EMPLOYEE PROJECTS AND RIDES

At first, this page was going to be called MSD Rides. It seems though, that not too many of these cars are quite road worthy. Thus, 'Projects' was added to the title. Projects always take longer than you think. Money, time or opening a bigger can of worms than you originally intended tend to slow progress. Progress or not, its all fun!

Jiminy Cricket
Joe Lapille is our Senior Tech in our Customer Support Department and has built a number of different cars - and this '32 is the latest to roll out of his garage. The roadster build-up was a family project with plenty of help from his folks and a number of friends. (Albert and Russell are credited with a bunch of help!)
The project started with a Westcott body that sits on their custom frame. Joe stuffed a mild 350 that receives plenty of juice from our Pro-Billet HEI Distributor and 8.5mm Super Conductor Wires. Since the Hemi-Green roadster was built for cruising, a 700R4 trans was chosen to transfer the power to a set of 4:10 gears in a 9-inch Ford. American Racing wheels are wrapped with BFG rubber. A Lokar shifter, VDO gauges and a billet steering column complement the clean interior while a Pioneer sound system with two Rockford Fosgate amps fill the air.

Blown ’67 Nova
This project was another one of those that can be classified under “spiraled out of control” . Joe Lapille, a long time Support Tech here, began upgrading his ’67 Nova with a blower about four years ago. Shortly after that, it was decided that more was indeed better and a big block engine project began. Fast forward another three years and the car’s almost back on the street. That’s right, it’s a street car with a blown 540 going through a Turbo 400 trans and 9-inch Ford rear end. There’s also a 10-point cage and disc brakes all around. Other goodies and thanks go to Be Cool, The Blower Shop, Strange, Competition Engineering, Canfield Heads, Joe Vilchies Race Cars, B&M, Aeromotive, Mickey Thompson, Spahl, CSI, Hammer Racing and Bob’s Transmissions.

1930 Model A Tudor Sedan
This street rod keeps Racing Program Director Spike Clapper very busy. The '30 began as a frame up project which includes an all steel original 1930 body, with matching steel fenders, running boards and splash aprons. A TCI chassis with IRS, power disc brakes, adjustable coil-over shocks, front and rear sway bars keep it riding smooth over the asphalt. A Demon carb tops an Edelbrock intake which feeds the GM crate engine which will soon be sporting a baby blower! This is all harnessed thru a 700R4 OD tranny thru a Currie 9" rear end. A list of other goodies include Weld wheels, Grant steering wheel, Autometer gauges, Aeroquip hoses, Walker radiator, Painless wiring, Magnaflow exhaust, Zoops brackets and pulleys. Vintage Air, power windows, cruise control and a cd player round out the creature comforts. Spike has played with corvettes for the last 20 years but this street rod has really been a challenge for him. Just a little more time, money, talent and this rod will be hitting the streets.

'85 Mustang GT
This Mustang keeps our web-keeper, Ray Frescas, away from the computer desk. Its first incarnation was with a high revving 289 and 5-speed that Ray was able to squeak 12.80s out of (our track's at 3,500 feet!). Now it sports a slightly bigger cube count (377) along with a blow-through Procharger and a much more consistent C-4 trans and 9-inch rear end. Best time so far on the blow-thru setup is a 9.97@128 w/1.35 60ft time. Find out more about Ray's ride here.

540ci Nova
Joe Pena’s known around El Paso for his muy aprisa street beasts. A couple years ago he built a 509 and stuffed it in a street driven ’67 Camaro. After accomplishing his goal of running some mid 9’s (9.70 at 142 mph) he sold the car…and regretted it instantly. To fill the hollow spot in his porch he started piecing together a 540 (backed by a Jerico trans) and found a home for it in this ’72 Nova. He’s still getting the suspension bugs worked out but the Pena-green Chevy has run a 10.10 at 145 mph! Low nines are goal.

'70 Grabber Maverick
Robert Martin, one of our graphic guys, has owned this '70 Grabber Maverick since he was 13...which means he's had it about four years. Actually, he and the Maverick have been terrorizing the streets and strips around El Paso for 10 years. They've gone through a lot together from different drivetrain combinations to being vandalized (the car) and even a small nitrous fire while racing a certain Challenger from MSD. The Mav currently has a stout 302 with a roller set up, a C4 with about a 3800 stall TCI converter and 3.55 gears which powers the Grabber to consistent 13.80s (and low 12s on a boost of nitrous). He snapped this pic before rolling into the Sunday night street drags.

460 Mustang
This Mustang's been in the Martin family for a decade of racing. The car is NHRA S/ST legal and could possibly be street driven (barely). It has a 13:1 460ci engine that feeds through an 1150 Dominator. A 'glide and TCI converter transfer the power to a set of Moser axles in the 9-inch rear end. Mid 10-second passes at 130 mph were achieved with the old engine, so Robert's hoping to dig into the 9-second range. If he's not working on one of the cars, chances are he's updating his website, southwestdrags.com which showcases the local El Paso, Texas race scene. Check it out!

Another Chevy II
Man, it seems like '66-'67 Nova's are like belly buttons around MSD. This SS belongs to our Media guy, Todd Ryden. Over the last six years, the car's been stashed in several of his neighbors garages, but now it is painted, ready to be reassembled and is even sitting in his garage. The lemonwood yellow paint is the original hue and applied by Auto Body Experience here in El Paso. A TCI front end kit is going to replace the stock assembly, Vintage Air will cool the desert air and Baer brakes will help stop the II. Power Tour '04? Yea, right...

