62 413 1852029 #

I pulled a 413 out of a 1962 Chrysler 4dr ($50) at a junk yard. I rebuilt it adding a new 284 Purple cam, valve job 906 heads (from a 383), punched it out for 1964 426 11:0/1 Max Wedge Pistons (used $175) new rings, topped with a new in the box NOS alloy Six-Pac (traded a cross ram) and scrounged used carbs. Because of an evil guy in a Honda Accord who totaled my parked Ramcharger clone, the "413" was finally dropped in a 1970 (340 original-long gone) Plum Crazy/White Dodge Challenger convertible, 727, 3:23 8-3/4 posi and G-60-14s on 7" Rally Wheels (which dates me and the project).

It was a beautiful summer day on 101 in Camarillo California on one of those 55mph speed limit days of ago. Some guy with a 454 Vette pulled up and matched speeds and just had to race. At 55mph, I tapped it into 2nd, right foot to the floor, and the car didn't speed upright away, but the speedo fluctuated at 90-130 (no tach working yet). There was white smoke in the mirror, which I realized as the car started to slip sideways a bit at the rear, was from the tires. So I let up a bit on the gas and lurched forward, then reflowed it, clicked 3rd and keep going until reaching 125 of 150mph on the Challenger speedo. About 5 miles later the Vette guy caught up and yelled, "What the hell do you have in that thing kid?" So yes, I liked the 1962 "413" I had.