My Daytona clone project...

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

He got rid of the fiberglass Z Brackets. He bent some lightweight units out of aluminum.

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

This along with the new aluminum latch tray... which will provide access to the "air tunnel" to the radiator and coolers. And allow mounts for the hood pins...

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

A key component for the mocking up the engine in the bay showed up...



These are TTI units with 2 1/4" primary tubes and 3 1/2" collectors.
They make my 1 7/8" tubes on my truck look small.

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

I had an ad from an old National Dragster magazine I tore out probably 8 years ago for a set of valve covers I knew I wanted for this build way back. It was from a company called Billet Fabrications.
I called them up. There were 3 different phone numbers I traced down. They all were dead ends. I finally e- mailed them. The owner responded back with the message they were out of business and sold all their equipment. I told him what I was looking for. He said he had one set of the Hemi covers still left... for a 392 Hemi. Rats!
So searching around I found a lot of the same cheap Chinese things that looked like some kid put together.
After an extensive search, I found what I was looking for... one company only making the ones I was after. They're for Top Fuel engine.




I'm going to have to install a bung and cap for an oil fill location.
And make some sort of adapters for the old school NASCAR breather setup I'd like to run.
 

[tan top]

   good stuff     

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

Eric had my car in this paint booth for a while.
He decided to move it out for more working room.
He took these shots while it was out free...

[WINGIN IT]

Those Wood Year 'tires' are awesome!  Car looks great too 

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

Hood pins are mounted...



Since the real Daytona stock cars ran three pins with center one laid bent on top of the crease in the hood... we determined It just wouldn't look right that way on the hood.



So we decided to go with a symmetrical pattern.
 

[WINGIN IT]

To each their own, but I think 4 is overkill.

[tan top]

the three pin set up looks good & its what they use to run back in the day   
think if i was building a charger daytona to run on the salt / top end stuff , would use the four pins same set up    

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

To each their own, but I think 4 is overkill.

It shouldn't lift at 240. 
And since I'm not going to run the safety latch...
And besides... this car is pretty much just overkill.

I was talking to Sean, and he told me the the story of Bobby Alison who lost one of the three pins at the '70 Firecracker 400 race. And after that event.. they went to four pins.

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

the three pin set up looks good & its what they use to run back in the day   
think if i was building a charger daytona to run on the salt / top end stuff , would use the four pins same set up    

Yeah.
I was looking at Sean Machado's "race" Daytona. And that center pin over that hood crease just doesn't look right. 

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

Eric has the front almost completely mocked up.
He welded the roll bar up. And has moved to the back of the car.
Here he's started on the "end caps" that are normally just bolted on to the rear fender ends. Kinda cheesy looking stock. Looks like an add on.
I decided early on to mold them onto the fenders to make them look like part of the body for a more updated look. He agreed.
So here a shot of the first process on the passenger side. Along with my fuel cell, which he's going to re-mock up from what my son Barrett started on months ago.



Latest front view...

[moparstuart]

the three pin set up looks good & its what they use to run back in the day   
think if i was building a charger daytona to run on the salt / top end stuff , would use the four pins same set up    

Yeah.
I was looking at Sean Machado's "race" Daytona. And that center pin over that hood crease just doesn't look right. 

thats because Sean Machado is just not right   

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

the three pin set up looks good & its what they use to run back in the day   
think if i was building a charger daytona to run on the salt / top end stuff , would use the four pins same set up    

Yeah.
I was looking at Sean Machado's "race" Daytona. And that center pin over that hood crease just doesn't look right. 

thats because Sean Machado is just not right   

He's helped me out quite a bit.
But he keeps telling me that I'll never beat him around the track at Willow Springs. 
One's thing for sure... he'll be a very small image in my rear view mirror down the main straight... if nothing else.     

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

I got the spool mounts for the Hemi...



My block and heads are coming from Indy Cylinder Heads next week.
We'll mock things under the hood and check for clearance when my manifold shows up from Hogan's.

And the LED rear tail light units...

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

Some major engine components showed up today...







I can lift that block by myself.

[aerolith]

Cripes Kurt,

That INDY stuff is pure PORN!

Happy Christmas to you and hope to see your Super-car next year when I visit the Valley!
I'm sure you will be cruising Van Nuys and Reseda BLD lol...

Great build and ever so slightly jealous DOH!

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

Cripes Kurt,

That INDY stuff is pure PORN!

Happy Christmas to you and hope to see your Super-car next year when I visit the Valley!
I'm sure you will be cruising Van Nuys and Reseda BLD lol...

Great build and ever so slightly jealous DOH!

Thanks a bunch!
And a Happy one to you too!

After I got this block, I started to come across other Hemi blocks offered out there.
At first I was a little worried I might not have got the better of the blocks.
My worries were unfounded. I'm glad I "stumbled" upon probably one of the better units out there.
 

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

Eric is trying to get the interior metal wrapped up.
Welding up the gaps and unused holes.
And almost finishing the back firewall area.







He now has the back roll bars going to the back frame rails.
I'll get a picture of that soon.
We also got the bare engine block in the bay to see what's happening as far as clearances go. And then pulled it out.
And determined that a transmission needs to get ordered. So money is flying at Hughes Performance transmissions.
And we noticed the passenger side engine mount needs to be moved forward.
We also figured a dry sump oiling system might be the best route to go. A shallow oil pan with an oil reservoir. Instead of anything close to a deep sump with kick outs to get any kind of capacity needed. Not to mention issues with G- forces driving the oil away from a wet sump pickup.
 

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

Here's the "storage" units for the dry sump.
The crank driven, Gilmore belt, 3 stage pump is coming.








Still waiting on the transmission. Maybe a 3 week more wait from Hughes Performance.
I called Hogan's Intakes back in North Carolina... 2.5 weeks more from them.
Major holdups for mocking up the engine/ trans in the frame.

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

Another key component... and a pricey piece of the mock up puzzle.
A 1500 hp rated 4L80E, lock up billet convertor, manual valve body.



One good thing... the pricey pieces are winding down.

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

I took the block, trans and oil pan to Eric's shop today.
He want's to start mocking up under the hood and make sure the bellhousing will clear the firewall.
He's moving the frame engine mount on the passenger side because Schwartz Performance Chassis didn't place it like the offset Mopar setup.



And when Hogans sends me the intake/ supercharger/ intercooler... we'll be able to put the heads on with the intake/ headers and check other clearances out.

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

Checking progress today.
My Daytona was airborne!



Eric noted that both engine mounts needed to be moved.
And the trans mount on the frame was upside down.
I'm glad he's finding and fixing these errors now.
The reason for the mock up process.

Eric made sure I knew that everything under the block/ oil pan and trans was padded very well. 

Now if Hogan's would let me know if my intake is done yet.

[KurtfromLaQuinta]

Eric has the block and trans mocked up in place...



He had to clearance the firewall and tunnel. We kinda knew this would happen...



He stuck the whole assembly a bit lower and a bit back from stock. Which should enhance handling somewhat.