Muscle Car Plus December-January 2018

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CONTENTS REDEYE:

2019 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye ...pg 30

SEMA Champion

EXHAUST:

Exhaust Buyers Guide ...pg 26

ALSO INSIDE:

Starting Lines-------------------------------- 4 1967 Shelby Pro Touring---------------20 1970 Plymouth GTX----------------------34 Parts Store------------------------------------40 Readers Rides-------------------------------46

Rod Nielsen’s 1972 Mazda R100 won the Sport Compact Class at the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders ...pg 8

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DEC/JAN 2018 MUSCLE CAR Plus MAGAZINE

STARTING LINES

Ford Releases 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series

F

ord has released a new, limited-edition model of the GT supercar with the Ford GT Carbon Series, which drops nearly 40 lbs. with a host of lightweighting innovations such as carbon fibre wheels, a titanium exhaust, titanium lug nuts and a polycarbonate rear hatch with additional venting. The Carbon Series offers only a few convenience features, including air conditioning, a radio and the SYNC 3 system, for those who want the common comfort features, but removed are the cup holders and driver’s side seat storage bin in order to save weight. The model, of course, features more visible carbon fibre than any other previous model along with optional accent colours to help it stand out from the rest of the lineup. The exterior of the car features two exposed carbon fibre stripes with matching A-pillars, lower body panels and gloss carbon fibre wheels, while the interior has matte carbon fibre sills, air register pods and centre console. Four optional accent colours are available –silver, orange, red or blue – for the mirror caps, centre stripe and calipers. The Carbon Series of the Ford GT also features a unique seat pattern with silver stitching which is also found on the steering wheel, plus complementary clear anodized paddle shifters and a unique badge for the instrument panel. Approved customer applicants can order the Ford GT Carbon Series now and approximately one special model can be built each week.

MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

Jaguar Land Rover Classic Bringing Modern Infotainment Systems to Classic Cars Volume 16, Issue No. 6

December 2018 / January 2019 Second Class Mailing Agreement #40050183 Publisher: Dean Washington dean@rpmcanada.ca Associate Publisher: David Symons david@rpmcanada.ca Managing Editor Jordan Allan jordan@rpmcanada.ca Distribution Manager: Brenda Washington brenda@rpmcanada.ca Copy Editor: Gerry Frechette gerryf@rpmcanada.ca Advertising Sales: Elaine Fontaine elaine@rpmcanada.ca Contributing Writers / Photographers: Jordan Allan Gerry Frechette John Gunnell Cam Hutchins Paul Intile Richardt Scholtz

Muscle Car Plus Magazine is published six times per year by RPM Media Inc. 2460 Kingsway Avenue Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada V3C 1T4 TELEPHONE: (604) 629-9669 FAX: (778) 285-2449 TOLL FREE: 1-888-500-4591 EMAIL: info@rpmcanada.ca WEBSITE: www.rpmcanada.ca

Pick up your copy at your local Performance Shop or at the following participating locations:

Jaguar Land Rover Classic has announced that it will soon be offering a new infotainment system for its classic models, bringing modern functionality in an authentic, classically-styled head unit. The single DIN-sized Classic Infotainment System is designed to suit most classic vehicles running on negative earth electrics and will offer modern capabilities such as satellite navigation in up to 32 languages, smartphone integration, Bluetooth Connectivity and AM/FM radio. JLR will be offering four distinct versions of the Classic Infotainment System with a choice of black or chrome faceplates for Jaguar and black or silver brushed aluminum for Land Rovers. The unit features a 3.5-in. high-resolution touchscreen between traditional rotary controls and buttons and an internal microphone for hands-free phone calls. JLR has not yet named specific models that the system will be available for, but that information should come out soon as they are expected to be available to Canadian customers before the end of the year.

Dodge Announces 1320 Club for Drag Racers At the recent 2018 SEMA Show, Dodge announced that it is launching something called the 1320 (quarter mile distance in feet) Club which will provide members with an opportunity to show off their official drag strip accomplishments and challenge themselves as well as fellow racers. The club lives on www.dodgegarage.com and offers either a Stock or Modified leaderboard, and is available exclusively to U.S. and Canadian owners of late-model Dodge Challengers and Chargers. All members will have the ability to create a public profile displaying their vehicles, comment on entries, submit time slips, find the next drag strip to check out and earn digital achievement badges among other things.

Decals of drivers’ earned badges will be available for purchase to display on their vehicles and come in either gray for Stock or red for modified.

In order to join, users will have to first create an account on the Dodge Garage website and confirm their vehicle’s year, model, trim, VIN number and a list of modifications, if applicable.

Once joined, you will be able to do all of the things mentioned previously and submit official times to earn your spot on the leaderboard. To eliminate the risk of street racing, Dodge says that all submissions must be from a race conducted at a sanctioned race facility.

MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

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Mini Muscle

Rod Nielsen’s 1972 Mazda R100 was named the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders Sport Compact Class Champion!

ver since high school, Rod Nielsen has had an interest in imports and sport compact E cars, having been inspired by his older brother Kevin who owned a hi-po Toyota Celica when they were in their teens. However, as their father was into North American-built muscle

cars, that’s what Rod first started working on, and over time, became familiar with. Fast forward 40 years and Rod, now operating Hot Rod’s Restos in Abbotsford, BC, is building some of the most radical custom cars in Western Canada. A bit of a mad scientist when it comes to his cars, Rod is well-known on the west coast for his award-winning domestic car creations, most notably the highly customized 1965 Mustang he dubbed ‘Rosie,’ among others.

Story by Richardt Scholz, photos by Paul Intile and Rod Nielsen

Although completely immersed in the domestic car scene for the last 30+ years, Rod never lost his early love of imports and his desire to build his own ‘dream car.’ In 2007, after building numerous American custom cars for clients, he purchased an obscure import with the intent of building the most bad-ass custom sport compact the world had ever seen, and eventually entering the car in the prestigious SEMA ‘Battle Of The Builders’ competition.

Not satisfied starting with a more popular (and easier to get) car model for the project, Rod chose a Rotary engine-powered 1972 Mazda R100 as the foundation for his personal build.

Now you’re probably wondering, what the heck is a Mazda R100?

Everyone is familiar with Mazda’s more popular performance models like the RX-7, RX-8 and Miata, but the R100 has been almost forgotten, except for the true Rotary engine aficionados who consider the car THE holy grail of Mazdas and a true trendsetter in automotive engineering, primarily due to its unique powerplant.

The R100 (which stands for Rotary Engine producing 100 hp) is based on the Mazda 1000/1300 and was originally sold in Japan as the Mazda ‘Familia Presto Rotary.’ At first glance, this car appears to be just another two-door commuter sedan, typical of Japanese offerings of the time. However, one thing makes the R100 stand out from the crowd - it was the first Rotary engine-powered vehicle to be mass produced for sale to the European and, later, the North American markets. But wait a minute; as it turns out, this wasn’t Mazda’s first Rotary-powered vehicle after all. That credit is reserved for the ‘Cosmo Sport.’ This two-seater sports car was available only in Japan, and when it was released in May 1967, it made Mazda the first automobile manufacturer on the planet to produce a twinrotor Rotary engine-powered vehicle for sale to the public.

Manufactured from 1968 to 1971 (although you could still buy one from your local dealership right up until 1974 as they were originally not well received), just over 100,000 R100’s were produced for the global market and needless to say, 50 years later, very few have survived. Finding one of these now ultra-rare units (which originally sold for $2,790 US) is hard enough, but if you do, be prepared for massive sticker shock as you could easily spend $20-$30K for just a roller! Luckily for Rod, in 2007 he managed to locate the perfect donor car from a local Mazda enthusiast in Maple Ridge who, after much negotiating, agreed to part with one of his nicest R100’s.

As this would be Rod’s personal ride (and never to be sold), his vision for the build was significantly different from anything he had previously created.

Unrestricted by client budget limitations or conflicting viewpoints, Rod set out to create the ultimate pocket rocket. Not wanting to follow any of the current import trends, instead he decided the R100 would showcase his unique design and engineering skills in a sport-compact package that, as he said “doesn’t follow any current trends” but instead “paid homage to the early race-inspired styling mods of the 1970s.”

With the R100 now secured, the first order of business was to completely disassemble the entire car, strip the body to bare metal and remove the floorplan and firewall (which would be relocated 12 inches rearward). This was necessary in order to accommodate a physically larger Mazda Cosmo 3-rotor 20B 2,000cc engine (as opposed to the R100’s OEM 2-rotor 10A

10 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

1,000cc powerplant) and the much larger Be Cool radiator, Vibrant intercooler assembly and oil cooler, which would all be treated with Cerakote Transfer Grey, a special heat-dissipating ceramic coating applied by Doug Poirier at Koolcoat in Langley, BC. Once this was done, Rod and crewman Steve Tarasenko took on the task of constructing a very intricate (too many bars to count) full tube chassis made from 1.625- and 1.25-inch chromoly tubing and the first of many trial fittings of the much longer, 3-rotor engine between the rails of the R100.

