Long time lurker finally posting!

[Bill Howell]

Hi everyone, I have been a lurker here for some time, mostly looking for parts, etc. I have been building a 72 SE for sometime now. I bought the car in Phoenix,Az. three years ago while at Barrett Jackson out of the newspaper. I know some will hate me because of the style build but I thought I would share it anyway. Here is a rendering of the car that will be really close to the build.




You are welcomed to look through my photobucket album and see other build shots of the car. Here is a short list of mods,
6.4 Hemi crate motor 540 hp, TKO 600, Mosler Dana 60, Vintage Air, 14" wilwood Brakes (hence the big rims), Forgeline wheels, XV motorsports stage II frontend, XV motorsports three link rear. This has been a fun car to build because it had absolutely no rust anywhere. The interior will be basically stock, with 02 Trans Am seats without headrests. My plan is combine the beauty of the original 72 with all the modern upgrades available today. Hot Rod magazine will shot the car at my annual RTTHs event here in Pigeon Forge in September, then three of us plan to drive our cars to SEMA , be in the show, then participate in the Optima Battery Challenge the day after. Then drive the cars back home. Hot Rod is going to do a story on the Ultimate Roadtrip we hope.
Anyway, after years of lurking I though I would share. I have very tough skin, so I can take negative comments, let me know what you think. Before you ask though, the huge rims are necessary for the brake setup. I do have another set of wheels that are 18" coming that will have either Toyo 888s or BFG R1s for the autocrossing and road racing this car will be doing.

[ChargerSG]

Welcome
What is the link to your photobucket? Personally i dont like the Cuda thing on a Charger...

[MoparManJim]

Welcome
What is the link to your photobucket? Personally i dont like the Cuda thing on a Charger...

I personaly don't like the looks of a cool car with rims n tires like that. Why not just put wagon wheels on. Everything else soubnds cool though.

[Bill Howell]

http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg201/Billybigblock/?start=120

there are other pictures scattered thru out the album but that is a good page.
I understand about the billboards. You either like them or hate them. I think that those long quarters need something. I am doing the first attempt in vinyl so I can remove if I don't like it. Who knows, I may repaint the hood and be 100% original outside too before it is all said and done.

[jaak]

Welcome to the site. Awesome rendering  , can't wait to see the real deal, I wouldn't change a thing.

Jason

[Bill Howell]

Welcome
What is the link to your photobucket? Personally i dont like the Cuda thing on a Charger...

I personaly don't like the looks of a cool car with rims n tires like that. Why not just put wagon wheels on. Everything else soubnds cool though.

I absolutely understand you. The problem is this. This car will see lots of track days and autocrossing. With that in mind I put the best brakes on it I could buy. The smallest wheel I can use is a 18". Here is the wheel I have for race days  http://www.forgeline.com/products/competition-series/ev1r.html?seo_category_name=competition-series&seo_product_name=ev1r&large=1&asdf=2
It will have Toyo888s on it 295s up front and 305s out back. These will have more sidewall than the street tires.
I still have the original Rally wheels. It is funny to sit them up by the current rotors. The rotors are as big as the rims.

[jaak]

Awesome!

Jason

[BB1]

Very nice 

[Silver R/T]

I love it, very nice touring Charger. Don't be let down by haters, this car is perfect in every aspect and functionality.

[Bill Howell]

I love it, very nice touring Charger. Don't be let down by haters, this car is perfect in every aspect and functionality.

Thanks, and don't worry, I don't worry about haters. Google "Bill Howell 1965 GTO" and you will see I have Pontiac haters too, but probably the most famous 65 GTO in the world...lol
I am really into the Protouring scene, and push the envelope that these cars are to be driven. Trailers are for boats. The trip across the country and story that will be in Hot Rod about it should dispell any doubters. My GTO is one of the poster children for driven cars, and this one is the next step, driven and raced.

[Blakcharger440]

Looks awesome to me! I like the paint scheme and the wheels! Being able to see different build styles is always cool and interesting. I am also finishing up on my protouring 70 Charger RT. 

[69bronzeT5]

Very cool! I'm one of those guys who loves pro-tourers

[Neal_J]

Look greats.  Cool color.

[dodgecharger-fan]

I think that looks great and I usually go with "more sidewall" crowd.

I wasn't too sure about it in the rendering, but it works just fine on the car. IMHO. 

The billboards work, too, I think. I wouldn't have though it, but it does look good in the rendering. Smart idea going with vinyl at first. Easy to undo if you change your mind.

[TylerCharger69]

It looks pretty good to me....Very original design.  I think the Cuda "Hemi" graphics will look really good on there.  That is definately an original scheme.  I remember on this forum, there is a member who has the '69 RT stripe, and he incorporated the "pentastar" in the stripe itself instead of the traditional "R/T"  It's a blue Charger with a white stripe kit.  I thought that was very original.   I actually thought it was factory until I asked about it.  Anyway...Everyone has their own preferences.  You build it how you want to build it.  I think the renderings look fantastic!!!  Can't wait to see the finished product!!....Ace

[mikesbbody]

Welcom Bill!  nice to se a different looking third Gen 

[Bill Howell]

Thanks for the welcomes guys. There are renderings of the billboard saying 392 instead of hemi, since the 6.4 is a 392. However, I think Hemi is the correct word. Oh the tall sidewalls issue, it is really hard to find a decent sidewall in the 19 and 20 inch sizes, but the 18" have more options so hopefully that will look better. On the one side shot of the car, the tire appears to be back from center, that is in the picture, it is really close in person. The good news for purists is this, this car was almost completely restored when I bought it, lots of new pieces that I will not be using. 400 engine had just been reworked as had the tranny. I will have a real deal for someone, I hope to sell everything to one or two people, once I get the car finished.

