flat stack

[ismashem113]

2old4this ty for be supportive. I will keep all posted during the build. All I run is mopar just never gone this far with a build. Even if it its junked in 2 hits I will know never to take on such an intensive build on a car that will prolly be a waste

[maddmaxx]

crete the back half of frame ?

[shake]

I don't run Mopar, but I still would like to see before and afters of this

[ismashem113]

No crete. And once all built I will post before and after pics. There r 3 cars being built for this show mine, a friends which is 78 lebaron both 2 doors and my girlfriends which she more wins than I do. Not sure yet on what I'm going to build her

[harvesterm4a1]

Just looked up a video of the owen county demolition derby where a 4 door dodge aspen ran. Seem to do okay against 80's cars. My advice would be to seam weld the hell out of the car. With flat stacks, and seam welds that should toughen it up. Are you going to hardnose? I would also like to see before and afters.

[ismashem113]

Car wiLl be hardnosed with seam welded doba bumper. This will be 3rd car for this bumper and its still straight

[fordpowerforever]

i seen an R body win a feature against imps, and it was stock with a /6, no one seen him as a threat and left him be and when it came down to it he was still putting around the arena for the win...

[blackmopar21]

I wouldn't consider that beating an imp for a win then.

[Johnny L]

At the last two Bash for Cash shows, there were two really well built diplomats that hung alongside all the tilted/squared framed/dp into the dash bar 80's fords. Watch the videos on YouTube, they're every bit as hard as anything else on the track. I also remember years ago at Metal Mayhem (way before derby icons got the show) a hard as hell diplomat tearing up old iron in one of the heats until he got stuck in a corner in a gigantic mud hole. Now the competition wasn't an Imp but stick and move and don't let them catch u off guard and you have just as good of a chance as anyone IMO

[mopar17]

I commend you on your determination to go against the odds. I can honesty say, it wouldn't be for me but I've seen a lot of derbies where the car that wasn't supposed to win did. I think the car by the sounds of it will be competitive. Your success will be determined by the driving that's done in it. If you go straight out after the hard cars with a car that started its life structurally under gunned then you're in for a long night or maybe a real short one however you wish to put it.

My opinion on flat stacks........if your cage/halo can't be used to keep it dumping in front of the rear frame rails I'd scrap the flat stack idea. They're a lot easier to predict when the soft spot is at the back of the car vs. the middle.

[mopar35x]

What rules are you building for ?

[dm440c]

I've already offered some advice on the deal, but I have another thought to add... I think it will definitely be a learning experience for you, although I think the same perspective could be gained by running the LeBaron in a non-Imp show and then running an Imp. Once you have built and driven several of each of these cars, you will understand why a lot of us are skeptical about your endeavor. At this stage of my derby career, I have come to the conclusion that there are Imperials and then there is everything else. If the show allows Imperials then I'm bringing an Imperial, period. Maybe I'm too set in my ways and I'm missing an opportunity for innovation or some kind of magic, and yes there are always opportunities for the underdog to slip in between the cracks and sneak away with the win. I've seen a lot of stuff over the years including a Diplomat winning the Delaware Co. Fair in NY on the last year that they allowed Imperials. You cannot account for circumstance before the fact.... 'tis true.

Having said that, I will also say that such a feat requires a lot of luck and/or a lot of running and hiding. Is that really what you are looking for? If you just want to be out there and make some noise, have some fun, I'm all for it because that is the real point of demo derby after all. My advice is still to save yourself some effort and just stick to the basics on the car building, have a good cage 'cuz you are at a serious weight and structure disadvantage and when you start lighting up Imps you just may get a bumpy ride out of the deal. The primary advantages to the dippy platform is its agility and its undercover nature. The disadvantages are the weight and the ability (or lack thereof) to absorb punishment.

So- your strategy is to stick and move, never stop moving, be a hard target. DO NOT let them pin you down and start working you over because it will hurt, fast. Have some help if possible. Wheel shots, wheel shots, wheel shots because you are at a disadvantage frame-to-frame with most other cars. Front corner shots are about the only other option. Stay nimble and try to outlast 'em.

[XtremeMopar#307]

I'll agree with that... But if it's anything like in my area where imperials are allowed everywhere... But let's face it there not that common and everywhere anymore, I wish I could take an imp to every show here that allowed them id be one broke SOB... On average there's only 1-2 imps at every show around here... So taking cars like these to an imp allowed derby here is no big deal at all.... This is just my opinion from the derbies in my area

[mopar35x]

Well if this guy is building for total destruction imps are gonna run there own heat and only take two maybe three to the feature but I don't think they allow flat stacks for there rules

[ismashem113]

Well the cage is about done. It is flat stacked with 8-3/4 under it. I will get pics 2moro so all who would like to see the progress can