Built by Marko Stilinovic from Forcefed Performance in Abbotsford, the Mazda 20B 3-rotor engine has been bridge-ported and features lightened rotors, custom-built 8-litre HRR oilpan, Xcessive Manufacturing lower intake manifold, custom-made Forcefed upper turbo manifold topped off with a Rotary Works 90mm single blade throttle body. Completing the drivetrain, a Tremec T56 Magnum transmission utilizing a 7.25-inch twin-disc Competition Clutch mated to a Quicktime steel bellhousing take care of transferring power to the Winters 10-inch quickchange limited-slip differential running 4.12 gears with a final ratio of 3.52. Once all the fitment issues were addressed, both the engine and transmission were stripped down and finished in Cerakote Glacier Gold and Prismatic Wrinkle Black ceramic coatings, again applied by Koolcoat.

Running on E85, the Ethanol-blended fuel is supplied courtesy of an Aeromotive 340gph high-pressure fuel pump controlled by an Automotive Extreme Flow regulator, and feeding the Full Function Engineering fuel rails which distribute the ‘flex fuel’ to six injectors via a two-stage (1,300cc Primary / 2,000cc Secondary) Fuel Injector Connection system. Improving power output is the responsibility of a single Borg Warner S400 SX-E 72mm turbocharger equipped with a Turbosmart 60mm wastegate and dual Race Port blow-off valves.

Moving to the underside of the car, Rod hand-built a custom free-flowing exhaust system using Vibrant 4-inch round and oval tubing, mufflers and V-band clamps to take care of flushing out the spent gases. In street trim, this engine combo made an impressive 700 horsepower at 7,300 rpm and 18 psi boost. But when you turn it up, this nasty micro-muscle car makes an astonishing 1,000 horsepower (to the rear wheels!) at 9,500+ rpm running 32 psi boost in full ‘race’ trim.

Once fabrication relating to the powertrain installation was concluded, Rod turned his attention to the research and development of the car’s suspension, incorporating a vastly improved braking system and a totally unique rear wheel combination.

Up front, ride quality is handled with the inclusion of BSB Manufacturing spindles, Joe’s Racing Control Arms and QA1 low-friction ball joints. Out back, the Z-Link suspension features BSB ‘bird cages,’ link bar, panhard bar and third link. All four corners include Willwood Starlite hubs and QA1 four-way adjustable shocks with 2.5-inch high-travel coil-over springs. As the car’s original braking system was completely inadequate for the power produced by the incoming engine, Willwood was called upon to provide the necessary stopping power, incorporating their 11.75inch GT36 rotors, forged Dynapro 6-piston calipers and polymatrix BP-20 brake pads. All of this supported with six (yes I said six) Falken Azenis 205/40ZR16 tires rolling on 16x8-inch Bogart rims up front and hooking up power to the pavement out back, via an ingenious proprietary ‘TwinRim’ (patent pending) dual-tire 3-piece 16x8x8-inch wheel designed and built by Rod.

12 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

Now that the preliminary foundation for the car was sorted out, Rod and Steve began work on dropping what was left of the Mazda’s original body onto the now rolling chassis. Next, he custom-built the one-off fibreglass fender flares, hood, front facia, ‘whale-tail’ rear wing and bumper, finishing the basic exterior shell of the car. With the construction and trial fittings of all major components complete, the car was disassembled for final fitment, refinement, prep and paint. After countless hours working the body, the car was painted in Sherwin Williams custom white pearl with DFX5 glitter in Intercoat clear. The wide racing stripe is painted in House Of Kolor Candy Cobalt blue over top of gold glitter flake, revealing a long parade of sponsor logos. All finishes were applied using SATA paint guns and equipment, with the artwork and logo transfer meticulously executed by Rick Wojdak at Axe Graphics.

Moving inside to the interior of the R100 reveals the true genius (or maybe absolute madness) of its creator. It’s like Disneyland for fans of radical custom car design, engineering and fabrication. There’s way too many cool aspects of the interior for me to mention them all here but for example, moving the firewall back one foot required Rod to also move the Kirkey Racing seats back almost to where the rear seat once was (like an Import version of an old A/FX car) achieving a near-perfect 48/52 weight distribution in the process. This also necessitated the fabrication of a new custom dash which he fitted with a 7-inch LTC display, instrument panel, and ECU with Turbosmart E-boost2 boost control. And all that tubing we spoke about earlier is painted with Sherwin-Williams Blue Lightning with a mat finish clear that looks fantastic in the car. Two other things really stand out when inspecting the cockpit of the pocket-rocket; first the transmission is completely exposed with the operation of the S1 Sequential shifter and crazy tall ASD Motorsports hydraulic drift brake clearly visible for all to see. And second is Rod’s signature mod, the clear acrylic molded rear window in the floorboard allowing complete viewing of the quick-change differential and rear suspension.

custom vehicles on display, approximately 380 eventually qualified for the competition. On Tuesday, the first day of the event, Rod was told by SEMA officials that the first stage of judging was complete and the R100 had been selected for the Top 40.

The next day, Jim Holloway, one of the owners of Mothers Wax, announced that the R100 was one of 12 cars in the show to be selected to receive the prestigious Mothers Choice Award for design, engineering and automotive excellence. That was a nice surprise for Rod, as he didn’t expect to be competing for anything but the ‘Battle.’ Later that day, the SEMA officials returned to inform Rod that the R100 had progressed to the Top 12, making him the only Canadian builder remaining in competition. The last stage of the competition would be the most difficult as the remaining 12 builders themselves would now be called upon to select the Final 4 winners in the Hot Rod, Truck, Sport Compact and Young Gun classes, along with the Grand Champion (and no, you can’t vote for yourself).

Now this is a big deal for Canada, and many Canadians I spoke to at SEMA were all pulling for Rod to win. In this world of information overload, it’s rare to see Canadians getting major credit for their work, so this was our chance to shine. It’s not the first time though, as some of Canada’s top custom car builders are based right here in Western Canada and have received recognition for their work including JF Kustoms, winner of the 2015 Ridler Award, and Jellybean AutoCrafters, who built the 2011 Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance winner. But this was the first time a Canadian, out of a field of hundreds of top custom car builders from all over North America, had reached this level in competition.

By October 2017, a total of 5,000+ hours had been invested in the creation of this bad-ass Mazda, and with the car now complete, Rod was itching to take it to the 2017 SEMA Show for its debut. However, this was not to be. Due to a screw-up with the Broker taking care of the U.S. border paperwork, Rod was not permitted to take the car across the line because of U.S. commercial transport regulations.

This was a major disappointment for Rod as he wanted to enter the R100 in the uber popular SEMA Battle Of The Builders, but that would have to wait until 2018.

For those of you who haven’t heard, the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, held the first week of November each year in Las Vegas, has over the past 50+ years become the world’s largest gathering of people, cars and manufacturers dedicated to the aftermarket specialty vehicle industry (last year’s event attracted more than 150,000 attendees from around the world).

In November of 2017, his plans to take the R100 scuttled, Rod decided to travel to Fontana, California to attend the 20th-annual Seven Stock, a major international Rotary-only event. (Note: because this event is open to the public and not a trade show, Rod did not require a broker or have to deal with the commercial paperwork headache in order to bring the R100 into the U.S.) Sponsored by Mazda USA,

On Friday, November 2, the last day of SEMA and with the Top 12 cars now moved to the SEMA Ignited staging area (SEMA Ignited is the official after party / cruise through Las Vegas immediately following the closing of the show) the builders gathered to vote for the Final 4. When the dust settled, amidst much fanfare and television cameras, Rod Nielsen was selected as one of the Final 4 and crowned the 2018 SEMA Show Battle Of The Builders Sport Compact Class Champion!

For Rod, all the blood, sweat and tears had finally paid off.

If you were not able to attend this year’s event and witness Rod’s incredible win for yourself, no problem as the 2018 SEMA Battle Of The Builders one-hour TV show will air on Monday January 7 at 10 pm on Velocity TV. If you miss it, again no worries, they’ll be rebroadcasting the show twice a month for the balance of the year. And if you live in B.C. in the greater Vancouver / Fraser Valley area, then you can check out the car in person at VIP Mazda in the Abbotsford Automall from December 7 to 17, when the R100 will be featured in their showroom for 10 days.

So now that Rod has achieved his goal, we asked what’s next for the R100? Which he replied “My car’s not just for show, it’s a race car designed and engineered to perform at the track and that’s exactly what I plan to do with it”. So don’t be surprised to see the R100 next year at Mission Raceway Park ripping up the strip at a Street Legal event, or up at Area 27 in the Okanagan, turning corners on the road course. No matter where the R100 goes next, one thing’s for sure - if you see it, be prepared to be amazed!

