If Wally Elder was striving for perfection in his recently completed Daytona Pro Street build, we’d say he nailed it!
“I’ve been interested in cars since I got my first Hot Wheel,” tells Elder. “And from there, my dad played a major role because he was so into cars. He even had a ’36 Ford that was featured in Hot Rod Magazine in 1958.”
The apple obviously didn’t fall far from the tree and soon Wally found himself immersed in car culture and wrenching on his own stuff. By the
early 1990s Elder wanted to put his name to something special, and at the same time the massive Pro Street movement was in full swing, so what better style to build. Being modeled after Pro Stock and Pro Mod drag cars, Elder decided to try his hand at a serious Pro Street project that would pay tribute to its racing roots, but not just any car would do. Wally’s search netted a 1969 Dodge Charger which he built into a world class car, complete with a blown alcohol injected 392ci Hemi. “That first Daytona was featured in a bunch of magazines back in the day. Unfortunately, I sold it a few years later and lost track of it for many years.”
As most of us know, there’s always that time when you say to yourself, ‘Man, I wish I had that car back’, which is exactly the way Wally felt about the Daytona. “I always regretted selling that car,” he said.
The original Dodge Daytona was kicked out of NASCAR for being too good at racing! The nose and wing were said to give it an unfair advantage and after Buddy Baker broke 200mph with it, and then the car won 6 more races, well, maybe they had a point! Wally Elder’s amazing Pro Street version was built for a different kind of fun; street driving and drag racing…and looks fast
Almost twenty years later, Elder decided he wanted to try and locate the Daytona. First, a friend of his placed several ads on Craigslist in the area where he sold the car, and about a year later someone contacted him, pretty sure that a friend theirs had the car. “I contacted the
owner but couldn’t get him to sell it back to me, so I decided to build a new car similar to that one only make it better... and here we are!” Elder added.
While we have not seen the original Daytona, we’ll take Wally’s word for it on the “better” part of the equa-
tion. Photos will often make a car look better than in person, but do yourself a favor and if you ever have the opportunity to see this car one on one, do it! Wally’s Daytona 2.0 has to be one of the most complete, high caliber creations we’ve seen in a while. And best of all (in our books
If you ever get a chance to see this car one on one, do it...!
anyway), it’s a legit street car, and yes it’s built to race, too!
When Elder says “better” he means better everything, and this time ’round the Daytona would be equipped with a state of the art chassis, bigger, badder engine, and of course, as many modern updates as possible. And after 6 long years, the car debuted in
The skeleton of the project is an SFI certified 4130 Chromoly double frame-rail chassis and cage. A custom 4-link
rear suspension with Strange Engineering coilovers hangs a Dana 60 housing with LPW Ultimate cover, Strange 40-spline axles and spool and 4.10 gears. Of course, what would any Pro Mod-level Pro Street build be without a solid set of functional wheelie bars. Up front, the fabricated Chromoly chassis work is complimented by rack and pinion steering, tubular control arms and Strange struts. Strange disc brakes were used on all four corners.
AFFORDABLE. REPLACEMENT. STEEL.
The front nose and rear wing are from Janak Reproductions. Body and Paint was done by Custom Auto Works (owner Wally Elder) in GM code 81 Bright Red and the rear white stripe is painted on to factory spec.
Because the Daytona is fit for both street and strip use, there are essentials for each built into the design. Fire suppression to protect the investment, functioning lights (the headlights being CO2 activated), exhaust dumps, battery charging ports and much more.
Wally Elder with his “T-Minus” Daytona 2.0 creation. He built one in the ’90s and tried to buy it back, and when he couldn’t he built another one better, stronger, faster!
We could go on for pages about the interior of the Daytona, but the pictures will tell a more complete story. Wally designed it after a 1970 Charger interior and the dash and door panels are hand-crafted. Even the gauge layout is a tribute to the original car. From the chromoly cage work to the custom door panels (with original Charger emblems) and custom pistol grip shifters and “blower pulley” cup holders, this completely original creation manages to mix hardcore race with street, yet still give off a cool original Daytona vibe.
We could write an entire essay on the Daytona body and interior, let alone the engine – there are just so many nuances to this car that every time we moved to a different area of it, the wow factor continued.
