Not a mechanic/fabricator/welder...don't pretend to be one in real life either.
However, based on a current thread for building a car, I've thought about somehow dropping a V8 in my '98 Ranger. Keep everything on the outside looking as stock as possible and smoking the doors off the unsuspecting. Just a pipe dream...
Anyone build a sleeper?
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
For about three years I had a brown 1979 Chevy Monza hatchback with the round headlights (not the sporty square ones), with a factory 2-bbl 305 and TH350 transmission. Looked really plain. I put on a Holley Street Dominator intake and 600cfm carburetor, recurved the advance in the distributor, installed a shift kit in the transmission, and put a single turbo muffler underneath. I whipped a LOT of cars with that Monza.
"To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."-- Thomas Jefferson
My Pop had a 1974 Dark Green Ford Pinto, it was the trunk lid version, not the hatchback. It had a Ak Miller turbo kit installed on the four banger. When it wasn't lifting the head, and stretching head bolts, it was freaky fast. He surprised more than one Trans-Am and Camaro with that POS. It really was a sleeper.
I don't know that I've seen him as happy as the day he sold it. It required frequent attention.
As a teenager, I got a Ford Maverick from a junkyard that had been rolled, still drivable. I stuffed in an old 385 with c6 tranny. Never fixed the body other then the lights and running gear. Fun little car, won a few street races. Took it to a “run what ya brung” race at the Woodburn drag, blew the tranny up on my second run.
"Know guns, no crime. No guns, know crime." - Ralph Lauretano
As a teenager, I got a Ford Maverick from a junkyard that had been rolled, still drivable. I stuffed in an old 385 with c6 tranny. Never fixed the body other then the lights and running gear. Fun little car, won a few street races. Took it to a “run what ya brung” race at the Woodburn drag, blew the tranny up on my second run.
Ah, the Woodburn drag strip. We lived a mile away in the 80s. Loved to hear the cars.
I had a 73 4door dodge dart, bench seat column shift, vinyl top, hub caps, looked like an old lady's car. Had a built 360 with a holly 1000 cfm carb, nitrous , subframe connectors, a sump on the gas tank big electric fuel pump with a cool can for dry ice for when I raced it. Drove it around Town on 6-inch slicks. Ran 11.90s-12.00 on just the motor and 11.10s on the bottle. Of course, it didn't sound like a normal car.
One other thing, I had to convert it to manual brakes, not enough vacuum with the big racer brown solid cam also it converted to manual steering just to get rid of the power steering drag on the motor.
Oh and I fabricated an air cleaner with double snorkels. I mounted them right behind the front bumper, used drier duct hose for that so cool air induction without a hood scoop.
Last edited by stxhunter; 06/19/21.
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
Before we get deep into the discussion of sleeper cars, please explain how a Ranger is a car. Thanks.
"Social order at the expense of Liberty is hardly a bargain” de Sade "He who'll not reason is a Bigot, he who cannot is a Fool, and he who dares not is a Slave."SirWilliamDrummond
The thing is you can build a sleeper, but when it comes to tires you can't fool anyone. If I see drag radials or a track tire there's no way I'm assuming the engine is stock.
The thing is you can build a sleeper, but when it comes to tires you can't fool anyone. If I see drag radials or a track tire there's no way I'm assuming the engine is stock.
Agreed, but most people's attention to detail is nonexistent lately, so it'll probably work better now than it would've 50 years ago.
"Social order at the expense of Liberty is hardly a bargain” de Sade "He who'll not reason is a Bigot, he who cannot is a Fool, and he who dares not is a Slave."SirWilliamDrummond
There is a guy around Fairview, Tn that had a primer gray 1964 ford truck with a 428 . The only give away was the 4inch pipes sticking out under the rear bumper .
