Custom Body 1973 Dodge Challenger Reborn

– KEITH BLACK GEN II SUPERCHARGED HEMI^® CONSTRUCTED
– WOODY GILMORE CLONE CHASSIS OBTAINED
– CLASSIC FUNNY CAR READY FOR CACKLEFEST PERFORMANCES

Last time, we followed along with the reconstruction of the restored 1973 Dodge Challenger “Custom Body Enterprises” Nitro Funny Car.

HISTORY REVISITED

For thousands of hard-core, veteran drag race fans, the “glory years” of Funny Car racing was during the early 1970s. This time period saw big-time match racing all across the country, including on Wednesday nights and weekends, as well as large independent drag meets that featured full fields of big-name nitromethane Funny Cars, aka “plastic fantastics.” All this – plus the regular NHRA, AHRA and IHRA action – it was paradise, pure nirvana for lovers of fiberglass-bodied nitro cars! And the pictured Phil Castronovo Custom Body Enterprises Mopar_® Funny Car is one of the most colorful that ran on the East Coast back in the heyday.

INFORMATION GATHERED

When writer Jon Asher wrote a fabulous full-color article on the Castronovo car for the May 1973 issue of High Performance CARS Magazine, his piece included both great photographic details of the colorful creation, as well as specific details of the engine and related parts.

At the time the story was prepared, the then-current specs were listed as follows: 426 HEMI engine punched out to 473 cubes (a “stroker” motor, using a .400 longer stroke courtesy of a custom Velasco crankshaft), Venolia piston (7:1 c/r) with Teflon buttons, along with 3/16-inch longer Keith Black aluminum rods. Lubrication was by a high-capacity Milodon oil pump, fed by Pennzoil Z7 racing 60-weight oil.  

The cylinder heads were ported to increase flow (by Mondello Porting Service) and filled with Manley valves, D&D pushrods and Engle valve springs. An Engle flat-tappet “425” camshaft was part of the combo.

The Engle bump stick featured .648-inch intake lift (1.57 rocker ratio), .628-inch exhaust lift (1.52 rocker ratio), .413 gross cam lift, 296-degree duration (checked at .050, 110 lobe center). Valve lash specs were listed by Engle at .024 (intake) and .026 (exhaust). This popular “hot tip” camshaft was commonly referred to as the “KB 425” during the era because of the fact that so many Keith Black customers from across the country used it!

Ignition was by Mallory (SuperMag), with the use of Accel wires and Champion plugs. A healthy 90-percent dose of nitromethane (or more) was used, with exact fuel mixing depending on the track conditions and the competition in the other lane.

Up top, a Cragar magnesium manifold, Danekas 6-71 blower, Cragar drive unit and Enderle “bird-catcher” three-hole injector was fitted, with fuel fed via an Enderle fuel pump. Power was put to the ground via a Crower three-disc clutch arrangement and a Lenco two-speed (under driven) transmission, covered by a Simpson Safety Blanket.

It was a great performer (6.20s at 230 mph) and ran hard consistently.

1973 ALL OVER AGAIN

1,500 horsepower, 1,800 pounds (with body), 118-inch wheelbase. For this application, Bob Rosetty (Funny Farm Fabrication, Willow Grove, PA) built a chassis that replicated the original Woody Gilmore pipe exactly, save for a few added safety bars for added driver protection, and an extra brace in the floor area. If you want to run an “old school” chassis of this design, NHRA mandates these upgrades. 

Up front saw the recreation of the 1973 design: complete with torsion bar front suspension, P&S front spindles and no front brakes. Funny Cars were much simpler in this era.

A fabricated 9-inch rear end housing is currently in the car, originally a narrowed Dana 60 fitted with 5:12 gears and Donovan axles.

Components like a 6-71 supercharger, alloy HEMI heads and 2-speed Lenco transmission were obtained and Fabry has been able to accumulate many of these items from swap meets and Internet sources. 

RACE WHEELS & TIRES

Dedicated to the cause, when the new Goodyear slicks showed up (with bright yellow lettering), the white paint brush came out and the tires were “retro-ed” back to glory-days specs, with the “Eagle” markings removed and era-correct white “Goodyear” logos added. Polished aluminum race wheels were obtained. Attention to details matters!

FUEL TANK

Meticulously detailed as to the original, an aluminum fuel tank was built and given the red-hued marbleized treatment to match the other panels on the chassis.

OLD SCHOOL IN EVERY DETAIL

It took time, and plenty of searching on eBay and other Internet websites, plus visits to automotive swap meets, but all the vital parts and pieces needed for the accurate restoration were collected! Some coming from all parts of the country.

