Muscle Cars vs Modern Muscle Cars

Posted on by corayyy

This battle between car enthusiasts is a funny one. “Older cars are better because…” “Older cars are just that, old. You want a good car, buy one from the past couple of decades…” It’s a battle that is all based on opinion. There is no this is all out superior to that when it comes to cars (well, for the most part. Some cars are actually notoriously awful. Heard of the Ford Pinto? What a death trap).

Classic cars do have a unique look to them. They are more boxy and all have a similar feel. The style of cars are timeless. People that grew up during the 60’s and early 70’s lived in a great time. The dawn of where car makers really started to duke it out. Each of the top dogs (Chevrolet, Ford, and Chrysler) wanted to stand out and build the baddest, fastest cars that you could buy. Each really tried to set themselves apart from the competition by offering unique branding, colors, styles, engines, drivetrain, etc…it truly was a great time to be alive if you loved cars! Gas was also crazy cheap back then in comparison to today.

One of the big things car makers were doing (and I mean BIG) was they offered many different engine options for all of their cars. Engines upwards of 400 cubic inch V8’s were the norm! The philosophy was “there is no replacement for displacement.” Those engines made the cars they occupied sound mean! Just raw power from the carburetor to the headers.

They weren’t all naturally aspirated though. Many wanted more power, and a supercharger was the way to do it. These superchargers differ from today’s iterations mainly by size. They were massive! Massive enough to block out a portion of what’s in front of you while you drove! They did however offer a very unique look and the power they added was well worth the compromise.

Modern muscle cars are a different animal in many ways. Carburetors are a thing of the past as fuel injection is now the norm, producing a more efficient fuel delivery option. No more having to wrench to tune your fuel system. Computers now handle everything! Cars have the technology to self tune themselves depending upon elevation or other variables. Further tuning can be done with a laptop while sitting in the comfort of your car.

Engines are still large, but the old “no replacement for displacement” philosophy is out. Modern engines are much more efficient, producing more power and getting MUCH better gas mileage with less cubes. There are many different options for forced induction and many come standard with a power adder or two. Superchargers are still very much a thing, but they aren’t as massive as they used to be (although, you can still buy a large roots style supercharger if you so desire). Just like with anything else as technology improves, things get smaller and more efficient. Superchargers and turbos can now be kept underneath the hood. Even though you can’t see what the car is packing, because it isn’t rising out of the hood like the old days, you’re still fully aware that the car you’re hearing is not a sleeper (check out the spooly bois in that pic above. You’re not going to miss that unique sound). Transmissions and other components also followed suit and are a big upgrade from their older counterparts (the transmission in my ’72 Valiant has only 3 gears…modern muscle cars come with upwards of 6!).

So what can we surmise from all of this information in regards to Muscle Cars vs Modern Muscle Cars? It all depends on your style. If you want that timeless muscle car look and feel, look for an older muscle car. If you want a newer iteration of the classics, but with more modern tech, looks and feel then treat yourself with a modern muscle car. In the end, we are all car enthusiasts and can all appreciate cars for the same reasons.

My 1972 Valiant Build

Posted on by corayyy

In my post, from a few days ago, titled “My First Car: 1972 Valiant” I mentioned that the car in that post is not what it is today. The car is a whole new animal that I have yet to tame (mostly because I haven’t been able to drive it because of various issues)! The reliable 90 hp Slant Six engine has been replaced, as well as many other drive-train components and accessories, to match the new setup. Let’s pick up right where we left off.

The mighty reliable Slant Six’s death brought about new beginnings. With death, comes life (don’t worry, that’s all of the philosophy I have). I began researching what could be swapped into the ‘ol Valiant and found that there were kits to put in anything from small Mopar V8’s to even shoe horning in big blocks! My car is an A-body, which is the smallest Mopar body style that was offered back then, so I was surprised to see all of the possibilities. I began researching and decided that I needed to find a small block Mopar 360 and equip it with a stroker kit to boost the cubes up to 408. This setup would be naturally aspirated (no forced induction, but, that’s on the docket for future upgrades) and backed by an A727 transmission as well as a Mopar 8 3/4 rearend. I just needed to find them for a decent price and preferably locally.

