Sunday, August 4, 2019

What about some Trans-Am tributes?......( Racing series )

The Trans-Am racing series was originally called the Trans-American Sedan Racing Championship, which was then shortened to "Trans-Am".  The top class limited displacement to 5 liters ( 305 CID ). Camaros, Firebirds, and Mustangs have been done to death, as have Chrysler E-bodies-Challengers & 'Cudas.  I was thinking about some other bodystyles that would be cool done in Trans-Am style i.e.-radiused and flared fenderwells, side-exit exhaust, etc.  # 1. 1968-74 Chevy Nova / 1971-74 Pontiac Ventura.  The GM "X" bodies have enormous potential. Any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Camaro / Firebird fit these cars and their engine bays will swallow any GM engine-small or big-block Chevy, 455 Pontiac or Olds, anything.  I see a Ventura with WS6 T/A front and rear sway bars, fat tires under flared fenders and a stompin' 455 with aluminum heads.  Or a Nova with a high-winding 350.  # 2. 1967-73 Mercury Cougar. A high-winding 302 or 351C backed by a Tremec five speed, radiused fenders, Minilite wheels and fat tires, side exit exhaust....A T/A themed Cougar would be way cool.  # 3. 1968-76 Dodge Dart / Plymouth Duster. A 360 Magnum under the hood of these lightweight sedans should provide good motivation. Or you could go hog-wild and swap in a 440....# 4. 1970-77 Ford Maverick / Mercury Comet. Weighing less than 3,000 lbs these "Rodney Dangerfields" could kick some serious butt with a 302 and a five-speed. Maybe with a Ford Racing or Magnussen blower.... Some others that might be more Nascar-ish but could still be cool would include.....# 5. 1969-76 Pontiac Gran Prix. 400 cubes standard all years with 455 optional. Wrist-thick front and rear sway bars and fenderwells that will accomodate 275 / 60 R15 tires on 8 inch wheels without modification make these a natural.  # 6. 1970-77 Chevy Monte Carlo. The only reason these rank less than their Pontiac cousins is most are small-block powered. Rat motored models can be pricey. However there's more speed equipment for a Small-Block Chevy than anything else on the planet, and any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Chevelle fit these.  # 7. 1972-76 Mercury Montego / Ford Torino / 1974-76 Cougar. David Pearson won a ton of races in the Wood Brothers Montego in the '70's. His duels with Richard Petty are legendary. 351C or 429 models would be the most desirable, but if you had to you could make a 351 / 400M run.  # 8. 1971-74 AMC Javelin / AMX. Since these cars were the champ for a couple years in the early '70's they need to be on the list. The downside is their pretty rare and AMC collectors fight with machetes for them, although not as much as the 1968-70 models. If you find one at a reasonable price by all means buy it, but I wouldn't hold my breath. The upside is the 360 V8 was used in Jeep Grand Wagoneers through 1993 so their fairly plentiful in junkyards, and Edelbrock makes heads and intakes and cams for them.  Mastermind 

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