Return of a Big Hitter.

Jon Connolly · Post by **Jon Connolly** » Sun Mar 15, 15 9:16 pm

Pete wrote:The one with the rear window missing was:

1) Blue

2) A Plymouth

3) A "B" Body

4) A Roadrunner (maybe a GTX or a clone)......

It had the DLI Hemi head unit in it and Dave Madders imported it.

Steve Nieamantis bought it and I think the motor got lunched at York......not sure who owns it now - DaveB will know.......

I was sure it was a 70 Chally ??

When was " the big hitter " last out ?

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sun Mar 15, 15 9:19 pm

A previous member and his daughter campaigned a 70 Challenger in orange, but not in this league....
win Nats
he had a '70 440 Cuda as well.

Duncan will have to fill in the gaps, but the car did KOS one year.........

Jon Connolly · Post by **Jon Connolly** » Sun Mar 15, 15 9:22 pm

Love the car

I think it has to be " officially " signwritten as

THE BIG HITTER

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sun Mar 15, 15 9:23 pm

Trouble is that will get corrupted into the "Big Bananarama!" if it does not perform......

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sun Mar 15, 15 9:31 pm

Jerry Smith · Post by **Jerry Smith** » Sun Mar 15, 15 10:02 pm

Pete, great car be interesting to see this evolve, Glynn Duncan's mate owns the roadrunner now (or did) we bought it rolling off Steve (the 572 hemi is now in an Aston) then sold it on via Dunc

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Sun Mar 15, 15 10:04 pm

Oh Man...... I am missing out on all the period paint schemes. I love orange! There are some nice new oranges out on the market now. Flakey flip!

Mossy68 · Post by **Mossy68** » Mon Mar 16, 15 9:32 pm

It's got to be " big hitter" !

I understand your concern about it failing and getting a nickname. But this is racing. Bananarama! happens .........a lot !!!

I rember when the " Stardust" flopper blew its top sky high at the top end when I was a kid. The metal flake paint in the sun made it look like it was raining stars !
Certainly lived up to its name !!!!

DaveB · Post by **DaveB** » Mon Mar 16, 15 10:18 pm

The 512 Hemi that was in the Madders/Neimantis Runner blew up on its 3rd pass(shifted into neutral).I built a 572 Hemi on a ally block for him with the conversion heads and converted them to Hemi pattern,this engine made 820hp,The timing chain broke on this engine,knackered all the valves.something to do with the bizarre rocker ratios on conversion heads.

I bought the Heads(Conversion Hemi Heads)and converted them back to wedge pattern,put them on a 426ci Wedge block with Hemi pistons & cam,that went in my 64 Fury,then into the Reckless 68 Dart.

Steve Neimantis other Aston(not the Gold street eliminator car)had a new 572 hemi street engine built,with the short motor from the Runner.

I think the 572 Hemi Dunc had in the Challenger was a Ray Barton built unit,which lasted 2 meetings,it didnt like 7800RPM

Man,even Im getting confused

I think Tig is gonna be the real "Heavy Hitter"with his 655ci monster

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Mar 16, 15 10:33 pm

Yep, Dave; you can't beat cubes like that unless you are carrying a Turbo or two...

I've manned up and gone for a Moly cage, thanks for corrupting me, Blue............

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Mar 16, 15 10:33 pm

Yep, Dave; you can't beat cubes like that unless you are carrying a Turbo or two...

I've manned up and gone for a Moly cage, thanks for corrupting me, Blue............

Cannonball · Post by **Cannonball** » Mon Mar 16, 15 11:37 pm

DaveB wrote:The 512 Hemi that was in the Madders/Neimantis Runner blew up on its 3rd pass(shifted into neutral).I built a 572 Hemi on a ally block for him with the conversion heads and converted them to Hemi pattern,this engine made 820hp,The timing chain broke on this engine,knackered all the valves.something to do with the bizarre rocker ratios on conversion heads.

I bought the Heads(Conversion Hemi Heads)and converted them back to wedge pattern,put them on a 426ci Wedge block with Hemi pistons & cam,that went in my 64 Fury,then into the Reckless 68 Dart.

Steve Neimantis other Aston(not the Gold street eliminator car)had a new 572 hemi street engine built,with the short motor from the Runner.

I think the 572 Hemi Dunc had in the Challenger was a Ray Barton built unit,which lasted 2 meetings,it didnt like 7800RPM

Man,even Im getting confused

I think Tig is gonna be the real "Heavy Hitter"with his 655ci monster

My hemi saga started out with a 426 wedge with the stage v hemi head conversion i fitted the mtr to my challenger as bought and expected great things i had run the challenger with a non stroker iron headed 440 to 10.90.s very respectable way back when lots were running stroker wedges and indy heads etc for not much gain in et compared with the challenger, so i expected at least mid 10,s not to be it ran a best off 11.90 but with a massive mph 120 something but had no guts out of the hole it was wamk, so pulled it bits just salvaging the hemi heads decided to spend sheeiteloads of wonga and treated a factory 440 wedge block to the 4 bolt main treatment a 1/2 stroker callies crank 7,1 long steel rods 12.1 pistons big roller cam etc etc as i had invested so much in parts i decided to let huddart racing build the mtr as i felt a guy like that would be able to extract the most power from the package not to be it was Bananarama! running a best of 10.7s breathing like i sum bitch so i pulled it apart did the best out of a Bananarama! job and she went 10,2,s still breathing real bad but got the hell thrashed out of it and the bottom end bearings and crank was like new when i pulled it apart once i decided to go mega block,,

so i got bartons place to prep me a mopar mega block bushed lifter bores the squared decked the works he also supplied me some correct for a hemi stage v heads used from a customer of his,rocker gear and a custom cam, oh and custom pistons, to use with my 7.1 rods and the original callies crank i still had, i flew all the parts and block back here and got the 572 together using my crank/rods/oiling system/ intake and 1050 etc etc barton did the sums and reckoned it should make circa 960hp which judging by its et and speed was not far out the thing would have gone faster given more tuning time but not to be the crank broke destroying a lot, and it was not due to the high rpms the crank had a flaw which can easily be seen in the area that let go to be honest it was surprising how long that crank stayed together given it was a substandard part,
so thats in my ownership it started out as a 12.0 car with the previous owner ,i did a few tweeks re did the trans and she went 11.60 first pass
ultimatley going that 9,44 146,,,,,, the big orange Dodge miss her now with all this chat goin down,

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Mar 17, 15 8:03 am

Useful information and history of the builds, Duncan.

It may sound stupid but it is not easy to get a Hemi to run quick - but they sure run FAST!!! Huge top end and cock-all off the line!!!

Roydon found with the 500 Conversion hemi that the 60 foot was embarrassing, especially with 33" tall tyre and insufficient rear gear.

He said he was just cruising down the track and then reached 3/4 track and all hell let loose!

He could not believe how hard the car was accelerating under the gantry - just as the same size wedge on Nitrous was out of steam......they are very different animals.

As has been mentioned earlier, the hemi NEEDS LOTS of gear as the low down torque is pitiful.

The same is true of the stock 426 engines, especially compared to a stock 440 six pack.

The HARD part is getting the monster wheel-standing launch that a Wedge can deliver, AND with the high top end speed the Hemi can deliver without sticking the rods out the block...................

Decisions, decisions,

Thanks again Duncan for the input.

db · Post by db » Tue Mar 17, 15 9:53 am

Gear vendors overdrive?

I'll get me coat

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Mar 17, 15 10:27 am

db wrote:Gear vendors overdrive?

I'll get me coat

Consider your cloakroom token issued........