Introducing........RAT’S NEST

[R68GTO]

Kurt, no I am not sure. I was unaware of the different part number vs just M22 vs M21.
The trans in my car is not the original, I only "know" it was M22 from the guy that was the 2nd owners racing partner back in 1971. He was in the internals of the trans multiple times over the 4 years they raced it. Still not proof-positive, but the best I have.
I was hoping the speedo cable code thread over at CRG would verify trans/speedo adapter, but it seems that CW (my cable code) was used in multiple applications. CW is the code on Doug P.'s build sheet for that survivor L78 with M22 / 4.10 rear.

[turbo69bird]

Curious was your m22 pro shifted? My M21 was dumped for M20 internals for the wider ratio and pro shifted.

[R68GTO]

I believe it was "pro shifted" by Doug Nash BITD. Way back in post 140 I shared a story told by Doug's son about Doug Nash coming to his house when he was a kid. The car also sported a Doug Nash "ProShift" sticker on the upper front fender just ahead of the Hayes sticker. It took me a while to ID that sticker and even longer to find a pair of originals to put back on the car!

[turbo69bird]

Originally Posted by R68GTO

I believe it was "pro shifted" by Doug Nash BITD. Way back in post 140 I shared a story told by Doug's son about Doug Nash coming to his house when he was a kid. The car also sported a Doug Nash "ProShift" sticker on the upper front fender just ahead of the Hayes sticker. It took me a while to ID that sticker and even longer to find a pair of originals to put back on the car!

That’s awesome, you’ll know if the one in there is pro shifted it’ll bang hard in and out of gear . Even when idling through the pitts or around the block . Any shift is an agressive bang .

[turbo69bird]

For those who aren’t familiar with pro shifted trans missions here’s some info. Kinda long winded but gets the point across. https://youtu.be/fJ_ZKHPrtPM

Here’s a pic of a pro shifted gear

Faceplates is a little different , but works kinda the same way

[R68GTO]

Terry Walley (L) & Ralph Willis (R). These two guys were friends and both were prior owners of my COPO. I spoke to each of them after I purchased the car, but sadly, they both passed away before I could get the finished car to them. Both raced the car on weekends. Terry raced it in the red/white/blue Rat's Nest paint scheme sans stickers. Ralph raced it in the black/gold paint scheme that he applied in the late 70's.

[turbo69bird]

That’s cool info on the previous drivers good job locating all that info . My RAIV bird has been tough to find owners. I found info on the first owner after the dealer recently but his wife had recently passed and the house sold can’t find where he’s gone after . It’s a really nice thing to find the trail at least though.(lived 14 minutes from CT dragway , about 2 as a crow flies) Too bad those guys (that raced yours) didn’t get to see it finished.
When I was putting the RAV engine in my car that Stephens raced in pro stock one guy was really interested as his freind had owned it for many years but never run it. He passed away the weekend I got it running in the car . It’s a shame when stuff like that happens .

Good job preserving that car though and I’m really happy you made it the race car. It’s a great car either way but the interesting history of the car is its race heritage IMO. All those weekends at the track each a story in itself anyone who has raced a car for many years understands every weekend of racing has a story. Such a great car and such a good job restoring it and sharing it with us.

[R68GTO]

Finally dug out the only photo I have of Doug Davis (lower left) who created Rats Nest. This scan is from his photo album along with photos of the A990 Hemi lightweight he and Rick Wilkin campaigned in the mid-60's.