes of US 101 and came to rest ever so gently with my rear bumper against the Bernal hill retaining wall. Not one scratch on me, the car, or anybody 

else. Wide eyed drivers stared at me as they drove by. I re-started and drove home shaking like a leaf. Damage: pissed jeans, self-image in garbage 

can for weeks, car fine. 

By this time I had really begun to take things a little easier but I still enjoyed a good romp now and then. I was becoming a good driver but I was not the 

bad-ass I thought myself to be. This was plainly borne out on the 20mph, left hand corkscrew on-ramp to 101 south from Alemany Boulevard. The car 

was now quite properly set up with disc brakes, a hemi suspension and cop rims with 235/60 Goodyears on them. Fucking bad-ass. At about 1:00 am 

after a long practice with my old band, “Touched By A Janitor” ––yes ( www.myspace.com/touchedbyajanitor )––I decided I was going to test the limits 

of adhesion on that ramp. Winding out first gear, I passed a little car and then right at the apex I completely lost it. Fortunately for me the car spun in 

and I did not hi-side it. With every bit of St. Christoper hanging from the AM knob I spun into the bark chips in the center and missed every single freshly 

planted sapling. Damage: demoted skill levels, car fine. 

I was determined to be a better driver so I read up and practiced in empty lots and empty streets when I could, dry and wet. I was not going to be the 

fool that lights ‘em up out of the car show only to j-turn into a bunch of parked cars. No way, my shit was gonna be perfectly sideways, crossed up dirt 

track style, Jim Rockford all the way. One of my favorite places for these shenanigans was on the dirt roads surrounding the Bonneville salt falts. I had 

just executed some perfect dirt track turns earlier in the day so I decided to show off for my lady friend, Patricia. (who, by the way, did not enjoy such 

things and very bravely put up with my lunacy) I went into a sweeping left hander a bit faster than I had earlier and sure enough lost it again and this 

time into a sandy berm with a flat tire, in 102 degree heat. Damage: absolutely searing look from lady friend that I can feel to this day, flat tire, scuffed 

rockers. 

Well, that was it for me. I pretty much gave up on any dirt track style BS and kept that stuff for big parking lots with nobody around. Still, I liked driving 

fast and took pride in knowing my limits and how to approach them. So there I was, driving from Bayshore Boulevard onto 101 North. I knew this long 

curve well and I liked to hammer it when there was no traffic. 

I was first in line at the light and the road was clear so I nailed it pretty good, leaving without a scratch or chirp and then accelerating quickly into the 

curve. Just at the apex I noticed the road looked shiny, black, shiny. WHAM!!!! The back end goes out to the right and I am now pointed at the 

guardrail, highway 30 feet below me. I said to myself, “no way, not today”, and counter steered, put in a little bit of throttle and somehow, miraculously 

kept it pointed at the rail with the wheels turned where I wanted the car to go and I this time I made it! I think the guy in the US Mail truck a few lengths 

behind me had his doubts but I was once again pointed straight and heading safely down the road. Damage: none, should have been driving slower. 

If I could do it all over again, I would take a high performance driving course and learn to do it right and on the track. I learned the hard way that to be a 

good driver is a very different thing from being a high performance one or a true racer….and I got very, very lucky. My old ’66 had, and still does have, 

a certain magical protective quality about her; I really believe that. So far, she’s kept everyone who’s ever crashed her in one piece…hang on St. 

Christoper. 

Basement Garage - Hang on St. ChristopherÉ.or riding on the short bus - Page 2 of 2 - MoparMax.com


May Your Travels Take You Full Circle 

t’s summertime and the living is easy. I’m writing these words on Monday evening, June 28, 2010. I’m 

sitting at my home computer in peaceful North Brookfield, Massachusetts. There’s a refreshing cool 

breeze blowing through the window and it is almost midnight. It’s all a far cry from where I was last night. 

A mere 24 hours ago I was 3,200 miles away, sitting in the second row at the Comedy Store on Sunset Blvd. in 

Hollywood, CA. 

I have no desire to become a comedian but I do appreciate what these guys do every night. Being a stand up 

comic is one of the toughest jobs on earth. No kidding. If you’re good, every show involves basically setting 

yourself on fire – then dousing the flames when the blue neon star on the wall blinks on and your “time is up”. 

