CC: Where'd you learn to do bodywork?
JM: Actually, this was the first time we'd done any kind of welding. We just read every article we could find on sheetmetal repair-mostly in Car Craft and Mopar Muscle-and took our time.
CC: You mentioned that this was a resto project-what made you stray from stock?
JM: Well, originally, we'd intended to return the car to its as-new state, but after seeing how anal the resto guys were, I knew we didn't want to go that route, plus we realized it would be more fun to tweak the engine a bit. It's not a drag car, but it runs real strong on the street.
The Details
Car: '70 Dodge Coronet R/TOwner: Joseph Miller, Wyoming, MN
Engine: Chrysler 440 Six Pack, bored 0.040-over and fitted with Lunati 10:1 pistons, Eagle forged rods and crank; machined by Shannon's High Performance in Clearwater, MN
Heads: Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminum with 2.14/1.81-inch valves and Indy roller-rocker shafts; race ported
Induction: Edelbrock/Chrysler Six Pack three two-barrel aluminum dual-plane intake, three Holley two-barrel carbs: 350-cfm in center, 500-cfm outboard, tuned by Lofgren's Performance in Oak Grove, MN
Camshaft: Comp Cams solid flat-tappet, 0.543/0.543-inch lift, 247/247 dur. at 0.050
Exhaust: Hooker Super Comp headers with 2-inch primaries feeding custom 2.5-inch exhaust with H-pipe and Hooker Aero Chamber mufflers
Power: 550 hp and 550 lb-ft at the crank
Transmission: Chrysler TorqueFlite 727 with Continental 9-inch, 3,800-stall converter
Rearend: '70 Chrysler 831/44-inch housing with Sure-Grip differential and 3.73:1 gears
Front suspension: Stock Chrysler torsion bar
Rear suspension: Stock Chrysler R/T leaf springs
Brakes: Stock Chrysler power front disc/rear drum
Wheels and tires: Weld Racing Pro-Stars, 15x8
front, 15x10 rear with BFG Radial T/As, 225/70-15 front, 275/60-15 rear
Paint: Factory Dark Burnt Orange Metallic (FK5) in Sherwin-Williams base/clear by Sharadon's in Hugo, MN
Cost to build: Approximately $40,000