I asked around for a good engine builder and installer before I began my search. Strasburg Automotive Machine in Lindon, Utah was who I was told to talk to. They just needed me to find an engine for them to work on and it was a go! I got lucky and found a 1974 Dodge 360 w/ A904 transmission in Hooper, Utah for $400! I got it all to Stasburg and he started on what he could until the stroker kit was ready.

I sourced the stroker kit and had it shipped to him so that he could machine the 360 block to match the kit.

Once machining and balancing of everything was finished, assembly began. Here the engine is mostly assembled and sitting on an engine stand at the shop. Over the next couple of weeks I ordered parts needed to finish the engine: Holley 750 HP double pumper carb, TTI headers, pie tin air cleaner (with a custom 408 decal), and a roller timing chain to name a few. The engine was dyno’d on Strasburgs in house engine dyno by UVU’s very own Todd Low, which can be seen in the video below. Spoiler: ~500 HP and 475 ft/lbs of torque. Not bad considering it’s naturally aspirated with the only porting being a gasket match on the intake! Another spoiler: Todd Low had a caterpillar mustache back then and he is the spitting image of Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite! Yes, I know I sound like a dork in the video. I was an excited 22 year old then. Give me a break!

Lindsay Strasburg had local buddies that were capable of doing the install and other modifications. During the engine build, I had one of his buddies mini tub the Valiant (to accommodate larger tires) as well as beef up the car for the increased power. When he was finished, the car was sent to the guy doing the install.

Parts were powdercoated and installed, wheels and tires were put on, undercoating applied, engine bay was painted the future car color (1970 B5 Blue applied by Kelley Keetch, who works at the Orem Maaco), and of course the engine with necessary components were installed. The car was finally coming along nicely! Next and last thing (or so I thought) was to have the rest of the car painted.

Not a lot of body work had to be done, but the passenger rear quarter, a torsion bar area, and a few other places needed fixing to repair rust. Being over 30 years old, this car was preserved pretty nicely! Once the rust and other bodywork was handled, the car was primered and ready for the band stripe and body paint!

Fast forward to the day I picked the car up and did its first fill up on the new setup. I drove this Valiant year around for years with 90 HP, so I was definitely not used to the power difference! Unfortunately, the car has had various problem ever since, which have prevented me from driving it: bad oil pump squirted oil all over on my first drive (which cooked onto the brand new headers and littered the new paint), oil leak in a couple welds on the fabricated valve covers, beefier radiator was installed, poor wiring killed batteries on a single drive (think of the alternator wiring being backwards, causing a constant draw instead of charging the battery), my transmission wasn’t shifting from 2nd to 3rd correctly, new chassis harness was installed by a new guy and some things weren’t wired properly (this guy fried my gauge cluster, tach, and other components. A wire fire happened while trying to use the fans!), and he chipped the new paint on my hood! Needless to say, I had had enough. I wanted a good guy that would meticulously make things right on my car.

The image you see above is from a few weeks ago. I was referred to a local Mopar guy that has done great work on many local guys cars. He picked the car up and has been chipping away at it ever since, giving me weekly updates as he progresses. I can’t wait to finally drive and enjoy the Valiant once all the kinks are figured out. It can’t come soon enough!

Top 3 Things to Consider When Buying a Car

Posted on by corayyy

Car buying can be a stressful situation. You might be asking yourself: “What car will be reliable, ridiculously ridiculously good looking, meet me/my families needs, stay within my budget, be fun to drive, and last for years?” That’s a lot to consider, but those check mark’s aren’t impossible to fill. In fact, you can fill all of them. Most cars that are produced today can meet your criteria for the perfect car. Even older cars can fulfill your needs! Here are the Top 3 Things to Consider When Buying a Car.

