And where "down" tube from top firewall crossbar ties into stock frame rail. Basically making a "box" for midplate that is securely tied into chassis, body, firewall. Making engine a structural part of chassis

590challenger you building this yourself or though a chassis shop?

Thanks Monte, that will give me a lot to think about. Racing season is 7 weeks out and it will be there. Maybe next winter it will get a do over.

I do my own work

Like I said, NOT trying to be critical of your work. Only trying to help you get the best bang for your buck and proper use and support of pipe you weld in your car. I have been building cars a long time and am still in full fledge "learning" mode myself.........LOL!!!

Those pics are of the "Reaper" car which is in my shop. It's an old Outlaw 10.5 car, but has some really nice work on it and the way they did the firewall and midplate area was nice and directly applies to what you are doing now. It had a stock front stub, which we hacked off and put struts on it, but we left it the same from firewall back, because I would have had to start at main hoop and come forward with a full redo to really do it like I would have wanted to and time prevented that. Plus it will be fine like it is

Thanks, I wanted a bent bar across the top like you described but I could not of got to the top trans bolts. They are connected together right at the fire wall on the inside on the downward dash bars, I figured that would be good. The bottom does have jumpers straight to the lower structure, tieing it from moving up.
The double shock bars are because the snout bars are too far away from being under the inner fenders. I have to mount the coil over shocks at the stock location, running one bar up with a plate and some gussets off the side just didn't seem strong enough to me. I will have a plate between the bars
I thought about moving the motor backwards, my buddy did it.Now he straps 80 lbs to the front bumper to keep it down. I really wanted to avoid having to do that. Yes he has the front end tight as hell
Yeah my first project, still a lot to learn

You could have cut the center of the stock firewall out and covered your new tubing with sheet metal. Essentially moving the lower part of firewall forward, so you could get to trans bolts from inside car. They sure won't care if you move it forward

Sorry I have been busy on other things. I can see how your way is stronger and needed for pro mods. I think mine has come together Stronger than you think. Lateral support, bottom bars are on a 15 degree angle, sure flatter would have been better but need room for the zoomies. The top is connected to the ½” mid plate with 7/16 bolts, reinforced by a bar an inch and a half away inside the firewall (2 inch on center) I was able to maintain my factory fire wall, engine (weight) location and happy with the accessibility of everything. My leaf spring car goals are only mid 4’s, Most people at this level get by with nothing at all added.

Dealing with drag radial cars on nearly a daily basis I definitely know what is required to go that fast. Dipping into the 4s every now and then is one thing......to consistently run mid 4s is an entirely different matter. It takes a REALLY stiff car to do this. Cars that run mid to low 4s are built like Pro-Mods on small tires for a reason. Your changes will definitely help, I was only pointing out a few things I thought would make it better.

Thank You for your input, hopefully I can get back at it this weekend

Shock mounts made, It was a bit of a pain but they should be in the exact spot as the original ones. Stronger, Lighter and much easier to work around. They should hold up fine if I do anymore 4 foot wheelies.

This is a interesting build, good luck and let us no the out come

Looks good, I like all the triangulation.

Thanks guys, pulling the engine and trans out tonight to finish the welds and make my firewall fire proof. This week making provisions to make the whole front end easily removable

Back at it, I put together this little structure, It slides off the pins on the fire wall and the top of the radiator support. (which every thing, fenders, grille ect. will attach to. Bumper will slide off separately. I'll bolt it together Wednesday night to see if I have a flaw in the plan

Test fit went great, bumper slides on and off and so does the whole front end, life is good

Only steel is the top of the radiator support. Mounts very solid I think I could almost sit on a fender.


Filling in gaps, trying to make the firewall more fire proof. Alot of grinding left. First race of the season is 2 1/2 week out, not looking good

Is the bumper wrapped in chrome? Some special painted chrome?

Looking good, when you hope to be done.