Because it’s Hollywood, you have no idea who is going to show up and perform at the Comedy Store on any given 

night. I’ve seen Pauly Shore (who co-owns the joint with his mother Mitzy and drives a bright red hemi-powered 

Dodge Magnum SRT-8) Michael Richards (Seinfeld’s Cosmo Kramer one week before he muttered that infamous 

word that got him in so much trouble), Bobby Lee (of Mad TV), Andrew Dice Clay (you have to ask?), Don Barris 

(lunatic warm-up man for the Jimmy Kimmel show and star of Windy City Heat), John Caparulo (Chelsea Lately), 

Chris Rock (comedy icon) and countless other lesser-known comics do their routines. 

Hot Tip: though the Main Room is a proper buy-a-ticket-see-the-big-names-in-a-2-hour-show deal, you really want 

to see the comics perform in the Original Room. It’s a small, seedy, dark place where a new comic does his / her 

act every 15-minutes from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. every night of the year. And yes, the same big-name guys who 

do their thing before hundreds of audience members in the Main Room will also filter through the Original Room 

before the night is done. In a nutshell, you get a better bang for your 12-bucks in the Original Room. Yes, there is 

a 2-drink minimum. Make mine Bud bottles and keep ‘em coming. 

I was in California last night because I had just finished working the latest Barrett-Jackson collector car auction for 

Speed TV. It’s the new show at the Orange County Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa and ran June 25 through 

27. I’m no stand up comic. Rather I am one of the on-camera television commentators during Speed TV’s live 

broadcast of the auction. 

Working with Mike “Voice of NASCAR on Fox” Joy as each car rolls across the auction block, I help point out the 

finer details to the camera so viewers can get a better idea of what each car is – and is not. You know the deal, I 

say stuff like; “This one has the letter G in the fifth spot of the VIN so we know it was originally built with a 318 twobarrel. 

That said, there’s a 440 Six Pack under the hood now and the body has been upgraded with ‘Cuda 

graphics and a Shaker hood”. It’s a fun gig and I always learn more and more with each show I do. 

For the past several years Barrett-Jackson has presented auctions in Scottsdale, AZ (January), Palm Beach, FL 

(usually in April) and Las Vegas, NV (September or October). Well this year they added this fourth auction in 

Costa Mesa, CA. If you tuned in to Speed TV and watched, you’ll know these are excellent times for buying at 

auction. Selling prices are very realistic and I lost track of all the cars I could actually afford to own. Not that I have 

any right to add another car to the garage, so I didn’t register to do any bidding (though we are allowed to if we so 

desire).


The first was a visit with George “the King of Kustomizers” Barris in Los Angeles back in May to discuss some custom cars that sold at Barrett-Jackson 

(we’ll get back to this in a moment). The second was a visit with mega-collector Tammy Allen in Grand Junction, Colorado. Do you realize this woman 

has purchased nearly 100 cars (including many Mopars) at Barrett-Jackson in the past two years? That’s over 5-million dollars in transactions. She’s 

often seen on camera and is the attractive blond lady sitting in the front row of bidders. I had a nice interview with this classy and charming lady where 

she described her plans to start a classic car chauffer / rental company. You’ll see it soon if you watch Speed TV on Monday nights. 

The third highlight show I hosted was centered on auction sales of vintage Ford Mustangs. We shot this one on June 10 inside Ford’s Dearborn, MI 

Design Center and at the Flat Rock, MI Auto Alliance Mustang (and Mazda) assembly plant. It was amazing to go behind the scenes and see some of 

the new Mustangs that’ll roll out soon. Hint: If Dodge releases a modern rendition of the 1970 Challenger T/A, it’ll be a perfect alternative to what Ford 

has in store for its next limited edition Mustang, due out in late August. Did somebody say Boss 302 with a specially tuned 440 horsepower 5.0 liter 

DOHC V8? We’ll know for sure in a scant few weeks. 

I know this is MoparMax but these Ford-based ramblings have their place. 

Especially when I tell you the Mustang brand manager described to me 

encountering at least one Dodge Challenger V10 engineering mule car in local 

Detroit traffic. Yep, he’s a serious car dude and knows what he sees. Without 

any doubt, he verified the existence of “a dull black Challenger with a large 

hood bulge and a very Viper-esque (V-10) exhaust note”. Ah, the stuff you see 

hiding in plain sight if you spend much time around Detroit. Let’s hope there’s 

a V-10 Challenger in the forecast…and perhaps a revived Mustang Boss 429 

to meet it on the showroom floor…and drag strip. No matter what team you 

cheer for, competition improves the breed! 

