(^30) themotorhood.com
1970 PLYMOUTH
ROAD RUNNER
ENGINE: 505ci big block Chrysler, Chrysler 440
iron block, Muscle Motors stroker kit, forged
pistons, 10.1:1 compression, Edelbrock Performer
RPM heads, Comp Cams Extreme Energy cam,
Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold, 950cfm
Holley Ultra XP carb, 150hp Powershot nitrous
oxide system, Edelbrock 160gph electric fuel
pump, Aeromotive fuel filter and lines, MSD Pro
Billet distributor, MSD 6AL ignition, MSD Blaster
coil, MSD leads, twin three-inch exhaust, TTI
headers, Flowmaster Super 44 mufflers, Quick Time
Performance three-inch electric exhaust cut-outs,
stock radiator, 16-inch SPAL fan, Schumacher Poly-
Loc mounts, Milodon Road Race pan
DRIVELINE: Tremec TKO 600 five-speed manual,
American Powertrain kit, Ram Competition
pressure plate, 10.5-inch clutch, Ram billet
flywheel, White Lightning shift lever, Hurst pistol-
grip shifter, Chrysler 8¾-inch Sure Grip diff, 4.11:1
gears, 1350 Strange chromoly pinion yoke, Howat
Engineering three-inch driveshaft
SUSPENSION: QA1 upper control arms, QA1 lower
control arms, QA1 strut bars and tie-rod sleeves,
Magnum Force two-inch drop spindles, QA1
adjustable shocks, Calvert split mono-leaf springs,
CalTracs traction bars, Flaming River manual
steering box
BRAKES: Baer Remaster master cylinder, Baer SS4
four-piston calipers, 11-inch drilled and slotted
discs, stock drum rear
WHEELS/TYRES: 15x8-inch and 15x10-inch Wheel
Vintique wheels; 225/70R15 Coker Tire BF Goodrich
Silvertown front tyres, 275/60R15 BF Goodrich
rear tyres (street); 28x11.50xR15 Mickey Thompson
ET Streets (strip)
EXTERIOR: Flared rear quarters, Chrysler silver
grey poly paint
CHASSIS: XV Motorsport laser-cut subframe
connectors
INTERIOR: Grant Tuff steering wheel, Hurst pistol-
grip shifter, MSD shift light, Auto Meter gauges
PERFORMANCE: Approximately 550hp and 600lb·ft,
12.2-second quarter-mile (nitrous yet to be used)
“For me, a street/strip car is just that — throw your
drag wheels and some tools in the trunk, drive to
the track, change wheels, adjust suspension, and
race. Tyres back on, and stop for a beer on the way
home — perfect day!” Steve states.
Sounds simple, right? Well, as we all know, that’s
never the case with old cars, especially creating
ones as tough as this.
Tough was the last word you’d call the ’70 when
Steve got his hands on it back in 2006, but it was
local and the price was right — even if, within
12 months, it would be stripped to a bare-metal
shell, devoid of rear quarters, and rebuilt.
“We stripped and rebuilt the car in my garage, and
sent it off for paint at Auto Image Ltd in Petone.
Stitched on two new quarters and [gave it a] full
bare-metal repaint in a 1964 Plymouth silver
grey poly,” Steve reminisces — although not all
that fondly.
He continues, “I probably wouldn’t tackle a full
build again — too many nights with the wire brush!
However, lots of sweat equity in the car makes it
a keeper, and it’s nice to know every part when
something else starts to moan.”
Of course, having a couple of kids now doesn’t
help with the spare time. Thankfully, Harry, aged 12,
and Maziko, aged 8, have plenty of their dad’s
DNA and love spending time in the shed as much
as he does — something that’d come in handy
moving forward.
Local success
While Steve’s love for tough street cars may have been generated in Auckland, he now calls Wellington home and has
had great success with the ’70 at events in the region.
“The ’70’s been up and running for six years now and won class three at Port Road’s 50th anniversary event, as well as
scoring Best Mopar, and also Best Mopar at Cruise Martinborough 2017,” he tells us.
frankie
(Frankie)
#1