Squeezing a Modern Gen 3 Hemi into a Classic Plymouth Valiant Signet 200
It’s becoming more common to see classic cars and trucks with modern upgrades, including engines, transmissions and even creature comforts.
In the case of Chuck Sorensen’s Plymouth, he decided to mix in enough of both modern and classic bits to keep both sides of the internet debates happy.
It’s all based around a 1964 Plymouth Valiant that marks Chuck’s return to the racing world. "I drag raced a high 9 second Duster for 17 years,” said Chuck. “I sold the car due to my kids going to college, and playing sports. I just didn’t have time for both.”
After some time away from it, and the kids all grown up, Chuck got the itch once again. “In 2014 I told my wife I had to build something as I missed the interaction and the fun with drag racing,” said Chuck. “So, I jumped on the internet looking for the lightest vehicle Mopar made, and I searched for a 1964 Plymouth Valiant Signet.”
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Finding one in California that had been parked in 1998 when the engine expired, Chuck pulled the trigger and sent a shipping company to pick up his next Mopar and deliver it to his house. Once in his possession, Chuck had to determine what to use for a driveline.
“I was going to build a small block Mopar to put into it,” said Chuck. “But after drinking with my buddies one time, they convinced me to try a modern Hemi.” Searching the internet, Chuck found plenty of naysayers on the chances of fitting the Valiant with a Gen three Hemi without going to a complete coil over front suspension. “I took that as a challenge,” Chuck said.
Diving into the project, Chuck was able to find ways to keep the torsion bar front end, but he had to manufacture a lot of items to make it fit. “It was a lot of putting the engine in and out until we finally came to a point where I was happy and finally installed the engine,” said Chuck.
But it wasn’t over yet. “Sitting in the garage I decided that the motor was not going to be fast enough,” Chuck continued. “So, I pulled the motor back out, decked the block and the cylinder heads, and added a bigger camshaft.”
“It all worked out, and everything fit, except for the passenger side valve cover is up against the inner fender well,” Chuck admitted. “I tell everybody it’ll clearance itself sooner or later; It was fun to do something others said can’t be done.”
Details on the modified 5.7-liter modern Hemi include boring and stroking it to a final result of 6.7-liters and 410 cubic inches. To complement the cylinder heads and camshaft changes, Chuck mounted up a dual quad tunnel ram intake with a pair of Edelbrock 500 CFM carburetors.
A 904 transmission with a low first gear and pro transbrake combines with a 3800-rpm stall converter to pass the power to an 8-3/4 inch rear end, narrowed with Super Stock leaf springs and Viking Performance double adjustable shocks. The front end got a ’73-76 A-body disc brake swap and Viking shocks as well, and the car sits on a set of Race Star wheels.
With just over a month before Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes, the car didn’t even run yet. “It had no interior, limited wiring, and a lot more,” said Chuck. “36 out of 38 days, we worked on this car until past midnight. We struggled with lot of issues but that would happen when you put this type of engine in such a small car.”
Chuck got it done in time to put about 100 miles on the revamped Valiant, along with some street pulls, but knew the chances for issues could still exist. “We quickly burnt a shifter cable, and the valve body in the transmission was sticking,” said Chuck. “A new cable and cleaned up the valve body, and it worked a lot better. On Sunday, we burned up the alternator cable so we had to run a new one. On day one (Monday) leaving Cordova, we had a thermostat stick closed. So, we made it to Albany and made the change.”
Chuck started with an 11.27 at 117 mph on day one at Cordova Dragway, and that would prove to be his best pass of the week in the Sick Street Race category. “With little time on the car and little experience, we tried to make adjustments, but never got to where it should hook,” said Chuck.
An 11.48 would be the best slip from Great Lakes Dragaway on day three, followed by back-to-back 11.3-second times at Tri-State and back at Cordova, giving Chuck an 11.38 average. “I need more track time, and I need Cal Tracs,” said Chuck. “I will get it where I want to be.
In the end, Chuck was excited to have completed Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes. “I made it to the end,” exclaimed Chuck, who thanked his wife Deana and children Cameron, Shelby and Colby for their support. “I wasn’t competitive, but for my first one it was amazing. Bill Schwarz has run many drag-and-drive events, and he pushed me to get it done. He said it was unique, and people would enjoy it. I am so very grateful he did. What a trip.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com