[mikesbbody]

Sorry Bill, I somehow missed the side pic Jaak (jason) posted  it looks awesome 

[devilgear]

Great car...Love it.I am working on something very similar but in green...Can't wait to see the final product.

[b5blue]

We need more photos Bill.....

[Bill Howell]

Well, today was that day you always look forward to when you have a project going. After almost three years, the car finally moved under its own power, and very well I might add. We still have several small things to finish up and still waiting on some parts, but for the most part we are through. On to the alignment shop then graphic shop for billboards, but it should be standing tall at the Shades of the Past show next weekend and really for the Hot Rod shoot the following Wednesday. After that I would love to put several hundred miles on it before we strike out to Vegas on October 30 for SEMA and the Optima Challenge. More later, and yes, I know the hood is dirty, it had been in storage for a while, and we opped to snap these two pictures and put 10 or so miles on it before it got dark, rather than wash it.

[b5blue]

YA BUILT A FINE BEASTIE THERE BILL!!! GOOD LUCK ON THE ROAD!

[gonzoe]

holy shit !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hemidog]

Nice! more pics!

[DavidSL]

Wow, that IS nice! 

I've never really paid much attention to the third gen Chargers before - but I gotta say that's one good lookin' ride! 

Are the 3rd gen different in size, or is it just me? It looks a lot lower than the '68-'70 models?

I agree with the sound clip - best of all a video of that beast! 

[noff57]

Nice.... that's the look I am going for on my 73... It reminds me of the car that was beside the pro fit booth at mopar nationals.

Also need more pics.   

[Matthan]

Nice car and Welcome!!!!!!

[bigred68]

OMG. Just AWSOME, I'm sorry guy's, I'm a 2nd gen guy at heart but this Charger is AMAZING!! WOW. Please Mr. Howell, keep the pictures coming!!!

[Brock Samson]

pretty tasty, i actually like the wheel tire combo,.. hows she handle?.. 

[Charger440RDN]

DAMN!!! That car is perfect! The Wheels look just right on it!! 

[mopar73]

Nice car.  I like the photobucket album you posted   Mopars at the Mansion must have been a blast!!!

[Bill Howell]

Oops, sorry about the mopars at the mansion pictures...haha, not really.

We got the car aligned today and the vintage air charged. The car is unreal as far as handling goes and plenty of power. 25mph in second gear, mash the GO pedel and things get busy! You have to be really careful or you will A) go up in smoke B) be on the rev limiter C) be sideways. I can not wait to mount the 18s w/888s on them to see if I can hook up some. The car handles like it is on rails, I have gotten braver today and put it into some curves pretty deep, no issues at all.

[Bill Howell]

Wow, that IS nice! 

I've never really paid much attention to the third gen Chargers before - but I gotta say that's one good lookin' ride! 

Are the 3rd gen different in size, or is it just me? It looks a lot lower than the '68-'70 models?

I agree with the sound clip - best of all a video of that beast! 

I am truely no expert. I think the third gen cars a a bit wider than the second gen and may actually be shorter? I can tell you this, the vinyl top makes the car look shorter, just an eye thing.

I will be autocrossing this car in about two weeks. We will get some video of that and youtube it.

[Mefirst]

  Bill

Thats a good looking ride

/Tom

[Spike]

In my Mr Burns voice- Exceeeellent 

[Bill Howell]

How about a shot with the race wheels and tires on it?


It is amazing how much wheels changes the looks of a car.

[Nitrox]

I liked the rendering. Nice color combination. Hows that bigass 'cuda decal coming along? Im really curious to see how that looks on a 3rd gen.

[Bill Howell]

Bigass decal will be on next week, just in time for the Hot Rod Magazine shoot next Thursday.
I will be sure they get a shot of these subframe connectors when they are here.....hehe

[69bronzeT5]

 

Simply stunning!

[Nitrox]

Why didnt you go with the 8.75 rearend? Hows the trackbar response? Worthwhile?

[Bill Howell]

Why didnt you go with the 8.75 rearend? Hows the trackbar response? Worthwhile?

I understand most people say the 8.75 would be enough, but to me it just had to have a DANA. Overkill probably, but I will not worry about hurting it.
Panhard bar certainly keeps things in place. We are still adjusting to find the sweet spot. With the 888s the car hooks great with the three link setup. I am looking forward to see how well it does on the 1320.

[Nitrox]

Where did you purchase your rear suspension system for the Dodge?

[Bill Howell]

XV motorsports

[Bill Howell]

I have had a couple pms about the rear end. here are several shots of it. XV sent us their kit, but we beefed up some of it. I know me, and I have been known to abuse things. The last thing I wanted was to rip out the top mount they sent and deep six the rearend and rear body, hence the extra gussets, etc.





It is tough to get the right angle to show the real workmanship here. The best part of it all was the swaybar, which you can not even see. It runs thru the tube mounted up high and mounts on each side, almost completely stealth but works fine. You can see the bar tube in the third picture and if you look to the left right at the tire, you see the black arm and bracket on the rearend. This was before we installed the heim joints to complete the swaybar hookup.

[gonzoe]

cmon man more pics 

[Bill Howell]

Ok, got the car out for it's first bit weekend guys. Not only did I hold the annual RTTHs event here in Pigeon Forge, that included a cruise on the tail of the dragon and a autocross, but also Hot Rod Magazine shot the car for a feature, more on that later.
Here is a couple shots of the car in action


A couple photo shoot picts


This one was after a successful burnout, he was just late with the picture.


You can look thru all these to see what the event was all about. We got rained out for drag racing on Sunday, but still a great time.
http://s778.photobucket.com/albums/y...wire454/RTTH5/

[gonzoe]

thats a beautiful thing,  cant wait for the article .. that third gen would give any 2nd gen a run for its money in the badass looks category