Best MOPARS to make pro-touring resto-mods?

[joflaig]

It's more the suspension and handling I have no clue about. I don't know how much custom stuff is out there for this platform. It could get expensive to build custom systems.

What about XV Level II front and rear suspention / brakes?

Yeah of course, but is adaptable to a '71 RR/GTX/Sat.? I don't know. Does Alterkation even make anything for that? I know, I'm not on the best board for advice here. The guys on moparts have offered some help too.

[suntech]

Yeah of course, but is adaptable to a '71 RR/GTX/Sat.?

No need to change car............ The one you have will be great with the drivetrain you mentioned, and that suspention!!

[joflaig]

Yeah of course, but is adaptable to a '71 RR/GTX/Sat.?

No need to change car............ The one you have will be great with the drivetrain you mentioned, and that suspention!!

Not clear, are you saying that it could work on a '71 RR/GTX/Sat.?

[suntech]

Not sure about that, but it will work on your Charger

[Mike DC]

To the thread's original question --

I don't think it even matters about the Mopar, half as much as what you're willing & able to do to it. 

It's like NASCARs.  The farther advanced they got, the less it mattered which original factory car it was supposed to be.  (At least other than the aero issues.)  Because by the time the smoke cleared at the fabrication shop, it was gonna be the same tube-framed race car regardless of which outer skin was on it.


Just look at the current Pro-Touring world.  Fords, Chevys, Dodges, Plymouths, Pontiacs . . .  all wearing the same C5 cast aluminum control arms and aftermarket Ford 9" rear axles.  (Or with IRS cars it's all the same Corvette-based Dana 44 differential mounted in the chassis.)   

Even with mere resto-modded street cruiser Mopars, we're already seeing the beginnings of a move towards GM-based 4L60E auto tranny retrofits.  This setup is making as much sense as any amount of monkeying with Torqueflites.

----------------------------------


Wanna have fun with a street car? 

I say forget about chasing a C5 or C6's specific stopwatch numbers . . . what's actually the most FUN TO DRIVE way to build a sports car?  It's not always the same question as "What's the fastest way?" 



Example:  Is 5 or 6 gears really more fun to drive than a tranny with only 4 gears (but the same ultimate spread from 1st-to-4th as the 5 or 6 speeds)? 

I question the assumption than more gears always makes it more fun.  If the motor has enough wide & flat powerband not to get bogged down between shifts (which is a big IF, because it generally means some ultimate power compromises to do this), then I'll take the 3-4 gears over 5-6 gears. 

[joflaig]

 

[suntech]

I say forget about chasing a C5 or C6's specific stopwatch numbers . . . what's actually the most FUN TO DRIVE

And i think a badass pro touring Charger will be a lot of fun to drive!!! 

[CFMopar]

Go the route of the green brick like ron said

http://www.moparaction.com/Tech/archive/one-lap-pix.html

The car kicked ass in the 2002 one lap of America race. And they kept it simple...

Big breaks
SS springs de arched
Beefy torsion bars
Sub frame connectors
efi stroked small block

The car got 2nd place in its class
http://www.onelapofamerica.com/history/2002/results/showResults.shtml?y=2002&res=VINTAMER

And also tied a normal viper for 14th overall out of 87 cars.
http://www.onelapofamerica.com/history/2002/results/showResults.shtml?y=2002&res=OVL_CUM

The xv stuff is nice. But IMO its to much. The cost vs what you gain ratio isn't worth it. I'd use some of their stiffening stuff but that's it. When I do my 71 up its gonna be the green brick route.

If you're serious get this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Mopar-Performance-Parts-Chassis/dp/B000BTHQXO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229130275&sr=8-3
It's a gold mine of info.

[joflaig]

Go the route of the green brick like ron said

http://www.moparaction.com/Tech/archive/one-lap-pix.html

The car kicked ass in the 2002 one lap of America race. And they kept it simple...

Big breaks
SS springs de arched
Beefy torsion bars
Sub frame connectors
efi stroked small block

The car got 2nd place in its class
http://www.onelapofamerica.com/history/2002/results/showResults.shtml?y=2002&res=VINTAMER

And also tied a normal viper for 14th overall out of 87 cars.
http://www.onelapofamerica.com/history/2002/results/showResults.shtml?y=2002&res=OVL_CUM

The xv stuff is nice. But IMO its to much. The cost vs what you gain ratio isn't worth it. I'd use some of their stiffening stuff but that's it. When I do my 71 up its gonna be the green brick route.

If you're serious get this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Mopar-Performance-Parts-Chassis/dp/B000BTHQXO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229130275&sr=8-3
It's a gold mine of info.

That' good advice. I've been hitting up the folks on moparts and they are begging me to go with a Sport Satellitte and not wreck an RR or GTX.  Sats are so affordable!

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=4875634&page=0&vc=1

[CFMopar]

I'd do that to if I were you. Why spend more if you're gonna chop it up....  Save your money and get the satalite... You can clone a road runner anyways. Plus the money you save = more go fast parts

[joflaig]

I'd do that to if I were you. Why spend more if you're gonna chop it up....  Save your money and get the satalite... You can clone a road runner anyways. Plus the money you save = more go fast parts

Yeah, this is not going to end up cheap the way I envision it, but unlike the last car I want to start off on the right foot at the get go this time and learn how to do something for myself along the way too. Maybe this summer I will make the effort of finding a clean body.

