ISSUE #40 - SEPT 2021
p i r T d a Ro
UPDATES
MEGA HORSEPOWER
! E D I S N I
FIRST LOOK!
Inside!
TWIN TURBO
ION UCT IND FORCED Special Issue!
VK COMMODORE VC VALIANT
BLOWN
XT FALCON HQ MONARO
NITROUS
DODGE DART TORANA HATCH
From the Desk WHEN YOUR ASPIRATED ENGINE CAN ONLY SATISFY YOU SO MUCH, IT’S TIME TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT DECISION – NITROUS, BLOWER OR TURBO!
Forced induction are two words firmly entrenched in the hardcore car guys vocabulary. Everyone has a favourite and will back up their choice with any number of facts – whether they be true or a modified version of what you can perceive as the truth. Personal opinions aside, each option has pro’s and con’s which should be considered carefully before dumping a large pile of cash on the counter of your local speed shop. Let’s start with that little blue bottle of fun… Nitrous is a great way to get into the world of forced induction. It’s relatively inexpensive to get started and can be added to just about any engine imaginable. And, for those who drive their cars regularly, it’s not in the face of those in authority who lack a sense of humour. Sure, it’s not legal to use Nitrous on the street, so it’s probably a good idea to hide the bottle when out and about – though you didn’t hear that from me. On the other end of the scale, the traditional supercharger not only looks awesome hanging through the bonnet, it’s a little hard to hide. It’s like waving a red flag at every passing Police car, daring them to defect you. There are options though is you are set on running a black belt. To keep things below the bonnet line, you can go for a Procharger, Vortech, Whipple, Harrop or even a pair of Torq-Storm blowers that still perform well, but allow you to cruise without having to look over your shoulder constantly. There’s no denying that turbocharger is the absolute favourite amongst street and strip car owners right now. Whether it’s a single or twin setup, turbocharging your engine is a userfriendly way of gaining insane power increases. Whilst it’s not a cheap option, the power gains and streetability makes turbocharging a game changer. Whichever way you decide to go, it’s always a great idea to have a chat to someone who has “been there, done that” and get their advice. Enjoy the first Forced Induction special issue… See you on the street
Paul
03
YOUR OFFICIAL SUPPLIER OF OPTIMA® BATTERIES
POWERED BY OPTIMA YELLOWTOP ® Steve Grima’s 1969 Chevrolet Camaro “Launch” Procharged 540ci Big Block
• SPIRALLCELL TECHNOLOGY • UP TO 3X LONGER BATTERY LIFE
THE ULTIMATE POWER SOURCE Power your ride from any of our 27 company owned R&J Batteries branches
• AGM BATTERY DESIGN • 15X MORE VIBRATION RESISTANT
Wholesale and trade enquiries welcome
/ 1300 769 282
/ rjbatt.com.au
Issue No.40 September 2021
CONTENTS REGULARS
03 EDITORIAL From the Desk 10 WHAT’S HAPPENING News, views and things of interest.
26
Bad to the Bone Blown XT Falcon
18 HAVE YOUR SAY Tell us what you think. 20
COMING ATTRACTION Blown One Tonner.
38 MY FAVOURITE PHOTO Blown Injected Big Block Anglia Van 82 ON ANY SUNDAY 2021 Hot Rod Power Tour Snapshot 88
FULL PIT ACCESS Motorsport News.
104 KILLER PIC Pro-Street Legend: MAULER Wheelstanding
40 Twin-turbo Street Elite VC Valiant
72 Twin-turbo LS3 Brock Tribute
50 8-sec Nitrous big-cube Torana
82
60 Procharged small block HQ GTS Coupe
94
106 PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Quick Find Ad’s. 108 WINDOW SHOPPING What’s New. 124 PARTING SHOT Mick Brasher smokes the Street Machine Nats
FEATURES
6
26
WHITE NOISE Blown XT Falcon
40
LIGHTNING STRIKE Twin-turbo VC Valiant
50
HATCHING A PLAN Nitrous big-block LX Hatch
60
ANTI-RESTO Procharged small-block HQ Monaro
72 94
MAKE MINE A DOUBLE Twin-turbo VK Brock tribute
Hot Rod Power Tour Snapshot
THE BRO CODE Nitrous 426-cube Dodge Dart
Don’t forget to Subscribe at www.pscmag.com.au
Nitrous big-block Dodge Dart
7
D E N O P T S O P
WHAT’S HAPPENING 2022 COPO CAMARO GETS BIG BLOCK POWER!
General Motors is taking the next COPO Camaro to the next level. The purpose-built drag car will be powered by no less than 572-cubes of Chev performance muscle.
SUMMERNATS 34 CONFIRMED...FOR NOW
It’s still early days yet, but at the time of this issue going live, the Summernats team were still planning on staging their event at EPIC from 6th-9th January. Currently, the Government are using the grounds for Covid testing, but we are all hoping that by the time the Summernats needs to be set up inside the venue, Covid will no longer be controllingeverything we do. The car scene needs a big 2022 and that starts with Summernats 34. Bring it on! Please...
HADFIELD’S HOT RODS
There’s no doubt that Rod Hadfield is one of Australia’s most prolific custom car builders, well-known for taking his builds to the extreme. That’s that know him well, will tell you he is always good for a yarn and is a wealth of knowledge from years of hands-on construction of some of the most outrageous vehicles in Australia. Rod, with help from his daughter Allison, has released a book appropriately titles “The Mad Scientist of Australian Hot Rodding” which showcases his journey through the years. It’s a perfect gift for these lockdown times. It’s priced at just $40. As well as the book, Rod has also released a musthave T-shirt ($30), Hoodie ($55) and jumper ($50). To place an order, jump onto the Hadfield’s Hot Rods facebook page by clicking the book cover!
CONDITIONAL REGO WARNINGS DURING LOCKDOWNS
Harking back to the good old days of 1969 when the COPO Camaro of the day also sported big cubes under the bonnet, the 2022 version will surely be in big demand. And if 9.4-litres of big block grunt is too much for you to handle (and we doubt it), there will also be two LSX-based small block options for you to go for. All engine options get backed by an ATI-built Turbo 400 auto. And here’s the best part, the 2022 COPO Camaro isn’t a limited edition run. Nope, GM have stated that they will build these cars on a first come, first served basis! I think GM is about to get very busy with orders… 10
With plenty of area’s around the country in strict lockdowns due to increasing Covid cases, warnings have been issued by various motoring Associations in regards to using your vehicle that has Conditional rego plates. Police know there are no events happening, so unless you are getting some essential work done to the vehicle, it’s probably best to leave it parked in the garage.
TUFF DAY OUT NEW DATES
After having to postpone the original date for the Tuff Day Out due to that damn Covid virus, Brad Gordon has advised that the event will now take place at EPIC in Canberra on Saturday April 23rd. Stay tuned for more info in coming issues…
11
UPDATE COUNTDOWN CLOCK ADDED
For those that need to keep track of how long they have left to get their cars ready to hit the road for the first Rad Trip, I’ve added a countdown clock to the webpage. Keep an eye on it regularly, because the day is coming…quickly!
9
SPECIAL ROAD TRIP EDITION OF PSC MAGAZINE SUBMIT YOUR PICS AND WIN!
There are plans in place to produce a special issue of Performance Street Car focussing solely on the Road Trip – and we want you to be a part of it. We want all entrants to take pics of their journey along the way and email them into us. Who knows, you may end up seeing your photo in this special issue. This will be additional to the coverage in the normal monthly magazine. And as a bonus, when we find that one photo that encapsulates everything the Road Trip is about, you’ll win a cool prize. More on that soon…
www.pscmag.com.au
CONDITIONAL REGO PERMIT NUMBER
Thanks to the guys and girls at the Australian Street Rod Federation, members of the Association can now take part in the Road Trip on their Conditional Rego, without having to use up any of their 60days. The ASRF Travel Permit number is T22-01 and features on the event flyer.
