Back in the late '70s the big three were in the soup. Increasingly stringent emissions regulations in conjunction with some long in the tooth designs made for some interesting attempts at fuel and spark management. Some of these things worked. Some sort of kind of worked. A few actually did their job pretty well, considering. In the latter category was the Chrysler Electronic … [Read more...]
Take it Easy, Turbo
Turbocharged automobile engines are experiencing a resurgence in popularity thanks in part to a more performance and efficiency minded consumer hive. This new swell of turbo madness would in fact be the second wave. The first wave of production turbocharged rockets occurred in the Eighties, as fuel control systems drifted away from carburetors and into computerized multipoint … [Read more...]
Turbocharged Minivans and Lasers
Today marks recognition of the unsung yet pioneering heroes of the four-cylinder turbocharged production automobile universe. These are the Eighties turbocharged Mopar four-cylinders. Long before you could buy a universal turbocharger kit of questionable origin and functionality off eBay for a few hundred bucks, you could step up to your local Chrysler-Dodge-Plymouth dealer and … [Read more...]
Skid Plate Racing Rules the Oval
Skid Plate racing rules are straightforward. Any 1980 or newer four or six-banger front wheel drive car with a 90-inch or longer wheelbase is OK. No secret reinforcements or buttressing allowed. No added weight. Hitting the buffet a few times to add weight to the driver before the race is OK. A Skid Plate Race car must be stock at its core. If you are going to run a V6, two of … [Read more...]
Spring Fling Upholds Mopar Greatness
Being number one is not necessarily the best. Just ask any Mopar fan. Number three is far better. Maybe existing as the underdog of the American big three had the Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth collective working that much harder to come up with something groundbreaking and innovative. Perhaps being a little smaller allowed for more free thinking and resulting nimble … [Read more...]