Big thanks to Paul Intile for providing us with his photos. To see more of Paul’s work, visit his website at www.paulintile.com

over 400+ Rotary engine-powered vehicles from around the world were present for the weekend event. Rod’s R100, one of only five in attendance, was a huge hit, earning him the ‘Best Old School Rotary’ award. In the spring of 2018, the B.C. Classic & Custom Car Show in Abbotsford would be the R100’s next showing.

Again the R100 was popular with fans, sponsors and judges alike, winning his class, the JMI ‘Radical Ride’ Sponsors Pick award, and the Outstanding Competition Vehicle In Show. Later, in late May and June, it was off to Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton for the Driven Sport Compact series events where, despite stiff competition, the R100 dominated, taking top honours and Best In Show awards at all three events!

In October of 2018, with all the correct paperwork in hand, Rod was finally able to take the R100 to SEMA, and thanks to Tire Stickers, his SEMA Show appearance sponsor, compete in the Battle Of The Builders competition. Out of thousands of

DEC/JAN 2018 MUSCLE CAR Plus MAGAZINE 13

EVENTS: 2018 SEMA SHOW

Show Recap A

nother SEMA Show has once again come and passed and we were lucky enough to once again attend and see what’s new and exciting in the automotive aftermarket world. The show continues to grow both in terms of sheer size and attendance, with a reported 150,000 people attending this year. This can’t miss event is truly the mecca for anything automotive aftermarket and is the premier automotive specialty trade show event in the entire world.

Over the next few pages, you will see and read about some of the top highlights from this year’s show.

SEMA Announces New Product Award Winners The 2018 SEMA Show once again began the week by announcing the 2018 New Product Award Winners, which are meant to recognize the most innovative and cuttingedge products at the show that will go on sale in 2019. The products are judged in 16 categories with each one naming a winner and two runners-up selected on a variety of factors such as superiority of innovation, technical achievement, quality, workmanship and consumer appeal. Beginning with the Performance-Racing Product Category, ProCharger took home top prize with its CrankDrive Supercharger Gear Drive, while QA1 took both runners-up spots with the MOD Series Shock and Carbon Fiber Sway Bar. The Street/Rod Custom Car Product category saw Flaming River take the win with the VDOG Variable Angle Gear, while Wilwood and Dakota Digital were runners-up with their Compact Tandem Master Cylinder and RTX 55-57 Chevy Car Instruments, respectively. Finally, in the interior accessory product category, Speed Dawg Shift Knobs were crowned champion with the Dodge Drag Pack 1320 Racing Stripe Shift Knob, with Lock’er Down Security Products and Intellitronix finishing close behind.

14 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

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Mopar Unveils All-New Hellephant 426 Crate Hemi Engine at SEMA Mopar utilized the recent 2018 SEMA Show to unveil the brand new Hellephant 426 Supercharged Crate Hemi engine which turns out an astonishing 1,000 horsepower and 950 lb-ft of torque at the crank. The engine will be the first 1,000-horsepower crate engine kit offered by an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). During the unveiling, Mopar

a powertrain control module (PCM), power distribution centre, engine wiring harness, chassis harness, accelerator pedal, ground jumper, oxygen sensors, charge air temperature sensors, fuel pump control module and cam bus interface device. The engine assembly and kit will be available in the first quarter of 2019.

2018 SEMA Awards Winners Announced The annual SEMA Awards are given out to the cars, trucks and SUVs that aftermarket manufacturers are investing in and developing products and accessories for. The awards are open to all participating OEMs at the SEMA Show and eligible vehicles must be current or next model year to be considered. For 2018, Ford was perhaps the biggest winners as it was awarded top prize in three categories - the Ford Mustang with Car of the Year, the Ford F-Series with Truck of the Year and the Ford Focus as the Sport Compact of the Year.

Winning the 4x4/SUV of the Year award for a whopping ninth straight year is, of course, Jeep with the all-new Wrangler which continues its clean sweep of the category since these awards were introduced back in 2010. For 2018, SEMA added a fifth category for Powersports Vehicle of the Year with the inaugural winner being Polaris with the RZR Turbo S.

1968 Dodge “Super Charger” Concept As mentioned, Mopar debuted the new crate engine in the 1968 Dodge also revealed a 1968 Dodge “Super Charger” Concept which served “Super Charger” Concept car which is a re-imagined version of the as the perfect package to highlight the new crate engine assembly, but more on that later. The new Hellephant is able to hit that gaudy horsepower number thanks to a bulked-up displacement, with 4 inches of stroke and bore specs at 4.125-in., plus an improved supercharger with high-efficiency rotor that is mounted to the all-aluminum block which provides huge weight savings. The engine and kit feature a Hellephant logo which provides a nod to the legendary 426 Hemi engine that was first introduced in 1964 and nicknamed the elephant for its power and size, and to the 707-horsepower Hellcrate engine kit revealed at the SEMA Show last year. The complete engine assembly includes a water pump, flywheel, front sump oil pan, supercharger with throttle body, fuel injectors and coil packs. The motor can be paired with the complete engine kit for a relatively simple plug-and-play installation into pre-1976 street and off-road vehicles. The kit includes

16 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

’68 Charger with modern elements from the current Dodge Charger and Challenger SRT lineup to create a unique package to showcase the new Hellephant. The car features a wide body stance thanks to front and rear fibreglass wheel flares painted the incredible “De Grigio” Grey Metallic body colour. The front wheels are stock 20x11-in.

Devil’s rims pulled from the Challenger SRT Hellcat while the rears are upsized 21x12-in. custom-milled aluminum Devil’s wheels. The body is dropped 2.5-in. in the rear and 3.5-in. in the front to complete the low, wide, aggressive stance, while six-piston Brembo brakes provide the stopping power. Inside, the concept vehicle features Dodge Viper steering wheel and seats, and a manual shifter from the Hellcat.

Canadian Shows Well at SEMA Battle of the Builders Competition As you’ve probably read about in the previous pages of this issue, Rod Nielsen of Hot Rod’s Restos in Abbotsford, B.C. entered unprecedented territory and was named a Top 4 finalist in the fifth annual SEMA Battle of the Builders competition. Being named the Sport Compact Winner, Rod’s incredible customized 1972 Mazda R100 made a huge splash at the show and narrowly missed out on being named the overall champion. Kyle Tucker’s amazing 1969 Chevy Camaro was the Hot Rod category winner and eventual overall champion with the other two members of the top 4 being Eddie Pettus with his 1932 Willys Aircraft Refueling Truck and Kyle Kuhnhausen with his 1972 Datsun 240Z. Over 300 builds were entered into the competition which was then whittled down to a Top 10 in each category before the Top 12 overall builds were selected. From there, the 12 finalists took over the judging duties and eventually voted Tucker as the overall winner. All four of the builders will be featured in a new episode of the TV special “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” which will be hosted by AJ Janic and racer Tanner Faust. The special will air on the Velocity Channel at 10pm on January 7th, 2019.

18 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

MagnaFlow and DJ Funk Flex Unveil Custom 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat One of the more notable builds in terms of Muscle Cars at the show was found at the MagnaFlow booth, with DJ Funk Flex’s 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat called ‘Deception,’ which was built by Valanca Auto Concepts and has been blended with carbon-fibre body panels from

a 1969 Dodge Charger. The car underwent several modifications including a 4-in. wider track width and a 2-in. shorter roofline, while lowering the car 3-in. lower than stock. Each body panel has been handcrafted to mimic the classic body lines of the ’69 Charger and features a combination of carbon parts from SpeedKore Performance and Common Fibers. The wheels are custom designed from Boze Alloys, and measure 19x8.5 in the front and 20x11.5 in the rear.

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Always in the Cards

Rick Leginus’ 1967 Shelby GT500 Pro Touring Story and photos by Cam Hutchins

B

uilding an over-the-top 1967 Shelby GT500 Pro Touring was always in the cards; it was always going to happen. Rick Leginus grew up around four Shelbys and a 1970 Boss 429 as a kid. His Dad was the service manager at Metro Ford before opening his own shop in Maple Ridge, BC in 1964. He had a 1967 GT350, 1968 GT350, 1968 GT500 KR, and a 69 GT500, but Rick ended up picking the ‘67 Shelby as his favourite.

The Boss 429 sat at West Coast Ford in Maple Ridge for a few months, and Rick used to ride along with his Mom whenever parts needed picking up and would stare at the big beast sitting for sale on the lot. Luckily, his Dad finally bought it after seeing it for sale in the Haney Gazette.

West Coast had sold it for $5,500 to a fellow from Mission whose wife was afraid of the car, and Leginus senior paid $3,800.