KEEP UP TO DATE AT THE OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE - CLICK THE LOGO! 12
Jake Myers - Burnout Champion!
ve ha I at th g in th e on d an e lif y m l al rs ca “I’ve been around tough tang us M y m hy w ’s at Th . ity al qu on e is om pr m co learned is never to ” o! to r ca ur yo r fo lls ve Lo on ST SI IN s! ng ri is fitted with Lovells Sp
www.lovellsauto.com.au
WHAT’S HAPPENING KILLER
Video
Goodguys Des Moines Autocross Video By 315 Squared
PSC EVENTS RESCHEDULED TO 2022
Just like 2020, this year has been a roller-coaster for event promoters, with many events having to be postponed, including our own - Killer Rides Live and Hot Rod & Harley Expo. The uncertainty of mass lockdowns across the country have forced many to either abondon their plans, or reschedule to a later date - and even then, there’s still no guarrantee the events will go ahead. With that in mind, I have decided to call it a day for this year and reschedule out event line-up for 2022. This will see new dates planned for Killer Rides Live #4 (August), and the new Hot Rod & Harley Expo in November. Of course, the PSC Road Trip is locked and loaded for October 17th. Keep an eye on the website for updates!
14
9
WHAT’S HAPPENING
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT – 1966 DODGE CHARGER
The 1966 Charger always seems to be placed a step or two behind the 68-70 Chargers in terms of popularity, but that could soon change with this Hellcat-powered ’66 built by Rutterz Rodz and seen at the Goodguys Show in Columbus recently. If the not-sosubtle engine swap didn’t get you in, the unique paint choice, big diametre wheels and reworked trim certainly would have!
FREE MAGAZINE OFFER
TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF TECHNICAL PERFECTION
TO GET YOUR FREE COPY
CLICK HERE
9
www.liquidintelligence.com.au
INCLUDES CASE STUDIES & ARTICLES OF ONE OF A KIND PRODUCTS
Mailed to your home or business
16
HAVE YOUR SAY Got something to say? Send it to paul@pscmag.com.au or message us from the Performance Street Car Facebook page.
WILL WE SEE ANY EVENTS TOWARDS THE END OF 2021?
Hi Paul, Everyday, there seems to be more and more events getting cancelled. It’s a trend we are expecting due to the uncertainty surrounding Covid. My car is sitting idle in the garage and I’m hanging to get it out – whether that is going to a show, cars and coffee or cruise night. It seems that NSW is the state where very little is happening. It’s annoying seeing how the car owners in Qld and SA are still enjoying getting out and about. Damn you NSW Government… Trent G Via Messenger
G’day Trent, I know first-hand how hard it is to plan any event in NSW, I’ve had to cancel two this year. Going from having something on every weekend in Sydney and the surrounding area’s to not being able to leave our homes. We were very lucky to be able to get the Sydney Hot Rod & Custom Auto Expo in before the lockdowns kicked in. Hopefully, things will get back to some sort of normality soon and 2022 can be a year where events return to the calender. Keep everything crossed… 18
TUFF STREET SPECIAL A WINNER!
G’day Paul, I think you made the right move by doing the special issues during the lockdowns. The Tough Street theme is a winner and the group you have in this issue is awesome! I look forward to seeing what you come with next and hope that things get back to normal sooner rather than later in regards to the lockdowns. Keep the mag coming mate, it’s a godsend during these tough times. Simon J Via Messenger G’day Simon, Thanks for the continued support. With restrictions on how and where we can move around, obtaining regular feature material is not always available to me. So to keep the momentum of the magazine moving, the decision to do some theme issues was an easy one to make. Hope you enjoy this “Forced Induction” issue. Good things to come…
BUILDING FOR THE ROAD TRIP
PRO-STREET OR PRO-TOURING?
G’day Gordon, As this issue is coming together, I am watching all the updates from the USA on the Hot Rod Power Tour. Being the first one, there’s so much to think of, but I am confident that the plans I have in place will ensure a relatively smooth event. Lets just hope the weather plays fairly… Good luck with the build of your wagon and keep on to your mates! The more the merrier…
G’day Stuart, thanks for your support mate. In regards to the build style, I guess it all comes down to how far you’d like to go. If you go down the Pro-Street road, keep in mind that when you modify the rear chassis, you may not get “legal” rego, the same goes for any protruding engine hardware. A Pro-Touring build is more rego friendly for sure, and when done right, will allow you to drive the Camaro without any hassles at all. Good luck.
Hi Paul, I can’t wait for October next year when the PSC Road Trip kicks off. I’m currently trying to fast track the build on my HG wagon to make sure it’s ready for the six-day cruise, including the haul up the Hume Highway to get to Wollongong to start with. I’ve been talking to my “car mates” about taking part in this too and hope to have a large convoy of cars heading up from all parts of Victoria. This is going to be a great week away for all concerned. Looking forward to more updates. Gordon W Via Email
G’day Paul, First up, love the magazine. It’s great that I can log on to the website any time and check out each issue. These days where we are advised not to go out, having this at our finger tips just makes sense. With that said, I am contemplating a new build but am unsure which way to go. I love the whole Pro-Street deal but also love the Pro-Touring theme as well. Stuart B Via Messenger
19
COMING ATTRACTIONS GARRY ROSSER - WB HOLDEN ONE-TONNER WORDS - PAUL BECK PICS - BEN ZELUKOVIC WORKSHOP - ZELUKOVIC SMASH REPAIRS
TONNER GRUNT
There’s no doubt that older cars are commanding crazy prices these days, so when you find a suitable project and have access to one of the top panel shops in the country, you’re making an investment, no matter how much you initially drop into resurrecting that particular car. One tonner Holden’s have always been popular, so when Garry came across a well-worn WB sitting amongst some other wrecks, he just couldn’t help himself and whipped out his wallet. The offer was right and Garry dragged his new project home.
Most people would have walked straight passed the bent and broken WB tonner sitting wasting away in a wrecking yard. Not Garry Rosser though, he saw a much bigger picture…
FABRICATED TILT TRAY WITH FENDERS ALLOY FUEL CELL
S D R A U G R E N IN D E T A FABRIC FLAT FIRE WALL ENCLOSED RADIATOR R E K O R T S 8 0 3 N W O BL
20
WB STATESMAN FRONT GTS GUARDS FLUSH DOOR HANDLES
KWC BILLET WHEELS 9-INCH DIFF 4-LINK SMOOTHED CHASSIS 21
Fast forward a bunch of time and the Tonner has been subjected to plenty of work inside John Zelukovic Smash Repairs in Orange. Not wanting to change the basic look of the tonner’s factory style too much, the body upgrades have been limited to a much more stylish Statesman front end, GTS guards, Kindig flush door handles, smoothed drip rails and lots of small custom pieces to hide certain details. Lifting the bonnet reveals a smooth firewall and fabricated inner guards. Rear of the cabin, the custom tilt tray is the main feature of the build, and when lifted reveals the alloy fuel cell.
Sitting in the reworked engine bay is a built 308 stroker that not only features all of the good gear inside, but has some of the coolest gear available on the outside too...
22
The chassis itself has been subjected to plenty of work too, with the rails and crossmembers being smoothed whilst the front end has been fitted with tubular control arms and Viking coil-over shocks, whilst the rear end see’s a McDonald Bros 4-link installed along with Viking coil overs. The wheels of choice a big diametre three-piece KWC billets.
23
Sitting in the reworked engine bay is a built 308 stroker that not only features all of the good gear inside, but has some of the coolest gear available on the outside too – in particular the billet Blower Shop supercharger and dual Holley blower-spec carbs. Though there’s no trim to speak of at the moment, the Tonner will spend time in Street Trim when that time comes. No doubt the interior fit-out will be as spectacular as the rest of the build.
The chassis itself has been subjected to plenty of work too, with the rails and cross-members being smoothed...
