Where we got the stuff:
Engine Builder/dyno testing, camshaft, timing set:
Ray Barton Racing Engines, Inc.
224 E. Penn Avenue
Robesonia, PA 19551
(610) 693-5700
www.raybarton.com
E-mail: raybartonracing@aol.com
Sway Bar:
Firm Feel Inc.
2730 NW Bliss Road
Vancouver, WA 98685
(800)Firm-426
www.firmfeel.com
Scattershield:
CSR Performance Produsts
16936 County Road 252
McAlpin, FL 32062
(800)226-1274
www.csr-performance.com
Engine Mounts and Torque Strut:
Schumacher Creative Services
2025 N.E. 123rd
Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 364-7151
www.engine-swaps.com
E-mail: mschumacher@speakeasy.net
Polymer Air Cleaner, Rocker Arms:
Competition Cams, Inc.
3406 Democrat Road
Memphis, TN 38118
1-800-999-0853
www.compcams.com
Axle Shafts:
Moser Engineering, Inc
102 Performance Dr.
Portland, IN 47371
(260) 726-6689
www.moserengineering.com
Carburetor(s), carb tuning parts:
Holley Administratiion
P.O. Box 10360
Bowling Green, KY 42102-7360
270/782-2900
www.holley.com
carburetor@holley.com
Aluminum Driveshaft:
DennyÂ’s Driveshaft Shop
1189 Military Road
Kenmore, NY 14217
(800) 955-1872
www.dennysdriveshaft.com
E-mail: support@dennysdriveshaft.com
Kickdown Cable Setup, Engine Pulleys:
Bouchillon Performance
937 Commerce Circle
Hanahan, SC 29406
(843)-744-6559
www.bouchillonperformance.com
E-mail: RB@bouchillonperformance.com
Pre-formed Steel Fuel Lines:
Inline Tube
15066 technology Dr.
Shelby Township, MI 48315
(800) 385-9452
www.inlinetube.com
E-mail: info@inlinetube.com
PCV Catch Can:
Summit Racing
1200 Southeast Av
Tallmadge, OH 44278
(800) 230-3030
www.summitracing.com
Distributor Tuning Parts:
Mallory Division, Mr. Gasket Corp.
10601 Memphis Ave. #12
Cleveland, OH 44144
(216) 688-8300
www.mrgasket.com
Ignition Wires:
Taylor-Vertex
301 Highgrove Road
Grandview, MO 64030
(800) 821-3600
www.taylorvertex.com
Urethane Trans. Mount:
IImperial Services
POB 112
Frankenmuth, MI 48734
www.imperialservices.net
E-mail: info@imperialservices.net
High-Torque Mini-Starter:
Mancini Racing, Inc.
33524 Kelly Road
Clinton Township, MI 48035
(800) 843-2821
www.manciniracing.com
E-mail: info@manciniracing.com
Wiring Harnesses:
M&H Electric Fabricators
13537 Alondra Bl.
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Available from Year One (see below)
Ignition Coil and Strap, Alternator and PS Brackets, PS Hoses, Heater Hose Brackets, Dipstick, Ground Cable:
Year One, Inc.
POB 521
Braselton, GA 30517
(800) 932-7663
www.yearone.com
E-mail: techsupport@yearone.com or sales@yearone.com
Headers, Exhaust system:
TTI – Tube Technologies
1555 Consumer Circle
Corona, CA 92880
(909) 371-4878
www.ttiexhaust.com
Oil Filter Screen:
Stewart Development
6006 Ball Park Road
Thomasville, NC 27360
(336) 476-9720
www.enginechek.com
Engine Dolly, Throttle Bracket, Distributor Clamp, manifold & coil brackets:
AR Engineering Ltd.
PO Box 3168
Wilsonville, OR 97070
www.arengineering.com
E-mail: andyf@arengineering.com
Sold only thru dealers, see website for list
Cylinder Heads, Victor, Torker, 6-Bbl Intake Manifolds:
Edelbrock Corp.
