Turns out the Lads that I bought the E55 off had replaced a 360 that they blew up with the imported 340. Trouble was they didn't remove the balance weights off the torque converter which caused massive vibrations that in turn weakened the crankshaft. When I picked up the Charger I couldn't see out the rear vision mirror due to it vibrating so much. When I got it home I drilled out the weights as best I could but the damage had already been done. Notice the piston in the picture above the journal has a smooth spot worn on it where it was hitting the crankshaft !!
I junked the engine & bought a good running 440 & trans which I then installed & had running the Tuesday before we headed on a 670 km trip to the 1984 Canberra Street Machine Nationals.
I junked the engine & bought a good running 440 & trans which I then installed & had running the Tuesday before we headed on a 670 km trip to the 1984 Canberra Street Machine Nationals.
Here is a pic of the Satellite parked at the 1984 Nationals. Notice the extra mufflers I had to fit to the twin 2 1/2 inch system as the 440 was way too noisy without them. We towed a trailer with a tent & camping gear as well as a complete 340 & 727 trans as well. We made a side trip to Sydney so my mate Tom could check out a 1970 Dodge Charger that was for sale at the Nationals but we missed Leigh at his Grandmas in Canberra, he had left for Sydney 10 minutes before we arrived.
The Satellite even made it into the June/July 1984 issue of Street Machine magazine.
The Satellite was entered into the 1984 Vic Hot Rod show and was displayed on the 60's American Musclecar Club stand.