  1. Do Your Homework: This may seem like common sense, but I know somebody out there is looking for a car and will go about it blindly. Do your homework! You have criteria for a car, so start searching your criteria and see what you can find. Another good tip is to ask around. Ask family or friends what they know. That can be a good way to find what you’re looking for and may even lead to somebody they know, who is selling a car, and that can lead to a possible good deal!
  2. Buy used: There is no reason why you must buy a new car if all of your needs are met with a used one. You can get what you want for less by not having to deal with all of the extra garbage fees at dealership’s, plus you don’t have to put up with the salesman that keeps on pushing you towards a car that you may not be satisfied with. Nobody likes being pressured into a car that they don’t want because the salesman is trying to make a little extra dough or get an unwanted car off of the lot. Not all salesman are like that, but I have experienced it myself and I wasn’t buying it (pun intended)! “But, where can I even buy a used car and not have to deal with all of the dealership tom foolery?” Well, here ya go:
    • KSL: Yes, KSL, like the news station. This is a great place to buy locally here in the 801 and surrounding areas. Their classifieds are accessed online or within their classifieds app. You can set all of the filters that you will need to find the perfect used car.
    • Craigslist: I am sure that everybody has heard of Craigslist, in good ways or bad, but it is still a good way to find a great car. I actually found the perfect Tacoma years ago on here and it has been the best car I have ever owned! I set my filters to cover a wider range, but I am glad that I did as I found it in Las Vegas (no salt in the winters!).
    • Ebay: Ebay is a great place to find just about anything, even cars. There are TONS of them on there! Just keep in mind that many listings are dealership listings, but there are plenty of cars for sale by owner.
    • Shop Safely: This isn’t a place to buy, but I thought I would throw it in here since we just talked about Craigslist and meeting random strangers. Just remember: don’t go alone, don’t meet in sketchy places and don’t meet at a sketchy time of day. If possible, meet in a public area like a shopping center parking lot.
  3. Buy New: Yes, buying used is what I would recommend, but there are circumstances where buying new is the ultimate option to get exactly what you’re looking for. Besides the obvious of wanting a new car, there may be tech that isn’t offered in older cars that you deem necessary. Of course, you will have to be prepared to deal with all of the aforementioned dealership hiccups, except for being steered into buying something you don’t want. If you are buying new, you’ve already done your homework and know what you want. The salesman know you mean business and are eager for you to bust out that classic briefcase full of cash. They will be the most helpful salesman you have ever seen!

There is all that you need to know when considering buying a car. Do your homework, buy used and if needed, buy new.

My First Car: 1972 Valiant

Posted on by corayyy

When I was 17 (still driving my parents cars, slinging pizza’s at Little Caesar’s and while in my senior year of high school), I had been saving up my measly minimum wage earnings to buy a car. I didn’t know what car yet, as what I really wanted was always out of my price range, but I did know that I was determined to spend my hard earned money on a car that would stand out and last.

At the time, online car buying was something that serious car buyers would only do so I was left with word of mouth and with family on the look out. My dad would often travel for work and was always keeping his eyes peeled for anything. I became interested in an older diesel Mercedes, as my uncle mentioned they are very reliable and get decent gas mileage, but I didn’t like the way it looked. I looked into Corolla’s and other good gas mileage 4-banger cars but still, the search went on.

One day my dad had to head up to Morgan, Utah for work and came across an older car parked alongside the road with a for sale sign on it. He had no idea what kind of car it was but he knew that he liked the way it looked. He continued on, so he could finish his work responsibilities for the day, but knew he had to check out the car after he was done.

Once finished, he headed back to this mysterious car to get a closer look. While looking at the car, he read the words ‘1972 Plymouth Valiant’ on the for sale sign. All he kept thinking about was “What is a Valiant? I have never heard of a Valiant before…” He gave me a call and told me about this car he had found to which I also said “What is a Valiant?” He detailed what the car looked like (smartphones weren’t a thing yet, otherwise one picture would have told me everything) and knew that I was intrigued, so he set up a meeting with the owner for the following weekend.

The weekend arrived and I was excited to finally go see this car. I couldn’t stop thinking about it all week! When we made it to the owners house there it was, sitting in the driveway. It was blue (my favorite color) and resembled a Dodge Dart from the same era! We took a quick test drive, arranged a fair price, and the car was mine!