Steve Mags Speaks - May Your Travels Take You Full Circle - Page 2 of 3 - MoparMax.com 

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Parked next to one of several Barris-authorized Batmobile replicas, the Black Beauty show car recreation spent most of its life as a well preserved stocker. The custom 

transformation was performed within the past few years. 

Okay, back to the George Barris visit. As we did our interviews and shot footage all around the 

shop I learned that Barris is an extremely kind dude and very easy to talk to. I was wandering 

around the garage area and saw one of the many Black Beauty recreation cars that are touring 

in support of the Green Hornet franchise (both the sixties TV show and upcoming feature film). If 

you didn’t know, the original Black Beauty was based on a 1965 Chrysler Imperial – and so are 

these modern-era clones. 

The one in Barris’ shop that warm spring day (Friday, May 7 to be exact) was outfitted for duty 

on the national car show circuit. As I checked it out I noticed the original Chrysler Certicard was 

still in its holder ahead of the radiator. So I gently slipped it out for a look. Imagine my surprise 

when I saw that the car was originally sold in October 1965 to a woman from West Brookfield, 

Massachusetts…the small New England town I grew up in! The original owner was a Theresa 

Poti of 10 Lake Street, West Brookfield, MA. A relatively meaningless fact to anybody else in the 

shop, I didn’t make a big deal out of it and quietly returned the thin metal card to its black plastic 

holder. 

My jaw dropped when I saw the name and address on the 

Certicard. Like all ’65 Imperials, power comes from a 413 

big block. Barris and his brother Sam (who died from 

cancer in 1967) are generally recognized as being the first 

to top-chop a ’49 Mercury.


But in my head, I felt a huge wave of cosmic connection. You see, as a kid growing up in West Brookfield, I 

became aware of George Barris’ name when my Mom and I walked into Burnham’s general store on Main St., the 

only place to get model kits in our small town. The kit selection was modest but I took my time and tested Mom’s 

patience on every visit. Usually she shopped while I looked at the models, but she’d always have to pry me away, 

telling me to hurry up and choose a kit to buy. 

I remember one day in 1974 seeing a two-in-one AMT plastic model kit containing the Barris-built Munster Koach 

and Drag-U-La from The Munsters TV show. Marketed as “The Ghoul Duo”, the fact that it contained two complete 

models for the price of one was all it took. I recall the cool box art featured pictures of the actual cars and a funky 

Dracula cartoon character that rang my 10 year old bell. Mom paid the $1.98 and I built both cars. They came out 

pretty well but the fact they were already molded in black plastic spared me from the task of painting – which I 

wasn’t much good at when I was 10. But I do remember smearing Testors cement all over the Drag-U-La’s clear 

plastic canopy and really messing it up. 

The crazy thing is that Burnham’s general store was located 

right in the center of town. If you looked out the front 

window, you could see Lake Street, where the Certicard 

says Mrs. Poti and her Imperial once lived. I can’t say I 

remember the car. In fact it would have been nearly 10 

years old when I bought the model kit on that day in 1974. 

But who knows, maybe Mrs. Poti drove the Imperial past 

that very moment as Mom and I walked along the sidewalk, 

my new Barris Munsters model kit eagerly tucked under my 

arm. 

I was honored to visit with Barris, 

who at “80-something” has as 

much energy me. Other 

noteworthy Barris-customized 

movie and TV Mopars include the 

Fireball 500 Barracuda (based on 

a 1966 273 Four-Barrel Formula 

S), the Thunder Charger (based 

on a real H-code ’66 Hemi 

Charger) and Corky’s Cuda 

(based on a ’68 Formula S 340). 

Like many Barris customs, all 

three were released as 1/25 

scale plastic model kits. Round 2 

Models has re-released the 

Munster Koach and Drag-U-La 

double kit. It should be available 

as you read this. 

