Muscle Cars?

[gahult]

Is that style called a Rat Rod?

I don't know how to use the he said, quote stuff.

But yes. It doesn't sit on the ground when he drives it. He has air shocks to raise it up for 6" ground clearance going down the road. He clears bottle caps and beer bottles I would guess....but damn.

Gary

[Structo]

Wow, sweet ride Dana.

Always loved those old Porsches.

[Scumback Speakers]

I was reimbursed for an old debt recently. I decided to do the supercharger upgrade to my 04 CE C5. If I'm lucky it will be ready for this weekend. If not, next week...can't wait. Supposed to increase the engine to 640hp at the crank and around 515hp at the rear wheels.

In the meantime, since my wife wasn't driving the 99 C5, I got her this. She's so in love with it, she sent me 1/2 the money for it the next morning to my checking account.

It's a 98 Trans Am Convertible, Ram Air, LS-1 320 hp, auto 4 speed, bright red/white top, arctic white leather interior, power everything inside, and all of it works. It doesn't have the cracked door panels common on this model, either.

Someone in Fountain Valley, Ca kept it in their garage it's whole life, and drove it on weekends. So a 17 year old car had 27k original miles on it. Had to do some minor fixes, and maintenance that cost almost 2k (brakes, tires, all of the fluids, some sensors, etc) but what a great car to drive down the coast.

No, I don't drive it...my wife is happy to let me sit in the passenger seat, get a tan, and listen to tunes on the recently upgraded sound system.

[img1382]http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/98transam/98ta-1.jpg[/img]
[img1365]http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/98transam/98ta-2.jpg[/img]

If anyone is looking for a 99 C5, it's on Autotrader.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... =400469547

[Ken Moon]

Original late '60s Challengers and 'Cudas are hard to find because, unfortunately, many of them ended up wrapped around trees.

They also had rust problems in much of the country. It wasn't until about 1990 that car companies figured out how to properly rust-proof their steel panels.

But if you live in Arizona or some other really low humidity area, you might spot an old one in someone's yard. I've seen a few "not for sale" signs on old cars out west because the owners get tired of people knocking on their doors wanting to buy their cars - anything made between 1965 and 1971, the "golden years" of American muscle cars, are the most sought after.

[dartanion]

Had way too many to count. Favorite of all was my 71 Challenger 340 with the pistol grip 4sp. Currently driving an e46 M3 and a Duc748.

[John_P_WI]

Hey Tom,

I too have been a GM fan all of my life, the exception is the exemplary '68 Charger from Nelson Racing:

http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/141 ... 8-charger/

and one of the early build utube vids:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOGLv96cLMA

OT, my whole focus in engineering school was engines and power, sadly the economy in the mid-80's was not conducive for employment in that field and I ended up working in the medical field. Everytime I watch one of the Nelson vids it reminds me of the hours and hours spent and the thrill of being in the dyno cell as a kid...

[Scumback Speakers]

Went and picked up my 2004 Vette from A&A in Oxnard yesterday. 625hp at the crank, 495 rwhp to the tires. It was 350, and 275. Needless to say, it was a big bump in speed and power.

[ToneMerc]

Went and picked up my 2004 Vette from A&A in Oxnard yesterday. 625hp at the crank, 495 rwhp to the tires. It was 350, and 275. Needless to say, it was a big bump in speed and power.

Jim, I would curious to know at what RPM that was at and the torque curve. Also, how much boost?

TM

[Scumback Speakers]

Jim, I would curious to know at what RPM that was at and the torque curve. Also, how much boost?

TM

TM, can't tell you the boost amount, but here's the run file from the dyno. Looks like torque and HP crossed at 450 hp/torque at 5250 rpm. Max hp of 495 at 6250 rpm. It pulls really hard, I know that much, and pins you back in the seat easily.

http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/jimspic ... osheet.jpg

I'm going to have to order some new brake rotors/pads, just to make myself feel a little safer. Yes, I said it, safer. My 69 Firebird with the BBC 402 from a 70 Camaro SS was wicked, but this thing is putting out around 150 hp more than that one did.

Technology, holy crap has it advanced. And you can barely hear the SC at idle. They said I can get another 100-250 hp if I want to do more mods, but jeez...I just went from 350hp/275rwhp to 625hp/495rwhp. It's going to take awhile for me to figure that's necessary.

[Structo]

Sounds like a lot of fun to drive Jim!