The Slant Six engine (Mopar inline six, but the engine sits slanted) was gutless, with its 1 barrel carburetor and all. It’s a good thing it was gutless because looking back, if I had anything with power I would have gotten into more trouble (yeahhhh…I managed to still get speeding tickets with 90 hp).

I drove ‘The Valiant’ daily for years. Snow, rain, ice, sunshine, it saw it all. It was my first major purchase so I took very good care of it (I take care of everything I buy, but this was different).

The interior looked nice and for an older car, it played Rush pretty good! The car served me well for ~10 years, and then I somehow managed to seize the notoriously bulletproof Slant Six engine…by running it out of oil. Turns out that a small leak becomes a big leak, given time. I was more upset at myself than anything else for neglecting checking the oil for so long. My car had died, but the death brought about new beginnings. I had been saving up money for something big and this was just a catalyst for the plans I had in store. I will touch on what was done to the car in another post but until then, let’s just say that this old grandma car can get groceries a lot quicker than it used to!

Car Feature: 1974 ‘Cuda

Posted on by corayyy

The first car feature goes to my uncles 1974 ‘Cuda. He has always been into cars, mostly older VW Beetles and Buses, but just last year he decided that he needed something with more power. Something that still fills that nostalgic portion of his heart, but also breaches into that ‘Muscle’ portion he has been yearning for. He began his search by looking online for a split bumper Camaro…but this yellow ‘Cuda kept popping up in his Facebook marketplace. None the less, split bumper Camaro was the aim so he pressed on.

Although many Camaro’s were available, none were matching up to what he wanted. Wrong color, wrong options, wrong price range, no split bumper, etc… He just couldn’t find what he was looking for…and yet again, this yellow ‘Cuda kept taunting him from his Facebook marketplace. After 5-6 months of searching, he finally decided to look into the ‘Cuda that had been tempting him. What he found out about the car was what finally swayed him: only ~12k 1974 ‘Cuda’s were produced and then they got more rare depending on options. Camaro’s were mass produced so they aren’t all that rare (with production numbers running in the hundreds of thousands and then options deciding the rarity from there) so he decided on the ‘Cuda, making him the second owner of the car!

Once Dave drove his ‘Cuda around, he realized that the performance was not keeping up with the looks. Although this car was restored and had the original 318 V8 engine, it only produced ~200 hp with the mods that were done to it (upped from ~150 hp). He needed MORE POWER!

He got in contact with a local Mopar guy and the consensus was to install a 496 wedge engine (which will put out ~500 hp and 500 ft/lbs of torque) to really get the ‘Cuda moving. So off the ‘Cuda went to get the engine built, installed, and other necessary modifications that would be needed to accommodate such power. The ‘Cuda will still harness the A727 3 speed auto transmission (beefed up to handle the added power), a Mopar 8 3/4 rear end, disc brakes, and a staggered tire setup for that muscle car look.

The interior will remain the same because as you can see, it needs no changing. The slapstick shifter, the gauge cluster, vinyl interior, carpet, steering wheel, everything is still in great shape since its restoration.

Dave will soon be getting his ‘Cuda back and is looking forward to cruising and attending local car shows with it. He can’t wait and I can’t wait to go for a ride!

    YouTube Channel Highlight – 1320video

    Posted on by corayyy

    Have you been looking for that one YouTube channel that is the ultimate channel for car highlights and racing (legal and in “Mexico”)? The one channel that not only posts this great car content, but also has fantastic production value? If you have looked for anything car related on YouTube, then you may be familiar with 1320video https://www.youtube.com/user/1320video! 1320 hosts car content from all around the globe: From the streets of Australia and Dubai, to the tracks of Florida and Colorado. No matter where and when 1320 owner, Kyle Loftis, and his crew are there capturing the event. The channel never disappoints! The cars, the people, and the locations are always unique. You can take my word for it, but I recommend you head over and check out the channel to see what all the hype is about but until then, here are a few videos to get you started.