The Daytona body began life as an OEM Dodge steel roof to which AMD (American Metal Direct) steel quarter panels, rockers and cowl were affixed . From there, Wally added Glasstek fiberglass fenders, doors, hood and trunk lid and had Janak Reproductions supply the nose cone and rear wing. The meticulous panel fitment, alignment, bodywork finishing and paint were completed by none other than Custom Auto Works’ Wally Elder. Yes, that same Wally Elder! Wally sprayed the GM code 81 Bright Red using PPG Refinishes basecoat/clearcoat product and also painted on (no decal here) the white rear stripe to factory specifications. At first glance most would say the body is one of those cookie cutter aero-styles used in Pro Mods these days, but that would be incorrect. In fact, the fenders have been pie cut and sectioned to drop the front
Check out the Lenco 3-speed with Bruno drive, Racewire Solutions box and carbon tubs out back, nothing to hide here. To the lower left of Wally are two handles la beled “E-85” and “Methanol” that switch fuel supply between two locations in the car, depending on whether he’s cruising the downtown strip, or the dragstrip!
Bullet Racing Engines in Missouri built the 526 cubic inch Hemi starting with an Indy Maxx aluminum raised cam water block. The mill is packed with top fuel-quality parts and topped with Stage V heads and intake.
end for both aerodynamics and stance and the length of the car has not been altered. Elder has definitely created a slick, old school yet modern one-off look.
More “Easter eggs” on the Daytona include things like factory safety glass along with wipers, signals, mufflers and all other equipment needed to pass the
DOT inspection for street driving. The parking lights are original Daytona pieces and headlight doors are C02 fired! It’s no wonder that during our interview Elder often repeated the words “street car”.
Inside the Daytona it’s like the Dodge interior of 1969 time travelled to 2020 – it’s that cool, but still a tribute
The Stage V intake manifold is topped by a 30% overdriven Littlefield 14-71 High Helix Roots style Supercharger and JBR carbon fiber Funny Car injector hat.
A custom 4-link/coilover setup hangs a heavily fortified Dana 60 out back and a custom front suspension with Strange struts and rack and pinion steering is used up front.
to the original design. The door panels and dash layout are designed after a 1970 Charger and the dash is hand-fabricated sheet metal with aluminum and carbon trim and is filled with silver-faced gauges and custom controls, including the fuel swap handles which change the fuel supply (via a Kinsler Jet Selector) from the street E-85 to a more tasty methanol flavor. The Lenco 3-speed is in full view to all who enter, while twin Racetech seats with harnesses welcome occupants (passengers are always welcome). Carbon rear wheel tubs were used and twin 214mm blower pulley cup holders were fabricated to make sure street activities are more enjoyable. A meticulous array of switches, controls and warning lights are placed within reach, just above the rear view mirror. There’s more worthy of mention
Wally Elder’s Blown HEMI Pro Street 1969 Dodge Daytona
Chassis Type & Mods:
4130 Chromoly double frame rail chassis with cage.
Suspension:
Front is custom with tubular control arms, Strange Engineering struts and rack and pinion steering. Rear is custom 4-Link with Strange coilovers. Strange disc brakes all around.
Body & Paint:
Original Mopar steel roof. AMD steel quarter panels, rocker panels and cowl, Glasstek fiberglass fenders, doors, hood and trunk lid, Janak Reproductions nose cone and rear wing. The fenders have been pie cut and sectioned to drop the front end for both aerodynamics and stance. The length has not been altered. CO2 fired headlight doors, original Daytona parking lights, stock safety glass windshield, wipers, headlights, taillights, turn signals, mufflers, DOT tires and everything needed to pass inspection for street driving.
Body and Paint performed by Custom Auto Works (Wally Elder) in GM code 81 Bright Red using PPG Refinishes basecoat/clearcoat. Rear white stripe is painted on to factory spec.
Engine:
Engine assembled by Bullet Racing Engines in House Springs Missouri. 526 cubic inch Indy Maxx aluminum water block, raised cam. Bryant
Top Fuel crankshaft, Brooks Top Fuel rods, JE pistons, 54mm Comp Cams roller camshaft, Keith Black gear drive. Moroso dry sump pan, System 1 oil filtration, P&P dry sump oil pump.