ADVERTISEMENT 

Today Mom is gone, Burnham’s is gone and my crudely 

assembled Munsters models are gone. Even the lot at 10 

Lake Street is bare (I checked). But thanks to a small 

chance encounter at George Barris’ North Hollywood shop 

some 36 years later, a flood of memories – and one very lucky ’65 Imperial - live on. May your travels take you full 

circle too. 

Steve Mags Speaks - May Your Travels Take You Full Circle - Page 3 of 3 - MoparMax.com


Story by Geoff Stunkard Photos by Geoff, John, and Joel Stunkard 

For Chrysler iron fans, there are a handful of events that have become ‘gotta go’ occurrences. In the east, it’s probably Carlisle; the Midwest, 

the Nats at Columbus and Monster Mopar in St. Louis; the south has Garlits event in the fall, and out west, it’s Vegas and Spring Fling. Rapidly 

joining these is a show held on the Dakota County Fairground in Farmington, Minn., aptly called Mopars in the Park. Now in its 26th year, the 

Midwest Mopar Club, based in the Twin Cites Metro region with a second chapter in Sioux Falls, S.D. pulls out all the stops for their annual 

show, which is held in a town quite close to the St. Paul / Minneapolis region. 

2011 DATES: JUNE 4-5 

Midwest Mopars, Inc. 

22350 Monroe Ave, 

East Bethel, MN 55011 

763-413-0932 

www.midwestmopars.com 

Space was set aside for a burnout contest, and put to full and abusive use. 

So the garages in the North Star State, plus the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Iowa and beyond bring forth some of the best machinery in the nation, 

putting 1000 show vehicles through the gates of the historic facility during the first weekend in June. This is one of the most perfect locations for 

such a show – lots of open space for cars and vendors, clean indoor buildings for special displays, a historical 1890s town replica, room for 

trailer parking and more. Despite some rain on Saturday, the place was jumping with both owners and enthusiasts. 

Part of the attraction has been the willingness to bring in celebrities and special displays, and 2010 was no exception. There were vintage 

racecars, movie cars, wonderful new restorations, displays, and personalities from racing’s past. This requires energy and commitment to attain, 

and the event was greatly enhanced by this effort. Here is a quick look of just some of what happened during the 2010 running of Mopars in the 

Park. 

Midwest Mopars at Farmington, MN - Page 1 of 8 - MoparMax.com


High-quality cars like these are part of every Mopars In The Park; Al Meehan is the owner and is also active as 

the club’s secretary. Showing support for the event was the big Mopar road show rig and MCR’s display from 

Chippewa Falls, Wis. 

Several important race car restorations showed up, some for the first time; here is the Dodge Super Stocker that 

Butch Leal raced only a couple of months in 1967; he and owner Andrew Distad stand with the car, which was 

restored by Jim Remlinger. 

Blue Star Performance of LaSalle, Ill., was among the vendors on hand, and displayed this spectacular E-body in 

the final stages of paint prep and finishing. 



Swap meet gems included these two early Hemi mills, ready for your nostalgia project. 

The special movie cars seen here 

included a real Dukes 1969 Charger 

(courtesy Ellingson’s Car Museum in 

Elk River, Minn.), the ’66 Coronet fourdoor 

from the movie A Serious Man 

owned by club member Curt Lawson, 

and a documented Christine from the 

John Carpenter film by the same 

name; Bill Gibson is its 

owner/caretaker. It was the most 

complete collection of these cars ever 

gathered. 

TV cars? Yeah, baby, droptops. In the 

background is a Nash Bridges 1971 

Hemi ’cuda now owned by John 

Randall, but even more unique is the 1972 Challenger convertible from the Mod Squad from Ken Schwanke’s 

collection. 



A little rain on Saturday was not enough to take away the enjoyment many 

attendees had; this yellow 440 ‘Cuda droptop is owned 

Alex Nord owns this very clean Scamp. 

Check out the new iron; the Mopar road show is in the background, and the 

Red Crown gas station is part of the historical buildings on display at the event. 

Midwest Mopars at Farmington, MN - Page 4 of 8 - MoparMax.com 

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Two race restorations – Akron Arlen Vanke’s 1971 Duster and Judy Lilly’s 1977 Volare. On Sunday, Arlen talked with his old boss, the legendary Bob 

Cahill, who was also on hand. 

