392 Hemi Swap In A 1971 Dodge Challenger! The Recipe, Chassis Modifications, And More!

Рет қаралды 12,458

Жыл бұрын

On today's episode, we take a look at the progress on Austin's 1971 Dodge Challenger Hemi swap project. The engine is in the car, so it's almost done, right? No, not so much. There are many steps to putting something like this together, but mocking the engine and transmission up on the QA1 K-frame and test fitting them in the car sure feels like a humongous victory. This is a build unlike any of us at Rocket Restorations have ever been involved with, and we're extremely excited to see the finished product. ‪@Red71392‬ ‪@rocketresto‬

Пікірлер: 68

@wiggyjones Жыл бұрын

The neutral safety switch didn't work in the 727 behind my 383 in my 69 Dodge Charger, which turned out to be a good thing when running from the Navy Shore Patrol at 32nd St Naval Base in San Diego in 1982. Allegedly.

@kenjohnson3641 Жыл бұрын

Thats a beast to put in there

@pablochavez9087 Жыл бұрын

Looks awesome man. Can't wait to see the rest of the build

@staceyrenner5418 Жыл бұрын

And there was much rejoicing.

@craigbowley6783 Жыл бұрын

And the Mopar gods looked down and smiled and were happy with what they saw🙏😌

@mikekutzner7416 Жыл бұрын

Hemi finally!

@Red71392 Жыл бұрын

Great video!! So excited to see the monster I’ve dreamed of become reality.

@gasser66 Жыл бұрын

I got a chuckle out of you saying "Clearing Clarence". That's my go to expression with the Mrs when I want to go see the markdown section at the local Tractor Supply "Let's go check the clearance Clarence". Digging this Challenger.

@r.hill.2369 Жыл бұрын

Gonna be a helluva machine.

@m1a1hm Жыл бұрын

Man that's going to be one BAD ASS Challenger when your done.

@4thdownclown Жыл бұрын

Holy shit...dude laid down some $$$ for this. Crazy cool to see though. Way beyond my means. Great learning tool my friend. Good stuff.

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

Agreed. It’s not the kind of build I could afford to do - so it’s an awesome opportunity to get my hands on nice stuff.

@crazymoparhobbygarage5940 Жыл бұрын

I Really like your show man

@EdFox-vr4ck Жыл бұрын

You are probably the hardest working man on KZfaq. I really appreciate how often you post a vid. Today is an especially good episode for me because I have a very similar car in the works. I’m doing a Vanishing Point Tribute, I guess you’d call it. I’m converting a 70 Challenger base model into a look alike VP Car with many of the same upgrades as you are doing with this car. 572 aluminum Hemi (carbonated) QA1 rack and pinion front, QA1 rear suspension, TTI, AC, Five speed (not the Six) because I don’t want to cut the cross member. I hope to put Wilwood Discs all around but I can’t seem to find a set that works with the 15” rallye wheels. What are you doing with this cars breaks and wheels? Keep doing what you are doing man. Many Thanks!

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

This car already has Wilwood front and rear so we’ll be leaving that stuff alone. I can’t remember what size the wheels are… maybe they’re 17s? Is it weird that I pay almost no attention to wheels and tire sizes? Haha. Sounds like an awesome build! I would love to have a white one some day. If you didn’t catch this detail, the red car was also an original 318 base model car. I don’t know if I’m the hardest working guy but I’m doing my best over here! Thanks for watching!

@dartdude4084 4 ай бұрын

Those Mopar cast valve covers are great. Austin just needs to use the correct gaskets and not suck

@DeadDodgeGarage 4 ай бұрын

What? The Mopar performance cast aluminum valve covers? The ones that aren’t cast with flat flanges? Lol. At least whoever is reproducing them nowadays is taking the time to mill the proud areas around the bolt holes, so there are now slight dips instead of major lumps. That’s a nice improvement. I don’t know if the situation on the Magnum version is similar, I have only installed about ten sets on big blocks and small blocks over the years. So, what is the correct gasket then?

@matthewb8229 Жыл бұрын

I have vintage air con in my 68 C10. It's the 2-88 version.

@beb38138 3 ай бұрын

@0:18 would be great if you could put a card pop up link to the video you are referencing too. Struggling to find it with my old AF self 😜🇺🇸👊

@DeadDodgeGarage 3 ай бұрын

Sorry about that. Lol. You can find it here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bqd9ntB6m6izgXU.htmlsi=uQITKocw3sg9yWex

@crazymoparhobbygarage5940 Жыл бұрын

I have a 67 440 big block belvedere and a 68 plymouth fury 440 big blocks rock

@moparman1970100 8 ай бұрын

I sold Austin the fbw pedal mount in January.

@DeadDodgeGarage 8 ай бұрын

Awesome! I had to modify it slightly for the aftermarket firewall connector, and I think I spaced the pedal out with washers to make a hair more room for the electrical connector around it. Obviously a goofy aftermarket electrical system wasn’t considered in the original design. Not a big deal to tweak it. Great part!

