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Our Monthly Newsletter
Welcome to Horsepower & Heritage The official newsletter of Faulk’s Classic Car Repair. Preserving the past — Sharing the craft. Thank you for being part of the FCCR community as we continue August Edition of 2026 Blog Post Inside Pro Stock History Discover how weight-to-inch ratios changed the face of competitive racing in the seventies. HEMI Penalty and The Boycott Car The 7.25 lbs per cubic inch penalty was a pivotal moment in racing history, forcing big-block engines to
Buddy Faulk
Trunk Splatter Paint: More Than Just a Finish.
Trunk splatter paint, often called “speckled paint,” is a multicolored, textured finish commonly used in the trunks of American vehicles from the 1950s through the 1970s. Manufacturers used splatter paint because it was an economical and practical finish for trunk and cargo areas. Its thick, textured appearance helped resist scratches and provided some protection against moisture while also helping disguise minor factory weld marks, surface imperfections, seams, and sheet-met
Buddy Faulk
Can You Paint My Car for $10,000? The Answer May Surprise You.
I frequently receive inquiries about the cost of painting a classic car that is 30 to 50 years old. My response is usually something like this: "Your investment will start at approximately 250 to 500 labor hours, plus materials and paint products. I really can't give you an accurate estimate until the vehicle is stripped to bare metal. If you'd like, we can schedule an appointment to discuss your project further." The reply I often hear is: "That's more than I expected. I was
Buddy Faulk
Max Hurley's 1972 Dodge Demon Pro-Stock
Oscar Max Hurley, also known as "Max" from West Jefferson, North Carolina, established himself as one of the most prominent drag racers in North Carolina's history. Inducted into the North Carolina Racing Hall of Fame in 2009, Hurley's impressive career spanned 28 years, during which he claimed victory in around 280 races. In addition to his success on the track, Hurley was renowned for his generosity and support of fellow drag racers through his famous "Max Hurley Speed Shop
Buddy Faulk
Nov 24, 20253 min read
HEMI Penalty and The Boycott Car
In 1972, NHRA implemented a weight-to-cubic-inch penalty to control engine dominance in the Pro Stock class. The “Weight Break” rule created separate weight-to-cubic-inch ratios based on engine type to balance the competition and encourage smaller engines and compact cars. The rule established a new base of 6.75 pounds per cubic inch for small-block engines and a higher 7.25 pounds per cubic inch for big-block engines. It was designed to address powerful engines like the Hemi
Buddy Faulk
Nov 15, 20252 min read
Pro-Stock's Elephant
Chrysler's D5 HEMI Dual Plug Engine The D5 HEMI was an experimental 426 HEMI engine by Chrysler in the early 1970s for Pro Stock drag racing. The program was a top-secret project, as Chrysler wanted to keep the competition in the dark. Tom Hoover and Harry Weslake, of Chrysler, designed the engine to improve performance at higher RPMs, from 6000 to 9000. The key features included round intake ports, a wider block, a fabricated tubular intake manifold, dual distributors, and
Buddy Faulk
Nov 8, 20252 min read
Survivor for Over 50 Years
The Rod Shop 1973 Dodge Dart Sport, driven by Bob Riffle, has been a survivor for more than 50 Years. Bob Riffle was a distinguished drag racer who excelled both behind the wheel and under the hood as an engine builder. He was a two-time US Nationals champion and gained recognition for building Pro Stock engines. Bob held the position of Head Engine Builder at Petty Enterprises, contributing to the success of drivers such as Mark Martin and Ted Musgrave at Roush Racing. He al
Buddy Faulk
Oct 27, 20254 min read
Our Monthly Newsletter
Welcome to Horsepower & Heritage The official newsletter of Faulk’s Classic Car Repair. Preserving the past — Sharing the craft. Thank you for being part of the FCCR community as we continue August Edition of 2026 Blog Post Inside Pro Stock History Discover how weight-to-inch ratios changed the face of competitive racing in the seventies. HEMI Penalty and The Boycott Car The 7.25 lbs per cubic inch penalty was a pivotal moment in racing history, forcing big-block engines to
Buddy Faulk
Trunk Splatter Paint: More Than Just a Finish.
Trunk splatter paint, often called “speckled paint,” is a multicolored, textured finish commonly used in the trunks of American vehicles from the 1950s through the 1970s. Manufacturers used splatter paint because it was an economical and practical finish for trunk and cargo areas. Its thick, textured appearance helped resist scratches and provided some protection against moisture while also helping disguise minor factory weld marks, surface imperfections, seams, and sheet-met
Buddy Faulk
Can You Paint My Car for $10,000? The Answer May Surprise You.
I frequently receive inquiries about the cost of painting a classic car that is 30 to 50 years old. My response is usually something like this: "Your investment will start at approximately 250 to 500 labor hours, plus materials and paint products. I really can't give you an accurate estimate until the vehicle is stripped to bare metal. If you'd like, we can schedule an appointment to discuss your project further." The reply I often hear is: "That's more than I expected. I was
Buddy Faulk
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