There are famous cars, and there are really famous cars. This is Dick Landy’s 1967 Super Stock 

Coronet, converted by him from a 440 R/T built on Halloween Day 1966. A full story on this car 

will run in Mopar Enthusiast magazine with the event coverage, but you get to see the car here 

first! Restorer Erik Lindberg did the work and owns it today. 

Several vendors 

were displaying 

new Drag Paks; 

this is SheraDon 

Performance’s 

booth, which also 

had an unbuilt 

engine assembly 

on hand. 


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Sporting some wild graphics, this is actually a rare 1973 Road Runner GTX that had been factory built with a 440. 

Now minus its drivetrain, it was in the car corral for 2900.00. 

During a Friday evening get-together, this 

is Greg Mosley, Roland Leong, Larry 

Reyes, and Kathy Mosley, who now owns 

the Hawaiian funny car that Leong and 

Reyes barnstormed across the USA with 

in 1970. On Sunday, Larry, who was 

paralyzed in a 1971 accident while driving 

the ‘Super Cuda’ was still smiling before 

climbing in the seat while Leong ‘cacklefired’ 

the car on a fat load of nitro. (Joel 

Stunkard photo) 


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This is the old Huckleberry Hound 1965 A990 Super Stocker, now restored to its original as-built appearance by owner Denny Guest. 

ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT 


Pat Storey with SMR Transmissions was on hand as a 

vendor; that Dakota’s got a Ray Barton 392” small-block 

under the hood.


Clark and Colleen Rand had four cars on hand – two Sox & Martin Super Stockers, Don Grotheer’s 1968 A12 Six Pack, and Fred Hurst’s injected 

AA/GS ‘cuda. 

Club president Chad Hynes was on hand to help give out dozens of trophies on Sunday afternoon. Hynes was honored as well for his service to the 

group. 

The minivan from Scooby-Do. Inquiring minds still wonder why Shaggy always wanted something to eat. Luckily, the evil guy with the scary mask who 

runs the old amusement park down on the pier didn’t show up. 


A FEW STORY IDEAS FOR MAGNANTE 


Hi Steve, I’ve been a big fan of your columns and thoroughly enjoyed your latest. If I may, I’d like to offer a few 

suggestions for your next altered wheelbase project. You said “there aren’t any other late seventies Mopar 2-door 

sedans to choose from. The Volare / Aspen is the only candidate.” While I’m not sure about sedans, I do believe 

there were 2-door Scamp and Dart hardtops available till about 1976. Weren’t there some altered wheelbase 

hardtops used back in the ‘60s? 

Concerning your thoughts on a K-car, there are a few I’ve seen on the strip with small and big block mopar 

engines. So...why not a ’92 or later truck magnum 3.9L V6? They had good power to begin with, are already fuel 

injected, are rear-wheel drive, and should fit with few problems. A hotter cam, a little head work (later version 

heads are better quality than earlier), headers (which you can now make), six throttle bodies, and you’re crusin’. 

You could probably even make the engine work ok with a stock computer. 

One last thought. While not an altered wheelbase vehicle, wouldn’t a late ‘80s Mopar van with a stock 2.2/2.5 up 

front and a rear drive V8 in the back be a hoot to have? 

Ray Block 

Columbus, Ohio 

Block Party Racing 

www.dragtruk.com 

On the Steve Mags story of left hand lug nuts, I remember that when my family had our Chrysler Plymouth 

dealership in the ‘50s and ‘60s, we had customers that still drove cars from the ‘40s and those cars didn't have 

wheel studs and lug nuts (2) pieces like the "late models" but had a one piece lug-stud combination, and, if 

memory serves me, they were left hand threads on the driver’s side also. 

Dean Marsteller 

Pennsylvania 

REALLY REACHING BACK: THIS ARTICLE WAS IN OUR NOVEMBER 2006 

ISSUE 

A while back you guys did an article on upgrading rockers on big block Mopars. On the second page of the article it 

says that you can alter the contact location of the roller tip by varying pushrod length. Did the writer flashback to 

small block Chevy heads? The only way to alter the roller to valve location (rocker geometry) is to either change 

the valve installed height longer or shorter valve) or to change the height of the rocker shaft (shim or machine). 

heck it out and let me know what you think. 

See what the readers are saying - Page 1 of 2 - MoparMax.com 

Do you want to subscribe to 

our FREE email newsletter? 

Yes No 

Letters which do not include 

a full name will not be 

considered for publication. 