@moparman1970100 8 ай бұрын

@@DeadDodgeGarage It was originally made to clearance a factory fuse block.I had to modify mine as well when I decided to go with the American auto wire harness,and AAW fuse block was slightly different.I made the tooling to produce them,but never tried to market them.if you ever need another one,or know someone that does let me know

@tarikhammad4651 Жыл бұрын

I have that power steering pump on my swap , it leaked in three months , it’s the same pump on the llv’s you know how they like to leak new . I believe a Toyota echo pump can work on that hemi swap .

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

Toyota pump huh? That’s very interesting. I will let Austin know that. Appreciate the info.

@gilbertwashburn7095 Жыл бұрын

You said hover car Mopar did make a hover car for real I started a car show Once in 70s is a big monster full size Mopar yeah it was weird isn't a magazine too and never saw it again I wonder where the hell that went have a great day it's a nice day went over to my buddies and went for a ride and his recently purchased Rambler scrambler it's the dual quad Edition with the Doug thoroughly headers in the Thrush mufflers yeah it's scary it'll get the job done can't wait to go to the drag strip the guy he bought it from has Time Slips that said 10:34 with slicks that's in the quarter mile little 7-in slicks I think it's for real that thing's crazy could be one of the most badass Factory cars ever made for fun I'll keep watching your videos they're inspiring it reminds me when I was young and could do this stuff I built a lot of cars I can't do that anymore but I can enjoy this thanks

@scottscipione9547 11 ай бұрын

NICE VIDEOS !!!!! !. is the QA1 k frame specific for the gen 111 and the 70 challenger ? 2. do you need to use the QA! lower control arms or can you use stock lower control.? KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

@DeadDodgeGarage 11 ай бұрын

No, the QA1 uses standard B/E V8 engine mounts. They had to be modified to fit the Gen III, but you could use any old V8 and set of factory mounts there, no problem. No, this car has boxed original control arms. Works great!

@richjordan9375 Жыл бұрын

I know the car is a beauty, and the engine going in is awesome, and the techniques and products to make it work are interesting and useful... but I keep getting distracted by the body-side moldings... that I need for my car because mine are half destroyed and they're cool so I want to keep them but they're muy expensive when you can find them....

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

Don’t look at those 😅 frankly at this point I don’t think they really belong there. But not my call.

@richjordan9375 Жыл бұрын

@@DeadDodgeGarage My car was equipped as a "Secretary's car" according to my Dad. Nicer interior, A/C, 318 (glad it wasn't a /6) and Slapstik with console, but no real performance options. And it has side bling. I like the side bling, especially since it accentuates the curves of the rear quarter. And because so many people disdain it. I can't not look!

@SnowMonkVX Жыл бұрын

Oh Boy. I've got a '67 Charger barn find, and a 5.7 long block, and a job that pays good overtime, so I'm following this swap closely. May I ask how the Classic placement harness fits? QA1 K member looks snazzy. Did / does the T56 need a ton of floor tunnel destruction?

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

That sounds like a party. I’m assuming you mean the wiring for the Terminator? I haven’t gotten to mocking up wiring just yet. We’re going to put an extra hole in the firewall near the original heater pipe pass thru holes and mount the module behind the glovebox. But it looks nice. The T56 was a kit from SilverSport, and required removing the upper / floor section of the transmission / torsion bar crossmember. I believe the shifter hump is also larger than a factory piece, but I’m not entirely sure where it’s different. The bolt in transmission crossmember they supply is a very beefy piece intended to compensate for this.

@jamesadams4304 Жыл бұрын

Whaaaat ?? Two hemi videos in a row! When you test drive this 392 you be wanting a 392 in everything ! I rather drive my 21 392 6spd T/ A challenger over my 66 440 belvedere.

@JoeyGarcia Жыл бұрын

Nice video! Where did you get the clutch master cylinder mount, and would that work for A-Bodies?

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

It’s a kit specific to the E body, and I’m actually not sure who he bought it from. The clutch master is Wilwood brand, so the adapter may or may not be.

@JoeyGarcia Жыл бұрын

@@DeadDodgeGarage oh, I see! Looked pretty clean. Thanks for getting back to me!

@jumpinjojo Жыл бұрын

Damn, that’s a lot of work. Not the route I would take, but you have to do what the customer wants.

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

Honestly, it’s been a lot less involved than I anticipated so far. The chassis stiffening obviously added quite a bit of time, but we basically went from Magnum engine installed to Hemi engine mocked up in the car in two days. If not for the braces and the engine compartment going for paint, the process could go a lot faster. I don’t think I would have gone this way either, but I can already tell that the car is going to do amazing things. I like it.

