CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post - Mopar 440 racers

bill dedman · 12-14-2007, 06:27 AM

Crew Chief Pro,
Glad you liked the article. I think the "proof of the pudding" that Charlie had done his homework, occurred when John Hagen's Plymouth Arrow Pro Stocker set the MPH record using one of Charlie's "Low-deck Hemis" in the months before NHRA pulled the plug on smaller engines, and dictated the new, universal 500 cubic inch format.

Additionally, John Hagen was runner-up to Lee Shepherd at the Finals in Pomona that year, losing by a very small margin in the final round, with an engine that had only had about one year's development time.

Charlie built about ten of those modified 383/400 blocks, with most going into street cars. I think Butch Leal got one. Canadian Wally Dyck held both ends of the A Dragster record in the mid eighties with his 400" Hemi, using one of Charlie's massaged blocks.

As an aside, Charlie's first love was Stock Eliminator, and when he lost his bout with Lymphoma, he was hard at work on a '66 Nova 4-speed, L-79 2-door hardtop for C/Stock. That was his passion...

Thanks for remembering him.

Bill

12-14-2007, 06:27 AM	#3
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Mopar 440 racers - time to legalize that shortblock! Crew Chief Pro, Glad you liked the article. I think the "proof of the pudding" that Charlie had done his homework, occurred when John Hagen's Plymouth Arrow Pro Stocker set the MPH record using one of Charlie's "Low-deck Hemis" in the months before NHRA pulled the plug on smaller engines, and dictated the new, universal 500 cubic inch format. Additionally, John Hagen was runner-up to Lee Shepherd at the Finals in Pomona that year, losing by a very small margin in the final round, with an engine that had only had about one year's development time. Charlie built about ten of those modified 383/400 blocks, with most going into street cars. I think Butch Leal got one. Canadian Wally Dyck held both ends of the A Dragster record in the mid eighties with his 400" Hemi, using one of Charlie's massaged blocks. As an aside, Charlie's first love was Stock Eliminator, and when he lost his bout with Lymphoma, he was hard at work on a '66 Nova 4-speed, L-79 2-door hardtop for C/Stock. That was his passion... Thanks for remembering him. Bill __________________ Bill