One of none 1941 Plymouth Road Runner Business Coupe, 392 Chrysler Hemi, 2500 miles. Fat man front clip with disc brakes and rack and pinion steering. Engine runs strong, aluminum hi rise manifold, electronic ignition, 340 oil pump, aluminum radiator, Ron Francis wiring, headers, solid cam with improved grind, more lift. Beefed turbo 400, posi rear end. Traction bars. Custom dash with Stewart-Warner gauges, banjo steering wheel, and comfortable bucket seats. The car has had the heads ported, and it is a true balanced and blueprinted engine. The headers are hooked to a 2 1/2 exhaust system that is music, not loud. A rear mounted fuel pump moves the gasoline. The tank is an after market unit.
Lots more. The car was found in a shop resting for 20 years, the original 6 was frozen, and discarded. There was only a tiny rust spot under the driver's side foot well. It was fixed with fiberglass and POR 15 epoxy paint. The fenders were dented from rocks being thrown up under them causing a lot of small dents. I had that professionally taken care of. The rest of the car I did myself.
The car is more of a cruiser than a hot rod. The distributor curve was selected from the 4 available the MSD unit. The one I chose gave the best gas mileage and performance on the freeway on ramps. The car has never been raced, nor hit. I found some minor damage from long ago in the rear of the underneath, but it effects nothing, so I did not mess with it. From the outside it does not show. The chrome has all been replated and the stainless polished, and the car looks very good. It always draws a crowd at gas station stops. Its been only in one show, and took first place.
This model has just about disappeared or been given a Chevy engine and painted all one color. I have not seen one just like mine in years of reading car magazines. Only a few pop up. This type of car was popular in stock car dirt racing in the late 40's and 50's. They got used up.
The airflow in the interior is controlled by the stock control. You can see it below the dash in those photos. It is variable at to how much you want in the vehicle. The wind wings do some of the same. I did not hook up the wipers, I just Rain-X ed the windshield for the few times I got caught in the rain. The carburetor is a Edlebrock 750 with electric choke. It works well. It has never been driven in snow or ice.
The fuel I use is premium without ethanol that is available here. You can see a lot in the construction photos. The pistons were Sterlings which was later bought out by TRW, and who knows who owns them now. But they are cast. The rods are forged and a beam polish. A real plus is that this engine had adjustable rocker arms added when it was put together. It makes the solid cam easy to adjust. The intakes and exhausts both are set with a .018 clearance. More nice music. Oil pressure is 80 lbs cold, and runs about 65-70 hot.
One trick to this car. The fat man front end has 7 degrees caster to keep bump steer totally away. But you have to start turning earlier than usual. It is easy to get used to, but a surprise if you have not driven the car before. Posi works well . The transmission was built heavy duty with strong parts in clutch material and plates. I like Tulrbo-400's so I used it. A custom driveshaft was cut for the car. The rear springs were rebuilt. The master cylinder is for a disc/drum set up. It has the adjuster easy to reach in the engine compartment. The rear end is a 8 3/4 and is the newer design from a 1966 Chrysler. No problems there.
In case you wondered the front end comes off with 9 bolts. The electrics are disconnected at the fire wall a few other things and then set on blankets. That is how it went on. Very smooth. I doubt you would ever have to do that, but things happen. and it is just good to know.
Seat belts are racing 3" type. They fit well. It does not have a spare tire, but there is a can of flat fix in the area behind the seat.
The trunk was not finished up. Just cleaned and has some stuff in there incase something happens.
The air cleaner has been totally modified inside and has a custom air filter in it from K&N. I called them and they build it custom to fit with no extra charge. So it is an unusual piece. The intake manifold is good up to 5500 rpm. The car cruises at 2800 rpm at 60 mph. The paint was a custom mix, and then most all of the car manufactures came up with close to this color.
The wheels were powder coated black, and the cap and trim wheel are what they would do back in 1941.
The front bumper brackets were cut back for a better look. This car was originally built with a crank to start it if the battery died. So there was extra space for the crank as it spun. It looks better this way. At gas stops I am always asked what it is.
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