2700 California Street
Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 781-2222
www.edelbrock.com
E-mail: edelbrock@edelbrock.com
Flex Plate, Water Pump and Housing, M-1 Intake Manifold, Vibration Damper, Rocker Shaft Hold-Downs, Oil Pump, Drive Gear:
Mopar Performance Division
DaimlerChrysler AG
Stuttgart, Deutschland
…see any of our advertisers displaying the MP logo.
Chassis Upgrades, Driveshaft Safety Loop:
Auto Rust Technicians
275 Niantic Av.
Cranston RI 02907
(401) 944-4444
www.autorust.com
Valve Lifters:
Schubeck Racing Engines
4160 S. Cameron St. #D
Las Vegas NV 89103
(702) 252-0677
www.schubeckracing.com
Pushrods:
IRC – International Racing Components
5202 184th Street East
Tacoma, WA 98446
(253) 847-8221
www.ircpushrods.com
Oil Pan:
CharlieÂ’s Oil Pans
5281 S. Hametown Rd.
Norton OH 44203
(330) 825-3586
E-mail: charliesoilpans@neo.rr.com
Windage tray, adjustable oil pressure valve:
Milodon Inc.
20716 Plummer Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311
Phone: (818) 407-1211
www.milodon.com
Accumulator:
Moroso
80 Carter Drive
Guilford, CT 06437-2116
(203) 453-6571
www.moroso.com
Carburetor Jetting plates:
Promax Carbs and Performance Parts
P.O Box 24603
Indianapolis, IN 46224
(866) PRO2MAX
www.promaxcarbs.com
E-mail: sales@promaxcarbs.com
Engine Storage Protection Kit:
Unusual Automotive Solutions
POB 155
Triangle, VA 22172
(888) 439-0788
www.unusualauto.com
E-mail: uasdirect@comcast.net
Connecting Rods:
Custom made for Ray Barton by:
Manley Performance Products, Inc.
1960 Swarthmore Avenue
Lakewood, New Jersey 08701
(732) 905-3366
www.manleyperformance.com
e-mail sales@manleyperformance.com
PolyDyn Polymer Coatings:
Polymer Dynamics, Inc.
4116 Siegel St.
Houston, TX 77009
(713) 694 – 3296
www.polydyn.com
Forged Pistons:
CP Pistons
1902 McGaw Ave.
Irvine, CA 92614
(949) 567-9000
www.cppistons.com
Fasteners:
ARP – Automotive Racing Products
531 Spectrum Circle
Oxnard, CA 93030
800-826-3045
www.arp-bolts.com
E-mail: info@arpfasteners.com
Main Bearing Caps (billet):
Pro-Gram Engineering Corp.
475 5th Street NE
Barberton, Ohio 44203
(330)745-1004
www.pro-gram.com
E-mail: email@pro-gram.com
Crankshaft:
Ohio Crankshaft
5453 Route 49
Greenville OH 45331
800-333-7113
www.ohiocrank.com
E-mail: info@ohiocrank.com
Head Gasket:
Fel-Pro / Federal Mogul Corp.
26555 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, Michigan 48034
248-354-7700
www.federal-mogul.com
Project Bold Beeper
A fast and quick Road Runner for the street,
one thatÂ’s not afraid of twisty roads, too.
Longtime M.A. readers know that we like fast Mopars.
Hey, you probably do, too, or you wouldn’t be here. Most of you also know that we’ve long touted the basic ‘goodness’ of Mopar’s rigid and light unibody construction, indirect-spring (T-bar) front suspension, asymmetrical leafs in the rear, etc.
WeÂ’ve surely validated our theories via running our Green Brick 1969 Valiant in the Car and Driver One Lap of America and kicking some serious butt – again and again.
The Road Runner will kind of be a 12/10ths scale Valiant, although, while it will surely be a corner burner, the emphasis will be more on straight-line rice butt-kicking.