At 14 years old, he started building a ‘64 Comet Caliente with 351 Cleveland, 4-speed and 9-in. rear end, and as soon as he could drive, his Dad told him he needed a Boss 302. In 1974, he found a sweet Boss 302 and drove it for 25 years. Fully loaded, Calypso Coral, louvres, fold-down rear seat and shaker. He even bought a brand new Boss 302 short block in a wooden crate from West Coast Ford for $660 in 1975. He beefed it up with dual fours and a 650-lift cam and took out the original Boss 302 for safe keeping. In 1987, he started to restore the car and installed the original engine to keep it a numbers-matching car. Finishing the restoration in 1990, he drove it till 1999 and sold it to Spokane, Washington, where the new owner won two international shows with the car.

Getting a 1967 Shelby was getting more and more out of reach, and Leginus started building early Impalas and going the full Pro Touring route on them. He realized if he was ever going to build a ‘67 Shelby, it would get the same treatment and then, after the “Gone in 60 Seconds” 20 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

Starting with the most iconic part of the car, the Shelby hood, he had Dave Brownlow build all the fibreglass parts needed to complete the car. Brownlow had a ‘67 Shelby hood, but Leginus wanted it to fit better than the original. So they built a new hood and added 1/8th of an inch to each side for a proper fit. The stock hood scoop never seemed “tough” enough so it was raised 5/8th of an inch in the front. This also gave more room for the dual quads.

The front hood edge of the stock Shelbys and the front of the fenders always looked like they drooped too much, so Leginus took the time to raise them a bit, cutting the spot welds on the front of the fenders and pulling them up. This necessitated designing a whole new valance

Eleanor Shelby came out, the die was cast and Leginus knew it was time to find a ‘67 Mustang fastback donor car.

He was not going to rip up an actual Shelby, but finding a donor fastback in the mid $20,000’s seemed ridiculously expensive, for the rusted out wrecks seemed to be in the $20 K range. After looking for a year-anda-half, he comes home from work one day in 2004 to find his wife had found the car on eBay and it was perfect. It was in Santa Ana, California for $9,000, a rust-free shell that had been sitting in a guy’s garage since 1977. Leginus made a deal for $8,900 and drove down the next weekend with a car trailer and brought it home. Interestingly, he did not use the hood and fenders that were with the car. The diff was a ten-bolt Chevy pumpkin as it had previously been running a 396 with TH400 and grille treatment to fill the new gap. The rear deck was also redone tranny. He truly saved this car from a fate worse than crushing! with newly-designed rear fender extensions and spoiler with improved He had no interest in any running gear because years before, his dad clearance and a better fit. The scoops also had to be redesigned and had gotten a 427 side-oiler from his ‘76 Ford Ranger pickup. He took out built for better tolerances and beefier looks. the 427 and was able to keep it as long as he rebuilt a 390 and stuffed it into his Dad’s pickup. His dad had been collecting 427 side-oilers from The stock Shelby mirrors were also on the undesirable list, so a wherever he could find them and even took advantage of Ford’s practice set of 1991 Mustang convertible mirrors were rebuilt and Brownlow of selling “Select Blocks” fully-assembled 427 side-oiler short blocks in fibreglassed them into a one-piece design with the base modified to wooden crates. He had seven of them at one time, along with a new fit the ‘67 door. These were electronically-operated mirrors, so conBoss 429 for $1,200 and two Boss 302 short blocks, all in wooden crates. trols that looked totally stock were sourced from a Lincoln Town Car.

DEC/JAN 2018 MUSCLE CAR Plus MAGAZINE 21

The doors were perfect and rust-free, as was the shell. Knowing 1,000 hp might go into this car, Leginus needed a full frame, front to back. Jody at Rosi’s “Custom Metal” did all the custom metal work on this car. The frame crossmembers were tucked up for clearance for the 3-in. exhaust that fit tight to the floor. The frame was made to look like it came from the factory, if Ford had used full frames instead of unibodies with sub frames. It can handle some major power and there is lots of extra bracing with all the proper spot welds in place to appear factory rather than the “thrashed-on” race car look.

higher exhaust port, they needed to be raised and this meant the shock towers needed to be widened 1.25-in. each side, in the Boss 429 style.

The 427 side-oiler got Blue Thunder high-riser heads and a tunnel-port dual four-barrel NASCAR intake by Dove that was custom-built purposely for the Blue Thunder heads. It is stroked to 496 cu. in., and Leginus was researching big power for the 427 and he came across Survival Motorsports and the “Engine Masters” challenge. They get the top builders to build up engines running pump gas. Barry Rabotnick had won the challenge a few times and seemed to have the perfect combo for making big power with this block. Leginus bought the full package off Survival Motorsports and after a run on the dyno, it made over 750 horsepower without blower or nitrous.

The front suspension is Leginus’s design, built by Global West suspension from California, coil overs with double adjustable for stiffness going up and down, to aid in launching the car. The Wilwood brakes are 14-inch 6-piston front and back. The rack-and-pinion steering is supplied by Randall’s Rack and Pinion Ltd. from Kelowna, known for their high-quality rack-and-pinion systems.

The ignition is the MSD 7 with dual rev limiters, one on the clutch pedal and one on the shifter. The engine is topped off with Blue Thunder valve covers and a stock Shelby 427 dual quad air cleaner.

The B-Kool rad with fan module built-in keeps everything cool, and the heat is removed by the 3-inch polished stainless steel exhaust system that is tucked up close to the floor, as this car is low. The scattershield is just 2.5in. off the ground, even with all the frame components and crossmembers tucked up as high as possible into the car’s floor. The pulley system is Billet Specialties sourced from the Old Car Centre in Langley.

The rear needed to be semi-tubbed, so using two extra Mustang inner fenders, Jody welded them to look stock but three inches narrowed on each side. The rear frame was narrowed a corresponding amount. The differential is a Chris Alston’s Chassisworks FAB9 Rear End out of Sacramento. It is Chrome Moly with 35-spline axles, that is extremely narrow with a billet four-link suspension with coilovers, built to Leginus’ particular design he had come up with to handle 1,000-plus horsepower. It was the first rear end Chris Alston’s Chassisworks had built this way.

The mill runs two 780cfm Quick Fuel Technology carbs with precise adjustments available. The cam is a Custom Competition 696-lift roller cam designed by Survival Motorsports with Crower lifters with additional The Tremec TKO 600 five-speed manual transmission was custom-built oil ports, and TND rockers. The custom headers came from Ford Power by Modern Driveline. He had put a new stock Tremec in the car and once Parts in California and because of the Blue Thunder Heads with the finished, he drove it for a week. Not satisfied with its performance, Leginus yanked it out and sold it as it was not quick enough shifting and seemed unsuitable for the car. He found Modern Driveline when trying to find a better clutch that could handle power in previous builds. Modern Driveline completely builds their own five-speeds based on the Tremec that are quicker and will handle a larger load. He also used twin 9.5-inch McLeod clutches with their hydraulic clutch replacing the mechanical linkage.

The interior was, of course, given the Pro Touring treatment starting with a reproduction Shelby roll bar wrapped in leather and double stitched.

With the narrowed rear space created by the mini tubs, the fold-down rear seat needed lots of work to make it look right and still function. The whole back seat re-and-re with new fibreglass panels etc. took about 250 hours.

Starting with stock ‘67 Mustang GT front seats, they were trimmed in leather and double-stitched, and the stock plastic back panel was replaced with leather, double stitched, and with Shelby embossed in them. Seat belts including the roll bar-mounted shoulder harnesses were created by Snake Oil products and are faithful recreations of original Shelby equipment.

22 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

with gold stripes. He used “Painter Bob” and loves his low-key no-drama approach to painting a car, and his skill is legendary. The stripes continue under the hood, trunklid and the gas tank.

The wheels were also pre-destined, as Leginus always wanted to use 427 Cobra wheels, but needed to create his own as he wanted 20x11-in. for the rear and 19x8 for the front.

Boyd Coddington seemed the logical choice back in the day, as he had the TV show and his custom wheels were all the rage. So Leginus sent his design and $5,000, half of the cost, to Coddington’s shop. He never heard a peep, and while he busy working on the car, Coddington died and the company went bankrupt and Leginus had no wheels.

He needed to get some kickass wheels so he started calling around and his source at Weld Wheels told him to call “Ride Right,” a wheel manufacturer in Anaheim that specialises in custom Harley Davidson wheels. Apparently Coddington did not make all of his own wheels and farmed out wheels to this shop.

All the normal fibreglass pieces in a Shelby that are normally painted black were created in new fibreglass and trimmed in leather, with the double stitching, as was the roof console. The headliner and sun visors were trimmed in cloth. Plush English Wool carpeting is used, complete with the heel pads created out of leather with embossed “GT500” Kerry from Aero Machining designed and CNC’d the shifter, shift knob, throttle linkage, clutch reservoir, the big spinner knockoffs and many other smaller pieces for the car. The unique shifter has an integral switch for the line lock with internal wiring. A 1970 Boss 429 shifter boot fits the rectangular shifter perfectly and is recessed into the custom console.

