David Weber's '70 Challenger...
David Weber's '70 Challenger is far from stock...but you don't notice it, at first.
Henry County Rods in Martinsville,...
Henry County Rods in Martinsville, Virginia, brought this E-Body shell back from the dead. New Goodmark quarters, plus newly fabbed torque boxes and subframe connectors went in--as did plenty of metal-finishing and paint prep--before the DuPont Pearl White and silver colors went on.
Take a closer look at the...
Take a closer look at the front end under David Weber's Challenger. That's an AlterKtions' K-member and coilover front suspension system that replaced the stock torsion bars. And how about that fenderwell-filling Wheel Vintique Rallye wheel and Z-rated Nitto combo?
Some of you are saying, "Haven't we seen a new-generation Hemi in a Challenger before?" well, yes you have, but David Weber of Martinsville, Virginia, came up with another version. he had a lot of help, which included restoration and fabrication work by Henry County Rods (HCR) shop, who brought David's rusted 20th century E-Body into this century with new Goodmark quarters, plus custom-fabricated torque boxes, subframe connectors, and fuel tank, along with metal finishing and paint prep before the DuPont Pearl White-with-silver-R/T-stripes color scheme went on.
But there's more here than new metal and paint. David, through the luck of a typo on a Mopar Performance parts order form, scored a new 6.1L Hemi before they were "officially" offered for sale as crate engines. He improved on his lucky score by CNC porting and flowing the heads at his workplace, Arrington Manufacturing. He also had the Hemi's intake manifold extrude honed and port-matched to the heads, which means a much smoother flow through them (and likely more than the 425 hp the stock engine is rated at). There's a Keisler six-speed conversion, with a Tremec 650 six-speed manual gearbox and pistol-grip shifter behind the Hemi Magnum, and a Sure Grip-equipped 8-3/4-inch rearend running Moser axles out back.
The chassis is as new-tech as the engine, with OEM torsion bars, leaf spring, brakes, and recirculating-ball steering all taking a permanent vacation. An AlterKtions front K-member with coilovers went up front, modified by HCR for a lower stance, joined by a Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering box and a full-on Art Morrison four-link rear suspension.
Rallye wheels and performance rubber went on (next to big Wilwood disc brakes at each corner), but not the original 15-inch wheels and Goodyear Polyglas tires. Instead, Wheel Vintiques' updated Rallyes--17x8 inches in front and 18x9-1/2-inches in back--wear Z-rated, super-low-profile Nitto tires.
The interior's makeover kept the stock front bucket/rear bench seats, which were dressed in new Legendary covers by Rudy's Upholstery in Martinsville. Henry County Rods fabbed the billet gauge pod that sits under the Just Dashes dashpad, while a Sony AM/FM/CD stereo system more than updates the stock AM/FM/tape options of the past.
More than a few of you might be thinking of building something like David Weber's '70 Challenger R/T, combining the E-Body with today's powertrain technology--but doing it your way, maybe using a Callies' piston/rods/crank kit to boost the 6.1L Hemi Magnum's displacement to 7.0 liters (426 ci).
New-tech 6.1L Hemi looks right...
New-tech 6.1L Hemi looks right at home in this E-Body's engine bay. Street & Performance programmed the engine's computer, while Henry County Rods made sure the wiring was trouble-free (and installed cleanly).
Art Morrison four-link rear...
Art Morrison four-link rear suspension houses a Mopar 8-3/4-inch rearend while replacing stock springs. Mufflers are Dynomax units, at aft ends of 3-inch exhaust pipes.
CNC porting the aluminum twin-plug...
CNC porting the aluminum twin-plug heads and extrude honing the long-runner intake likely boosts this Hemi's horsepower peak past 425. Battery was relocated to the trunk for handling/underhood clean-up reasons.
If you like 21st century powertrain...
If you like 21st century powertrain and chassis tech inside a classic 20th century E-Body, you're our kind of Dodge Material!
Fast Facts:
'70 Dodge Challenger R/T coupe
David Weber, Martinsville, Virginia
Mopar Power
Engine:
6.1 liter (372 ci) Hemi, with stock twin-plug aluminum heads CNC-ported by owner at Arrington Manufacturing. Stock long-runner intake manifold extrude honed and port-matched by owner at Arrington Manufacturing. Stock Hemi exhaust manifolds, Dynomax mufflers, 3-inch exhaust pipe and chrome exhaust tips comprise the exhaust system.Transmission:
If four-speeds are good, six are better. Keisler's Tremec 650-based, six-speed conversion sits behind the Hemi, with a pistol-grip floor shifter.Rearend:
Mopar 8-3/4-inch, with Sure-Grip differential and Moser axles.Sure Grip
Suspension:
(Front) AlterKtions' coilovers replaced stock torsion bars; (Rear) Art Morrison four-link replaced stock rear leaf springs.Brakes:
Wilwood disc brakes all around.Steering:
Flaming River rack-and-pinion replaced OEM recirculating-ball system.Wheels and tires:
(Front) Wheel Vintiques' 17x8-inch Rallye wheels and Nitto Z-rated 255/45R17 tires; (Rear) 18x91/2-inch Wheel Vintiques Rallyes with 295/35R18 Z-rated Nittos.High Impact
Body:
Original '70 Dodge Challenger coupe Unitbody, with restoration/fabrication work done by Henry County Rods, Martinsville, Virginia. New Goodmark quarter-panels replaced rusted originals, while HCR fabrications included torque boxes, subframe connectors, and fuel tank.Paint:
DuPont Pearl White, with silver hood and rear bumblebee stripes. Bodywork, metal finishing, paint prep, and paint all done by Henry County Rods.
Interior:
Combination of restoration (original '70 R/T seats wearing Legendary seat covers, Just Dashes dashpad) with modern-day fabrication (billet gauge pod by Henry County Rods, AM/FM/CD sound system by Sony). Interior work done by Rudy's Upholstery, Martinsville, Virginia.