John, that Dodge Charger is built like a tank!
He should let somebody loose on that interior.

You guys ever watch that guy on TV that restores old MOPAR's?

He is a walking encyclopedia and funny to boot.

I really like the new Challengers, pretty sweet.

Never be able to afford one so it's a dream.

I'd love to have Chip Foose do a '65 Chevelle for me.

[ToneMerc]

Jim, I would curious to know at what RPM that was at and the torque curve. Also, how much boost?

TM

TM, can't tell you the boost amount, but here's the run file from the dyno. Looks like torque and HP crossed at 450 hp/torque at 5250 rpm. Max hp of 495 at 6250 rpm. It pulls really hard, I know that much, and pins you back in the seat easily.

http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/jimspic ... osheet.jpg

I'm going to have to order some new brake rotors/pads, just to make myself feel a little safer. Yes, I said it, safer. My 69 Firebird with the BBC 402 from a 70 Camaro SS was wicked, but this thing is putting out around 150 hp more than that one did.

Technology, holy crap has it advanced. And you can barely hear the SC at idle. They said I can get another 100-250 hp if I want to do more mods, but jeez...I just went from 350hp/275rwhp to 625hp/495rwhp. It's going to take awhile for me to figure that's necessary.

This chassis dyno sheet really leaves much info on the table. I wonder if they even remapped the factory fuel curve or just bolted the kit on. Yep, a computer cam with a bit more duration @.050, valve springs, upgrade the factory fuel system.

I don't think you would have throw much money at this. I'm willing to bet if you just changed(premium behive) valve springs it will improve above 5250 RPM's

TM

[Scumback Speakers]

They had some fun with the car on the dyno, and yes it was an all new tune with a fuel remap, etc, etc. I brought the car in, and got it back with 140 more miles on it, so somebody there did some pretty extensive testing. I doubt you can put more than 15-20 miles on the dyno running it up to 6500 RPM, even if you do it 4 or 5 times.

Regardless, it's stout. I took the 99 C5 out with a prospective buyer last night (cop from Las Vegas drove all the way down here to check it out) and that car still moves pretty good, and handles great with the Z51 suspension.

But the acceleration isn't too good compared to the supercharged LS1 in the 2004 (big surprise, right?).

[ToneMerc]

Regardless, it's stout.
.

Yes, no doubt.... neck snapping torque is king on the street!

[kkregsg]

My twin brother and I attended ASU and shared a 1969 Dodge Super Bee, 383. Probably for the best that the engine wasn't any bigger, as we both survived unscathed.

A few years later, I was on the hunt for an affordable Porsche, and my Dad said "Let's go see this woman." She was the widow of one of the 2 FBI agents killed on the Pine Ridge Reservation in the early 70's, and they lived in the subdivision my Father built. We walk into the garage, and here's a completely restored Porsche 356 convertible, yellow with a black top and in immaculate condition. My Dad says, "What do you think?" And in my infinite stupidity, I say, "No, I want a 914." Now this was actually all for the best, as in my youth, I would have trashed that gorgeous car.

A while later they did find me a 914 after I'd gone back to Phoenix, and my twin brother drove it down, somehow accumulating a speeding ticket for his trouble. Pretend Porsche they may have been called, but I loved that car. I drove to CA quite a bit for scuba trips, and the trip in that car was so much fun. It was mid engine, so perfectly balanced, and had a trunk fore and aft, so it actually held everything I needed it to. I'm 6'6". Around Phoenix I never had the top on, and friends who drove behind me said "You know your head sticks out of that thing like Lurch." After moving back to CO, I had the 1.7l rebuilt to a 2.0l. I had to finally sell it when I moved to Breckenridge, as a 5" ground clearance doesn't cut it in snow country with serious snowfall. Damn. Now I'm missing that thing again.

[davidjon_99]

This is not a true muscle car by my definition, but after seeing this commercial I had to have one (I'm talking about the car ).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WHj59YJq8E

The way I've got it set up it has around 200hp and 220tq. Not bad for a 1.4l engine. At 2200 pounds it scoots and does a good job keeping up with many of the 60's-70's (stock) muscle cars in a straight line and can turn like a go-kart.

Mods I've installed are:
Lower and stiffer Eibach springs front/rear
Koni adjustable rear shocks
Much stiffer torsion bar
Short throw shifter
Programmable ECU piggyback--This is where the added power comes from
Sprint Booster--For much better throttle response
Much less restrictive cold air intake

It's a fun car.