Mopar Action December 2021

editor’s notes

It all starts with an email supposedly from Dave Chamberlain from All Classics Restoration in Statesville, N.C., a well-known and highly respected resto and custom shop. “Good day, How are you doing?” it begins. Right away, I smell “scam.” But having a little downtime, and being in my usual snarky mood, I decide to play along and have some fun. “There is something I need you to take care of,” the email continued. “I can’t do this now because my knees are giving me problems as well. I am going up and down one step at a time. I would have loved to call you however can’t get to call right now. Let me know if you’re unoccupied here on email. Awaiting Response Dave.” The email concluded. My response: “Whatever you need.” “Thanks for…

zoo keeper’s diary

I HAVE TO ADMIT , without remorse, that I have had an amazing career in this business. Who would have imagined an ex-street racer from Philly, without any formal college-level training, could end up here, with Gromer and Ehrenberg (errrr…). Seriously, a lot of that success came from doing the hustle, meeting deadlines, and foremost the divine hand of Providence to get me through the challenges. This fact might be one of the reasons I like Herb McCandless so much. To name yourself “Mr. 4-Speed” (actually done by an early sponsor) took some doing, but Herb backed it up with victory, winning Pro Stock at Indy in 1970 and the season-long AHRA GT-1 title the same year, then his ’72 Demon that dominated the USRT circuit, and more. When he finally…

crec’s corner

IT’S THE EARLY ’70s . The musclecar era is in high gear, high performance everything from every manufacturer. Mr. Norm, Baldwin-Motion, and a bunch of others are making Detroit’s finest iron even better. The Big 3 are duking it out from the stoplights to the strip, and everywhere in between. It is automotive nirvana for anyone who loves the sound of two gladiators armed with a four-speed and lumpy cam seeking automotive supremacy. Then emissions hit and, just like that, the party ended… temporarily. The next few decades saw mediocre cars with graphics and body mods to substitute for the lack of pavement-shredding torque. I am not knocking the cars from that era but given the choice of a FWD four-cylinder or a RWD V8, the decision is a no brainer…

tech topics

DECLUTCHED Hi–I need your help, what size clutch pkg. for 1965 Coronet w/383/330hp with 3-speed manual, is it 10.5" or 10.95? Mike Studley Kenosha, WI Mike–I am not sure whether you are asking if the 10.95" will fit, or which I prefer. The 10.95" scalloped Borg and Beck (3-finger) clutch was specifically designed to bolt in wherever a 10.5" was, although it was not available in 1965. For street use, I would use a 10.5" diaphragm clutch setup. If you want to go with the 10.95", Ram Clutches still makes it, Year One has ‘em, P/N 98503. FRAME UP Mr. Ehrenberg–I’m getting ready to buy a rolling chassis for my 1966 Valiant convertible. Does the 1966 and 1967 have the same frame? Walter Stafford Florence, SC Walt–Hmmmm. Neither car has a frame, they are both pure unibody. If…

how to get help

Address all queries to this address: RICHARD EHRENBERG PO BOX 302 MARLBORO NY 12542 Best bet: Online submission form at moparaction.com GROUND RULES: • If you want to submit your question via e-mail, please use the on-line submission form at www.moparaction. com. If we ask for more info, send back all existing text, or else! • Snail-mail must include a SASE and/or a cash bribe. • All letters, electronic or otherwise, must include a full name and a least your city and state. You can request that it be withheld, however, and, if we had any the night before, we might even honor your request. • “20 questions” letters instantly get shredded and the scraps forwarded to Mopar Muscle. So – ask one clear question please, we’re a sleazy magazine, not an encyclopedia publisher. We won’t…

resto topics

BEE SEATED My ’70 Super Bee has only a rear seat right now, how do I tell if the front should be buckets or bench? Larry Green Via email Use data plate / broadcast sheet info or see if it has the reinforcements welded to the floor pan (and the holes for the inner bucket studs). These are the surest methods. If the seatbelts are still there, finding a center lap belt for the front would tend towards either a bench—or buckets with the “buddy seat” so that’s really not proof. But finding only 2 belts would tend to show buckets—assuming they look unmolested. If you are sure that the rear seat is original, the upholstery pattern will also tell, see below. WHY CLEAR COAT? Mr. Ehrenberg–I have seen several restored Mopars (Carlisle, etc.) that seem to…