Prince Valiant
11-15-2009, 06:08 PM
...ME!!!
Brought home my new-to-me 1979 Dodge Lil' Red Express truck (pictures from previous owner...too dark when I got it home):
http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l345/redx79/Lil%20Red%20Express/100_2144.jpg
http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l345/redx79/Lil%20Red%20Express/100_2149.jpg
http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l345/redx79/Lil%20Red%20Express/100_2143.jpg
http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l345/redx79/Lil%20Red%20Express/100_2179.jpg
http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l345/redx79/Lil%20Red%20Express/100_2173.jpg
Short version of the LRT story:
Back in the 70's muscle cars were emasculated by emission equipment...not many cars featured more than 200hp. So to get around the emission requirements, Dodge took the lightest configuration of their D-series pick-up (reg cab, step-side) that weighed a little more than 3800lbs (!!!), and took their police engine sans emission equipment netting them 225hp, 727 auto, 3.55:1 sure-grip 9 1/4 rear, and add a little for appearance that was the style for the time (wood trim, smoke stacks, wide tires, etc), and the muscle truck was born. The net result, was the " quickest american production vehicle made in 1978"....according to C&D. With 1/4 mile times in the high 14's stock, it represented a return to performance that many of the old nameplates had lost in the name of emissions.
Prototypes of the LRT were considerably quicker, using the recently developed for NHRA W2 heads and a bigger cam, they ran mid 13's @ ~ 100 mph.
Some would say it's the first "muscle truck" too...although others would point out that the 64 dodge Custom Sport Special w/ it's 365hp 426 Wedge (not hemi) was the first...though that was also available with the 225 /6, 318 A block, 361 B, 383, etc...so it wasn't a purpose built as a performance truck.
Drove the truck back from IN, and was pretty happy with it. Decent mileage (~16-17mpg), nice ride...though it was a little loud. There are still some things to chase down on this thing, and I'm not planning on leaving well enough alone either. I do plan on taking it to the track in the next week or two to get some baseline times, after I look into a couple things...
but so far, so good :thumbsup
Brought home my new-to-me 1979 Dodge Lil' Red Express truck (pictures from previous owner...too dark when I got it home):
http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l345/redx79/Lil%20Red%20Express/100_2144.jpg
http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l345/redx79/Lil%20Red%20Express/100_2149.jpg
http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l345/redx79/Lil%20Red%20Express/100_2143.jpg
http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l345/redx79/Lil%20Red%20Express/100_2179.jpg
http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l345/redx79/Lil%20Red%20Express/100_2173.jpg
Short version of the LRT story:
Back in the 70's muscle cars were emasculated by emission equipment...not many cars featured more than 200hp. So to get around the emission requirements, Dodge took the lightest configuration of their D-series pick-up (reg cab, step-side) that weighed a little more than 3800lbs (!!!), and took their police engine sans emission equipment netting them 225hp, 727 auto, 3.55:1 sure-grip 9 1/4 rear, and add a little for appearance that was the style for the time (wood trim, smoke stacks, wide tires, etc), and the muscle truck was born. The net result, was the " quickest american production vehicle made in 1978"....according to C&D. With 1/4 mile times in the high 14's stock, it represented a return to performance that many of the old nameplates had lost in the name of emissions.
Prototypes of the LRT were considerably quicker, using the recently developed for NHRA W2 heads and a bigger cam, they ran mid 13's @ ~ 100 mph.
Some would say it's the first "muscle truck" too...although others would point out that the 64 dodge Custom Sport Special w/ it's 365hp 426 Wedge (not hemi) was the first...though that was also available with the 225 /6, 318 A block, 361 B, 383, etc...so it wasn't a purpose built as a performance truck.
Drove the truck back from IN, and was pretty happy with it. Decent mileage (~16-17mpg), nice ride...though it was a little loud. There are still some things to chase down on this thing, and I'm not planning on leaving well enough alone either. I do plan on taking it to the track in the next week or two to get some baseline times, after I look into a couple things...
but so far, so good :thumbsup