68 Charger advice please
#3238958
06/17/24 11:49 AM
06/17/24 11:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,552 USA
hudsonhornet7x
OP
pro stock
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OP
pro stock
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,552
USA
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Hello,
I am in the process of deciding what to do with my first car, a 68 Charger. Currently the shell is bolted to a body fixture and is being worked on with AMD sheet metal. In the back of my mind I have always been interested in making the car handle and behave well on a road course while remaining streetable. It would not be an all out racecar. I have a 470 with aluminum heads and a motor plate ready to go in the car. So now I am looking for some reference material and good advice on where to start the body stiffening and structural part of the build. This is not a restoration where I am worried about originality. This is not a pro touring build with big wheels. Here are my goals:
1. Not a drag car, not an all out road course car, but something streetable that will handle pretty good and still be able to take to the drag strip once a year.
2. Keep the K frame and torsion bars. ( not into tubular K frames and all that.)
3. Have the vintage nascar stance with proper wheels/tires.
I am completely ok with a roll cage, subframe connectors, torque boxes, etc. Just need to get educated on what is worth it, and what is not. Thanks to all who can help or point me in the right direction for this journey.
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Re: 68 Charger advice please
[Re: hudsonhornet7x]
#3239031
06/17/24 06:03 PM
06/17/24 06:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,327 Here
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,327
Here
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.IMO, the first consideration is your ultimate tire/rim package, decide that, and most everything works backward from there, and get back to us
" All sorts of things can happen when you are open to new Ideas" Inventor of Kevlar
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Re: 68 Charger advice please
[Re: jcc]
#3239064
06/17/24 10:20 PM
06/17/24 10:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,552 USA
hudsonhornet7x
OP
pro stock
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OP
pro stock
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,552
USA
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.IMO, the first consideration is your ultimate tire/rim package, decide that, and most everything works backward from there, and get back to us I will do that. At the moment I have no idea, but I will begin to research. Thank you
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Re: 68 Charger advice please
[Re: hudsonhornet7x]
#3239118
06/18/24 12:05 PM
06/18/24 12:05 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,326 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,326
north of coder
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i'm with JCC, frame connectors, torque boxes, etc. also, radiator support stiffeners, and those stiffeners that are available for the inner front fender panels would be good. if you are going a "nascar type" wheel and tire combo, i would use the 11" rear drums [those can come from a ton of different year C-body's and trucks/vans] and the big front disc brakes from any of the 73-up B-body's, including using the taller spindles. don't listen to any of the "experts" that tell you the taller spindles "over extend" the upper ball joints, because i'm here to tell ya, that is all BS, as i have personally done that swap many, many times with out ANY issues whatsoever. as to installing a cage, get your driver seat into position first, so the main hoop and side bars of your choice can be installed without interfering with your seating position comfort or protection. don't forget to pad the bar good in any place your body is close to, especially your noggin, as those bars are REAL hard when bumped into.
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Re: 68 Charger advice please
[Re: saffrons]
#3245714
07/19/24 12:25 PM
07/19/24 12:25 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,326 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,326
north of coder
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speaking of subframe connectors, i installed [finally !] a pair on my charger over the winter, and what a difference they made ! [and they were just the bare minimum 2x2x1/8" wall tube] i tied the [bucket] seat floor reinforcement[s] into them, plus the 1/4"x2" driveshaft loop. this coming winter, i plan on connecting a couple of 2x2x1/8" tubes from each subrame connector to the rocker panels, and installing torque boxes.
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Re: 68 Charger advice please
[Re: Moparite]
#3262736
10/08/24 10:45 AM
10/08/24 10:45 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,326 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,326
north of coder
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Is it a stick or auto? I have seen some stick cars crack the various things frame wise. Build up the frame structure to handle the abuse the drive train and driving conditions will put on it. it's an automatic car. the connectors really tightened up the feel of the car. not sure how much the tie-ins to the seat brackets and driveshaft loop helped, but i'm sure they didn't hurt. they were easy to do anyway, so i figured, why not ? as to the outriggers to the rockers, i am going to have to start at 2" and taper it down to the rocker thickness/height of approximately 1 1/2-1 5/8". i will also add a 6" long piece to the end of the outriggers that attach to the rockers to spread the load. i will also extend the connectors from the torsion bar crossmember to the front subframe, and possibly tie the torque box plates to the extended connectors. also considering adding a 7/8" rear bar to go along with the factory 15/16" front bar. question on adding the rear bar is, would it be better to attach the bar to the rear housing or the body ? which would be more effective ? [sprung vs unsprung weight]
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