Featured Game
This car an 82 Mirada was built by my old friend Gary Wager. He first started out with a street 400 that he and his friend Richard put together. He asked me to help flog it and since we have been friends since we were 17 years old I did get involved. First we updated the cam in the 400 and eventually got it running hi twelves. Then we built a stroker engine, hand making most of the pieces . It was a 460 from a 400 inch engine and eventually turned 11.0s . It was featured in Chrysler Power magazine in July 1997 under" $1500 econo big block"
The 455
Next we built a 455 incher using Ross pistons but the same crank with the longer 440 rods. This engne worked good too. Eventually after several years of racing it broke a rod and so we embarked on another venture.
The 400 CHEAPIE
It was called the 400 Cheapie. We took a 400 block, in fact his original 400 engine, and built a high compression version of the 400 engine using reworked Moma Mopar 440 cast pistons.I have a special hydraulic grnid I get made and Gary wanted it in that engine. I obliged. I still remember Gary phoning me from the track to ask what I thought it ran. First pass ever was 11.55 at 120 mph. Eventually he got it to run low 11s and raced it for about 4 seasons.
The 400 come 426 stroker
In the meantime I had another idea. I had realized when making the 400 engne that if we stroked a 400 to get O deck on its stock pistons we could very easily have a hi compression 426. We took a steel 383 crank and had it welded and stroked (from the stock 3.38" to 3.58") by Canadian Chrome Crankshaft co . I had a set of forged L2266F 440 forgings here and although we were originally going to use 400 stockers Gary asked if they had enough meat to be cut to work. Surprisingly they did. I spent about a year machining them, putting in valve reliefs and cutting wrist pin circlip grooves. The domes a have a curved contour. All machine work was done on my Smithy Lathe Milll Drill machine. Gary bought a set of Eagle rods and after a balance job we were on our way. Gary also picked up a Lunati roller for this short stroke BB and we put it together with a set of ported Stg 6 MP heads. Intial runs were 7.0s in the eighth but within a week some 6.70s appeared with consistancy and at a 1/4 mile track he ran in the 10.60s. Final outing was to Esta Safety Park in Cicero where he ran some 6.60 numbers in the eighth. We still want to build the 400/426 using all stock parts except the crank so stay tuned. It will be a street engne though. Gary and I build a lot of experimental stuff. A customer would never see such a motor until we had all the bugs worked out. If you haven't done a lot of experimental work you might not understand these methods but if you have you already know. It is surprising though how many of these experimentals have been real good combos right off the trailer first run. We must be doing something right.
Gary insisted on a short hard block fill for this engine and not one to just stand around and talk he also did the pour in my shop when we began. See he really is more than "just the driver" Actually he does a lot of his own work . It is one of the reasons I help him.
Experimental 426 from 400 being assembled for test fitting. Please Note pan is not what we use. It is just a dust cover. We use our own version of a single line pickup in conjunction with a hemi factory pick up inside. It eliminates oil bubbles. (pump cavitation) and I have used it since the 70s on my real high RPM motors . I showed Gary the design and he took it from there and had the pan and hose and extra pick up fabbed up. Works great except you feel real guilty because you didnt spend a grand or so on your oil system.
NEW TEST ROCKET
Gary Wager (left) and Arnold Mathews (right) stand besides Garys new ride in Arnies shop (Mathews Machine Products) Arnie is an experienced craftsman and is updating and personalizing Garys new Rear Engine Dragster chassis (aka "The Go-kart) for next season with the 426 project engine for power.
Interestingly Don (me) and Arnie met in the seventes at the Old Mohawk Drag strip as fellow competitors. Now some 30 odd years later we meet again. Arnies "Stuff" AWAYS looks and is first rate.
His 55 Chevy was the nicest I have ever seen bar none. I suspect that is why Gary choose him for the refit.
Gary makes a pass at Shannonville with "The Little Engine That Could" Despite its relatively small 426 cubes in a world or 500's 540's and 610 motors in similar cars this engine can "kick some serious butt!"
It is also fun to watch the parade of Chevy guys come by in the pits to sneek a look at this little B series Mopar motored dragster. They dont realize it but it is almost like a parade.
FOR SALE!! SACRIFICE!!!!
Having reached and maybe even exceeded his goals for this project, Gary has decided to sell this car as a rolling chassis and has bought a Rear Engine dragster (above).
If you are interested email him garywager@hotmail.com. Price will be reasonable which means far far less than you could ever build such a car for.
The car weighs 3400 lbs, has four link supension with a Dana 456 rear with spool and Moser axles. It has a fuel cell and Holley pump with #10 lines throughout. It has Strut front suspension with disc brakes and a Pinto rack for steering . It has a motor plate set up for BB MOPAR. It has a roll cage as per NHRA /IHRArules and has competed in many sanctioned events under both NHRA and IHRA rules. It comes with two hoods, One steel and one fiberglass. For more pictures email or search 2006 Canadain Delco Nationals (Toronto International Dragway), and The SHOW ME THE MONEY Seriies photos (on the websites run by NHRA Luskville Drag strip operater Mr "Arnie" Malcolm)