The centre console is wrapped in double-stitched leather and the accordion panel normally hiding an ashtray is shortened. A 7-in. GPS Pioneer stereo is installed, and it all looks just the way Ford would have done it if they had 7-inch video displays in 1967. The dash pad was completely reworked and new billet defroster grilles were added onto the leather-wrapped surface.

The dash uses Autometer carbon fibre gauges that were taken to Paul Dyke who flipped the faces and added the black and gold numbers and the GT500 RC wording. There is a 160-mph speedo, a 10-grand tach and all the usual gauges a Pro Touring ride needs. As an engine builder, Leginus always specs an oil temperature gauge. Before getting on the throttle, engines need to have their oil at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure the engine is not damaged due to cold bearings, etc.

The steering wheel is a 1967 Shelby wheel that was pretty pricey and has a customised centre. The steering column was dropped off by a guy who heard Leginus was building a Pro Touring Shelby and he would want a tilt-away steering column.

Sounds perfect but they are vacuum-operated and the big 427 did not offer enough vacuum. A solution was mounting a 6-litre Ford diesel engine vacuum pump with auto shut-off. Mounted secretly under the battery and fender well in the engine compartment, it powers the steering column perfectly.

He was in Palm Springs on vacation and got a hold of the guy who said he had about 100 sets of wheels here that he never got paid for. Leginus dropped the kids at Disneyland and drove to the shop. The guy was super cool but had not been paid for any of the wheels yet. Leginus spent a bunch of time going through the pile but found his four wheels. They were only half-finished, but the guy said he would finish up the wheels and ship them within three weeks for the remaining $5,000. Since it had to be cash up front, Leginus went to the bank machine and took another chance that he would actually get the wheels. True to his word they were at the border three weeks later.

The only drawback was the centre knockoffs look great on 15-in. wheels but he needed to have new ones fabricated in a larger size to perfectly suit the car. Leginus went to his pal with a machine shop, and starting from a 12-in. by 4-ft. block of aluminum for each knock-off, more proportionally pleasing 12-in. knock-offs were made.

Leginus has run an automotive shop in Port Coquitlam, R&L Automotive and Performance, for 35 years, and wanted to show off his eight years of work at the Annual PoCo Car show. He took two weeks off work to thrash on the car to finish it and drove it to the Downtown PoCo Car Show, winning Best of Show and also winning the local Business award. The car is equally suited for cruising, drag racing or track outings, and one run against a new Shelby Super Snake proved his car up to any task.

Since building his first Shelby, Leginus has three to go to match his Dad, so if you know of any good donor cars, give Leginus a call.

The car is loud, so the sound system has to be louder. Designed by a buddy of Leginus, Tyler is an award-winning installer and has outdone himself with this car. It has four Hertz 6.5 speakers front and rear, two 10-in. 10W6 JL Audio subs in the trunk, one 1,200-watt JL Audio sub amp, and a main 600-watt JL Audio main amp. The antenna is hidden under the dash and the car is controlled and monitored by a drone system via Leginus’ cell phone; it can be monitored, locked or unlocked via his phone.

It also has a Flaming River push-button start.

The ultimate look of a car is always set by its paint and wheels combo, and there was never any other choice besides black

DEC/JAN 2018 MUSCLE CAR Plus MAGAZINE 23

PRODUCTS: EXHAUSTS / HEADERS

BUYERS’ GUIDE aFe Power MACH Force XP Exhaust System

Description: aFe Power’s MACH Force XP Exhaust System for the Dodge Challenger SRT-8 is constructed from mandrel-bent stainless steel and is MIG-welded. The system utilizes dual high flow mufflers with 3-in. tubing which is able to improve performance across the power band while also producing the true muscle car sound. Additionally, aFe has incorporated a crossover balance tube to equalize and evenly distribute exhaust pulses traveling through the exhaust system.

Specifications: Able to produce gains of 10 horsepower and 14 lb-ft of torque.

Applications: Available for the 2008-2014 Dodge Challenger SRT-8.

Website: www.afepower.com

BBK Mustang Varitune Cat Back Exhaust Description: BBK’s Varitune Cat Back Exhaust for the Foxbody Ford Mustang features a unique internal power valve that enables the fine tuning of sound and power level, and allows you to change from a one- to three-chamber muffler by simply turning a wrench. The large, 2.75-in. mandrel-bent tubing allows for a maximum airflow which helps provide an 8-to-10 decibel range difference.

Specifications: Built with large 2-3/4-in. CNC mandrel-bent aluminized tubing for unrestricted exhaust flow.

Applications: Available for the 1987-1993 Ford Mustang.

Website: www.bbkperformance.com

BORLA Cat-Back Exhaust System for 2018 Mustang GT Description: Borla’s Cat-Back Exhaust system for the 2018 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L features a 3-in. design with 4-in. dual split rear exit tips. The system will not only provide your vehicle with a more aggressive sound, but will also provide minor gains in both horsepower and torque.

Specifications: Exhaust tip is dual round, rolled and angle cut long.

Applications: Available for the 2018 Ford Mustang GT. Website: www.borla.com

Corsa 2.5-Inch Cat-Back Exhaust System for Corvette Description: Corsa’s 2.5-inch Cat-Back Dual Exhaust System for C4 Corvettes provides horsepower and torque gains as well as an airflow increase. They feature Corsa’s RSC technology that is designed for an aggressive sound under acceleration and a drone-free experience during cruise.

Specifications: +14 horsepower gain, +16 lb-ft of torque gain.

Applications: For 1986-1991 Chevrolet Corvette C4 5.7L V8 L98.

Website: www.corsaperformance.com

DynoMax 2.5-In. Cat-Back Exhaust System with Ultra Flo Mufflers Description: DynoMax’s 2.5-in. Cat-Back Exhaust System with the Ultra Flo mufflers feature a polished finish for a show-quality shine, and a straight-through design to ensure unrestricted exhaust flow and reduce back pressure. The mufflers use an exclusive Continuous Roving Fibreglass Technology to absorb unwanted interior resonance while maintaining a deep performance tone.

Specifications: Features stainless steel construction.

Applications: Available for the 1987-1993 Ford Mustang 5.0L V8.

Website: www.dynomax.com 26 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

Flowmaster American Thunder Header-Back Exhaust System for GM A Body Description: Flowmaster’s Header-Back Exhaust System for GM A-Body vehicles features an aggressive tone, is mandrel-bent and includes specially selected mufflers. Not only will the system provide the aggressive tone but will also improve throttle response, power and efficiency. The systems are designed to be an easy fit and come complete with all necessary hardware for installation.

Specifications: Made from mandrel-bent, 16-gauge tubing.

Applications: Made for the 1964-72 GM A-Body vehicles with the V8 engine options.

Website: www.flowmastermufflers.com

Flowtech Axle-Back Exhaust Kit for Corvette Description: Flowtech’s axle-back exhaust kits are constructed from 2.25-in. 18-gauge, 304 stainless steel material to maximize both strength and durability, and feature quality welds for strength, longevity and good looks. The high-flow, straight-through muffler design provides an aggressive exhaust note under acceleration and a mellow tone at idle.

Specifications: Features 4-in. polished 304 stainless steel quad tips to add style.

Applications: Made for the 1986-1991 C4 Chevrolet Corvette.

Website: www.holley.com

Gibson Axle Back Single Exhaust System Description: Gibson’s Axle Back Single Exhaust system gives your Dodge Charger a deep, powerful exhaust tone, along with improved acceleration and increased horsepower.

The Gibson muffler tunes the exhaust by using resonance chambers, directional louvered tuning ports and angular induction to draw exhaust gases into the muffler and expel it at a higher velocity.

Specifications: Features a 2.5-in. aluminized mandrel-bent tubing and a 4-in. polished T304 stainless round, double wall, slash cut tip.

Applications: Available for the 2010 Dodge Charger.

Website: www.gibsonperformance.com

Hedman Block Hugger Street Rod Headers Description: The compact, low profile design of Hedman’s Block Hugger Headers is ideal for factory manifold replacement, or engine swap projects that do not have a header designed specifically for the applications. HTC-coated stainless models are available but they are not recommended during the break-in period of your engine.

Specifications: Manufactured from Mild Steel.

Applications: Made for Chevrolet applications.

Website: www.hedman.com

Hooker Long Tube Ceramic Coated Headers Description: Hooker’s Long Tube headers for the GM F-Body and GM X-Body vehicles provide modern features and fitment to these classic platforms and will fit motors with standard port heads. The long tube geometry has been designed with maximum ground clearance in mind, while O2 bungs are also included for compatibility with EFI systems or air/fuel ratio meters.

Specifications: 3/8-in. laser-cut flanges, TIG-welded and flat-finished for maximum strength and a leak-free seal.

