I have decided to leave the Hemi Challenger the way it is, not restore it, and get it up and running. I'll be rebuilding the engine, 727 and 8.75 rear and hopefully have it ready for next season.
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I'm looking for ideas on the engine and trans build. Stroker is ok but the intake needs to work with a shaker hood. Everything else I'm open to.
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The rear I'm just looking for tire and gear ideas. An upgrade to a Dana is not out of the question. I'm leaning towards Cal-tracs.
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I don't want to cut up the car so mini tubs, weld in frame connectors, etc,,, are out of the question. It does not have a cage in it, but if there is a way to do it without mangling the car too much I will put one in if needed.
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As always.... the faster the better!!
Thanks!!!!!

Another

another 1

Just curious...I know youre trying to build a Nostagia car but has it ever been a Stock eliminator car or SS/ car in the past?

Ok that makes sense now if it was running SS/DA it was running a hemi at that time. If my memory serves me right on the class index letters.

Well I hope you carry out your goals and it sees the track again. I dont get to many national or divisional meets anymore...but I can tell you there sure arent many Challengers running in Super Stock. As a matter of fact I personally dont know of any running in NSS around here>"PA"

It would be good to see that car out again on the track. I saw it at the 1975 Winternationals with Jim driving it. I got to know him when he worked at Rossi transmisions and converters in Montclair,CA. He built my first 8 inch converter, neck snapping performance

Hello
I am about ready to finish up the Hemi build for My 65. I need to order some push rods, and get my oil pan, but that's about it.
With My build, I wanted two things, plenty of power and reliability. I didn't want to have this thing apart at the end of each year, and wanted it to take some cruises to car shows etc if the need ever arise to run this thing on the street, which it will.
With the costs of good used factory blocks, if you could find one that wasnt welded on, have concrete in it, or wasnt already .060+ over you better be ready to shell out a easy $4K+.
So I went with a World Block with a 4.5 bore, which are stronger, and half the priced of used up 40 year old hand-me-downs.
I am using a Generic 4.5 stroke, for a 572 CID. I figured the long arm will help keep the RPM's realistic.
Instead of cutting back the compression to run on pump gas, which IMO compression hurts a hemi much worse in the power, and torque department than a wedge. I decided to go with 12.75-13:1 compression, run good timing were the motors like, and just use race gas, which In my area isnt much more than premium pump. I never understood why people will push the limits of pump gas compression only to sacrifice total timing to keep detonation out of the engine. Any gains seen with the extra little bit of compression would be lost pulling timing out of the engine. Anyways..
I went with the New Edelbrock Cast MP heads, which turned out awesome. I really try to concentrate extra funds in the head department. I let Jeff at Modern Cylinder head work his magic with the CNC port program. And he got some outstanding flow numbers. about 460CFM out of a stock port location head. I went with a set of DLI rocker system, which I picked up from a board member. These are Stainless roller tipped rockers, and Blue anodized stands. If you can find a set, jump on them, rocker ratio is idea, and they dont have oiling issues as some other higher priced systems do.
7.1 long Manley I beam rods, Weisco Pistons.
I had Barton spec me a custom Solid flat tapet cam, which is a monster for a flat tappet. 282@.050, and .700+ lift. I went with a set of the Howards EDM direct lube lifters, these are a AMC lifter In which I plan to have hollow push rods, with a .020 restricter and oil to the tips.
Seems it came be conman to have oiling issue's to the push rod/rocker area.
I am using a Cross ram setup with Holley's, so I cant comment on what you need in that area.

Here is my 71 Hemi Challenger back in the mid 70's as set up fot SS/D. if you look closely, you will see the shaker installed. It was running a Rat Roaster at the time and the shaker base was tweaked to run with the 'Roaster. I think a Rat roaster would be a great nostalgia item for your car, not the best there is to offer these days, but would look cool just the same.

'nother

I really like what you are doing. I think the rule book will dictate on how fast you want to go.11.50 and faster has to have a roll bar(not cage)and if this car has never had one...I'd be real hesitant to install one if it was my car,but I'm also for keeping history as is too.

PM sent

This is a good start and thank you all for the ideas and the PM's. I'm hoping a bunch more people will jump in and comment. There is alot of knowledge on this site and believe me, I can use it!!
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As for whether it will or won't get done.... It WILL be out next season. I have been chewing on this for years and I'm not restoring this one to it's assembly line look. It's definately staying a race car. Now I have to start gathering parts.
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I like the idea of going with a different block. It is the numbers block now and it has been repaired once already. I also like the idea of staying slower than 11.50, just for the cage aspect, but like I said before, I'll put one in if need be. I'm also ok with going with a single 4 or dual 4 and tweaking the shaker base as needed. Some of the stuff I'd like to pick up used to shave some of the costs because I know this is not going to be cheap... intake, headers, maybe aluminum heads, and such.
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As for street duty,,,, It will see the street at some point. Probably not alot, but, it will, but, that's by no means my primary concern.
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Thanks everyone and keep the ideas coming!! I know alot of racers haven't chimed in yet and I hope they do.

If if were mine, I'd wax it up and make it look like it did back in the day, with 2 AFB's on Rat Roaster. IIRC, the car had the big center cap Keystones classic wheels all around.

I think I would set it up more as a "stocker" to keep the costs down and make it more street-able...drag radials and all

anyhoo..great car,great find!

one thing for sure..that block most definatley needs to find a new home displayed on a shelf..
you talking 5 figures for a numbers matching situation..
for racing..use a new block and have fun..
save the original for a differnt situation.
i put bolt in subfram connectors for sure..
the car wont be worth anything if you twist the body up...
this part is an easy fix/change over..
the twisted up chassis will be a mess down the road.
and id seriously consider a dana..with those cubes..an 8.75 will be limited..and if it fails
you could be in the wall..
other than that..have fun...beautiful car..
best wishes.
cheapst

Don, you have a PM.
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I'm liking the Dana idea. Good point on the wall.
I'm also likeing the different block idea so I don't hurt the original one. So the shopping begins. How about heads? Are aluminum heads worth the expense or will the stock ones be sufficient? How about bore stroke combos, cam, etc....