As part of the early relationship between the Mitsubishi Motor Company and the Chrysler Corporation (one that led to the highly sucessful DIamond Star Motors alliance, producing the "before its time" Eagle Talon and Mitsubishi Eclipse), the Pentastar bunch labeled the MItsubishi Starion as one of its own, a Dodge Conquest. From 1985 to 1989, this turbocharged, 2.6L beast won the hearts and payment books of enthusiasts with its Audi-esque fender flares, giant intercooler, and aggressive wheel/tire package. This venerable engine package (found in everything from Isuzu forklifts to Dodge pickups) took to modifications quite well.

The plan for this car was to create a combination that could make nearly 700hp and still cruise the street without race gas was a difficult one. The turbo Buick setup could save weight, cruise the boulevard on pump gas with low boost, and would maintain the Conquest's compressed heritage. To match that kind of power, a proper chassis and room for rubber would be required.

This car has a turbo 231 utilizing a stock block and crank by upgrading to JE pistons and kept the factory rods for 8:1 compression. Ported heads, with a custom camshaft, and a shaped lower intake, while the upper intake was tweaked and chromed to look like a production piece. A Garrett 72mm turbocharger and such were selected, while the tune-up was put into a FAST computer that's become the norm for combinations like this. With Custom headers, exhaust, and plumbing to and from the Spearco intercooler. A TH400 tranny and the matching 9-inch converter that stalls at 3,400 rpm for the turbo combo. Dyno pulls produced 652hp and 685 lb.-ft at 25lbs. of boost.

A tube frame creation was built that's NHRA-legal down to 7.50 second elapsed times. An Alston four link rear and a Ford 9-inch live between subtle aluminum wheel tubs that house 315/35/17 BFGoodrich Drag Radials. Through drag-style aluminum front struts were considered, the pounding of the street and increased camber gains that come from traditional suspension led to a pair of adjustable coilover shocks and tubular control arms.