    In the first video of a series, Kyle and his crew take us on a journey through the 2019 Rocky Mountain Race Week (RMRW). What is RMRW? RMRW is the ultimate test of your sanity and your cars reliability. Participants compete on quarter mile strips every day for 5 days at 4 racetracks, while driving those same cars on a route that spans a total of 1500 miles in between tracks. Rules are put in place on what you can haul (maximum enclosed trailer size only holding your cars necessities) and checkpoints (usually landmarks or unique areas to make the trip fun and interesting) are implemented that you must reach and take a picture at for proof. There is also a cutoff for racers to check in at each track and you must be able to make a pass down the 1/4 mile strip, hopefully a pass that helps you stay competitive in your chosen class.

    The 1320video crew do a great job of highlighting cars and showing footage of the cars, their crews, and all the shenanigans that ensue. Check it out!

    This second video is one of my favorites! The 1320 crew attended the 2017 TX2K (yearly car racing event held in Houston, Texas. Cars roll race and drag race the 1/4 mile in some of the worlds fastest cars) and shot a whole bunch of footage, but this clip was the highlight of the whole event.

    As the title suggests, a record was broken! Gidi drove his AMS built Alpha G GT-R into the 6’s, becoming the worlds first 6 second GT-R! The week had been rough, with the crew battling engine issues and going through several motors, but Gidi and his crew pushed through all of the turmoil to make history. He has since gone even deeper into the 6’s with a new setup. Watch the video and see how ecstatic everybody was to witness history in the making!

    This last video is another one of my favorites! We head down under to visit our Aussie bro’s and see some of their crazy cars street race. Before the U.S. had GTR’s(R35), overseas they had Skyline GTR’s(R32, R33, and R34). I personally love the R34 variant but they’re all crazy, especially the white R32 even though the R35 destroys it. They all SCREAM and sound ridiculous! The police also get involved, which you naturally risk when laying it down on the streets. Watch the video and see how the Aussies get down!

    I really enjoy the content on 1320! This is just a taste of what the YouTube channel has to offer however so head on over and get lost in the seemingly endless car footage!

    Top 5 Things You’ll Love About Car Shows

    Posted on by corayyy

    1. The Cars (Duh!): Whether you’re into Classics, Hot Rods, Muscle Cars, JDM, Exotics, Customs or Sports Cars there will always be a Car Show for you! Generally you will see a mix of all sorts of cars, unless the show specifies the types of cars that are allowed. You may even see cars that you have never even heard of and for most of us, cars that we will never be able to afford. Sad, I know, but looking at them is what you’re there for and you can always dream. The cars may not be free, but the shows usually are. One thing to remember: please be respectful and DO NOT touch the cars! The amount of time and effort put into getting cars ready for a show can be quite extensive so please refrain from putting your paws on the cars. As tempting as it is, not everything that is shiny needs to be touched.
    2. The Location: Having a great location for a car show can really make the show more of an experience! Car shows have been held up in the canyons, Park City, at local parks, shopping centers, and local businesses. The locations up in the mountains provide a breathtaking landscape for car shows and if you’re up in Park City, you may see some celebrities and their cars! The local shopping center and park car shows happen fairly frequently so you may be able pass by a local one and get a quick look of what showed up! The ones associated with a business may be a yearly or quarterly show but they generally have a good turn out.
    3. The People: The types of cars may determine the types of people that attend those car shows (but not always). That can be a fun way to network as you already share an interest in one thing: Cars! It’s not the main reason I go but hey, you can never go wrong with making new friends and networking. You may even meet your next boss (I’m referring to you, Ken Block).
    4. The Food: At most shows you can expect there to be good food! It’s usually BBQ, (to which I’m not complaining and it fits car shows well for some reason) or you may see a variety of food trucks or other vendors parked and ready to serve you. There’s nothing quite like looking at the cars you love while feasting on a pulled pork sandwich or a churro! Just don’t spill or drip anything on the cars you’re gawking at…The owners may not like that.
    5. The Music: Having good music can really set the tone of the show! There doesn’t always have to be music, but it is a nice touch. You can expect classic rock at shows with older cars (makes sense) or crazier stuff if you’re looking at JDM or other newer cars. For me, hearing the cars run, rev, or take off is music enough to my ears. Consider bringing ear plugs if the cars or music are too loud for you.

    Lastly…HAVE FUN!!!