A Supra-powered Plymouth Scamp

Story by Richard Truesdell

Sure, there are a few examples of hotrods built in the 1930s, but it’s generally accepted that hotrodding–as we have come to define the term–dates back to the time immediately following World War II. Many returning GIs had received technical training while serving in the armed forces, and they were eager to put those skills to good …

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This isn't the same car that was at the 2021 Challenge, right?  I remember that was a Dodge, but I can't remember the model.  Bumpers were different as well.

In reply to Mr_Asa :

Yes, there was one there, but I agree that this is a different car. 
 

Found my pictures. This one from the 2021 Challenge is a Dodge Dart.

In reply to Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) :

Yeah, interesting that Dodges are getting the 2JZ so much, but that might be confirmation bias.  Finnegan did it to his Charger last season on Roadkill I think.

It's a cool swap, keeping the in line six in these.

In keeping with that, there is some evidence that a Vortec 4200 has some capability for big power on a budget...  

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

Found my pictures. This one from the 2021 Challenge is a Dodge Dart.

Dang.  I really like that.  I would daily the hell out of it.

This car makes me feel like a cranky old guy. 

I recognize that it's pure hot rodding at it's best and it has all the things that I think are important in a build.  It's well thought out, appears well built, has a cohesive design and I have no doubt that it works well.  However, I just can't get past the fact that it has a Japanese six instead of a good old American V8.  Apparently, I don't care that it's probably a better car with the six.

Oddly, I think a Supra with a 340 MOPAR engine would be awesome.

What about the Atlas motor?

In reply to APEowner :

What I don't get is why you would go 2JZ when you can boost a built Slant Six to the moon, and keep it in the family?

Duke said:

In reply to APEowner :

What I don't get is why you would go 2JZ when you can boost a built Slant Six to the moon, and keep it in the family?

 

Because when you boost a slant six to the moon it will make like 300hp and rev to 4000rpm

I'm about as MoPar (and old) as they come, and I don't mind it one bit.


The only time I mind is when people like Finn say they are "doing it to pi$$ off the MoPar guys".    Do it because it is better, do it because it is lighter, do it because it is cheaper, heck, do it because you just plain like it.   If you need to get your jollies by "pi$$ing off the H8ers" maybe, just maybe the H8er is you.  

We had a Scamp when I was a kid; we called it the wonder car because it would tolerate monumental abuse. Slammed it down miles of dirt roads etc. When my dad bought a new car he gave the Scamp to me..................if only it was half as cool as this one, I'd have kept it.

In reply to Duke :

'Cuz according to Clifford Research, they'll only rev to 5500 safely.  Lack of crank support.  The longer the crank is, the more stress it puts on the center main bearing; crank tries to whip.

When I saw the title, my mind pictured the Plymouth version of the Dodge Rampage powered by a 2jz. I was initially disappointed to see it was the Valiant version. However, this car is well executed, and I love the idea of it still being powered by straight 6.

Cooter said:

.....


The only time I mind is when people like Finn say they are "doing it to pi$$ off the MoPar guys".    Do it because it is better, do it because it is lighter, do it because it is cheaper, heck, do it because you just plain like it.   If you need to get your jollies by "pi$$ing off the H8ers" maybe, just maybe the H8er is you.  

Quoted for truth.  That episode was hard to watch. 

The more I see of Finnegan, the less I like him.

Duke said:

In reply to APEowner :

What I don't get is why you would go 2JZ when you can boost a built Slant Six to the moon, and keep it in the family?

 

I have seriously considered holding a match race with Dave once I get the Dart finished so we can get a comparison between this and a turbo slant six.

The fact that "once I get the Dart finished" has been pushed back so much is probably going to be your answer, though.

I met the owner/builder at car craft Summer  nationals in 2012 or 2013. He did it because it was cool and was really excited about it. 
 

I remember he tried to sell it, including advertising in this magazine, for quite awhile. I always wondered where it landed. 

this is local to me? I had no idea!

I used to work at that burger restaurant. 

Wow ! How did I miss this the first time. I love that body style of Dodge/Plymouth. While I would have kept it Mopar, I appreciate the build. 

In reply to APEowner : Oddly, I think a Supra with a 340 MOPAR engine would be awesome.

I drive past an old shed with a Datsun Z-car nose visible in the door and wonder if I could drop a 340 in it.

In reply to Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) :

Yeah, my son's car.  '68 Dart, 2JZ, 510whp.  Runs SCCA CAM-T.

Here's an Instagram post he made from an autocross at Daytona last August:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSaD_UCn4tr/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY= 

I think a turbocharged BMW six would be more appropriate, since they're also a 'slant' motor.

jerel77494 said:

In reply to Duke :

'Cuz according to Clifford Research, they'll only rev to 5500 safely.  Lack of crank support.  The longer the crank is, the more stress it puts on the center main bearing; crank tries to whip.

And the Slant Six only has four main bearings.

Really, it got most of its reputation of toughness because it never made enough power to hurt itself, and the options from Brand C and Brand F really REALLY sucked. (Except for the 300, which was not used in cars)

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

Really, it got most of its reputation of toughness because it never made enough power to hurt itself, and the options from Brand C and Brand F really REALLY sucked. (Except for the 300, which was not used in cars)

This is the true answer.

I'm a MoPar guy through and through, but I've seen enough connecting rods hanging out of Slant Sixes to know that they are far from indestructible, especially by today's standards.  100K miles was a long life for most engines back when that reputation started.

I like it!

But then I have always had a dream of putting a mildly tuned 4 cylinder Ecotec turbo (say, around 400 bhp) into a late 50s C1 Corvette and showing up at a Corvette show (the consensus among friends was that I probably wouldn't make it out alive)