To date, all work performed on the Tonner has been performed in house at John Zelukovic Smash Repairs, with the exception of the engine and gearbox. There’s still plenty to do, but once its complete, Garry’s WB is certainly going to be a standout. Stay tuned… 24
WHITE
When you’re a member of one of Australia’s wildest car clubs, the Thirlmere Fryers, there’s three rules to abide by. Your car must be tough; you must have bulk horsepower and you must be able to destroy rear tyres at will. Mission accomplished!
NOISE!
DANNY DE BONO - 1968 XT FALCON WORDS / PICS – PAUL BECK 26
27
Danny DeBono is a proud member of the Thirlmere Fryers and is the first to admit that when he’s behind the wheel of his blown Falcon, he struggles to keep his right foot from being planted hard against the floor sending the tacho needle into the fun zone and the tyres into smoke. He does however, know there’s a time and place and does his best to keep it that way. Honestly. No, really, he does… When he swapped a moderate amount of cash for the XT Falcon in 2011, it was a clean and tidy stocker – the perfect platform for Danny to transfer into a tyre-melting monster. Providing the power to make that happen is a Westend Performance-built Cleveland small block punching out 393ci and over 900hp! Starting with an Arrow block, Sam added an
28
Eagle crank, H-Beam rods, JE forged pistons and a wildly-idling blowerspec cam. A Mellings oil pump spreads the lubricant around the engine from the ASR sump. CHi 2V heads soon joined the bottom end, but not before being fitted with Pac springs wrapping around much bigger valves. But it’s the induction system that is the absolute hero of this engine combo. The polished 8/71 Blower Shop supercharger is attached to the engine via a Newby intake and gets fed plenty of E85 fuel via a pair of blower-referenced 750cfm Holley carbs and is most of the reason for the neck-snapping power. After the MSD 6AL ignition fires the engine into life, the custom headers send the gases outwards through the Gonzo-built 3.5-inch exhaust system.
Danny doesn’t get to use the Falcon as much as he would like to. But when he does, he gives it everything it was built to handle - and then some!
29
Not wanting to take any chances with the transmission, Danny had Al’s Race Glides build a bulletproof trans-braked C4 auto box featuring a Dominator converter and B&M Shifter. The box has no problems in getting those 900 rampaging ponies through to the 9-inch locker rear-end housing 3.5-gears and 35-spline Moser axles. Built Ford Tough? You’d better believe it! Whilst the underside was getting all of the attention, Danny fitted the rear end with 8-leaf springs with a reverse leaf to get the car much lower in the rear. Drum brakes hide inside the black 15x8.5-inch Centerlines. Up front, the wheels measure just 5-inches wide and hide XY disc brakes and 3-inch lowered coil springs. An RTS master cylinder and brake booster is mounted under the dash, cleaning up the engine bay considerably.
30
When he swapped a moderate amount of cash for the XT Falcon in 2011, it was a clean and tidy stocker – the perfect platform for Danny to transfer into a tyre-melting monster.
31
The driveline sits inside the almost stock, original body. Whilst now modelled of the GT of the era, the Falcon’s sheet metal is minus a big chuck of bonnet steel to let the blower and carbs grab all the attention. The original paint has been removed from the Falcon’s body and replaced with a fresh coat of PPG White with blackouts courtesy of the team at TSR Smash Repairs. While the Falcon looks the part in this colour, Danny did hint at a change of colour in the not so distant future. Like the body, the interior retains some of its original components, but has been given a “tough car” look with the addition of the RCI front seats with harness belts, AutoMeter gauges and 6-point roll cage. The back seat is standard and plays host to a baby seat for Danny’s son Rocky to join him when cruising the Falcon. Like the paint, the interior will get a make-over when Danny pulls the car down for a freshen up some time soon.
Like the body, the interior retains some of its original components, but has been given a “tough car” look...
32
33
Being an Interstate truckie, Danny doesn’t get to use the Falcon as much as he would like too. But when he does, he gives it everything it was built to handle - and then some. And he wouldn’t have it any other way…
THANKS TO: Bejay at TSR Mechanical for tyres and help with the stuff
Danny can’t do. Nathan Ockers, Chris Eggleton and Troy Cunningham for their help during the build. Sam at Westend Performance for the killer engine package. Al’s Raceglides for a box that doesn’t break! A big thank you to my wife Sarah and kids Marlee and Rocky for all of the support and help on the car and for not counting the dollars spent – and about to be spent… 34
35
MY FAVOURITE PHOTO
Paul Beck
Long before John Willard built his 6-second Pro-Mod Anglia, he cruised the streets in the blown, injected big block-powered Anglia Street Rod. I shot this one back in the days of slide film for an early issue of Extreme Magazine. Everything about this pic screams attitude! 38
39
Lightning
STRIKE
Every now and then, a car comes along that absolutely blows the minds of everyone. This twin-turbo Nascarpowered VC Valiant is that car…
ANGELO FURFARO - 1967 VC VALIANT WORDS - PAUL BECK PICS - JIMMY T PHOTOGRAPHY 40
41
I first saw this ultra-cool Valiant when I got sent a few pics online – about a week out from the Victorian Hot Rod Show in January where the car was going to be on show for the first time. Walking into the venue, I went searching for the car and was gob-smacked. It was even more impressive than I had expected from the pics. The style, execution and innovation thrown into the humble ’67 Valiant had me hooked. And I wasn’t the only one. The twin-turbo sedan drew a huge crowd all weekend at its prime position underneath the centre dome of the majestic Exhibition Building. The next stop for the car was an unveiling at the Chryslers on the Murray event where the die-hard Mopar guys were going to cast an envious eye of what was to be the 2019 Car of the Show. As the covers were removed from the car, the “oohs” and “aahs” coming from the surrounding crowd spoke volumes for what the fellow Chrysler enthusiasts were thinking. For Angelo and his family, it was justification for a build that consumed their lives.
But there’s so much more to this Valiant than just a master class in metal shaping and preparation. Purchased in Melbourne as a stocker, Angelo had latched onto the car he had always wanted to own. With the car now in his possession, he put the plans into practise to transform the Valiant into the masterpiece it now is. It may not look it, but the original Valiant sheet-metal now features lots of modifications – some subtle, some not so. From the outside, the reshaped bonnet and cowl panel are blindingly obvious, as are the mini-tubs. The fuel filler has been relocated to the area between the boot lid and rear window and the lower section of the front guards have been extended to flow with the sill panels. In a complete turn-around to what we normally see, Angelo kept all of the badging and mouldings on the body as per the factory specs. Lifting the reworked bonnet reveals a fabricated recessed firewall and a removeable radiator support panel and new bonnet catch and pins. Inside, the metal work magic continues with a completely new floor and trans tunnel fitted, a six-point roll cage installed and a fabricated push-button start panel. Moving to the boot area and you see just how much work has been put into every section of the Valiant’s build. The inside of the boot area has been filled and smoothed with a 100-litre fuel cell filling the space between the enlarged wheel-tubs. The hinges were moved inwards and uses gas rams to help with the opening and closing operation. With the metal work completed, the lot got covered in a custom mix of Silver that suits the VC perfectly. 42
43
But there’s so much more to this Valiant than just a master class in metal shaping and preparation. Just like the body, the interior space is a mix of old and new, keeping some of the 1967 styling and complimenting it with enough custom additions to make it unique. Instead of removing the bench seat and bolting in some later model buckets, Angelo had the original front seat modified into buckets that now incorporates an arm rest and custom console to house the B&M shifter. The rear seat has been sculptured to work around the wheel tubs. The standard issue dash was kept in place, but has had subtle changes done – such as deleting the radio to make space for an array of switches and start button. Lots of AutoMeter dials have been added to the dash. The standard issue Steering wheel has been retained but now sits atop a Billetworks collapsible column. Under the dash sits a Wilwood brake pedal assembly complete with remote master cylinders and a Lokar accelerator pedal. To contrast the silver sheet metal, Angelo had the seats, door trims and other assorted pieces trimmed in Monte Carlo Nappa Blue leather, whilst the moulded headlining scored Alcantara suede. English Wilston carpet has been used under foot.