Applications: Made for the 67-69 GM F-Body vehicles and the GM 68-72 X-Body Vehicles.

Website: www.holley.com 28 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

Kooks Cat-Back Exhaust System Description: The Kooks Cat-Back exhaust system features polished dual tips and includes an x-pipe. They have been designed for use with Kooks headers, and feature an OEM inlet for use with a stock exhaust. Made for the GM LSX Series engines, the 3-in. stainless steel system will provide a more aggressive tone and will improve power and throttle response.

Specifications: Manufactured from stainless steel.

Applications: Available for the 2010-2015 Chevrolet Camaro SS. Website: www.kooksheaders.com

MagnaFlow Street Series Performance Exhaust System Description: MagnaFlow’s Street Series Performance Exhaust System is able to deliver a smooth deep sound while also providing the power you need. The system features a straightthrough flow design for the ultimate in unrestricted horsepower and torque for big power, while still maintaining exhaust efficiency.

Specifications: Manufactured from 409 stainless steel construction. All mandrel-bent tubing.

Applications: Available for a wide variety of muscle cars.

Website: www.magnaflow.com

Performance World Stainless Steel X-Pipes Description: Performance World’s X-pipes are great to add additional horsepower for a few bucks. Manufactured from 304SS and are easily added into any application. Available in 2.25, 2.50 and 3.00 inches.

Specifications: Manufactured from 304SS stainless steel.

Applications: Available sizes - 2.25, 2.50 & 3.00-in. Overall length - 12-in.

Website: www.performance-world.com

Pypes Mopar B-Body Crossmember Back X-Pipe System Description: Pypes’ 2.5-inch Crossmember Back with X-pipe system is designed to deliver enhanced performance and improved fuel efficiency. Fabricated using the highest quality materials, the pipe ensures maximum exhaust gas flow, which can significantly boost horsepower.

The mufflers and pipes are able to withstand corrosion, which prolongs their lifespan.

Specifications: Fabricated using smooth, seam-coated 16 gauge, mandrel-bent stainless steel.

Applications: Made for 1966-1974 Mopar B-Body Applications.

Website: www.pypesexhaust.com

Vibrant Performance Round Stainless Steel Tip Description: Vibrant Performance’s 4-inch Round Stainless Steel tip features a double wall, angle cut construction and will give that clean, aggressive look you want out of your muscle car. They have an overall length of 7.75 inches, an outlet diameter of 4 inches, and an inlet diameter of 2.25 inches.

Specifications: Manufactured from T304 Stainless Steel.

Applications: Universal product.

Website: www.vibrantperformance.com

DEC/JAN 2018 MUSCLE CAR Plus MAGAZINE 29

FIRST DRIVE: 2019 DODGE CHALLENGER HELLCAT REDEYE

New Leader

With the end of the Demon production, the all-new Hellcat Redeye is the new horsepower king Story by Gerry Frechette, Photos Courtesy FCA

years, until Dodge felt the need to introduce something with much more power. The 2018 Demon, with 840 hp and 770 lb-ft of torque, ne of the best battles in the new car business is between the was the result, and it was more of a purpose-built drag car than a Detroit Three manufacturers and their muscle cars. The cars viable street car, and of course, an instant collectible. It was also a available today are quite amazing, in terms of their capabilities, com- one-year only model that had the desired effect – lots of publicity. pared to what was offered half a century ago – or even half a decade.

The third-gen Dodge Challenger was introduced in 2008, and FCA The engine technology from the Demon needed to be put to use in a more streetable car, and FCA still needed the Challenger to be has continually upgraded it to keep it current in technology. the horsepower leader in the muscle car segment, so the Hellcat Of course, horsepower and speed are what sells in this segment, and Redeye model is the result. The supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi now Dodge really set the cat among the pigeons with the 2015 Challenger pumps out a mere 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque, which still makes Hellcat that had 707 horsepower. That car ruled the roost for a few this the most powerful mass-produced car on the market. We wonder why they couldn’t find another 3 hp to enable a nice, round number like 800....

O

Backing up this monster is an upgraded 8-speed TorqueFlight automatic – only. Realistically, neither a manual, nor its clutch, nor its driver, could probably keep up with that kind of power, driven in anger. Then again, the regular Hellcat can be had with a manual, and it generates 717 hp for 2019, the increase attributable to a new twin-snorkle hood on both it and the Redeye, with air fed straight to the intake system just like the old days.

The additional 80 hp of the Redeye can be chalked up to standard hot rodding procedures, such as bigger blower, increased boost pressure (14.5 psi versus 11.6), higher rpm limit (6,500 rpm versus 6,200), and two dual-stage fuel pumps versus one. One interesting statistic, with this engine’s appetite for air and fuel - at full throttle, the Redeye’s engine consumes 5.4 litres per 30 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

minute (1.21 imperial gallon/minute) of premium gasoline, enough to drain the fuel tank in just under 11 minutes.

The Redeye might not be as overt a drag racer as the Demon was, but it has all the high tech a weekend racer could want.

Launch Assist controls wheel hop, while Launch Control holds the engine at optimal launch RPM and waits for the driver to release the brake. It then uses engine torque management to optimize wheel slip for maximum acceleration. There is even a Line Loc that engages the front brakes only, leaving the rear wheels free to spin those expensive rear tires into clouds of burnout smoke. For those who might want to slow down and turn corners, there is Bilstein Adaptive Damping Suspension, and Brembo brakes including six-piston calipers gripping 15.4-inch discs up front.

The Redeye (like the regular Hellcat) is available in two body styles – regular fenders and Widebody. The fender flares look pretty cool, but the main reason for them is to allow larger tires that attempt to harness all that power and keep things safe and sane in all conditions, along with all the usual electronic safety gear. The 20-inch wheels are 1.5-inches wider, and the Pirelli P-Zero tires measure 305/35ZR20.

The interior is fairly standard issue Challenger with upscale touches. The seats, big and comfortable, come standard with houndstooth cloth upholstery, while three different leather packages are available, two with alcantara trim added.

DEC/JAN 2018 MUSCLE CAR Plus MAGAZINE 31

be a source of frustration, one would think.

In my view, that would be the biggest negative to owning the car – other than fuel and rear tire costs.

As the saying goes, “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The Challenger Hellcat Redeye is a very corrupting car. We fully expect to see the installation in a Challenger of the new 1,000-hp blown 426 Hemi, announced as a crate motor by FCA. Will it be a new official model above the Redeye? Nothing would surprise us now.

As one might expect, Dodge is not bashful when it comes to quoting performance numbers for the Redeye. Bearing in mind that this is a big, heavy (about 4,500 lb) car, more so than its main competitors, the numbers are even more staggering. It will go zero-to-96 km/h (60 mph) in 3.4 seconds. It will do the quarter-mile in 10.8 seconds at 219 km/h (131 mph) – all with a rear gear ratio of only 3.09:1.

And.....it will top out at 326 km/h. That is 203 mph, folks. And that is insane.

We didn’t quite approach that speed in the Redeye we briefly drove, but we did experience its acceleration. Not even matting the throttle, just letting it run up through the gears at two-thirds-throttle, on a deserted road in the middle of nowhere, we glanced down at the speedometer to find ourselves doing the kind of speed that would put us in jail in many places. And it felt like half that fast. I don’t know how the Redeye driver could consistently keep to speed limits, and that will 32 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

LOCATION

100 Mile House Abbotsford Agassiz Aldergrove Armstrong Bridgeview Burnaby - Douglas Road Burnaby - Edmonds Burnaby - Metrotown Cache Creek Campbell River Castlegar Chase Chilliwack - Sardis Chilliwack - Yale Clearbrook Cloverdale Coquitlam - Clarke Road Courtenay Cranbrook Creston Delta Duncan East Kelowna Enderby Fernie Fruitvale Golden Grand Forks

PHONE#

(250) 395-4051 (604) 850-1446 (604) 796-3141 (604) 856-3483 (250) 546-8110 (604) 930-9316 (604) 291-6840 (604) 522-3947 (604) 412-9955 (250) 457-9644 (250) 830-1788 (250) 365-5015 (250) 679-3088 (604) 858-2200 (604) 792-1999 (604) 556-9800 (604) 576-2821 (604) 931-3830 (250) 338-6266 (250) 417-0888 (250) 428-5335 (604) 597-8668 (250) 746-8181 (250) 491-0531 (250) 838-2200 (250) 423-4477 (250) 367-7581 (250) 344-7488 (250) 442-5995

LOCATION

Hope Invermere Kamloops Kamloops II Kamloops IV Kelowna Kimberley Ladner Ladysmith Lake Cowichan Langford Langley Langley Machine Shop Lillooet Lumby Maple Ridge Maple Ridge Machine Shop Merritt Mission Nanaimo Nanaimo II Nelson Newton North Kamloops North Vancouver North Vancouver II Oliver Osoyoos Parksville