As DodgeÂ’s NASCAR driver, Jimmy Spencer said to the press recently: “Those sons of bitches bombed Pearl harbor, donÂ’t forget. …I hope…Dodge kick(s) their ass” Amen to that, Jimmy!
OK, we digress (but it was fun!)
We began with a well-used ‘69 Road Runner, with decent paint
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and a tired 440 under the hood. The plan was – and still is – to build a 600+ HP big-block, 100% pump-91 streetable, using the cheapest pars that would still be stone-axe reliable. We enlisted the services of well-known Mopar engine Builder Ray Barton to make the numbers for us.
HereÂ’s how itÂ’s gone so far:
DECEMBER 2002 issue – Basic premise of project, parts selection – junkyard block, etc.
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FEBRUARY 2003 issue – Block prep, installing billet main caps, align honing, bore work
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APRIL 2003 issue – Partial shortblock buildup
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JUNE 2003 issue – Shortblock, continued, good rods, etc.
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AUGUST 2003 issue – Oiling system
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OCTOBER 2003 issue – Edelbrock heads
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DECEMBER 2003 issue – Valvetrain
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FEBRUARY 2004 issue – Chassis stiffening to handle the torque
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APRIL 2004 issue – Manifold dyno shootout – 593 HP
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JUNE 2004 issue – camshaft test, jetting, timing changes, 616 HP
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AUGUST 2004 issue – Dressing the engine – pulleys, mounts, water and PS pumps, etc.
OCTOBER 2004 issue – engine installation secrets
As we got the mill ready for installation, we also were prepping the rest of the car to not blow up under the gaff of BartonÂ’s 600+ HP, and we got the ‘Beeper to the strip – and a chassis dyno! In fact, on Feb. 14th, 2004, we baselined the car with the high-mileage, near-stock 440-6. We did this with the help of the cool folks at Bristol Dyno Service in Bristol, CT. It was a fun mid-winter break, hereÂ’s the Videos:
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Hey, what were you expecting? It was rated 390 HP, SAE gross. ThatÂ’s maybe 330 or so, SAE net. Then the drivetrain loss.. note that the first 2 runs were in second gear, the last – and best – was in third. We couldnÂ’t pull it down low – the TorqueFlite would downshift!
Then we installed the new Barton engine
DECEMBER 2004 issue – tuning for street driveability
Before attacking the track, we concentrated on prepping the ‘Beeper for immaculate road manners – “driveability” in Detroit-ese. We also took pains to prevent trouble before it showed up!
We installed a full-length TTI exhaust system (awesome 3″ mandrel-bent stuff), 3/8″ fuel pickup from Year One, full-length 3/8″ lines from Inline Tube, a superstrong DennyÂ’s aluminum driveshaft, a really, really slick kickdown cable setup from Bouchillon Performance – paired with AR EngineeringÂ’s tall throttle bracket kit, swapped to the latest Holley high-tech 870-CFM vacuum-secondary Street Avenger carburetor. We also spent quite a bit of time dialing in the advance curve in out MP vacuum-advance distributor – this proved to be a key item. Without reworking this distributor, your chances at streeability are near zero!
We also turned the underhood area into a plumberÂ’s nightmare, by adding a super-trick fuel vapor return setup that imparted EFI-like starting, idling, etc., and a PCV collection system that guaranteed an oil-free intake charge. All this on pocket change!
Then — ta-dah! – we ran the now slightly detuned 496 on a Dynojet chassis dyno. Where, on 91 octane pump unleaded, we made – get this – 60% more power than our old 440 6-Pack engine!
FEBRUARY 2005 issue – at the drags
Before heading out to the drag strip, we had a few more minor chores to attend to. We knew, from our original dyno testing at BartonÂ’s, that the original ‘68-69 round air cleaner setup was restrictive, so we ordered up one of Comp CamÂ’s lightweight, free-flowing 14″ units – a 30-second installation. We did a bit of “by ear” and “seat of pants” carburetor tuning on our new Holley.
