X-MachineWho: Erik DorwartWhere: Feasterville, PennsylvaniaWhat: '70 AMC AMXWhy: It's America's other two-seaterGoodies: Erik Dorwart has put together one bad-ass Rambler packing a 0.030-over 390 with TRW pistons and a lumpy Crower solid cam topped off with ported factory iron castings and a rare factory cross-ram intake with two Holley 600 double-pumpers. All that power is transferred through a Super T10 wide-ratio four-speed to a Dana 60 with 4.10 gears. Factory disc brakes adorn the front, while drums take up the rear. All four corners are shod with Dunlop rubber on 16-inch Torq-Thrust II wheels. The interior features an owner-made carbon-fiber dash overlay, Recaro seats, and five-point racing harnesses. Though Erik's "X" has garnered a bundle of awards, nothing can compare to dropping the hammer and laying down tracks.
The Three (or Four) TsI'm a guy who just finished a frame-off restoration in a two-car garage [Point of View, Mar. '03], and yes, I did it using the three Ts. It took a lot of tools, talent (aka., vision), and time-four and a half years to be exact. However, you left out the fourth T-true friends. Whether it be for knowledge, technical help, or old-fashioned support, we can't get there ourselves, and without friends you're dead in the water. I'd like to thank a lot of folks, but mostly my brother Jimmy "Junkman" Larkin, because without him my pride and joy would still be in pieces in the garage.John LarkinRock Hill, SC
Patriotic Readers RidesIt felt good reading what you wrote about people serving in the armed forces. I've been a reader of Car Craft since I was 12, and I'm currently stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri training to be a military policeman before I go over to Japan, but I'm building a '72 GTO convertible with a 455 when I'm home on leave. Thanks for noticing what we do for a living: protecting your freedom and building insane street machines. You're number one in my book.PFC Christopher M. Goode,USMC
I really appreciated the feature on military gearheads. My only beef is there isn't one Mopar in the crowd. I aim to fix that problem. My car is a numbers-matching 49,000-mile '70 Dodge Challenger with a 440
Six Pak, auto trans, shaker hood (original), and R/T package. The car is a dealer demo model loaded with options-34 to be exact. I restored the car to factory new appearance, but it can still kick out 12.74 e.t.'s on Polyglas repro tires with manifolds and factory exhaust. It is a blast to drive, hauls the mail, and consistently wins trophies everywhere it shows.First Lieutenant Tim Coffman,US Army
Blown, Black, and Bad-AssWho: Jason ColeWhere: Burlington, WashingtonWhat: '65 Chevy ChevelleWhy: Blown Rat!Goodies: Powerful A-bodies twist at launch, and Jason Cole's '65 Chevelle is no exception. Jason's 3,900-pound driver is occasionally driven to the track a full 70 miles away where it promptly lays down mid-10-second quarter-mile times at a buck thirty-three! The 427-inch Rat is force-fed by an ATI Procharger but will be replaced by an even bigger Rat on steroids this year. Though confined to a wheelchair, Jason is proof positive that nothing should keep you away from car crafting.
HardcoreEngine ShootoutI'm a small-block loyalist because, as a student, that's all I thought I could afford. After reading the crate engine shootout article ("Hardcore Crate Engine Shootout," Mar. '03), I stand corrected. The Rat obviously proved victorious, and it was $1,500 cheaper. I have to compliment you guys on a great big-block vs. small-block test. I have read some comparisons other rags have performed, and let's face it: a 350 versus a 454 is ridiculous. I liked how you chose a big-inch Mouse and a 509 Rat, but what really struck me as interesting was that while they both shared a 4-inch stroke, the Rat had less compression and was heavier yet was still faster. I guess a 31/48-inch bigger bore and big-block heads do make a difference.Todd Petersonvia e-mail