If you see it on show, take some time to check out the build quality and details. Like me, you’ll be impressed… 44
45
There’s no denying though, that the hero of this build is the engine – and what an engine! In the Mopar world, the Hemi big block is considered the be all and end all, but for Angelo, he wanted to go in a different direction with the VC. He latched onto a Nascar-spec R5P7 small block and to make it even more special, he added two Competition T3 turbo chargers. With 358ci of force-fed, hard-core Chrysler muscle on board, this Valiant goes harder than it looks – and that’s saying something when it looks as good as it does! The numbers are impressive – 746hp, 680ft-lb of torque at 6200rpm! All that on just six-pounds of boost! Using an Autronic ECU to control to engine after the MSD ignition
system does its thing, the pumped small block not only makes plenty of power, but is reliable enough for Angelo and his family to cruise around Melbourne without a car in the world. Visually, it’s just as spectacular when that trick bonnet is lifted. All that power gets sent rearward via a purposebuilt 727 Torqueflite box that features super-tough internals and a 3000rpm TCI converter. Down the back sits a 9-inch diff located via a custom 4-link setup and features a 3.25-geared Trutrack centre and 35-spline billet axles. It’s obvious that Angelo spared no expense in making sure the driveline in his tough Valiant was going to go the distance no matter what he puts it through.
So now the VC is finished, running and registered, Angelo is all about enjoying what he has created. 46
47
Other underside updates include new rear rails and chassis connectors, torque boxes added which incorporates outer sill panels to inner rails as well as chrome-moly tubing that braces the front and rear rails. Finishing off the rolling chassis is a complete Rod-Tech independent front end. Keeping the whole lot rolling are 15x6 and 15x10-inch Street Pro II wheels. As you’d expect, a build of this magnitude is going bring with it some challenging times, and Angelo has had to experience plenty of troublesome times, but seeing how good the end product is, those problems are now just a distant memory. So now the VC is finished, running and registered, Angelo is all about enjoying what he has created. That means more show appearances, but more cruising the streets to different events held around the Melbourne area. If you see it on show, take some time to check out the build quality and details. Like me, you’ll be impressed…
With the metal work completed, the lot got covered in a custom mix of Silver that suits the VC perfectly.
THANKS TO Peter – PET Racing; Troy & Sean
– Eliminator Rod & Custom; Leigh – Pro Street Development; Peter and the boys – Style Rod Panels; Ryan – Race Coatings; Neal – Romsey Auto Electrics; Emanuel – Trim Shop; Antonio -Autobarn Epping; Al – Wizard Hoses; Peter – Custom Towing; Nazir – TCI Torque Converters; Gerto – Gerto’s Metal Polishing; Greg Maskell and everyone else that has contributed to the build. A very big thank you to my brother John for all his hard work, time and effort and last but not least, my wife Kylie and my two boys… 48
49
HATCHING
MICK DARKE - 1977 LX TORANA HATCH WORDS / PICS - PAUL BECK
50
A PLAN
Mick Darke’s X275 Torana had already run a 9-second pass with its small block power. But Mick wanted an 8-sec time slip. Back to the drawing board…
51
This Hatch started life as a stock sixpack and was one of a yard full of Torana’s Mick had collected back in the day. After a stint overseas, Mick returned with head full steam and got stuck into building one for street and strip duties. Like all of his previous cars, the Torana was always going to be black, and it had to be tough and registered! “I’ve never owned a trailer so the “race-car only” deal just isn’t for me. I’ve always loved the whole Radial racing bracket and decided early on that this Torana was going to be raced in the X275 class”, Mick explained. “I can drive to the track, race it, and drive home again!.” I can
certainly see why this bracket is so popular now! Being a hands-on type of car guy, Mick handled the body and paint himself, massaging all the imperfections from the sheet metal before laying on a fresh coat of gloss black. But before the Hatch became shiny, Mick, along with good mate Brett Robertson, had performed a bucket load of work under the car including the mini-tubs, four-link setup and the nine-inch diff conversion. At the time, Mick had allowed clearance for 29-inch tall tyres. In hindsight, he wishes he had made that 30-inches to allow the step up into the Pro-Radial ranks.
On the odd occasion, he would dip into the 9.90’s, but then he got bored and wanted to step it up somewhat.
52
53
Inside, the Torana no longer resembles the family-friendly passenger car the factory had intended it to be. The original seats are long gone, with only a pair of Kirkey race seats being put back in. The dash was stripped of its gauges and now holds six AutoMeter dials including the all-important tacho and shift light. A MOMO steering wheel sits just forward of the alloy dash. There’s no carpet in
the car at all now, though there is a mass of roll cage, (with a helmet holder) and a Hurst shifter. Mick has fitted a stereo, but hearing it over the sound of that angry big block is a big call. The interior is purposeful. There’s nothing added that Mick doesn’t need on the street or strip. Though he reckons some carpeting could be on the agenda very soon. Obviously he is over the Nascar look!
With the engine in and fired up, and with a driving tune up in place, Mick hit the road for Canberra. And by hit the road, I mean behind the wheel of the Torana! Yep, his big blocked Hatch is a street car!
54
55
Mick has only just made the switch up to the big cube Chev engine, after previously running a stout small block. In its previous life, Mick had punted the Torana down the quarter with regular 10.0sec ET’s. On the odd occasion, he would dip into the 9.90’s, but then he got bored and wanted to step it up somewhat. After mate Jeremy Boskovich lined him up a brand new, 555ci Chev, the Torana was relived of its small block and the move to more cubic inches and more power was on! With Summernats 32 fast approaching, the boys worked tirelessly to get the Torana ready
56
to head to the Nation’s capital to have another crack at Tuff Street. Jeremy stripped the engine down to check it out and after finding all was good, it was jammed into the Torana’s chassis rails – bolting up to the Powerglide that was still in place after serving time behind the small block. The engine uses a Dart block filled with a top-shelf rotating system topped with big AFR alloy heads and a tunnel ram holding two 1050 Dominator carbs high through the Torana’s bonnet. The intake has been plumbed with a direct-port Fogger nitrous system worth an extra 600-ponies when Mick feels the need.
57
With the engine in and fired up, and with a driving tune up in place, Mick hit the road for Canberra. And by hit the road, I mean behind the wheel of the Torana! Yep, his big blocked Hatch is a street car! “It was quite an adventure! The carbs aren’t set up right yet so its running pretty fat at the moment, but we drove it from Sydney to Canberra, played at the Nats including a run on the Dyno before making the haul back down the Hume to Sydney.” Mick proudly told me. Sitting in the passenger seat for the trip home was the Runner Up Street Comp trophy and a dyno reading showing 688hp at the tyres. Mick is confident of upping that number to around 750hp once a suitable tune is in place.
At the time of doing the shoot, Mick had yet had the opportunity to get the big block fully sorted and ready to hit the track. He still needs the right tune and also a more suitable converter in the Powerglide to match the gassed big block’s power curve. Once these things are sorted, those radial tyres will be put to the test. Mick’s hopeful of getting an 8-sec ET without the bottle – even an 8.99 would be good enough! When he does, those Fogger lines will be feeding twice as much power through that engine! And he thinks the cruise to Canberra was an adventure… Stay tuned… 58
59
ANTIRESTO
Anyone can restore a rare factory muscle car, but it takes a real man to Pro-Street one and then repower it with a Procharged small block! Enter our man Rags…
RAGS ZAMMITT - HQ HOLDEN MONARO WORDS - PAUL BECK / PICS - LAUREN @ XPOSED PHOTOGRAPHY 60
61
Believe it or not, there was a time when HQ Monaro’s weren’t considered muscle car gold. You could own a nice, V8-powered coupe for around $10,000. Unfortunately, those days are gone and unless you’ve offloaded a couple of spare houses, there’s little chance you’ll be cruising in a tough HQ Monaro anytime soon. The story of this tough HQ starts in Adelaide. Rags was looking at buying his best mates’ car and came across this already modified Monaro looking for a new owner. The pristine body had been given the once over and the House of Colour Lone Ranger orange paint and silver stripes had already been laid down. That was some16-years ago! The only real change to the exterior was the addition of the reverse cowl scoop giving the Monaro a much tougher look. Manta Resto handled the body and paint duties which still look great today, though Rag’s is planning a repaint in the near future to give a fresh new look. Coming from Adelaide, it’s surprising not to see a set of satin-finish Centerline wheels tucked up under the HQ’s guards. Maybe at the time of purchase there was, but Rags decided the Weld Magnum’s (the rear featuring double bead locks) look so much better. And who are we to argue?