Volume I, Issue 4, Page 41 

Send It! 

"I would guess that there are many ways to get the pushrod length just right. I use a simple method I have used for 

20 years. Put a couple of rocker arms on the shaft and drop them down over the adjustable test pushrods. Set the 

* Your letter may (or may not) be published in 

valve lash, then when you are ready to turn the engine over by hand, slide a piece of carbon paper and regular 

our "Mopar Mailbag" section. 

paper between the tip of the rocker and the valve stem. Turn the engine over on complete cycle and remove the 

carbon paper. You will see an outline of the valve tip and a dark line where the rocker arm pushed the hardest. 

This needs to be as close to the center of the valve stem as possible. A little trial and error here with trying different lengths on the pushrod will be worth 

the time it takes. I ended up about .100” shorter than the original length and it marked the paper dead center on the valve stem." 

Dave Wettlaufer 

Florida 

What do you have to say? 

Your name: 

Your location: 

Your email:

ALWAYS A DELLA FAN 


Awesome restoration. I never saw it myself but often do see Della Woods and 

her brother Bernie. Wish they could still own it, they are very deserving people. 

Jim Richey 

Lake Orion, Michigan 

Our article about restoring Della Woods’ car ran in 2008. Here is the link: 

www.moparmax.com/features/featurecar/iii_11-della-1.html . 

A MOPAR GROUPIE? 

I was wondering if you could help me get a fan mail address for the Mopar 

Funny Car team? 

Carolyn McConaughey 

Pennsylvania 

Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, and Matt Hagan drive for Don Schumacher 

Racing. Here is a link to their contact information 

www.shoeracing.com . 

ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT 

See what the readers are saying - Page 2 of 2 - MoparMax.com 

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PLATINUM OVAL BED RAILS 

Volume V, Issue 7 June 2, 2010 

Westin proudly announces the availability of Platinum Oval Bed Rails. This new oval rail design offers a new look to coincide 

with the feel of today’s most popular trucks. Platinum Oval Bed Rails are universal in length and are available in a polished 

finish to match your chrome or polished trim package. Order yours today! Visit an Authorized Westin Retailer near you or find 

a dealer online at: www.westinautomotive.com . 

TCI CHRYSLER 318-440C.I. 6-BOLT FLEXPLATE FOR INTERNAL BALANCED ENGINES 

protection from damaging elements. 

For more information, visit www.tciauto.com . 

WATERLESS WASH & SHINE AVAILABLE FROM PROLONG 

If you’re a Chrysler performance enthusiast, you understand how well the classic 318- 

440c.i. 6-bolt crankshaft powerplants respond to power adders. And to complement 

these performance gains, engineers at TCI have developed a high performance 

flexplate. The factory flexplate behind these engines can be problematic, even in stock 

applications, with issues of cracking and even breaking. So replacing it with an SFIapproved 

.107" thick flexplate from TCI is certainly a wise choice to make for your 

street/strip machine. 

Engineered to prevent cracking and breakage commonly found in lesser quality flexplates, 

this new TCI SFI-approved flexplate features a small bolt pattern that utilizes the 

7/16" bolt to enable use with smaller high performance torque converters. In addition, the 

precision laser-cut steel material is .107" thick (much thicker than the original factory 

piece), which makes it much stronger and much more reliable. Finally and most 

importantly, this performance flexplate has been tested and is SFI 29.1-approved for 

strength and durability. Therefore, if you’re having problems with the stock flexplate 

cracking or are in need of a heavy-duty flexplate with the small Chrysler bolt pattern, this 

is truly a “must have” upgrade for you performance vehicle. 

With converter bolt holes sized to 7/16" diameter, each flexplate is dynamically 

balanced to eliminate potentially damaging vibrations and electro-coated for 

Prolong Super Lubricants' Waterless Wash & Shine delivers a beautiful car wash in less than 15 minutes without the 

need for water, rinsing or drying. 

The Waterless Wash & Shine formula features special lubricating agents to encapsulate dirt, sap, tar and bugs so they 

can be removed with ease. Simply spray the product on the car surface and easily wipe away with a terry cloth towel, 

leaving a beautiful just-waxed shine and smoothness. 

"Waterless Wash & Shine is designed to clean most exterior car surfaces including paint, chrome, plastic trim, painted 

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formula is non-toxic and doesn't require any water, so it's safe for the environment." 

