Plymouth Valiant Signet 2dht "street"

Ck[FIN] · #1 07-07-2009, 08:59 PM

Hi all, i was invited here so i will tell something about my street/strip car.
Sry my english is not so good but try to keep up and ask questions if you like to.

I have a 1965 Plymouth Valiant. I also have a 1970 duster but its more street driven car. I have 5-6races in a summer with my valiant and i drive Heads-Up class called "street C". Its for small block engines only.

I built a 360cid with a 6/71blower for my 2008 season and it worked very well. It had lots of good parts in it but nothing special. I can tell more specs if anyone is interested. It dynoed 518hp/517lbft with pump gas. And superb low end torque. :D
I raced it all summer with no problems at all. Best et was 10.66s/125mph.

I thought i would race it this year also but my friend called me and said that his friend had old race engine for sale. After few days and a lot of beer i decided to buy it.
Its small block mopar 355cid with almost all parts custom made. Its pretty old but (10years) but new rings and bearings installed. It has 750hp/570lbft. Its amazing how much it has power. Well, it doesnt work with pump gas.

Transmission is my home built 727 with transbrake. I build 727 transmissions for other people here too, its my hobby.

Rear end is 8 3/4 with spool. Car has many modifications required in drag racing but its long story.

I can post some pictures as soon as i find some. Feel free to ask questions.

Ck[FIN] · #2 07-07-2009, 09:11 PM

Picture of valiant

Old engine

New engine

Royal · #3 07-07-2009, 09:20 PM

Welcome to CFO Ck - It's nice to have you here!

That a cool looking car you've got there - How long do you think it will take for you to get the new engine up and running? You'll have to keep us all posted on the results from your next race season.

Doc · #4 07-07-2009, 09:31 PM

First, welcome to CFO! Glad you decided to join us.

Nice job on the Valiant, Ck[FIN] Great choice with the 6-71...best blower for conversion, in my opinion. I'm kind of surprised to see that you were running the original radiator in the first version. Did you have to upgrade that when you added the blower? Even for a 1/4 mile track, I'd have thought you'd have temperature problems.

I've never run a 355, but have built a couple of 360s. I'll have to look up the differences, and learn something.

You mention the third member is 8.75 with spool. I'm not familiar with the term "spool", can you explain that?

Ck[FIN] · #5 07-07-2009, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc

First, welcome to CFO! Glad you decided to join us.

Nice job on the Valiant, Ck[FIN] Great choice with the 6-71...best blower for conversion, in my opinion. I'm kind of surprised to see that you were running the original radiator in the first version. Did you have to upgrade that when you added the blower? Even for a 1/4 mile track, I'd have thought you'd have temperature problems.

I've never run a 355, but have built a couple of 360s. I'll have to look up the differences, and learn something.

You mention the third member is 8.75 with spool. I'm not familiar with the term "spool", can you explain that?

I am surprised that you noticed the original radiator.

The blower makes the engine hot very easily. I warmed up the engine to 150f and then i made the burnout and 1/4mile run. After the run it had about 205F. Then i shut down the engine, started the fan and used the electric water pump so it would cool down.
Engine is race block (x-block) based on mopar 340 with lots of upgrades. It has big bore (4.10) and shorter stroke for lots of rpm. Custom crankshaft. Its really nothing from the factory

Block is made by mopar of course.

Spool means that the differential is fully locked. The tires always turn at the same speed. Its a pain in the a** in the street but good in drag race.

Picture of spool

Doc · #6 07-07-2009, 10:14 PM

Okay, now I know what you meant by "spool". I don't remember the correct term for it here (it may be spool, too). We always called it a "locked differential". Yeah, you're very right about it being a PITA on the street, but a must-have for the strip.

Pretty respectable ETs for a car that few of us in that era would have considered a strip-worthy car. I'll bet you've made believers out of some people, though! :D

By all means, post some more pics!

By the way, can I ask what part of Finland you're in? I have some acquaintances in Helsinki.

Ck[FIN] · #7 07-07-2009, 10:46 PM

1960`s a-bodies have been pretty popular here at the drag strip in 80`s and 90`s because they were cheap and easy to find. Weight is easy to keep low, lots of fiberglass parts available and basic rearwheel drive with leaf spring suspension. What else do you need in a low 10s drag car.
With "few" modifications the low priced valiant is pretty good on the drag strip.

Of course you can buy a 69 camaro or 70 cuda/challenger but i`d rather keep them on the street. Not so many of them to "waste".

I live in very small place called Kiikka. Its about 125miles from Helsinki.

Picture of our "camper" with the car on trailer. Enough room for all mechanics and friends. :D

Nice launch from last summer. M/T street radial tires.

tubby · #8 07-08-2009, 12:01 AM

.
OH Shit . . That looks like a fun car..

Doc · #9 07-08-2009, 12:13 AM

That it does, Tubby. There's few adrenaline rushes like that of guiding an explosion of raw power down a strip, alongside another.

Well, except for when you see him fading away in your rearview mirror! :D

tubby · #10 07-08-2009, 12:22 AM

I just put a link in: - SMOKING - on the 65 Plymouth parts pages. I will be updating the Plym pages later this morning. If you ever owned one of those valiant that Smoking pic will knock your socks of. . Love it ! Right down to what makes this baby tick.

I can hear it. . It is pretty quiet here where I live. I can smell that rubber too. Love it..
A lot pf work in that car. . Excellent stuff..