From behind, the large tires and chromed Dana cover are evident. Attempts at harnessing power even with these large meats proved futile.
Auto Meter gauges are mounted on a panel on the dash; below are shift and other lights to keep an eye on things in the dark.
Under the hood is a balanced 440" Mopar wedge built by Larry Cutshaw – factory steel crank, Arias 7.0:1 pistons, factory cylinder heads with 2.08/1.94 valves (ported/polished), Milodon pan, MSD 6A ignition, Hooker Super Competition headers, and 3" Flowmaster mufflers with undercar exits. |
Of course, Pro Street was always about the whole package, and this fish is no exception. Cutshaw pulled out the rear suspension and replaced it with a semi-sprung Dana 60 with mini-tubs and wheel bars. Weld Wheels are used on all four corners, shod in Mickey Thompson rubber (with big 31x18.5s in the rear). The brakes use a combination of factory discs and drums upgraded from the original layout. The rest of the driveline was a worked A727 Torqueflite automatic with a reverse Cheetah valve body, and that blown 440 under the hood.
As built, the supercharged RB-block was stuffed with Arias 7.0:1 pistons for street gas, a custom spec B&M camshaft went into the middle, and the whole thing was topped off by a BDS 6-71 street supercharger. Using a pair of customized 650 mechanical secondary Holleys and a Speedway Customs scoop as a starting point, fuel enters the rotors, is compressed and then sent down the ports of a pair of worked steel heads. When the pistons are done with it, the charge emerges into the atmosphere via a set of fenderwell-type Hooker Super Competition headers and 3” pipes combined with Flowmasters. A MSD 6A ignition box and distributor light it off with Mallory wires and Champion plugs. The rumble is distinctive but not obnoxious, which helps Jeff keep a low profile (if that is possible) in the ride. There’s also a shot of nitrous waiting to come out the bottle in the trunk if needed, where it resides with the two Interstate batteries and a 20-gallon Jegs cell.
 Here is the business end of the engine, waiting for a turn of the key and a roar to life. |
With the driveline done when he bought the car from Larry in 1998, Jeff took over a retrofitting of the interior and detailing. Mike Roller of Rollers Rods in Greenville, Tenn., added a set of seats from another project (Jeff sheepishly admits it may have been a Toyota), and the interior also features a full set of Autometer gauges, a Hurst Quarter Stick shifter, a Grant steering wheel, and a six-point cage.
On the outside, the car is not as brazen as some of its former Pro Street compatriots. Larry Travis originally painted the car a special color that looks like a deep burgundy; thanks to modern technology, the paint shop was able to use a computer scan to match the hue for touch-up work. There are some graphic accents on the sides, but nothing too flashy.
Like many Pro Street projects, this was not a drag car – Cutshaw drove to the 7.20s in the 1/8 mile years ago, with very little traction. Now, Jeff enjoys cruising the car on occasional weekends, bringing back memories of yesterday’s cruising scene and introducing a new generation to the late, great Pro Street movement.