The most important part of this HQ Monaro, for us hardcore car guys anyway, is what’s lurking under the bonnet.
62
63
Opening up the doors reveals just what it would have been like driving this HQ from the showroom floor back in 1971… almost. The lightly-padded seating has been retained and have been recovered in the factory-styled black leather by Manta Resto, as have the door trims and headlining. Obviously there wasn’t a lot of imagination used by the interior designers in the early 70’s, with the main-focus was placed on performance… thankfully! The dash is primarily factory GTS-spec including the factory appointed gauges and steering wheel, with some AutoMeter gauges added to keep Rags accurately informed at all times. A TCM shifter has been adapted to the HQ centre console and makes shifting gears so much more precise!
64
Believe it or not, there was a time when HQ Monaro’s weren’t considered muscle car gold. You could own a nice, V8-powered coupe for around $10,000. Unfortunately, those days are gone...
65
The most important part of this HQ Monaro, for us hardcore car guys anyway, is what’s lurking under the bonnet. Back in 1971, this car could have been equipped with a 308 or a 350 engine. Those are just distant memories now though after Rag’s had Brett Niddrie at BNR Race Engines build a tough, 408ci small block Chev complete with a big Procharger. Brett kicked the engine build off with a 400ci Dart block filled to the brim with quality internals, knowing full well that Rag’s wanted big power from the big cube small block. Iron Eagle heads were next on the to do list and were bolted down to complete the long motor. An Edelbrock intake was added along with a Dandy Engines EFI intake and throttle
66
body that gets the nod from the Haltech 2700 Elite computer to work with the MSD 7AL ignition to fire the pumped small block into life. A Holley fuel pump feeds copious amounts of E85 through the engine to produce a whopping 700-horsepower at the considerable ET Radial rear treads. Transferring all those ponies through to the 9-inch diff is the sole purpose of the Turbo 400 auto that is now a reverse-pattern deal and fullymanualised. The diff uses tough 31-spline axles to get that power to the sticky Mickey Thompson tyres. Pedders springs and shocks help keep the HQ more stable on the road. Wilwood discs and calipers hide inside the Weld wheels and pull the HQ up from any speed with ease.
A Holley fuel pump feeds copious amounts of E85 through the engine to produce a whopping 700-horsepower at the considerable ET Radial rear treads.
67
Rag’s has already hinted that the HQ will be getting a fresh paint job soon, and while its off the road, he thinks it will be a great time to get the engine back to Brett for a freshen up. No use having the Monaro off the road for any longer than it needs to be.
The story of this tough HQ starts in Adelaide. Rags was looking at buying his best mates’ car and came across this already modified Monaro looking for a new owner.
THANKS TO: Brett from BNR Engines for building a very reliable engine and setting up the Procharger. Luke from Hasty’s Auto Repairs for the tough and
reliable gearbox. My Dad for making bits and pieces at work and putting up with my constant demands. Frank at All Sparks Performance for his help when my car solving problems and also help with the Haltech injection and the tuning. Tommy and Ali for help setting up the rear end and suspension to get the best results on the track. My wife and 3 kids for putting up with me spending endless nights in the garage. Seeing my Boys in the car smiling makes it all worthwhile… 68
69
MAKE MINE
A DOUBLE
While the rebuild on his tough Camaro was slowly taking place, Justin Smith needed a horsepower fix. Then along came a half-finished VK Commodore…
JUSTIN SMITH - 1985 VK COMMODORE WORDS & PICS - PAUL BECK 72
73
Justin is a hardcore car guy. He works hard at his job, and plays even harder. He also enjoys a challenge and when this partially completed VK Commodore presented itself, Justin took up the challenge to finish the Brock-replica and in the process, give himself something wild to drive on the street whilst waiting for the Camaro to be completed. Justin’s mechanic and long-time mate Rob Risteski at CA Motorsport was entrusted to finish the build with the idea’s both him and Justin worked out between them. The basics were there, they just needed tweaking or in some cases, manufacturing. Either way, when completed, this was going to be one tough VK.
If one turbocharger is good, then surely two is better, right? And if you’ve got two big ones, you might as well let the whole world see them!
74
75
If one turbocharger is good, then surely two is better, right? And if you’ve got two big ones, you might as well let the whole world see them! The Commodore already had part of the LS3 engine in place and the two Turbonetic’s turbo’s were bolted into place, but nothing was plumbed. “If the turbo’s hadn’t already been mounted, I probably would have had them sitting below the bonnet line and out of sight”, Justin explained. “But because the hard work had been done, we decided to leave them as they were.” Asked whether he had encountered any problems with the boys in blue, Justin grinned as he told us he’d had plenty of looks from them, but no hassles as yet. But he was waiting for that day to come. “it’s only a matter of time,” he laughed… The turbo’s feed an almost factoryspec 6.2-litre LS3. The most noticeable change is the custom intake and plenum which plays host to a 102mm throttle body and 1000cfm injectors. Other non-factory additions include a custom grind cam, gapless rings, Aeromotive fuel pump, Bosch coil packs and the twin, 3.5-inch exhaust
system. Everything else inside the engine is as per the factory spec sheet. Calling the shots now though is a MicroTech computer. On the dyno, the boys got just two runs in on the day due to a few minor issues, but did record 688hp at the rear tyres. Not a bad effort for a mild tune and an essentially stock LS3! Justin has assured us that they aren’t finished with the engine just yet so expect that figure to be considerably higher sometime soon! A full-manual twospeed Powerglide has been adapted to the LS and is fronted by a 4000rpm Dominator converter. The box passes the horsepower down the driveshaft to the sheet-metal 9-inch diff squeezed in under the mini-tubbed rear end. In behind each 20-inch FR Simmons wheels (8.5” on the front and a whopping 12.5” where it matters the most!) sits a massive disc and multi-spot calipers all from K-Sport. The custom Wilwood remote Master cylinder lives in the boot beside the enlarged wheel-arches and fuel cell. Adding to the reworked underside are Strange shocks, K-sport springs, heimjoints and a custom four-link set up.
Formula Blue is probably the most popular colour for the VK Commodore, made famous by one Mr P. Brock who introduced the colour on his SS Group A VK way back in 1984. 76
77
The front spoiler, open-grille and low-line rear wing take you back to a time when carbs where controlling your cars diet, not yours.
Formula Blue is probably the most popular colour for the VK Commodore, made famous by one Mr P. Brock who introduced the colour on his SS Group A VK way back in 1984. Forgetting about the reworked bonnet for the time being, the body and paint (complete with the associated decals) is a tribute to those HDT cars from back in the day. The front spoiler, open-grille and lowline rear wing take you back to a time when carbs where controlling your cars diet, not yours. This car had already been fitted with the sunroof when Justin became the owner and the wildly shaped bonnet was all but completed too – a necessity to feed bucket loads of air into the two turbo’s jutting proudly from the engine bay. As they say, if you’ve got them, flaunt them! Originally, the wheels were black, but the switch to white (with white carbon-fibre centres) makes them much more obvious and really shows off the width of the rears!
