Poor mans Hemi car. (M-body)

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alan627b said:
As heavy as F-M-J body cars are,

Alan
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Actually, I don't consider the M's to be that heavy. Sure, they could go on a diet for racing purposes. But considering the M was also the safest car on the road in the 80s (Volvo's claims be damned) you might sacrifice some of the safety for weight savings for street use.

NY State registers my 4 door at 3400#. Accurate? Nope. But considering that NY charges by the hundred on poundage for fees, the heavier it is, the more money they make, so I would say it's a good ballpark. And in line with what U-Haul has 'em scaled at for tow dolly and trailer rentals. (I was told that my Ramcharger is too light to rent a tow dolly to pull around the M-body.) But if it is accurate within a ballpark range that puts it around the weight of my E-body and just 400# shy of my B-body sedan. (Again, all according to NY State registration fees.)
 
looking good. i love the hemi M idea. and it looks like it is supposed to be in there, thats the best part. keep it up, progress rules.
 
My 77 360 Aspen R/T with me in it (I weighed about 230 at that time) and a full tank of gas scaled at 3920 LBS at our dragstrip. I have a hard time believing a 4 door M chasssis would only weigh 3400... Just the sound and feel of the car made me believe it weighed a lot more than the Dusters and Dart Sport I'd had before, and all were equipped similarly.
The door on a Volare/Aspen seemed to be almost a foot thick, or at least a good deal wider? thicker? than the ones on my A bodies. Add in the telescoping crash bumpers, crash bar reinforcements in the doors and other federally mandated reinforcements, it has to add up to more weight.
Not trying to start a feud, Robert, just finding it hard to believe it could be that light.

As for weight removal, I think a guy could find a way to shed some pork in areas that a) don't show and b) don't affect structural strength/safety. Then again, you could just add more HP! LOL! Maybe I'm fortunate to live here in flyover country, I don't know what you have to put up with on the east coast for safety inspections.

If you need a name for it, how about Vanilla Killa? Gonna be a cool ride when it hits the road!

Alan
 
alan627b said:
My 77 360 Aspen R/T with me in it (I weighed about 230 at that time) and a full tank of gas scaled at 3920 LBS at our dragstrip. I have a hard time believing a 4 door M chasssis would only weigh 3400... Just the sound and feel of the car made me believe it weighed a lot more than the Dusters and Dart Sport I'd had before, and all were equipped similarly.
The door on a Volare/Aspen seemed to be almost a foot thick, or at least a good deal wider? thicker? than the ones on my A bodies. Add in the telescoping crash bumpers, crash bar reinforcements in the doors and other federally mandated reinforcements, it has to add up to more weight.
Not trying to start a feud, Robert, just finding it hard to believe it could be that light.

As for weight removal, I think a guy could find a way to shed some pork in areas that a) don't show and b) don't affect structural strength/safety. Then again, you could just add more HP! LOL! Maybe I'm fortunate to live here in flyover country, I don't know what you have to put up with on the east coast for safety inspections.

If you need a name for it, how about Vanilla Killa? Gonna be a cool ride when it hits the road!

Alan
Click to expand...


Like I said, without scaling it, all I have is the registration weights to go by, so I don't look at it as starting anything, Alan. You got the weight slips, then you've got the proof. Until I can get my 4 door on the scale and have it weighed that's all I can go by. But I will be shaving some weight in some areas, but adding it in others. I wouldn't be able to tell you what it is stock. Hey, if NY wants to charge by weight and then under weigh 'em...means more money in my pocket! :-D

I will agree that one of the biggest weight savings has to be in the swap of K's. Those things are heavy. I've thought of tucking the bumpers and doing away with the bumper shocks. But something tells me that wouldn't look right. Even in mock up it just seems...off.

Mine personally, though, won't see the drag much. I plan on using ours for cruising long distances, like going out to see my in-laws in MN or my sister in TN, hitting some of the shows while I'm there. This is part Pop's project, too, and Momma will be seeing a lot of seat time in it. I want the comforts. A/C, cruise, etc.
 
Got a little more painting done today and starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. If I had known what a pain it was going to be to do a two tone paint job, I would have stuck with just one color. Now that its on there I think it looks pretty good.
 
I always look forward to the updates on this car!! NOw I remember why! :cheers: Great job on the paint!!!
 
I think these ones disappeared.
 

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Slowly getting some more done, putting on all the little bits and pieces as I find them. Just got the hood back from the media blaster today and the weather is still pretty nice so I hope to get it finished this week. (the snow is coming). Also picked up a Shadow at an auction last week so if anybody has a junk one laying around I need some parts.
 

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Hopefully within the next couple of years we can park our M's side by side at Carlisle. Gonna have to wait for me to catch up. You're definitely further along than I am!
 
Gorgeous looking, man!
The Dippy looks good in that color!
Nice score on the Shadow, too, those were cool little cars, one of my good friends has an ES coupe, its a zippy little thing!
 
Found another pic to inspire the M body guys.. no idea who's it its.... posted both original and resized version just in case. Sure looks good though. Good for inspirational purposes. Thats one bad box!


Alan
 

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This build is FANTASTIC. Yet another reason why mopars and mopar enthusiasts are the best there is!!!

I also love how the Superbee in the background has to wait until the diplomat gets built! This makes me smile everytime! One for the underdog.
 
Still at it,moved to FMJbody site. Hope to hear it run by spring and drive it sometime this summer. Don't have the money do do the Coronet right now, thought the Diplomat would be a quick and cheap project.( Boy was I wrong).
 

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