A Dodge Avenger with a Difference (a 400 Cubic Inch Difference)!
Some prepare for a drag-and-drive event for months, while others may roll into the first track hoping the car will just start and complete the first pass.
For Michael Cole, Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes would signal his first drag-and-drive event with a 1996 Dodge Avenger that entered the grounds at Cordova Dragway with less than 20 miles on it since being completed.
A lot of work went into the Dodge to prepare it for this event, including converting the factory front wheel drive to rear wheel drive, along with a rear ladder bar suspension set up. “Most people think a front wheel drive car converted to rear wheel drive with ladder bars would be a handful to drive,” said Cole. “It's actually a dream to drive. It goes laser straight down the road, and it's more comfortable than either of my Novas.”
The rest of the car also has some conversion away from factory Dodge Avenger parts. “It's a matter of finding existing parts that fit,” said Cole. “For example, it uses headers that fit a C10 pickup, a Mustang II steering rack, Ford Crown Victoria rear disc brakes, and transmission mounts that are old school Chevy sway bar link bushings.”
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Cole didn’t stop when it came to a power choice to motivate the Avenger, tossing out the factory two-liter 4-cylinder and replaced it with a 401 cubic inch small block Chevrolet engine.
Keeping the compression at 11.5:1 meant the naturally aspirated engine could sip a steady supply of pump gas, as long as it was mostly E-85. A Powerglide automatic transmission and a Gear Vendors Overdrive backs the mouse motor.
Granted, Cole had a lengthy ‘to-do’ list with the above-mentioned work, but was further delayed by parts availability. “It was a huge challenge,” said Cole. “Engine, chassis, and rear axle parts ordered months in advance came in literally days before we needed to be in Cordova.”
Combine that with Cole underestimating the amount of time needed to tackle the chassis and back-half work, and that led to a ‘just-in-time’ result. “We got it finished the day before tech, only put 18 miles on the car before loading in the trailer,” said Cole. “It never towed the trailer with the car before hand, or even put any passes on the car.”
Bringing an untested car, Cole went into the first day still making adjustment for the week in front of him. “I didn't have all the ignition programming done, so the first day was a steep learning curve,” he said. “We had a brake caliper hanging up, and absolutely barbecued the left rear brake about a half dozen times until we got a replacement near Lake Geneva.
Despite the speed bumps to overcome, which included trying to find E-85 with a decent percentage of ethanol, the former bracket racer enjoyed his first drag-and-drive trip. “Marty Pixler, who participated with the '55 Bel Air in A/Gas, said it needed to be a bucket list item for me,” Cole said of the drag-and-drive event.
“He's competed in a few Hot Rod Drag Weeks, and said the atmosphere is like no other racing event. I've bracket raced for 20 years and it's all true, it's hard to describe how impactful it is, but it's like a Power Tour but with a bigger purpose, drive and sense of accomplishment.”
Not only did Cole complete his first drag-and-drive at Sick Summer, but Cole did it with an 11.20 average in the Dial Your Own (DYO) class varying less than a tenth of-a-second amongst the different tracks. Does he plan to change anything for his next event? “I’m adding nitrous before my next outing,” said Cole.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com