[Steve P.]

A few years ago I saw what I must consider, the best looking 71' GTX in the World. This car was so pretty it made me want to cry. It was mirror black and everything shaved except the chromed GTX badges. All the bright work was mirror black as well.. The windows were tinted limo black. The exhaust was even black.   Is sat pro-tour low and had the meanest looks I have ever seen.... 

Whenever anyone says PRO-TOUR I think of that nasty monster....

[CFMopar]

I'd do that to if I were you. Why spend more if you're gonna chop it up....  Save your money and get the satalite... You can clone a road runner anyways. Plus the money you save = more go fast parts

Yeah, this is not going to end up cheap the way I envision it, but unlike the last car I want to start off on the right foot at the get go this time and learn how to do something for myself along the way too. Maybe this summer I will make the effort of finding a clean body.

Thats the first step!

[NorwayCharger]

This one is nice http://www.lateral-g.net/members/paglialunga/

And http://www.lateral-g.net/members/autodynamics/

And http://www.lateral-g.net/members/chiappetti/

And if you realy want to go all the way http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36864 

[WingCharger]

The Daytona Clone I build one day is going to be a pro-touring car. I have found the pro touring cars the coolest of all of them!! And, because I only plan on owning one MoPar (The Daytona) I can dump all my money into it...that is if I ever get a freaki'n Charger.


5.7L Hemi Power
T56 Viper 6-Speed
Alter-k-ation Front Suspension
Big Brakes
Big Tires
etc..

[aifilaw]

A lot of people are talking about making whatever you want into whatever you want.
Purely from a weight and balance ratio, it sounds to me like you want to select a car that you don't have to completely re-engineer to attempt a near 50/50/50/50 ratio on, and can stand to have the handling mods done to the front and rear.
sways, coils, front LCA's, rear LCA's, link the frame, et cetera, maybe even independent rear.
The car that comes the closest is the cuda or challenger. The duster is far too disproportional to start with, the charger is heavier or it would make a good candidate. With a lot of fiberglass adjustment, slight engine movement and mods done to a cuda or challenger I think you will get the closest out of all of them to your goal.

[joflaig]

This one is nice http://www.lateral-g.net/members/paglialunga/

And http://www.lateral-g.net/members/autodynamics/

And http://www.lateral-g.net/members/chiappetti/

And if you realy want to go all the way http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36864 

That RR is great and really helps, I'm saving all the info and pics. Thanks!

This Challenger, half way down the page, would be if money were no object, good god:

http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?s=92e0b58c46ac596e37d3c2eacf7ab4a4&t=36864&page=11

[joflaig]

A lot of people are talking about making whatever you want into whatever you want.
Purely from a weight and balance ratio, it sounds to me like you want to select a car that you don't have to completely re-engineer to attempt a near 50/50/50/50 ratio on, and can stand to have the handling mods done to the front and rear.
sways, coils, front LCA's, rear LCA's, link the frame, et cetera, maybe even independent rear.
The car that comes the closest is the cuda or challenger. The duster is far too disproportional to start with, the charger is heavier or it would make a good candidate. With a lot of fiberglass adjustment, slight engine movement and mods done to a cuda or challenger I think you will get the closest out of all of them to your goal.

You have a good point, which is why these cars were used the SCCA Trans Am series, I suppose.

[WingCharger]

You know what would be really cool and extremely unique?
A PRO-TOURING F BODY!!!

They make alterkations for them, and their rear suspension isnt that far off from the classics!! Think, it would be the only one of its kind!!

[joflaig]

You know what would be really cool and extremely unique?
A PRO-TOURING F BODY!!!

They make alterkations for them, and their rear suspension isnt that far off from the classics!! Think, it would be the only one of its kind!!

You mean these Things? 

[joflaig]

BTW XV's Level II front AND rear suspension packages are offered for '71 RR/GTX/Satellites so I guess I got that question answered! 

[WingCharger]

BTW XV's Level II front AND rear suspension packages are offered for '71 RR/GTX/Satellites so I guess I got that question answered! 

That will be really cool!!!

[Finn]

I like the RR idea, challenger and chargers have been done before but Ive yet to see a pro-touring RR.

[joflaig]

I like the RR idea, challenger and chargers have been done before but Ive yet to see a pro-touring RR.

They have been done, but I bet not too many and not many in the countless iterations we've seen of challengers, for instance.

Look at this:

http://www.lateral-g.net/members/paglialunga/

Or the pic.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Tell us, in what specific measures will we never be able to match a car like a zr1 on OVERALL perfomance in an old muscle car platform? Weight would seem to be obvious. Plus I can't see us replicating the sophisticated computer traction and suspension controls, even without cost being an object. But I think with modern tech applied, even to an old car you can get a lot closer than before. Just ask XV, right?



Well - if money was not an object then the traction control and ABS...   things like that CAN be done - you just wouldnt want to see the bill for them...    Get a new Magnum platform and graft on a body shell onto it...      it can be done...   I'm assisting a friend of mine doing his right now   

It will utilize EVERY stock system including ABS, traction, cruise, engine, trans...    everything...