Thirty years ago, the internet was in its infancy, eggs were under a dollar a dozen, and Indy Cylinder Head held their first Chrysler Performance Trade Show and Swap Meet. Just like the internet and eggs, the world of Mopar has changed drastically in both participation and price. A guy used to be able to scoop up a respectable project car for a cool thousand bucks and we all know those days are as long gone as your AOL password.
In fact, most of these old muscle cars have basically doubled in age since that inaugural Indy event three decades ago. While some parts have gotten harder to find, others have blossomed atop a robust aftermarket led by the likes of Auto Metal Direct (AMD), Mancini Racing, Vans Auto, and, of course, Indy Cylinder Head.
At any swap meet, one is likely to find new and old, NOS (new old stock) and neglected, priceless and pitiful. This year’s offering at the Indiana State Fair’s Blue Ribbon Pavilion was as wide-ranging and well-stocked as always.
Empty spots were few and far between inside the two-building venue. Unlike some of those other noteworthy Mopar-only swap meets, the Indy event isn’t affected by soggy grass parking lots, unwieldy weather, outhouses, or crowded cow paths between swap slots.
Actually, the Pavilion is quite the opposite with comfortable heating and air conditioning under tall ceilings from which hangs ample lighting. Clean concrete floors, concession stands, and indoor restrooms are all right nice for a no-sweat experience in these comfortable confines.
Really, the only thing we were sweating were the prices for parts on our pick list. Said list was fairly short this year as we only needed a front grille, trim clips, front parking light, and spark plug wires for an almost-done 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda.
Now, it’s important to mention that our in-depth perusal took place on Saturday, March 1, which was the second day of the show. This used to be a Saturday/Sunday affair. However, a few years ago, it was moved to a Friday/Saturday pairing since Sunday’s crowd was usually sparse.
Turnout this year was about average with plenty of folks milling about, but not so many that aisleways were crowded. The Mopar Connection Magazine booth was confirmed to be bumping on Friday, offering T-shirts and a close-up look at Project Brazen, our longtime 1969 Dodge Charger thumper.
Pick list in hand, we started on what’s become our standard path, first stopping to see a few feature cars at the front doors. A blue 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona clone showcased its 505 stroker, police lights, and a General Lee-esque front push bar. The General himself was next to it, this one looking to be an extremely faithful rendition of everybody’s favorite Duke family member.
A green 1968 Dodge Dart 270 and red 1993 Dodge Ram 350 rounded out the lineup, the latter being a Cummins-equipped model with a $25,000 price tag.
Moving on to the main attraction, Stephen’s Performance was the first stop. A longtime AMD dealer, we slid into Stephen’s booth to see if they might have a ’71 ‘Cuda grille for us. Unsurprisingly, they did have AMD’s own P/N X150-1571-S in a trailer out back. We told them we’d take it, removed that item from the register, and moved on.
Mancini Racing’s booth was busy, but we made a point to check out their Mopar Performance valve covers and air cleaners. Long a favorite of the Direct Connection crowd, these cast aluminum dress-up pieces only recently became re-available in full.
Rows and rows of swap meet spaces stood between us and the Indy Cylinder Head booth at the back of the second building, so we dug in. Right away, it was a pleasant surprise to see perfectly reasonable pricing abound. A set of 8.75” third members in milk crates were tagged in the $200 range for open differentials while Sure-Grip varieties commanded more like $600 to $900.
Four-speed transmission rates were reasonable as well. A pair of used A-body 833s were at $300 and $350. Their B/E-body brethren were closer to $500. Rebuilt manuals were all north of $1,000, although we’d be hard-pressed to rely on a swap meet rebuild unless it came from somebody like Brewer’s Performance.
It seems like an absolute embarrassment of intake manifolds is always available. This year was no different for anyone looking to slap on an old Weiand, LD340, CH4B, or Six-Barrel. For the most part, matching air cleaner assemblies, OEM or aftermarket, could be had as well.
Sheet metal always has the possibility of being a serious swap meet score since picking up something big at the show can really save on shipping. The aforementioned Stephen’s Performance had plenty of AMD goodness, but there was also a decent selection of original fenders, hoods, and trunk lids.
Even a few of the rarer pieces like a complete 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Air Grabber hood were in attendance, although that one was a little salty at $3,500.
A trailer loaded down with transmissions, cylinder heads, and two engines caught our eye. The motors, a 258 six-cylinder and a 318, both had signage that said “can hear run.” That swap space signee was eager to crank them over and, despite several years’ worth of gunk and grime, both fired up without hesitation.
For $850, the running 318 with 904 automatic transmission might’ve been perfect for someone with a low-buck A-body or truck.
Other highlights and oddities included a Chevy Vega hatch that could be used for a Daytona conversion, 426 Hemi night lights for those gearhead grandchildren, and a vintage 8-track tape case loaded with Jefferson Starship, Bob Dylan, the Carpenters, and America.
Of course, the grand finale was a stroll through Indy Cylinder Head’s sprawling sea of aluminum. Cylinder heads and intakes were stacked on tables nearly as far as the eye could see, all ripe for picking and placing on a hot project. Alas, our hands were all but full with our ‘Cuda grille and MSD spark plug wires in tow. Maybe we’ll make room for a set of those Indy 440-SR heads next year.