Dual oil filter setup (with AN fittings), fuel pump/barrel valve, Cirello magneto with Accel wires, 6-71 Danekas supercharger, fully plumbed and with 3-port Enderle injector, chrome O.E. valve covers.

Brakes (rear discs) were Hurst Airheart items, and lightweight Cragar spun aluminum lightweight racing wheels were used, along with Goodyear race rubber.

RETRO KEITH BLACK HEMI ENGINE

Rosetty’s Funny Farm also provided an aluminum Keith Black racing engine, built much in the same manner as the unit that was raced all those years ago, with only a few minor deviations in parts manufacturer selections. One has to keep in mind that during those early days of Funny Car match racing, engines blew up, different parts were used and there were weekly “hot tip” upgrades.

COCKPIT

Butterfly steering was the choice all those years ago as it still is today. 5-point safety harness, aluminum seat, all pretty basic!

Of course, after all the work and energy that it took to re-create an early Funny Car – and authentic all the way – well, the man responsible for the rebirth of the Custom Body Challenger is pictured: Lee Fabry. He absolutely had to climb inside just as driver Tom Prock did back in the day!

DON PRUDHOMME’S OBSERVATION

Crew chief Phil Roberts always kept the car in top condition, and it was a recipient of “Best Appearing Car” awards, as well as a contender to win races, and set performance standards at an event. With his wrenching and tuning savvy, it ran impressive numbers. In fact, at the 1973 U.S. Nationals held at Indy, Phil had the powerful Custom Body Enterprises entry running in the number three spot, only to get beat by eventual champ Don “Snake” Prudhomme.

Here’s what “Snake” stated in the Hal Higdon-written Six Seconds To Glory book, detailing the 1974 NHRA Nationals, regarding the potency of the Custom Body Enterprises car, driven by Tom Prock. (The car had run a 6.30 elapsed time, but did it against Prudhomme’s 6.27 run.)

“That was some run we laid down,” Snake recalled, “but let me tell you, that was some run they laid down too. Prock ran the third fastest e.t. in the meet, and got beat. He easily could have knocked me right out of the show.”

FLASHBACK TO WOODY GILMORE

Woody Gilmore’s chassis shop was called Race Car Engineering and the talented builder built Funny Cars for a number of the top-hitters.

It was fortunate for this project that an accurate replica of the original chassis was fabricated by the Funny Car Fabrication shop, which eliminated any guesswork, all thanks to Bob Rosetty having made a jig from another car that ran one.

HELPFUL PRINTS

It took a great deal of research to do, but numerous historical images were found on the colorful car and all these angles of the car (including it being up on two wheels at OCIR!) really provided clarity of the lettering and decal details. Just what was needed for an accurate restoration!

PHOTO SHOOT

Loaded up and on the way to its maiden photo shoot, the spectacle did create a good deal of horn honks and thumbs up signals! Regarding vintage nitro Funny Cars and seeing one today in this fantastic condition is a rarity for sure.

YES, A DODGE

It’s a Dodge Challenger, as stated on the airbrushed grille! Well, in actuality (as revealed in Part I), the fiberglass body shell is in reality a Plymouth Barracuda … however painted up and presented as a Dodge. This was a common practice back then as they were nearly identical.

NARROWED BODY SHELL

Per the NHRA body rules at the time, the rules mandated a 60-inch-wide minimum, which allowed the Mopar E-body shell to be 15 inches narrower than a production version, helping shrink the amount of air the car has to push as it travels down the 1/4-mile. Also, the top was chopped 4 inches when the mold was made. Both helpful with aerodynamics!

REAR SPOILER

When the fiberglass Funny Car body was designed, there was a built-in rear spoiler, added for rear downforce to aid traction. There was an anodized aluminum sheet that was added to that molded-in piece of the body, extending the height, thus providing additional downforce. 

FLIP-TOP

Body-up shot, rear window slots are for rollcage clearance, single Deist chute, no wheelie bars were used on the car.

CANARD WINGS

Bird’s eye view highlights narrowed body, add-on Canard stabilizing wings and overall paint scheme … complete with “Dodge” marking up front. This is a total time warp Funny Car!

It’s great so many people had cooperated on the project, and kudos to Fabry for taking on such an intense project in the first place! Creating a rolling drag race time capsule is challenging to say the least.

Today, the Custom Body Enterprises Dodge Challenger is owned by Ross Howard and it’s been active on the show circuit and selected cacklefest events, it’s still entertaining drag racing fans and especially those that know and appreciate the history of the car.

Author: James Maxwell