My Car in 1971

This is my 31 Plymouth. I purchased it in 1971(photo left). Through the next 16 years I installed a Corvair front end, Jaguar rack & Pinion, Chevy 327 with a turbo 400 trans. A whole lot of parts searching, body work, electrical and interior.

It took me till 1987 (photo right) to get it on the road. After driving it for awhile and seeing what other rodders were doing, I began totally rebuilding it through the winters while leaving it on the road for the summers.

Finally on the road in 1987

Original engine 87

The first thing that had to go was the Chevy engine. Although it was very dependable and economical, I wanted to make it all Mopar. I found a 340 short block, then scrounged for heads, manifold, headers, and had a 904 trans. built.

The front end sat too high with the Corvair front end and Jaguar rack & pinion. I installed an independent front end with disk brakes, coil over shocks, Mopar rack and pinion and ball joints. Custom tubular A arms tied the front end together. This brought the front end down and kept a fairly smooth ride.

Original Front end