MOPAR MATES

ANDREW Mclellan, Jon Mitchell and Steve Reimann all have their sights set on good numbers at Drag Challenge 2019, with big changes in their all-mopar camp.

After breaking a lifter on DC in 2018, Jon has replaced the 440 wedge motor in his 1970 Challenger with a 605ci Hemi. The motor has just had a freshen-up and everyone is waiting to see what it can do.

Andrew’s 1970 ’Cuda is still off the road after hurting a bearing last year. He was contemplating a full rebuild, but is waiting see how well the 605 runs before he commits to his engine program. In the interim, he has tipped a bunch of new stuff into his 6.4 SRT Jeep, with a new Magnuson supercharger, fuel and exhaust system. The car is making over 500kw at all wheels and he is looking forward to running mid-10s in the Jeep at DC.

Steve has added a small nitrous kit to his 1963 Dodge 440, which has seen plenty of action both at Drag Challenge and Hot Rod Drag Week in the US. The Dodge is entered in this year’s DC without a trailer, although Steve will drive it to the event from Sydney with Elvio Gonzalez’s trailer to help him out. The car looks like the greatest sleeper ever, powered by a 500ci wedge that appears bone-stock. It runs 11.3 aspirated, and, with the assistance of Carl Taylor, they have added a small nitrous kit to get the car down to an even 11.00. The car ran into the 10s at a recent meet, so the boys intend to wind it back a notch.