Like the body colour, the interior is also a throwback to the Brock/HDT days with the Scheel interior fitted to the VK. The blue/grey trim flows through to the original door trims with the factory dash , console and steering wheel from the Group A also fitted. But that’s not to say it’s entirely a resto inside. The manual shifter is nowhere to be seen, and in its place sits a Hurst Quarter-stick attached to the ‘Glide underneath the tunnel. Back before electronics were used run your engine, Brock would have had no need for a MicroTech digital dash – but Justin does, so its mounted in front of where the factory analogue dials used to be in full view. Overall, the interior isn’t a bad place to be on a regular basis. 78
79
Since completing the build, Justin has had plenty of seat time and has taken the Commodore to a few events including the Queanbeyan All Holden Day where he scored Top Car Overall and backed that up with Top Standard Paint and Top 10 at the Springnats in Shepparton. This year he has plans to put some more miles on the LS3, attend a few more events and maybe even take part in Drag Week – but before he tackles that event, there will be a few necessities added including a roll cage and parachute and no doubt a couple of hundred more ponies…lol.
Justin is a hardcore car guy. He works hard at his job, and plays even harder.
By the time that is all done and dusted, Justin’s blown Camaro will be coming along nicely and if he can find a painter to do the job at hand, it may even be ready to rock and roll as well. For now though, Justin is content to cruise, show and eventually race his version of Brock’s VK Group A. Projects like this don’t happen without good people involved and Justin would like to thank Rob at CA Motorsport, Robbie Jnr and Steve Petrovski for their combined involvement and also a big shout out to “Digs” for selling him the car in the first place… 80
81
HOT ROD POWER TOUR_AUG 23-27, 2021 Words - Paul Beck Pics - Nick Flitcroft Driving Pics - Michael T Rae Jr.
Tour
D’ FORCE
Whilst here in Australia, we are dealing with all kinds of Covid-related disruptions to our lives, our car-loving mates over in the US are hittin’ the blacktop for the 2021 Hot Rod Power Tour.
82
83
The Hot Rod Power Tour is one of those events known around the world. Kicking off from where the previous year’s event finished, the multi-day cruise attracts thousands of entrants from across the US – many doing their own Power Tour to reach the starting point. It’s an event that brings together car enthusiasts from all genres. Street Machines, Hot Rod, Customs, Muscle Cars, Rat Rods, resto’s, run-down drivers and everything in between. It really is one of those events that everyone and anyone can enjoy.
Whilst the Power Tour is primarily a massive cruise, there’s plenty more to do each day including Drag Racing, dyno competitions, burnouts, trader stands and of course a show and shine.
84
85
Kicking off from where the previous year’s event finished, the multi-day cruise attracts thousands of entrants from across the US – many doing their own Power Tour to reach the starting point. This year’s event kicked off in Norwalk at the Summit Motorsports Park before heading to Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Dayton, Ohio on the Tuesday, Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis (Wednesday), World Wide Technology Raceway in St Louis, Missouri (Thursday) before finishing up at the State Farm Centre in Champaign, Illinois. Whilst the Power Tour is primarily a massive cruise, there’s plenty more to do each day including Drag Racing, dyno competitions, burnouts, trader stands and of course a show and shine.
86
87
Thanks to Nick Flitcroft for the use of his pics, we are able to bring you a snapshot of the 2021 Hot Rod Power Tour just days after the event finished for another year. Now, who else is hyped up for the Performance Street Car Road Trip? I know I am…
88
89
FULL PIT ACCESS WHAT’S ON WHERE?
SYDNEY DRAGWAY www.sydneydragway.com
Every Wednesday Night - Aeroflow Race 4 Real Nov 13/14 NSW All Ford Day Swap / Show HIDDEN VALLEY DRAG STRIP www.hiddenvalleydrags.com No Events Listed at this Time STEEL CITY DRAG CLUB www.steelcitydrags.com SUNSET STRIP MILDURA www.sunsetstrip.org.au Sept 18-19 Summit Racing Sportsman Sept 24-26 Sunset Strip Junior Nationals
AUSTRALIAN TOP FUEL CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 CALENDER RELEASED
The newly formed team behind the Australian Top Fuel Championship have locked in the dates for the 2022 season, with rounds being shared around the country with the exception of Qld and SA. Kicking off on Jan 21/22 at Sydney Dragway, the Top Fuel Show then head to Calder Park (Feb 5/6) before making the long haul to WA (Mar 5/6). The cars then head to Heathcote Raceway where they will no doubt attract a huge regional crowd over the weekend of April 9th and 10th before heading back to Sydney Dragway for round 5 on May 6/7. The Grand Final has yet to be announced. Stay tuned for more information…
RACER PROFILE
NAME: Johnny Habib OCCUPATION: IT Delivery Manager VEHICLE: LH Torana Sedan DRIVELINE: 588ci BBC, Nitrous, 2-speed Rossler T400, 9-incg, E85 fuel
BENARABY DRAGWAY www.benarabydragway.com
BEST ET & MPH: 7.6@185mph (with 632), 7.9@172mph (with 588)
SOUTH COAST RACEWAY www.southcoastraceway.com.au Nov 13 Chicago Shoot Out Dec 4 South Coast 5K Dec 11/12 South Coast Nationals
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN RACING: Multiple wheelstands at various events. APSA Mod Street wins. FIERCEST COMPETITOR: All the Turbo Teddies!
PERTH MOTORPLEX www.motorplex.com.au Every Wednesday – Whoop Ass Wednesday
FAVOURITE PLACE TO RACE: Sydney Dragway & Willowbank
SPRINGMOUNT RACEWAY www.springmountraceway.com WILLOWBANK RACEWAY www.willowbankraceway.com.au
HAVE YOU SUBSCRIBED YET? GO TO www.pscmag.com.au DO IT NOW! IT’S FREE! 90
FAVOURITE CLASS TO WATCH: Pro-Street, Pro-Street and more Pro-Street! Radial is pretty cool as well. https://www.facebook.com/TopFuelAustralia
CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Being the leader of the APSA in its most successful years. Great friends, great people and amazing racing! FUTURE PLANS: No Prep Racing and to get faster! WORDS TO LIVE BY: “Nitrous”. if some is good, more must be better! A real car is a steel car! Pro-Streeter for Ever! When the flag drops, the bullshit stops...
91
OUTLAW DRAG RADIAL TOP TEN LIST 1/8 MILE - OUTLAW 1. Wade Wagstaff 2. Kyle Hopf/Terry Seng 3. Steve Ham 4. Joe Gauci 5. Perry Bullivant 6. Craig Burns 7. Daniel Szabolics 8. Harley Hamilton 9. Ben Bray 10. John Ricca
3.790 @ 200.26mph 3.831 @ 204.94mph 3.837 @ 205.63mph 3.850 @ 201.00mph 3.860 @ 202.61mph 3.890 @ 192.92mph 3.890 @ 190.00mph 3.940 @ 197.00mph 3.959 @ 201.76mph 3.964 @ 199.49mph
1/8 MILE – 275 TYRE 1. Farrugia/Androutsos 2. Stu Henry 3. Tim Cross 4. Tony Webb 5. Michael Kalaitzakis 6. Sam Metro/Maatouk 7. Steve Bezzina 8. Sean Muscat 9. Matt McCarthy 10. Varun Sharman
4.155 @ 186.12mph 4.196 @ 176.80mph 4.290 @ 178.95mph 4.347 @ 177.42mph 4.363 @ 186.02mph 4.422 @ 175.25mph 4.436 @ 171.71mph 4.437 @ 168.22mph 4.450 @ 168.75 mph 4.470 @ 16.736 mph
¼ MILE - OUTLAW 1. Joe Gauci 2. Sam Metro/Maatouk 3. Farrugia/Androutsos 4. Daniel Nunziante 5. Dom Luppino 6. Profab/Forster 7. Perry Bullivant 8. Mark Leake 9. Steve Bezzina 10. Harley Hamilton
6.052 @ 241.50mph (315) 6.472 @ 219.94mph (275) 6.557 @ 215.93mph (275) 6.580 @ 228mph 6.600 @ 230mph (315) 6.620 @ 192mph (315) 6.670 @ 217mph (315) 6.700 @ 220mph (315) 6.723 @ 208.88mph (275) 6.782 @ 168mph (315)
¼ MILE – 275 TYRE 1. Sam Metro/Maatouk 2. Farrugia/Androutsos 3. Steve Bezzina 4. Varun Sharma 5. Tim Cross 6. Nader/Maatouk 7. Joe Gauci 8. Robert Marjan 9. Frank Tarabay 10. 92 Danny Busbridge
6.472 @ 219.94mph 6.557 @ 215.93mph 6.723 @ 208.88mph 6.790 @ 212.16mph 6.800 @ 214.00mph 6.840 @ 209.00mph 6.850 @ 215.00mph 6.868 @ 204.20mph 6.940 @ 204.00mph 6.940 @ 199.64mph
PETER NUSSER GOES LESS CYLINDERS FOR MORE POWER
Whilst Peter Nusser’s XR Falcon Ute looked so damn tough with the big blower and carbs hanging out the bonnet, it’s streetability suffered somewhat.
