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 Ryan Bush's "Indiana Huntin' Buggy" ... |
 ...The Maverick is in the shop for a total rebuild after rolling the car. As you can see, the work is extensive! |
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 NSS '67 Charger in for a full cage... |
 ...tubs, and narrowed rear |
 NSS '65 "Rude Dodge" of Dave Schultz in for a full cage and suspension... |
 ...This car is being set up for NSS |
 65 Dodge Coronet 440 of Dave Schultz... |
 ...known as "TexasBlackMagic" |
 Texas Big Bird... |
 Big HEMI |
From Dave Schultz.....
Most of you know that Rude Dodge, Texas Black Magic and now
the Texas Big Bird is at Texas Thunder in Frisco, Texas.
Rude Dodge is being made ready to be competitive in the faster
classes of Nostalgia Super Stock. The old cage was ripped out
and a new Chrome Moly built to take its place. The Dana and
leaf springs removed in favor of ladder bars and a back-braced
Ford 9". While back there the car is being tubbed, so I can
put 14" (with a different off-set wheel) slicks on it to race
in non-NSS events in the future. Chunk and axels are Strange
(That causing a little concern because of some threads lately
and Texas Thunder had suggested Moser) and the rear brakes
are Wilwood discs. All of that is being handled by (Texas
Outsider) Mark Artis. Under the hood is a 540 that Fugly
(Damon Kuhn) is building for me. He found a brand new mega
block for $1,800 and went to MO (was going there for other
business) to get it for me. The transmission is a Jerico
4-speed. They're also putting Wilwood disc brakes up front.
All of the removable sheet metal (doors, fenders, bumpers,
hood, and decklid) are being replaced with fiberglass and
then the car is getting a custom NSS style paint job. Although
initially the car ought to run in the tens while we get use to
each other it should ultimately be capable of running in the
classes below 10's.
Texas Black Magic has Mark at Texas Thunder back-halving it in
favor of 4-link and Ford 9". Again, Strange axels and chunk
were used. The rear-end is narrowed quite a bit to get 14"
wheels in back. Wilwood brakes all of the way around on this
car too. The 383 and 4-speed were pulled and the 451 and
transbraked 727 installed in their place. I will most likely
put the 540 I bought from Dean Stevens in it, after I see how
it does with the 451 first.
I've been following up closely on the work on both of these
cars and I'm impressed with the quality, the speed of
completion, the helpfulness of Mark & Damon, and the
reasonable price quoted.
Texas Big Bird is also there to be repaired from its little
incident in the staging lanes. Although there was no
structural damage to the chassis the damage was quite a bit
more that initially thought, especially to the parachute
mounting and deployment system. Damon is taking care of
completely fixing that for me as it wouldn't be right (or
safe) to stick the next owner and driver with that. He's also
repairing the carbon fiber damage on the rear bumper and
straightening up the wing. Although these repairs are by no
means cheap, I'm certain no one would fix it completely for
what Damon is doing it for me. I appreciate his help in this.
Anyone wanting a good value preparing a car for drag racing
needs to give strong consideration to Mark and Damon at Texas
Thunder.
Don't let distance deter you from using them because another
Good Guy is Ray at Ram Chargers. I've had dozens of cars
transported and know a little of what is out there. You will
never find a better value in enclosed transportation with
personal service. He picks up and delivers one at a time; is a
Mopar man who takes care of Mopar cars; and the cost he
charges for direct enclosed is often less than what you'd pay
to have fluids dripping on your car on the lower rack or tree
branches smacking it on the upper rack of a open trailer
taking months to get you your car. Even if you live in the
North or on the West Coast I'll bet that you will receive a
better value with Ram Chargers taking your car to Texas
Thunder and back vs. using a local shop. Quality doesn't cost
'it pays. I'll prove that in photos of their work and the
performance of the cars when I get them back.
I need to mention David Lemmond as also a good guy as he has
supplied the chunks, axels, and brakes at a reasonable price.
I've seen David's operation in North Alabama and it is first
class. If you want a car properly prepared in the Southeast,
call David Lemmond.
We have other vendors that help MoparStyle that also give a
good product. I wish I could give them ought a try, and may
ultimately. I didn't use Muscle Motors for the motor this time
because Damon had the car and the block and is also a proven
builder. However, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment having Mike
build a motor for me, and I see giving him (and a couple of
others who help support MoparStyle) a chance to quote the next
motor I need.
Anyway, I feel those mentioned have done me right and I feel I
should mention this in case another member is thinking about
preparing a car for serious drag racing. These guys aren't
just a business, they're enthusiasts who live and breathe
their work. A quality job and a happy customer is as important
to them as the living they make from their work.