Wanting to keep out lower extremities intact, we slipped in one of those way-cool composite tranny shields from CSR.
From experience, we knew that one of the first failures was likely to be the left engine mount insulator, so SchumacherÂ’s hooked us up with his way-cool bolt-in adjustable, urethane-insulated torque strut kits. Since it bolts in to the K-member at the swaybar points, we took the opportunity to upgrade to a fat-boy front bar from Firm Feel, Inc.
And, although it nearly gave us a coronary to send any money to the French, we had little choice if we were gonna hook up at all – we needed a pair of BFG Drag Radials. On they went.
Result: our street tuning was way off for drag strip / drag tire launch, especially with the huge-diameter tires coupled to 3.23:1 cogs. First gear was nearly all bog. Still, 12.5 @ 115 was respectable, considering that we drove from the interstate at 65 plus – plus right to the starting line. But we know thereÂ’s lots more to come – after all, our second nameÂ’s not Action for nothing!
APRIL 2005 issue – At the Auto-X!
For this installment, we decided to attack — literally — a sports-car autocross held at a local airport. Before heading out, we headed off disaster by plumbing in Moroso’s 3-quart oil accumulator, keeping the Barton 496’s bottom end supplied with solid oil even if the pickup tube became uncovered. We also cut way, way down on understeer by installing one of Firm Feel, Inc.’s new over-the-axle rear sway bars — basically, one of the ‘good’ (no unsprung weight increase) E-body designs, re-engineered for B-body use. Way cool.
While we didn’t win the ‘cross, we were also one of the minority of entrants that took down no cones all day. Our decades-old rock-hard tires hurt us, but the chassis response was truly excellent. Read all about it in the April issue.
Or, just go slow around corners.
JUNE 2005 issue – Brake upgrades
The Bold Beeper had, eons ago, been the test bed for the famous Mopar Action brake-swap upgrade
(see www.moparaction.com/Tech/archive/disc-main.html),
with our newfound velocity, thanks to 500 cubes of Barton-Edelbrock HP, we soon learned that we needed even better brakes.
With a cool set of CNC billet adapters from AR Engineering, we retrofitted Viper / Brembo 4-piston aluminum calipers onto our stock Mopar 12″ cop-car rotors. Amazingly, it this setup even cleared out 15″ OEM Mopar wheels! As icing on the cake, we added a pair of stiff ‘nÂ’ light tubular upper control ams.
While we were looking at (and wrenching on!) brakes, we decided to see what else was out there. We uncovered several cool gems, including a low-cost solution for preÂ’73 A-body owners desirous of keeping their 4-inch bolt circle, and some solutions for – get this! – 1950’s Mopars!
This is one issue you donÂ’t wanna miss.
AUGUST 2005 issue – Brake proportioning, steering upgrades
With our new Viper calipers, we needed a way to get the front/rear brake proportioning dialed in. We used the typical adjustable valve, and we show you all the secrets to getting the proportioning dialed in correctly, which can make a huge difference in stopping distances
We also have some cool steering upgrades, via Firm Feel Inc., up our (tie-rod) sleeves!
DonÂ’t have this issue? YouÂ’re dead!
OCTOBER 2005 issue – New angles on alignment, and a new way to tune!
We finally got the ‘Beeper to an alignment shop, and we show you all the secrets we’ve learned to get the most cornering power, straight-line stability, and tire life for your Mopar. We also investigated a new, low-cost wide-range oxygen sensor (A/F gauge) setup from AEM. This is the tuning tool for the new millennium, giving you a true view of what’s happening each time the mix goes bang! in the cylinders. This is one installment you really don’t wanna miss.
Copies of most back of these back issues can be had – for a price. Click HERE for info
LotÂ’s more good stuff coming, so get your subscription tuned up, or be left out!
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