PHONE#

(604) 869-2441 (250) 342-9210 (250) 374-4488 (250) 374-9922 (250) 372-2282 (250) 763-3621 (250) 427-4500 (604) 946-4679 (250) 912-0050 (250) 749-3341 (250) 391-1438 (604) 533-2444 (604) 530-3943 (250) 256-0599 (250) 547-1355 (604) 467-1191 (604) 467-3444 (250) 378-9004 (604) 826-7121 (250) 390-9232 (250) 753-1711 (250) 352-4699 (604) 543-2811 (250) 376-8200 (604) 984-0277 (604) 985-2222 (250) 498-0600 (250) 495-0445 (250) 248-5718

LOCATION

Penticton Pitt Meadows Port Alberni Port Coquitlam - North Port Coquitlam Port Kells Powell River Prince George Princeton Qualicum Beach Quesnel Revelstoke Richmond Salmon Arm Sidney Smithers Squamish Summerland Trail Tsawwassen Valemount Vancouver - East 2nd Vancouver - S.W. Marine Dr Vernon Victoria West Kelowna Whistler White Rock Winfield

PHONE#

(250) 490-8880 (604) 465-7200 (250) 723-4200 (604) 942-3994 (604) 942-4113 (604) 513-2288 (604) 485-4477 (250) 612-0223 (250) 295-3880 (250) 752-5621 (250) 992-6880 (250) 814-0116 (604) 276-1866 (250) 832-7030 (250) 655-9311 (250) 847-0195 (604) 892-5988 (250) 404-0139 (250) 368-9116 (604) 943-1599 (250) 566-4140 (604) 879-9391 (604) 324-8000 (250) 503-2238 (250) 380-2088 (250) 707-0106 (604) 932-0900 (604) 531-8877 (250) 766-4457

SIN

CE 1974

Barn Find

This 1970 Plymouth GTX is worth more than the barn it was found in was crazy,” he recalls. “Especially since I wasn’t even looking for a GTX. The car was only 14 years old, but it looked 140 ooking back on it, Jim Kitzerow laughs when he puts things years old and Mopars were not worth a lot. Maybe the ’63 in a contemporary perspective. “The GTX was a real ‘barn or ’64 “Max Wedge” car I was really looking for was worth a find’ when we bought it and I think half the hay and manure little, but not a GTX.” in the barn was inside the car,” he says. “But with the Mopar market getting so strong since then, the car is worth more One of Kitzerow’s friends spotted the GTX while he was on a business trip to Kansas City. It was sitting on the owner’s than the barn is today.” lawn with a for sale sign on it. The friend mistook the GTX for Back in 1984, when he purchased his Plymouth in Missouri, an earlier Plymouth and called Jim. “I found that car you’re Jim’s friends figured he had lost his marbles. “They thought I looking for,” he said. He didn’t tell Jim that it was hard to say what it was for sure, since the GTX had sunk into the mud back when it was just two years old and no one had ever bothered to pull it out and clean it off. Mud, of course, does not preserve things very well.

Story and photos by John Gunnell

L

Jim remembers that his wife was sick when his friend called. “I wasn’t going to do anything, at least until she got better” says Jim. “But, she asked me why I was not going to look at it and she is the one who insisted I buy it when we did go.” The sellers even delivered the car from Missouri to Naperville, Ill., where Jim was living at the time. Today, he resides in Eagle River, Wis. A deluxe vinyl interior with foam padding was standard.

34 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

Jim and his son Kurt restored most of the Plymouth themselves. “We got a lot of hours into that baby,”

Hood scoop and behind-the-door vents add to racy looks of the GTX.

he admits. “Building a show car is easy, it’s just a matter of spending lots of time and money.”

Jim and Kurt turned wrenches on the things they could deal with themselves and did most of the grunt work. For the heavy stuff, they turned to specialists for help. The engine in the car today is a 440 that was built up by Koffel’s Place, a well-known Mopar expert. It’s been bored .030 over and fitted with B1 cylinder heads. According to Jim, it now puts out over 550 hp. The 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission also required a re-work.

The 550-hp 440 wedge was built by Koffel’s Place.

For the “serious stuff” — that’s how Jim describes body work — the Kitzerows worked out a special deal with Mueller’s Autobody to keep costs affordable. Mueller’s agreed to do the work as a spare time project. “Many thousands of dollars later, it was finished,” Kitzerow figures. “It took about seven years and lots of money, but it was worth it.” Today, Jim feels like he was ahead of the curve in restoring a GTX and he knows that doing the car was a good investment.

The GTX was Plymouth’s answer to the later generation GTO, which Pontiac turned into a kind of luxury muscle car. It was a “top hat” version of the Satellite/Road Runner mid-size series with a lot more glitz and glamour. While it looked great and put forth

The ’70 GTX had a new grille, hood and front fenders.

36 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

Black stripes and rear end panel contrast with the Copper colour.

SPECIFICATIONS Year: .................................................................................... 1970 Make: ........................................................................... Plymouth Model: ........................................... GTX RS23 two-door hardtop Orig. Price: ..................................................................... $3,535 Weight: ........................................................................3,515 lbs.

Production: ........................................................ 678 (with 440) Engine: ............................. OHV V8, cast-iron block and heads.

Bore & stroke: ...................................................4.32 x 3.75 in.

Displacement: ..............................................................440 cid Comp. Ratio: . ................................................................. 9.70:1 Brake hp: ........................................................375 at 4,600 rpm Torque: ............................................................480 at 2,800 rpm Bearings: .....................................................Five main bearings Valve lifters: .............................................................. Hydraulic Carburetor: . ............................. Carter AVS-4737-S four-barrel Engine code: .........................................................................U.

The GTX came standard with the 440-cid Super Commando V8 and TorqueFlite automatic transmission. It also had a deluxe vinyl interior, with foam seat padding on its new-for-1970 high-back front bucket seats and rear bench seat. The body sides carried reflective tape stripes and side markers. Other GTX equipment included dual horns, a 70-amp battery and bright exhaust trumpets.

No longer offered in 1970 was a GTX convertible, which had never sold very well. The two-door hardtop was the only remaining body style. It carried a $3,535 window sticker, although most muscle cars went out the door with about $1,000 worth of options. The ’70 GTX wound up drawing only 7,748 orders.

That makes Jim Kitzerow’s Autumn Bronze Metallic GTX a pretty rare beast today. On the outside, the car is nearly totally stock, except that ’71 centre hubs are bolted to the ’70 Road Wheels. “I like the ’71 style centre caps better,” Jim explains.

“And it’s my car.” On the inside, the GTX carries a few extra gauges and a non-factory-issued pair of fuzzy dice.

The car has BFGoodrich Radial T/As that look authentic.

a touch of classiness, the GTX managed to retain a good dose of the “attitude” muscle cars needed for Saturday nights at the drive-in.

The 1970 version of the GTX had a redesigned grille, a new hood and restyled front fenders. It featured much of the same standard equipment as the Road Runner including heavyduty suspension, heavy-duty brakes, a dual exhaust system, a high-performance hood with the “Air Grabber” hood scoop, front and rear bumper guards, a 150-mph speedometer, F7014 red or white stripe tires, three-speed wipers, heavy-duty shock absorbers and roof and door moldings.

DEC/JAN 2018 MUSCLE CAR Plus MAGAZINE 37

months of attending shows across the state and beyond. The examples on display are only a handful of what’s in store — up to 60 different cars will be rotated and swapped in over the next year.

When asked what else people can expect, Keller replied, a whole lot of variety.

“While doing our research, we found the tuners, at least out here, really embrace all types of cars. The community is very diverse with a lot of bandwidth, and it’s much more than just someone

Story by Benjamin Yong

B

uckle up car enthusiasts — you’re about to go on a wild ride at LeMay – America’s Car Museum’s latest exhibit, Tuners@ ACM. Opening earlier this month, Tuners puts a spotlight on the subculture of taking lightweight, technologically advanced passenger vehicles and customizing everything from the engines and suspen- building up a Civic or a Supra. Visitors are going to see a huge sion to interiors and paint jobs. amount of creativity and expression, and there are literally no two cars alike,” he says.

“One of the things we learned while putting this all together is how to explain the new exhibit to our normal museum guests. We simply The exhibit is a perfect fit at the four-level, 165,000 square-foot LeMay, located in Tacoma Washington, which is all about celebrating America’s love for automobiles. Aside from Tuners@ACM, there is also British Invasion, Classics and Custom Coachwork, Heroes of Bavaria – 75 Years of BMW Motorsports, Legends of Motorsports: The NASCAR Story and Route 66 – Dream of the Mother Road showcasing a collection of cars and memorabilia associated with the iconic roadway.

