(^32) themotorhood.com
That Hemi plan was brewing when Steve had a
work trip to the States that coincided with the
US Street Nationals at Pomona. As you do, Steve
got chatting to a few Mopar-loving old boys, and
they all spoke highly of three small engine shop
owners around the Michigan area that specialized
in Chryslers. One of those engine builders was
Mike Ware of Muscle Motors. A few conversations
and emails later, and Steve not only had a custom-
built big-cube Hemi on its way but also a 505ci
stroker kit for a big block.
“Long story short, the original plan was to go
aluminium block, but a block shortage and the
failure for the new aluminium World blocks to find a
reliable tooling process resulted in a shift to a Mopar
Mega block,” he says of the ever-improving plan.
The big block stroker kit was sent directly to
Kerry Lindsay Engine Reconditioners to be
assembled into an even tougher combination than
the one it replaced — an estimated 550hp and
600ft·lb. While that should be enough to fulfil most
people’s tough street car ambitions, the Hemi was
being built stateside with slightly higher aspirations.
“The Hemi build was going to require a stronger
drivetrain, and, rather than upgrade multiple parts
on the ’70, I decided to build my perfect Mopar —
1969 black A12 Road Runner post car clone — with
a Hemi,” Steve says.
Mutter those words to any Mopar lover, and they’ll
be both weak at the knees and tingling in the pants
all at once — and with good reason!
Post cars were thin on the ground when new, let
1969 PLYMOUTH
ROAD RUNNER
ENGINE: 572ci Chrysler Hemi, Mopar Mega
block, 4.50-inch custom Ross forged dome
pistons, forged 7.1-inch H-beam rods, Molnar
crank, Milodon Road Race oil pan, Edelbrock
Victor Jr heads, custom-grind Bullet solid roller
cam, Indy-clearanced Hemi cast valve covers,
Stage V 2x4 intake, FiTech GO EFI 2x4 1200hp
throttle bodies, Tanks Inc EFI tank, Tanks Inc
GPA-6 400lph electric fuel pump, Aeromotive
filter/fittings, Aeroquip Startlite fuel lines, MSD
Pro Billet distributor, MSD 6AL-2 two-step
ignition, MSD Blaster coil, Moroso Ultra 40 Race
ignition leads, TTI Stage V Hemi 2¼-inch headers,
HPC-coated headers, four-inch collectors, twin
stainless three-inch exhaust, Flowmaster Super
10 mufflers, Quick Time Performance three-
inch electric exhaust cut-outs, rebuilt big block
26-inch radiator, 16-inch SPAL fan, Derale remote
electric fan, external transmission oil cooler
DRIVELINE: 727 TorqueFlite transmission,
10-inch converter, reverse-pattern manual
valve body, transbrake, upgraded pump
gears, rollerized output shaft, A&A Chromoly
output shaft, Strange S60 diff, S-Trac diff head,
3.73:1 gears, 1350 Strange Chromoly pinion
yoke, 35-spline heavy-duty street/strip axles,
Howat Engineering three-inch driveshaft,
Strange 1350 yokes, US Car Tool driveshaft loop
SUSPENSION: QA1 tubular K-member, stock
torsion bars, QA1 upper control arms, QA1 lower
control arms, QA1 tubular sway bar, QA1 strut
bars and tie-rod sleeves, Schumacher Hemi-
conversion mounts, fast-ratio Pitman/idler,
QA1 adjustable shocks, Calvert split mono-leaf
springs, CalTracs traction bars and shackles
BRAKES: Baer Remaster master cylinder, Baer
SS4 four-piston calipers, 11-inch drilled and
slotted discs, 10.7-inch Dr Diff rear discs
WHEELS/TYRES: 15x7-inch and 15x10-inch
Wheel Vintique (OE Chrysler Black) wheels;
225/70R15 Coker Tire Redline Radial front
tyres, 275/60R15 Nitto 555 drag radial rear tyres
EXTERIOR: Stinger Fibreglass Six Pack
fibreglass hood, custom paint
CHASSIS: US Car Tool laser-cut subframe
connectors
INTERIOR: Stock seats, Sparco three-point
harness, Hurst Quarter Stick pistol-grip shifter,
MSD Shift light
PERFORMANCE: 800hp at 5800rpm, 780lb·ft
frankie
(Frankie)
#1