• 1 of 1,512 built by Hurst Performance off an Rogue sedan
• Last Rambler model built
• A typical “urban legend.” Learned of this survivor while having dinner at Bobby Moore’s original “Race Rock Motor City Diner” in Clinton Township, MI. A work associate of my wife having dinner with us told me about his “hot car” after watching all of the cars arrive for the weekly Tuesday night cruise.
• Offered to purchase the car, naturally it wasn’t for sale until he got married, bought a house and promptly had twins.
• Purchased in April, 1999 from the third owner
• Car had been in storage, without being driven, since 1985
• Drag raced extensively by the second owner that lived a couple of doors down the street from where the vehicle was stored
• Condition at purchase:
• Configured as a late 60’s street/drag racer
• Factory Edelbrock R4B aluminum intake manifold, Holley carb and headers
• Borg Warner Super T-10 and original Hurst shifter with Sun tach still on the steering column
• Original transmission was subsequently purchased from the second owner
• Original AMC 20 rear end with 4.44 gears and factory torque rods
• Anson Sprint wheels (big and littles) with bias ply BFG T/A tires
• Rear wheel wells radiused to clear the tires
• Freshen the required systems: brakes, steering and suspension
• Create a modern “road racer” look by lowering the car down on 17”x7” American 200s’ to take advantage of the nostalgia look but use BFG G-Force T/A KD ZR rated unidirectional radials
• Develop a thoroughly contemporary engine utilizing recently released performance parts. Target is 550 HP and 500 #/ft of torque while maintaining street ability.
• Indy Cylinder Heads’ 401-SR aluminum “dog-leg” exhaust port heads with their mild port and polish
• 2.100 intakes and 1.650 exhausts with aluminum roller rockers
• Edelbrock RPM Air-Gap intake and 850 CFM, annular discharge Holley
• 1970 – 390 block over-bored .030” with JE forged pistons at 10.5 CR to run on pump gas
• block selected because of raised deck and ½” head bolts
• Forged steel ’70 crank ground .010” under and Nitrided
• Stock rods cleaned up with ARP bolts
• Internal oiling originally developed by Traco during the Trans Am days to ensure adequate bottom-end oiling to 7,500 RPM
• Aggressive Comp Cams flat tappet cam
• ARP fasteners
• CenterForce lightweight flywheel and clutch
• Vintage Lakewood scatter shield
• MSD billet distributor with 6AL box
• Document the entire engine build with digital photography
• Supplement photography of removing the car from long term storage
• Validate performance on dyno
• Photograph car at old AMC Proving Grounds in nearby Kenosha
• Validate performance at Great Lakes Dragway