Other "Rodney Dangerfields" that could be badass sleepers....

Comedian Rodney Dangerfield always joked that he got "No Respect" . In the last post I talked about the GM "X" bodies and what great hot rod potential they have. Well, there's some others out there that are treated like Rodney that could really run with very little work. # 1. 1970-76 Plymouth Duster / Dodge Dart. Obviously the 340 versions are the most sought after, and prices are rising on those. However there's millions of 318 models that can still be bought cheap. In these light cars-maybe 3,000 lbs-a 318 can really rock. They respond well to basic hot rod tricks-4bbl carb and intake, headers and dual exhausts, mild cam. '91 and later "Magnum" heads will bolt up to earlier blocks for an even bigger boost. You'll need a "Magnum" compatible intake, but Edelbrock has you covered. A shift kit in the Torqueflite, and some 3.55:1 or 3.91:1 gears, some sticky tires and traction bars or a pinion snubber and you'll show your taillights to many a shocked big-block musclecar owner. Some of these cars had a 318 backed by a 3-speed manual. Get you a Hurst shifter ( the stock ones are balky even when not driving hard ) and look at it this way-you have a torqueflite with a high-stall converter. You can pop the clutch at 3,500-4,000 rpm for a jack rabbit launch. Or you could swap in a 4 or 5 speed if you wanted to.  # 2. 1971-77 Ford Maverick / Mercury Comet. While a lot of these have six-cylinder motivation, the 302 versions are the ones to have. Weighing in about 2,900 lbs-these make great sleepers. A friend of mine's 440 Road Runner got his doors blown off one night by a hot 302 Maverick. Their short wheel base makes them good drag racers and there's more speed equipment for a small-block Ford than anything but a small-block Chevy. You could go "Pro Street" radiused rear wheelwells, huge meats, a hood scoop hiding dual quads. I'd go the other way-skinny tires, dog-dish hubcaps, the whole granny look to really blow people away when you eat their lunch. # 3. 1975-79  Dodge Aspen / Plymouth Volare. These replaced the Duster / Dart line. Ever-tightening emission standards kept them from having a performance version. Dodge had an R / T model, and Plymouth even shamelessly put the Road Runner name on a Volare which caused Mopar guys to vomit,and howl blasphemy to the heavens. But they are light, ( about 3,200 lbs ) and most have 318s although there are some 360 versions. How badass would one be with a "Magnum" headed, 360 based 408 stroker?  # 4. 1975-78 Ford Mustang II. A lot had 4-banger or V6 motors but the ones to get are the 302 versions. The buff magazines called them "dogs" but that's because they were saddled with 2 bbl carburation, single exhaust, and salt-flats gearing like 2.75:1. With a curb weight of about 2,700 lbs-it would only take a 4bbl carb and intake, some dual exhausts and some 3.50:1 gears change to make one of these really rock. Or going further-a nasty 347 stroker?  # 5. 1975-79 Chevy Monza / Pontiac Sunbird / Olds Starfire.  A lot of these had 231 V6 power, but quite a few had 305 Chevy V8's. Some '75-76 "California" models had 350s!!  ( For some perverse reason, the 305s weren't certified for California emissions. If a customer ordered a V8 in California they got a 350 ). Like the Mustang II 2bbl carburation and axle ratios like 2.29:1 made them slugs. But even a 305  model can really run with 4bbl carb, dual exhausts and some 3.42:1 gears and you'll have a rocker. They weigh less than 3,000 lbs.  These aren't sexy, but they can go real fast for very low bucks. Mastermind