The Dart Hemi aftermarket block looked like a nice piece, but I don’t know if it has ever came to fruition yet. But I did see Garlit’s Swamp Rat VII
Don Garlits Swamp Rat Dragster - Big's New Digger - Hot Rod Magazine
run during a Cackle Fest at Bristol on a high load of Nitromethane.
While he didn’t make a full pass because of concerns from his wife at the time, the over 700 feet he did run was pretty impressive. I think if Chrysler hadn’t changed hands again that it’s possible that billet reiterations of the Third Gen could have replaced the Second Gen in Fuel racing along with some weight reduction to reel the ET’s and top speeds back in. If that had happened, I think it might also be possible fuel cars might still be racing the full 1320. Of course, it would have been disadvantageous for a lot of teams to have to start over with all new parts and designs. But it’s not like NHRA has cared (especially with some corporate leveraging!) about that sort of thing. I mostly get a good chuckle thinking about the reaction some of the blue blood purists would have if it had happened to have went that way! But in all honesty, I don’t think anyone has fully tapped the potential available in N/A form in a Third Gen yet. Just too easy to add boost to and go fast like with other brand X junkyard engines…