Stage V Raised Port cylinder heads with Victory 2.400 intake valves, Manley 1.900 exhaust valves, Comp Cams valve springs and Ray Barton T&D rockers. Clark custom copper head gaskets.
Power Adder, Induction & Fuel Delivery:
Stage V intake manifold, Littlefield 14-71 High Helix Roots style Supercharger, JBR carbon fiber Funny Car injector hat, 4” wide Gates
Polychain 14mm belt. 30% overdriven. Waterman Lil Bertha mechanical fuel pump. There can be up to 42 gallons of fuel on board (2@ 16 gallon cells in rear and 1@ 10 gallon cell in front). Fuel type supply can be switched from Methanol to E85 via two dash mounted shutoff valves and a Kinsler Jet Selector.
Miscellaneous:
Meziere remote water pump, Griffin radiator, Spal engine cooling fans, Derale transmission coolers, East Coast Electric 16 volt alternator, MSD Mag44 Magneto, custom ceramic headers, custom Spintech mufflers, QTP electric exhaust cutouts, Spal exhaust cooling fans.
Electronics:
MSD Grid, MSD Mag44 magneto and crank trigger, MSD plug wires, Racewire Solutions wiring harness, Autometer gauges.
Transmission & Converter:
Lenco 3 speed, Bruno converter drive, Bruno trans brake, custom made pistol grip air shifters.
Rear Differential:
Dana 60 housing with Strange Engineering 40 spline axles and spool and US Gear ring & pinion (4.10 ratio).
Interior: The custom interior is designed after a 1970 charger (door panels and dash layout).The dash is hand fabricated sheet metal with aluminum and carbon fiber trim. Racetech seats, 2 14mm blower pulley cup holders (gotta have cool beverages while cruising) and carbon fiber wheel tubs.
Wheels & Tires:
15x14” ET MAGS rear wheels with 33x22.5-15 Hoosier Quick Time Pro tires. 15x4” ET MAGS front wheels with 25x4-15 Hoosier Quick Time Pro front tires.
Best ET & MPH:
To be determined
Thanks to:
• Brian Raymond (helped with chassis design and welding)
• Tony Flores (machining and parts building)
• Bill Richie (some assembly and an extra hand when needed)
• And of course, my wife (she was there for moral support and put up with me)
The two trunk mounted E85 tanks and the front mounted methanol tank (meant for track hits) can hold up to 45 gallons fuel in total.
inside the car, but we only have so much space.
Now onto the real fun!
For power, Wally upped the ante this time and went with a 526 Hemi, but not just any 526 Hemi! Bullet Racing Engines of House Springs Missouri created the mill starting with an IndyMaxx aluminum raised cam water block, because you know, as Wally says, “it’s a street car”! A Bryant Top Fuel crank-
shaft spins Brooks Top Fuel rods pinned to JE pistons. A COMP roller bumpstick actuates the valvetrain and Stage V Raised Port heads are filled with Victory 2.400 intake valves and Manley 1.900 exhaust valves along with COMP valve springs and Ray Barton T&D rocker assembles.
A Stage V intake manifold is topped with a Littlefield 14-71 High Helix Roots
Just as the sun goes down, the Daytona sits awaiting it’s drive home. Probably not a good idea to rumble in too late Wally, as you would surely wake the neighbors…within about a 5 mile radius! After working some bugs out on the street this year, plans are to work on a few areas over the winter and be ready to hit the track in spring.
style Supercharger and JBR carbon fiber Funny Car Injector hat. And by the way ladies and gentleman, this wild animal is 30% overdriven!
MSD handles most of the electronics along with gear from Racewire Solutions, and oh yeah, because it’s a street car, the custom ceramic coated headers run into custom Spintech mufflers and a pair of trick QTP electric exhaust cutouts. Once again, there’s much more we could mention, so be sure to check out the RPM Tech Brief on page 84 for the complete lowdown.
Only recently completed, and being from Missouri, Wally had just enough time to work some bugs out of the car through street driving and stabbing the throttle whenever possible before the weather turned. Plans are to make a few tweaks and changes over the winter and hopefully do some dyno tuning then run the car at the track this coming spring.
So if you happen to hear the words “T-Minus” over the thundering sound of open exhaust and blower whine in 2022, be sure to plug your ears and enjoy the ride, because it’s probably Wally Elder putting some passes on his wild blown Hemi Daytona!