So Peter made the hard decision to ditch the blown 363-cube Windsor, in favour of a big horsepower, turbo six-pack. Work is well and truly underway with a goal of having it ready to take on Drag Week.
93
O R B E TH
E D O C
Brothers Vince and Anthony Cipri share a passion for though cars. They also share one of the toughest – a nitrous 426 Dodge Dart!
VINCE & ANTHONY CIPRI - 1968 DODGE DART WORDS & PICS - PAUL BECK 94
95
The brothers bought the Dart back in 1996 from a drag racer whose sole purpose for the car was to get down the quarter mile as quickly as possible. Vince and Anthony continued to race the Dodge for the following couple of years before life duties got in the way, which saw both guys get married, start families and generally concentrate on everything but the stored Dodge. Then, three-years ago, the pair decided it was time to take the one-time race car out of storage and make the transition back to a tough-as-nails streetcar. It was never going to be a regularly daily driver, so the boys decided to push the limits and make their Dart a prostreeter capable of performing both street and strip duties. I spotted the Dart at the 2019 Chryslers on the Murray event where I awarded it my Editors Choice pick.
THANKS TO: Greg Banks for all the fabrication work and the huge effort he
put into the build overall. Mario and Vince Gulisano for their help in putting the car together from the fuel cell to the radiator upon its return from the paint shop. Gerry from Bonnyrigg Smash for the paint and panel work. Warren and Stu from Norwest Engine Centre in Castle Hill. Victor and Stel for the tune and sorting out the electricals. Keith Clews for always being there to help out with all of our builds. To Dad for his inspiration. And last but not least, our wives and kids for all the late nights and weekends we spent in the garage. 96
97
The heart of any tough Pro-street car has to possess, above all else, a massive attitude, and the big block sitting in this Dart’s engine bay certainly ticks all the boxes. Sporting 426 cubic inches, the Wedge engine has been pieced together by Warren & Stu at Norwest Engine Centre. The centre piece of the build is obviously the two custom 1150cfm ProSystem carbs perched high on the sheetmetal intake surrounded by plenty of NX Nitrous solenoids (a big part of the Stage 2 NX Nitrous system), but there’s more to this engine other than what is visible. If you’ve watched the video, you’ll know just how angry this big block is thanks to the custom roller cam and solid lifter combo. The crank is a Molnar unit and swings H-Beam rods and nitrous-spec, Ross Racing pistons wrapped in Total Seal rings. A Milodon sump holds plenty of
premium grade oil for the Mellings pump to spread around to all the vital areas. The Max Wedge heads have had plenty of attention lavished onto them with big Manley valves added along with K-Motion springs to deal with the higher revs. The fire in the belly of this Mopar beast is bought to life via a full-compliment of MSD gear including the Digital 7 ignition system, HVC2 coil, billet distributor and super conductor leads. After the fire ignites, the ceramic coated custom headers push the gases out through a fabricated, dual 4-inch system. At the moment, a 727-transmission fronted with a TCE 5500rpm converter backs the powerplant, but before the Dart gets reunited with the strip, that will be updated to something more suitable. Not at risk however, is the narrowed 9-inch diff featuring Strange 40-spline axles and a full-spool.
The brothers bought the Dart back in 1996 from a drag racer whose sole purpose for the car was to get down the quarter mile as quickly as possible.
The underside is purpose-built to take straight line action seriously with the original Torsion bar suspension soon to be replaced with a tubular-front end to compliment the rack and pinion steering, Koni shocks, DBA discs and Wilwood calipers that are already in place. Down the back, the diff is held in place via a ladder-bar set-up with custom springs and Koni-shocks doing their best to counter-act the torque being sent through them. The discs, calipers and master cylinder are all courtesy of Wilwood on the tough rear end. The transmission cooler has been added behind the diff. The Pro-Street styling is also present in the wheel and tyre combo. The front wheels are 15x4 Weld V-Series wrapped in Mickey Thompson rubber while the bead-locked 15x10-inch Weld Alumastars are housed inside impressive 315/60 M&H tyres. 98
99
The body was in reasonable shape when the boys took ownership, but that didn’t stop them from putting the coupe in for a freshen up anyway. Though the body looks factory fresh, there are some subtle changes. The rear wheel openings have been reshaped to adapt to larger-walled drag-spec tyres and both the bonnet and boot lid are now fibreglass and have had their hinges ditched to allow complete removal from the body. The inner guards are also fabricated and that cool bonnet scoop has been chopped up to allow the air cleaners to get clean, uninterrupted cool air. With the body sorted, the boys called on Bonnyrigg Smash to lay on the fresh coat of Custom Metallic Grey and Mopar stripes on the quarters.
Inside the Dart can only be described as race-ready. There’s nothing in there than doesn’t serve a purpose. From the Greg Banks built, multi-point cage, to the Jaz race seats, exposed electronics and digital dash – this interior has been constructed with one goal in mind. Six-point harnesses keep both the driver and passenger in place, but still allow easy access to the big NX Nitrous bottle added between the seats. The pedestal-mounted RTS Striker shifter completes the race car componentry. The only soft material used in the Dart is the black vinyl seats covers, the dash and door trims are carbon-fibre…
100
Both Vince and Anthony dedicate the build of this car to their late father for everything he showed the boys about fixing and rebuilding different parts of cars.
101
Like any build, there have been enough problems associated with bringing the package together, but none were too much of a challenge that the boys couldn’t overcome it. After two and a half years of work, the brothers used the Chryslers on the Murray event to debut the Dart, much to the delight of those in attendance who love their Chryslers a little on the wild side – OK a lot! So now that its driveable once again, Vince and Anthony intend on making the most of it with more event appearances before making the upgrades to the trans and front end. When that happens, it will be time to hit the quarter mile again where it’s hoped the Dart will jump straight into the 9’s before dipping into the 8’s when the gas is unleashed. Both Vince and Anthony dedicate the build of this car to their late father for everything he showed the boys about fixing and rebuilding different parts of cars. His passion for cars had obviously rubbed off on the guys from an early age. “This one is for you Dad!”
Inside the Dart can only be described as race-ready. There’s nothing in there than doesn’t serve a purpose.
102
103
KILLER PIC
Pro-Street Legend Greg Tsakiridis - RX4 Mazda
104
105
PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Advertise your business here from just $55 per month* * Based on 6-month Booking @ 1/8 page size.
All the big brands!