The Biz
The latest addition to Todd's project list is this '62 Biscayne. Todd scored the Biz (after two years of pestering) while in California for a 'business trip' and sacrificed a smooth flight home to motor the 6-cylinder, 3-speed Biz back to EP. The car was mistaken as a lowrider from Juarez, until MSD security figured out that it was another one of Todd's cars. The plan is a traditional style '60s cruiser complete with primer and flame thrower. A 261 inline-6 is planned for power unless he trips over a 348 along the way. (Anyone?)

1977 Scout II
This Scout II belongs to Carlo Vasquez, another customer support tech. It is his daily driver and fun vehicle which he is very proud of. He goes off roading at least twice a week. It packs a 392 engine off a '72 Travel All complete with the 345 heads off the original engine. A four barrel intake with an Edelbrock carburetor provide the air and fuel mixture. Four inch Skyjacker suspension lift with 2” shackles and 33” Procomp Xterrain tires make sure this Scout goes where it wants to. Carlo came up with this combination by chance. He had the Travel All for about 10 years at the side of my house. His godfather gave him the Scout which had been sitting in the front of his house for about 3 years. His godmother told him to get rid of it cause he was never gonna fix it. She wanted him to go throw it away. He called Carlo and within 6 months it was up and running. Next up on the to do list is paint, interior, then a front locker. Carlo would like to thank Joe Lapille, Mary Ann Morales, and Teo Gutierrez for their time and effort.

Blown ’67 Nova
The second blown ’67 Chevy II belongs to Lou Castillo from our Support Department. Lou’s been working on this one for years also and as you can tell, it’s getting close! It has a 406 small block topped with a 6-71 Weiand blower and two 600 cfm carbs. The Viper Red paint is sure to draw attention to the deuce as well as the huffer sticking through the hood. Lou’s plan is to dip into the 10-second range, cruise the car on the street and finally clean up his garage.

Beto’s ‘bu
You don’t see a lot of ’77 Malibu’s any more and Oliberto (Beto) Lopez has a nice one. Beto’s the second owner of this cruiser and recently stepped up to a 355 small block that is fit with 11.1 forged pistons and a Holley 750. A 2800 stall converter is mounted to the front of the a 350 Turbo trans that feeds to a 4.11 rear end. Beto, one of our Support Techs, has owned the car about six years and will be applying a fresh coat of burnt orange paint in the near future.

Desert Time
Ok, it’s not a street legal ride…but it could be! Sales & Marketing guy, Ed Monte, is MSD’s resident desert rat. The southwest terrain is a wide open expanse of sand and dunes which means it’s ideal for dirt bikes, buggies and trucks and Ed has one or more of each. When he isn’t riding the whoops and railing the berms on his XR600R, he’s giving rides in this Sand Cars Unlimited 4-Seater. It’s a traditional VW beam car with reinforced trailing arms, 33” Yokohama’s, and Beard suspension seats. Speaking of suspension, the buggy is equipped with Sway-A-Way torsion bars front and back. The Power Barz help keep the wheels planted without bottoming the car! The tried and true 1835cc Type 1 and close-ratio TransForm tranny keep the buggy and 3 of his best friends clipping through the desert!

Subbin’
Since the buggy isn’t licensed for the street, Ed needs something purpose built. After a few years of borrowing this non-assuming 454 big block 4x4 from our friends at BFGoodrich for special events such as Hot Rod Magazine’s Power Tour, the keys were handed over to Ed permanently. Not only does this beast tow his buggy around, but he also uses it at off-road events such as SCORE and BitD races. The ’99 Sub’s performance has been proven off-the-road and sports 35” BFG All-Terrains, Rancho suspension and nine KC Ice Blue Slimlites keep the ¾ ton Burb rolling smoothly through dark nights of pre-running. The whisp of the K&N FIPK kit and Dynomax Race Magnum cat-back exhaust make the truck sound as good as it looks!

Nava's Nova
This Chevy Nova underwent an unschduled ground up restoration over the last couple years but the wait was worth it. The '70 belongs to one of our resident graphic/die cut decal specialist, Chuy Nava. Under the custom '68 Dick Harrell influenced hood beats a tough 350 from Scoggin-Dickey with aluminum heads, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake with a Holley 600 metering the air and fuel. The 350-trans has a B&M 3,200 rpm converter that Chuy controls through a Mega-Shifter and there's a posi with 3.73 gears out back. The interior features seats from an '84 Firebird, a bunch of J&W Nova parts and Danny's Custom helped with the aluminum dash work.

Studebaker Pickup
Chris Maynard has big plans for his ’60 Stude Champ pick up. Currently the original 259 V8 still sits under the hood but a 327 is being assembled to take over. It won’t be long before a Dodge Aspen front suspension is grafted in place for a smoother and lower ride as well as a new posi rear end. Chris is looking for a smooth, low rod flavor with updated interior comforts such as Vintage Air, remote entry, power windows and new gauges.

’ 64 Dart
The ’64 Dart is going to be a second driver for Chris with the Slant-6 still powering the Dodge. There’s a good chance that it will be treated to some wheels to spiff it up a bit.