@jumpinjojo Жыл бұрын

@@DeadDodgeGarage Love your channel and commentary! Call me a purist, I guess. I have a 72 Dart with a 360/727 in it. It had a 440, but it was overkill. I also have a 69 Dart, factory 340/4 speed. From an ease of drivability and reliability standpoint, I can see where modern fuel injection and computer management makes it a turn the key and go car for the new owner. However, I like the raw and fickle nature of the old stuff. Poor handling and strange noises!! Lol!! Hope your day is a good one!! Thank you for the response.

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

@@jumpinjojo I'm right there with you! Haha. I also understand the draw of the modern stuff - and I have dabbled in it a bit for myself. I think there is a place for it. But I much prefer the simplicity, the character, the noises and the smells of carburetors and classic setups. My happy place is a small block A body. You may have seen my '71 340 4 speed Demon. I have been messing with it a bit this week. Absolutely love that car. I hope to have a '70 Swinger in that configuration to match it some day...

@jumpinjojo Жыл бұрын

@@DeadDodgeGarage I concur! Although I’ve owned a few B bodies in the past, my comfort zone is A bodies. The closest I ever came to “modern technology” was my 92 D150 short bed with a throttle body 360. Lol!! Yes indeed! A 340/4 speed combo is the best ever! By the way, Nick from Nick’s Garage here on KZfaq was dyno testing a relatively stock rebuild 340 last week. Got 350 HP and torque somewhere in the 400’s. Stock heads, intake and manifolds. Bored 30 over with a mild cam. 750 Edel-Junk carburetor. 😂

@HowardJrFord Жыл бұрын

@@jumpinjojo they make intakes to accept a carb for the gen3 Hemi , and even a timing cover that allows use of a distributor .

@scottscipione9547 11 ай бұрын

is it necessary to hydrolic clutch ? can i use a manual peddle Z bar location the same?/

@DeadDodgeGarage 11 ай бұрын

If you are using a four speed behind the Hemi, absolutely! These more modern 5 and 6 speeds are essentially all hydraulic.

@rondingo2347 11 ай бұрын

Take my money!!!!! What would you charge to do a similar spec motor/suspension build for my 72'?

@DeadDodgeGarage 11 ай бұрын

We (Rocket Restorations) are going to put together a basic package for a similar build. There will be a wrap up video for this project in which I discuss what this one cost, and different options that might bring that down a bit. It’ll probably be a few weeks! It certainly isn’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but it might be more reasonable than one might expect.

@rondingo2347 11 ай бұрын

i'd love to hear more when available. I have a good base car for such a project.@@DeadDodgeGarage

@wiggyjones Жыл бұрын

Is 'clearance' code for 'beat it with a hammer'?? 😂

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

Maaaaaybe… ok there’s also a grinder involved 😅

@Mopardude Жыл бұрын

Curious if that magnum had an airgap intake on it. I had the same leaking problem with those valve covers on an LA and right before I pulled the engine out I figured out it was the airgap intake causing the issue.

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

Ahhhh, like the one hit the other? That would make sense. I’ll have to double check.

@Mopardude Жыл бұрын

@@DeadDodgeGarage Yes, in my case it was very subtle. It seemed like the valve covers were seated flat, running the bolts in and out a few times I realized there was no compression of the valve cover gasket going on. I don't recall if somone had seen my build on FABO or youtube and pmed me asking how I was running that combo and it not leaking oil all over. I was flabbergasted because I was totally leaking oil and has been pulling my hair out for years trying to figure out the issue.

@danberg1018 Жыл бұрын

Think it'll fit in my car?

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

Why not?!

@gilbertwashburn7095 Жыл бұрын

I like the modern Hemi intake ports yeah they stole that from Buick Buick nailheads were like that just saying

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

Excellent

@HowardJrFord Жыл бұрын

The Hemi ports are a crossflow design . It's been so long since I've seen a nailhead that I can't recall the port design .

@tonyb3864 Жыл бұрын

Totally Tubular Man. Totally. And the .0001" tolerance on the braces has to be the metal thickness. No way can they hold anything better than .030" on the formed dimensions.

@brianandglendaharkin9457 Жыл бұрын

I’d rather old school MOPAR over all this anyday sorry but true . 🇦🇺

@DeadDodgeGarage Жыл бұрын

I’m right there with you. This is going to be something great - but it’s not my thing.

@generalrommel5666 8 ай бұрын

Old hemi is still better

@DeadDodgeGarage 8 ай бұрын

“Better” is such a subjective appraisal. The 426 is a thing of beauty and wonderment. It’s also huge, archaic, pointlessly expensive, and apparently somewhat delicate… The modern 392 makes more horsepower without lifting a finger, as well as not requiring constant upkeep, while delivering something resembling fuel economy - a term the 426 is not familiar with. I actually made a different video comparing this car (before it was done) to an original Hemi Challenger.

@generalrommel5666 8 ай бұрын

@@DeadDodgeGarage better as of the sound, reliability and as u said, it’s unchallenged beauty.