Email: paul@pscmag.com.au for more info.
www.speedpro.com.au 0411 620918 Australian Made Engine Coolants & Additives
oldskoolrestos@gmail.com
1800 441163
www.liquidintelligence.com.au
07 3488 7831
www.superformance.com.au
Performance Pulley Systems to suit a wide range of engines
www.wheelswithinwheels.com.au
Phone (02) 42850300
ADVERTISE HERE
JUST $55 PER MONTH CONTACT PAUL - 0432 795336
Unit 2, 25 Badgally Rd, Campbelltown NSW
Ph 02 9820 6800
www.prostreet.com.au
www.lovellsauto.com.au
www.blautomotive.com.au
ADVERTISE HERE
PUBLISHED ONLINE QUARTERLY READ EACH ISSUE FOR FREE! 106
H T N O M R E P 5 5 $ T S U J 5336 CONTACT PAUL - 0432 79
107
WINDOW SHOPPING NEW PERFORMANCE STREET CAR T-SHIRTS AND POLO’S NOW AVAILABLE
As this issue was getting finished off, our merchandise range was expanding with these cool Polo and T-Shirts. Featuring our logo along with a Holden, Ford and Mopar (to keep everyone happy), these shirts are no available in many sizes including custom larger sizes.
DH6 YELLOW TOP AT R&J BATTERIES
Recently added to the Yellowtop range is the Optima® H6 battery which is specifically designed to fit OPTIMA more vehicles requiring a DIN fitment (recessed terminals) solution. The internal chemistry of the OPTIMA H6 is perfect for the high-energy and cranking power needed in DIN applications. Built differently to other batteries in the range, the H6 Yellowtop battery features Optima’s exclusive Pureflow Technology™, an amazingly durable, non-spillable, AGM battery featuring flat-plates engineered with 99.99% pure lead, increasing plate count and surface area for maximum power and battery life. Despite the H6 moving away from Optima’s signature Six Pack® cell design, the battery still outputs the same, high level of power. Highly compressed radial grids offer extreme vibration resistance while direct-path, cast-on straps reduce internal resistance and maximise energy flow to deliver faster engine-cracking power and higher coldcranking amps every time. The OPTIMA H6 allows a large variety of modern vehicles that require DIN fitments to experience the power and performance of OPTIMA Batteries. For more information, click on www.rjbatt.com.au
SUPERFORMANCE ULTIMATE INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION
Priced at $55 for the Polo and $45 for the T-shirt, the prices also include postage within Australia. For more information on sizing and ordering, click this link and find them on our website. Go to: https://www.performancestreetcar.com.au/merchandise
Designed and fabricated entirely inhouse to the highest standards, these fully engineered and street legal independent front ends are the brainchild of Superformance’s Grant & Todd Malseed. Each front end is fully customisable and the perfect addition for those wanting to upgrade their front suspension setups. Featuring superior handling, and varying stance options, these front ends incorporate the industry’s best components, including Wilwood for brakes, Flaming River racks, Aldan and QA1 for their coil-overs as well as Slam Specialties or Ridetech for airbag applications. All front end’s are easily aligned after Superformance spoke at length with the alignment industry, ensuring anyone can easily perform an alignment when required. At this stage, Superformance have front ends available for XK-XP Falcon’s, LH-LX Torana’s, ’62 to ’87 Chev and ’48-89 Ford Pickups – with this range being added to regularly. All kits include engineering paperwork and detailed instructions. With Technical Advice / Recommendations with our Sales Team for your current or future build needs. For more information, contact Superformance direct on 07 3488 7888 or jump onto the website - www.superformance.com.au
1940 WILLYS GASSER AT PRIZED PIECES
The ACME Rat Fink 1940 Willys Gasser is now available at Prized Pieces. This limited edition, 1/18-scale diecast Willys is one of 732 produced in this series, and features opening doors, removable bonnet, working suspension, a highly detailed blown injected Hemi V8 engine and with realistic rubber tyres mounted to traditional styled wheels – the fronts of which, turn. This model is highly detailed inside and out and won’t last. To order yours, contact Matt at Prized Pieces on 0413 112682 or through the website at www.prizedpieces.com.au 108
109
COMING EVENTS SEPT 11 NSW - CARS UNDER THE STARS Sydney Motorsport Park T21/46
17 QLD - HARRIGANS ROD & CUSTOM SHOW Harrigans Lane, Jacobs Well fueleddesignsaus@gmail.com
12
NSW - BIG 3 CAR SHOW & SWAP Queanbeyan Showgrounds
26
NSW - ACT ALL HOLDEN DAY Queanbeyan Showgrounds
31
26
NSW - PAMBULA MOTOR FEST Pambula Sportsground
NOVEMBER 6/7 VIC - BRIGHT ROD RUN 6/7 VIC - YARRAWONGA ROD RUN 7 NSW - STEPHEN SHORT MEMORIAL CAR SHOW Carousel Inn Hotel, Rooty Hill Henry - 0467 705456
17 NSW - WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL CAR SHOW. 9am-1pm Doug - 0407 296125 17/18 NSW - JOHN WATTS MEMORIAL RUN Odd Rods Club - Wairo Beach S21/16 17 NSW - BERRY MOTOR FAIR 185 Strongs Rd, Jaspers Brush 18 NSW - CARS UNDER THE STARS Greenways Centre, Wetherill Park 24 NSW - NSW ALL CHRYSLER DAY Museum of Fire, Penrith 19 NSW - APPIN WHEELS FESTIVAL Appin Public School 24 NSW - DAMFEST mlb611@hotmail.com Warragamba Dam - Highland Cruisers S21/17 Permit No. 19 NSW - ALL AMERICAN DAY Macarthur Square Shopping Centre 29/30MURRAY BRIDGE AUTOFEST Campbelltown www.autofest.com.au nsw.mustang.org.au
OCTOBER 2 NSW - GRUIDGE KINGS Sydney Dragway www.grudgekings.net 9 NSW - SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS MOTORFEST Bong Bong Racecourse, Bowral 16 NSW - THRASHER NATS#2 Wagga Wagga www.facebook.com/riverinathrashers 110
13
NSW - EAST HILLS CHARITY CAR SHOW Kelso Oval Panania
NSW - CARS UNDER THE STARS Wetherill Park - Permit No. T21/46
Please check closer to the day to see if any of these events have been cancelled due to Covid 19.
D N 2 T C O Y A D R U T SA
PARTING SHOT See you next Issue!
124
SUBSCRIBE NOW FOR FREE AT:
www.pscmag.com.au
125
E E S O T T N A W U DO YO R A C T E E R T S E C PERFORMAN BACK IN PRINT? I am looking at putting together a printed version of Performance Street Car Magazine every two months. The digital version will still be available free of charge online every month. If this is something you’d like to see, click on the link and check out all of the details and register your interest. www.pscmag.com.au
Y L N O N O I T P I R C S B U S s t n e g a s w e N in le b a il Not Ava Only $77.70 per year! . le b a il a v A s ie p o C d e it Lim
LETS MAKE THIS HAPPEN - IT’S UP TO YOU!
HERE’S WHAT WE OFFER!
e v i t a v o n n I Get with your g n i s i t r e v d A
EXCEPTIONAL RATES! GLOBAL AUDIENCE! ONLINE 24/7! VIDEO ENHANCED AD’S! ALL AD’S LINKED! NEW PRODUCT PROMOTIONS! For more information on advertising in Performance Street Car, please contact;
Check Us Out on our Social Media Pages!
Paul Beck 0432 795336 paul@pscmag.com.au
PUBLISHING EDITOR Paul Beck paul@pscmag.com.au Phone 0432 795336
MAILING ADDRESS
PO Box 165 Oak Flats NSW 2529
WEBSITE
www.pscmag.com.au
VALUED CONTRIBUTORS
Lauren Jade @ Xposed Photography Chad Silvey @ Pics by Chaddo Leisa Bonnici @ Fordgal Images Blake Williamson @ Insane Grunt Photography John Antoniw @ 9000rpm Photography Jimmy Tee Photography Greg ‘Beach’ Ball - Joe Crispin - Jason Lowe Luke Hunter @ Hunter Media Charlie Sant @ Pro Flo Performance Gary Rosier - www.carsplaneslandscapes.com
