Dodge Challenger Drag-car build.

[Mopar 440]

I saw this in one of the Engine Masters magazines and thought this is pretty cool.
We cut a piece of 10mm uhi clear acrylic and drilled and tapped holes on the edges.

We cut a hole in the valley plate.

Final product. Window to the valley pan.

[zahistorics]

Final product. Window to the valley pan.

Do you find this has practical uses or it is just something different?

[irpac]

This is an awesome build, pls continue posting, I know the car is finished but can't wait to see all the trick stuff you did to it.

[Mopar 440]

Final product. Window to the valley pan.

Do you find this has practical uses or it is just something different?

Initially we just did it to be different, but now we use it to check at idle if all the push-rods are turning (or bent). Kind of a lazy mans valve lash check.

Also very cool pointing the timing light into it when it is dark.

[Mopar 440]

This is an awesome build, pls continue posting, I know the car is finished but can't wait to see all the trick stuff you did to it.

Thank You.

I definitely will finish what I started. Enjoy.

[Mopar 440]

Some of the engine parts before final assembly. Amazing that you can buy brand new parts for 40 year old engine.







(yup, they are 7.1" long)

[mantaray]

i am a confirmed Mopar Nut and aspire to have one soon !! 68 cuda 440 six pack baby,
my cheque book however is non existent!!!

fanatastic build though loving it dude.maybe when my budget racer is done we could do a few shake downs together.

[Let's Dance]

Hi Simon,

You can add my name to the list of people enjoying your thread too.

(And thank you for taking the time to resize and upload pictures etc.)

I recently stripped and rebuilt a mild street V8 engine for the first time, but while reading up on the many aspects of performance I came across items like the Stud Girdle for racing engines, but never saw a mention of block filling, anywhere.

Did you fill the block because it's a prerequisite for your type of engine, or did you do it 'just to be sure' ?

The see through valley pan is a very nice touch.

Laterz,
Nick

[Mopar 440]

i am a confirmed Mopar Nut and aspire to have one soon !! 68 cuda 440 six pack baby,
my cheque book however is non existent!!!

fanatastic build though loving it dude.maybe when my budget racer is done we could do a few shake downs together.

Thank You Mantary,

A 440 six pack option is an option still on my bucket list. I would welcome doing some runs against you, what a sight, Challenger vs Cuda.

[Mopar 440]

Hi Simon,

You can add my name to the list of people enjoying your thread too.

(And thank you for taking the time to resize and upload pictures etc.)

I recently stripped and rebuilt a mild street V8 engine for the first time, but while reading up on the many aspects of performance I came across items like the Stud Girdle for racing engines, but never saw a mention of block filling, anywhere.

Did you fill the block because it's a prerequisite for your type of engine, or did you do it 'just to be sure' ?

The see through valley pan is a very nice touch.

Laterz,
Nick

Thanks Nick.

I found this saying somewere: I like Dragsters, because no car on the planet with only one intended use is so useless at anything else.
With that in mind, that is why we went for the water jacket filling. It really is only a drag race engine modification, because on any extended use the engine will over-heat. The process is also non-reversable, so that block can then only be used for drag racing. Obviously the correct way to do this is to buy an after-market drag race block from Dart, World products. Indy heads etc,with all the additional ribbing and thicker casting, but they are expensive. The recommended over-bore size for drag-racing on a 440 block is 30 thou, so we were over that and does give me some peace of mind that with the power level we are looking at, we will not damage a stock factory block.