Trading Places – An 8-Second Plan B Build for Sick Week 2024 Takes Shape
A couple months back, we reported on Robbie Dowdy’s decision to sell his 9-second Trailblazer and focus on a more serious build with a Chevrolet C5 body Corvette.
But with a limited amount of time before Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive arrives, plans have changed, and now Plan B is in effect at Coastal Racecraft for a different ride.
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“We’re really trying to make the Corvette nice, so an 8-second Plan B is in full effect,” Robbie admitted. That plan revolves around a 2002 Pontiac Trans Am Firehawk that was ready for Robbie’s vision. “It was an old project that was sitting in a guy’s garage for about five years,” said Robbie. “It had a lot of the suspension on it, and the cage was already in it. But short of that, it was a bare shell.”
Purchase just last week, the crew at Coastal Racecraft dove right into the project with both feet. “We’re building this on our YouTube channel as a basic build that anybody can follow along and replicate in their own garage with some buddies,” Robbie stated. “It should be a fun challenge to be ready by January 28th.”
The Firehawk will get the Precision Racing Technologies-built 370 cubic inch LS nitrous engine, backed by a Powerglide transmission, and a full Midwest Chassis suspension front and rear is on tap.
“The goal is to run an 8.9-second something by Friday,” Robbie said. “We’ll compete in the 275 Street Race class, and likely won’t be competitive to run an 8.50, but we plan to have a lot of fun!”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Robbie Dowdy.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com