Prolong's Waterless Wash & Shine is an advanced instant detailer that is safe for conventional and clear-coated paints 

and can be applied in the sun or shade. In addition to cleaning, the product leaves a protective film that isn't attracted to 

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For more information, visit www.prolong.com , or contact Prolong at 1937 Mount Vernon Ave., Pomona, Calif., 91768; 

phone: 800.540.LUBE (5823); fax: 800.966.LUBE (5823). 

Mo Products - Page 1 of 2 - MoparMax.com

Volume V, Issue 7 June 2, 2010 

DOUG’S HEADERS ELECTRIC EXHAUST CUT-OUTS 

ATI INTRODUCES WHEEL BEARING SEAL ADAPTERS 

ATI Performance Products, Inc. has the answer to removing and destroying pressed-in 

wheel bearing seals. ATI part # 150006 is a fully CNC-machined aluminum housing that 

replaces the current seal you have to remove when repacking your wheel bearings. This 

housing can be removed with just your fingers after a snap ring is removed. The patented 

ATI adapter houses an easy to replace o-ring, Smalley brand snap ring, and top-of-the-line 

CR Viton "Low Drag" seal. This seal should outlast your current Buna seal by 10X, plus you 

don't destroy it to repack your wheel bearings! 

ATI Performance Products located in Baltimore, MD, specializes in producing and 

maintaining high performance products for street and strip applications. Over the years ATI 

has earned a reputation for its cutting edge technology, attention to detail, and rigorous 

testing under race conditions. By staying true to these basic principles, ATI has built a loyal 

customer base many of who still use parts purchased from ATI in the '80s. 

Check out www.atiracing.com for more. 

The original Doug’s Headers has announced a New and Improved version of their 

popular all stainless steel construction electric exhaust cut-outs in 2 1/2” and 3” 

diameters. The engineers at Doug’s have taken their famous electric exhaust cut-outs 

and dramatically decreased the size for more versatile installations while lowering the 

price as well. 

These cut-outs feature a rugged gear reduction 12 volt DC motor and a rotating gate 

for a leak proof seal every time the cut-out is opened and closed. Unlike butterfly style 

cut-outs the Doug’s cut-outs don’t have the leaky gasket sound and when fully opened 

there is no exhaust flow obstructions. 

A pre-wired harness with an illuminated rocker switch is supplied for easy installation. 

Un-cork your exhaust with the flip of a switch from you dash. The cut –outs are ideal 

for race tracks that don’t require mufflers. These Doug’s cut-outs are available in 

singles or pairs and in complete kits with Y-Pipes for easy installation 

Contact your Performance Retailer or call Doug’s Headers Direct at 909 599-5955 for 

the name of a local dealer or more information. 

DRIVE COOL THIS HOT SUMMER WITH JUSTICE BROTHERS CAR CARE PRODUCTS 

operation and prolonging compressor life. 

Mo Products - Page 2 of 2 - MoparMax.com 

Hot weather takes a toll on almost every part of your car or truck. 

Excessive temperatures stress the engine’s cooling system, radiator, 

hoses, air conditioning system and coolant. Being pro-active about 

maintaining these systems will keep you driving cool, and also protect 

your vehicle from expensive damage. 

Cooling System Protector & Water Pump Lubricant will help prevent 

electrolysis and coolant overheating. Add it to a proper mix of 50/50 water 

and coolant. Justice Brothers AC-CLEAN will remove any foul odors 

resulting from non-use during the winter, killing any bacteria, mold or 

fungus in the system. Justice Brothers Super Radiator Cooler is 

specifically formulated to raise the boiling point of the coolant mixture, 

even on the hottest days. This will help keep your radiator temperature 

under control and assist in preventing overheating. FRIDG-e LUBE 

lubricates your air conditioning compressor, quieting compressor 

These products are all designed to increase the longevity and performance of your vehicle’s vital cooling systems. They are inexpensive insurance 

against major repairs and help to provide trouble free hot weather driving. To preview all of Justice Brothers vehicle care and maintenance products visit 

www.justicebrothers.com .

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___ Mopar Max Magazine ___ Volume V, Issue 7 - July 2010

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_ Mopar Max Magazine _ Volume V, Issue 7 - July 2010