The story behind this sweet-sounding 542ci Chrysler discovered at the recent NMCA West race in Fontana has a familiar feel to it. Car owner Jeff Shaw blew up a 493ci Mopar and went to Rich Nedbal at Mopar Engines West in Newark, California, for help in building up an even bigger engine.

But upon further investigation, EngineLabs discovered the real story wasn’t in the assembly of a 720-horsepower Chrysler wedge but in the motivation behind the build of the ’69 Road Runner that it powers.

It took Shaw six years to build this car, fusing parts from a GTX and a pair of Satellites. He performed almost all of the work in his garage, save for the back-half rearend/suspension fabrication.

“I watched a lot of videos to learn how to paint,” he says.

The titanium gray paint job is stunning, and even his wife Pam chipped in with colorful Road Runner logo embroidery for the interior. While looking over the car, the conversation usually drifts to the Iron Worm graphics on the door.

“That’s a tribute to the buddies I lost in Vietnam,” says Shaw, adding that the name was given to an armored personnel carrier in his MP squad that was hit by an RPG, knocking it down a deep ravine and killing all five aboard.

The engine build started with a Mopar Mega Block and bolted in a K1/Wiseco rotating assembly (4.375 x 4.500). Shaw says he likes the iron block up front since the car normally pulls healthy wheelstands on a decent track. The Indy “Little Easy” EZ cylinder heads feature 295cc intake ports, 2.19/1.81 valves and Harland Sharp 1.6:1 rockers. On top is an Indy intake manifold and Holley Dominator 1150 carb. Spark is provided by MSD while Milodon handles the oil flow and Moroso takes car of the water flow. Shaw had Comp Cams grind a special bumpstick for this engine to keep the torque way down low.

The interior is clean and well detailed. In the rear sail panels are Road Runner embroideries from Jeff’s wife, Pam.

“I want the bottom end and not the mile per hour,” says Shaw, noting he doesn’t want his bracket car to go quick or fast enough to require an NHRA license or additional safety gear.

Shaw definitely got what he wanted. On the dyno the engine peaked at 720 horsepower at just 5,200 rpm with 730 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm. By the way, at the NMCA event Shaw made it to the semi-finals in Saturday’s Edelbrock bracket eliminations, losing to eventual winner Kevin McClelland in a double breakout (Shaw’s time was 10.318 at 130.13 mph). The following day he lost in the first round, again breaking out (10.362 at 128.25 mph).

The Iron Worm graphic on the doors is tribute to Shaw’s fallen comrades in Vietnam. The car was built with donor parts from three other Chrysler B-bodies, including a GTX and two Satellites.