Ticket prices are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors (age 65-plus) and military, $14 for students and $10 for youth (ages six to 12). Kids five and under get in free. For more information, visit www.americascarmuseum.org/explore/exhibits/tuners.

ask them, ‘Have you seen ‘The Fast and the Furious?’” says Scot Keller, Curator of Exhibitry at ACM. Think small displacement, usually import Japanese cars but with a sprinkling of European models. Currently, there are 17 creations featured, including a 1971 Datsun 240Z with a 327 Chevy Small Block V8 shoehorned under the hood, a 400-horsepower 1978 Toyota Cressida, and a fully track-ready 2018 Volkswagen Golf R nicknamed “RMLS,” modified by VW-specialist APR based out of Opelika, Alabama.

All of the vehicles are privately owned except for the Golf R, on loan to the museum and sourced by Keller and his team over several 38 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

Advertising Feature

DEC/JAN 2018 MUSCLE CAR Plus MAGAZINE 39

PARTS STORE Procar’s All-New Touring Series 1680 Seats

Red Line Oil 75W90 GL-5 Gear Oil

Procar has introduced its all-new Touring Series recliner seats that are ideal for your muscle car, protouring car or just about any vehicle. Side bolsters offer comfort and added support for aggressive driving situations, while the attractive white stitching and a stylish diamondshaped stitched centre allow the seats to easily integrate into any interior design. The tig-welded steel tube frame provides the ultimate stability and the seat features adjustable head restraints and an adjustable incline and recline function.

Red Line Oil’s 75W90 GL-5 is its most popular gear oil with thousands of applications for cars, light trucks and racing vehicles. The gear oil contains additional friction modifiers for suitability with clutch-type limited slip differentials with no additional friction modifiers required. The product is not designed for use in most manual transmissions or transaxles in passenger vehicles, since the lubricated components could cause synchronizer mesh issues that can possibly lead to shifting problems. Additionally, the 75W90 GL-5 gear oil is a suitable replacement for differentials calling for an 80W90 or SAE 90 gear oil.

For more information please go to www.procarbyscat.com

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40 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

Parts For Any Mopar

Everything you need...

Anywhere you need it!

VarsityChrysler.com DEC/JAN 2018 MUSCLE CAR Plus MAGAZINE 41

E CARS•CUSTOMS HOTRODS•MUSCLE

TECH: NEW PRODUCTS

DON’T MISS the 23rd Annual

2019

Holley’s New Vintage Series Two-Piece LS Valve Covers

HEY GEARHEADS! WE’RE ROCKIN’ THE TRADEX! ABBOTSFORD, BC APRIL AP PRIL 12 - 14. 2019

• Get Your Entry Forms in Early! Avail. online Jan. 1st • WANTED - Retro Rods/Rat Rods/Retro Customs For Our ‘Lost in the 50s’ Feature Display

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Holley has announced the release of its Vintage Series TwoPiece LS Valve Covers which will immediately update the look of your LS engines with integrated coil mounts for Gen I and Gen V-style LS coil bodies and a finned over-cover that hides the coils and wiring harnesses. The covers fit LS1/2/3/6/7 engines and feature vintage-style fins with a Holley logo blended in. Available in five different finishes, including natural cast, polished, satin black, factory orange and gloss red, and will deliver all the performance benefits of coil-on-cover ignition technology without ordinary stock covers.

For more information please go to www.holley.com

Husky Liners Mogo Luxury Floor Liners Husky Liners’ Mogo Luxury Floor Liners perfectly match the contours of your car and provide you with the ultimate interior floor protection. The liners feature stainless steel accents and a precision fit design that allow you to easily remove and

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hose them down if needed. The rubberized DuraGrip material is strong enough to withstand years of abuse but soft to the touch. They are available for a wide variety of vehicles including many modern muscle cars, and not only offer protection for the seating area of your vehicle, but also the cargo area.

For more information please go to www.huskyliners.com

B&M Cast Aluminum Differential Cover for GM 8.2-, 8.5- and 8.6-in. 10-Bolt Differentials B&M’s Cast Aluminum Differential cover has been designed to fit most vehicles with GM 8.2-, 8.5- and 8.6-in 10-bolt differentials and are designed to strengthen the differential by preventing case distortion and ring gear and bearing cap deflection.

The covers are constructed of A356.0T6 aluminum and significantly increase the fluid capacity and dissipate heat much faster than the stock factory unit, to prolong the life of your ring and pinion gears. Additionally, a B&M logo is engraved on the cover and a magnetic drain plug is included to catch ferrous metal particles.

All-New db Skin 2.0 from Heatshield Products

For more information please go to www.flowmastermufflers.com

For more information please go to www.heatshieldproducts.com

The new db Skin 2.0 from Heatshield Products is a liquid acoustic barrier material that builds off the success of the original db Skin with some improvements including a new chip- and abrasion-resistant water-based formula for a more durable finish. The Skin 2.0 functions as a topcoat or can be coated with paint or bed liner material, making it usable both inside and underneath the vehicle. The spray-on or brushable liquid acoustic barrier and vibration damping material will bond to sheet metal, wood, plastic and fibreglass surfaces. Vibrations in the 10 to 40 KHz frequency range can be dampened in a multitude of substrates or panels.

DEC/JAN 2018 MUSCLE CAR Plus MAGAZINE 43

Advertiser Index

Great Canadian Oil Change--------------------------------------24 360 Fabrication ---------------------------------------------------7 All-Parts Trailer Sales ------------------------------------------ 41 Barry-Hamel ----------------------------------------------------- 19 BC Classic & Custom Car Show ------------------------------ 42 BowTie Auto Parts ---------------------------------------------- 39 CAM Oils --------------------------------------------------------- 41 Canadian Hot Rods --------------------------------------------- 35 Competition Insurance ----------------------------------------- 39 Eagle Ridge GM ------------------------------------------------- 11 Easy Build ------------------------------------------------------- 44 Eibach --------------------------------------------------------------3 Formula Distributors --------------------------------------- 24,25 G&M Trailers ---------------------------------------------------- 41 GE ------------------------------------------------------------------5 George Moir ----------------------------------------------------- 41 Golden Leaf Automotive --------------------------------------- 15 Ididit -------------------------------------------------------------- 43 Jellybean AutoCrafters ----------------------------------------- 45 KMS Tools ------------------------------------------------------- 17 LeMay Museum ------------------------------------------------- 38 Lift King ---------------------------------------------------------- 45

Ididit’s Retrofit 1965.5-1966.5 GM-Style Mustang Tilt Floor Shift Steering Column

Lordco Auto Parts ---------------------------------------------- 33 Mopac Auto Supply - ------------------------------------------- 47 Muffler-Tech ----------------------------------------------------- 39 Procar --------------------------------------------------------------2 RPM Canada ---------------------------------------------------- 27 Scott’s Super Trucks ------------------------------------------- 41 The Muscle Car Shop ------------------------------------------ 45 Varsity Chrysler ------------------------------------------------- 41 VIP Mazda ------------------------------------------------------- 48 Westar Trailers -------------------------------------------------- 41 Workshop Hero ------------------------------------------------- 40

Ididit’s GM-style retrofit column is designed to fit your Mustang with only some modification to the original gearbox and wiring required. The column features a GM upper shaft and a 3-7/8-in. wiring plug and comes complete with a female end plug for your wiring. The column allows you to save your original under dash mount and floor mount and requires an Ididit installation kit to install the new column in place of the old. Using an adpator, add an aftermarket steering wheel and the gripping surface of the new wheel will be in the same location as the original.

For more information please go to www.ididitinc.com

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44 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018

Our structure widths range from 10’ through 50’, with the length being as long as you need.

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DEC/JAN 2018 MUSCLE CAR Plus MAGAZINE 45

READERS RIDES 1968 Chevrolet C-10 Shortbox Fleetside

Kevin Sterling bought his 1968 Chevy C-10 as an unfinished project after selling his much beloved 1972 Blazer and had originally planned to put it together quickly, but as builds typically go, this did not happen. As he worked, he decided he would take his time and just over two years later he was finally done. The truck underwent a complete frame-off restoration, leaving nothing un-touched and Kevin likes to think of it as essentially a brand new 1968 Chevy Truck, but better! Nicknamed Baloo for its blue colour and Kevin’s love of the Disney classic Jungle Book, the truck boasts a brand new, rebuilt 350 Chevrolet small block under the hood and every other component has been either redone, replaced or updated. Kevin entered the truck in a couple of World of Wheels Car Shows in Alberta and did very well, winning many awards including First in Class, Outstanding Engine and Master Builder among others. Since then, Kevin has enjoyed cruising around and attending a few other show-n-shines where it was always very well received.

WANT TO SEE YOUR VEHICLE IN THE MAGAZINE? Send in a few hi-res photos of your classic car or truck with a short description of around 60-80 words and we may include you in the Reader’s Rides section at the back of Muscle Car Plus.

If interested, please email us at ReadersRides@rpmcanada.ca 46 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE DEC/JAN 2018