Upgrading your Charger R/T to full R/T status?

[Magnumcharger]

So I'm wondering, who has upgraded their Chargers to something more - shall we say - "interesting"?

My 1968 Charger R/T was originally a 440 with automatic transmission. It had a 8.75 differential with non-sure grip 3:23 gears.

Lets just say, the first time I drove it I was underwhelmed.

The first order of business was swapping in a Dana 60 with 4:10 gears and a full-on sure grip. It really brought the Charger to life! But also served to demonstrate the limited breathing potential of the stock four-barrel carb and iron intake.
I installed an 850 Holley double pumper carb for awhile...that helped immeasurably!

Next up was a complete 69.5 440 Six-Barrel intake and carb set-up I saved from my old Road Runner (which also "donated" the Dana).
Wow! It was a completely new beast! So much power!!!

That was a while ago...lately the Charger has been getting it's upgrades in boxes, just waiting to be installed after it comes down off it's rotisserie.
A freshly rebuilt 18 spline A833 four speed and factory disc brakes are the latest upgrades. The Six Barrel is long gone, but not forgotten.
I plan on installing a cross-ram setup for the 440 to take it to a new level.
I've also changed the 22" radiator over to a 26", and replace the rad support. Hemi-style torque boxes were added as well as subframe connectors. I also added a Tic-Toc-Tach.

So, what have I done? It's still mostly "stock" parts, same as what could have been ordered back in '68, aside from the 4:10 gears.

A Charger R/T with these optional items would be considerably more interesting than my previously Milquetoast version.
Your thoughts?

[kokxville]

Nice thought 
I have a XS 69 R/T with 4 speed and Dana 4.10.But it has the non powered drumbrakes all around.I'm upgrading them to powered discbrakes 
Then i have the stock 440 4bbl,but with the torker intake from edelbrock,headers and a mild cam.
I have the torqueboxes,frameconnectors etc. from us cartool,and have a rear swaybar.
I'm building a massive stroker 440 wich will when it's done be in the charger 
So yes,when it's done i have build it my way and it will handle much better than stock,and for me a "full" R/T status 

[1969chargerrtse]

My route was to take all the non stock or incorrect stuff off like the 4:10 gears and make it like original right down to the 3:23 gears, Carter carb, stock exhaust etc .....  I like to drive it like it was original and 1969 again. 

[taxspeaker]

We replaced a worn out 383 with a crate hemi, TCI tranny & torque converter and Mancini posi 8 3/4 rear end. The hemi had problems from day one and we ended up tearing it down, replacing all the gaskets and putting it back together-it runs fine now, just always hot. The rear end has been no problems. The tranny and torque converter has been total crap since we put it in. Torque converter ( a 9" 2500 RPM stall) lasted about 500 miles and we were never particularly hard on it. We replaced it with a stock Mopar converter but the lower stall speed has been a horrible mistake-the power just doesn't get to the wheels as well at those low RPM's. We are looking for a new aftermarket hi-po converter other than TCI now. The transmission leaked from day one and at 750 miles I pulled it and rebuilt it. We found the front pump bad, rear seal leaking and issues with the bands-garbage box. It still leaks a little now even after the rebuild-appears the case is actually bad!

Would I go with a hemi again? Yes, but not a Mopar crate-probably one from Indy Racing. What about tranny? I think the next step is convert it to a 4-speed-I just have so much money in it now I don't want to do it again. We did redo the entire suspension in new Hemi parts and it handles like a dream. Happy to answer any conversion questions cause we probably had all the problems you can imagine. This car is a driver but we restored everything-electrical, interior, brakes, etc and added a fantastic rare A4 paint job.

[Bob T]

My route was to take all the non stock or incorrect stuff off like the 4:10 gears and make it like original right down to the 3:23 gears, Carter carb, stock exhaust etc .....  I like to drive it like it was original and 1969 again.  

I'm about 6 long weeks away from getting my triple black 68 R/T auto with 3.23 sure grip shipped here and plan on driving it like its 1968 again and maybe chasing some green mustangs but the future might well hold a 4 speed and uprated cam in it    .

[472 R/T SE]

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[tan top]

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     nice

[vancamp]

been thinking about pulling all the numbers stuff out my R/T and putting in a 4.10 dana i have out of a 69.5 and a warmed over stroked 440 and a 4 speed just dont know if i can bring myself to cut on it for the 4 speed???

[1970Moparmann]

I went down this road with my 68 383 4 speed with air.   

The good news is the car drives like a dream.   Strange Dana, Keisler 5 Speed, 500 Stroker, Hydroboost, upgraded disc brakes, suspension, basically the whole thing was upgraded. 

Bad news, I would never do this to another big block car.  UNLESS, I had intentions of putting it back to original in the future.   Each to their own, but as much as I did this to mine, I would never do it again unless it was a originally a 318 car.  I'm thinking of turning it back to "original" all ready and it's only been a year with the above upgrades. 

[johnnycharger]

Mine is mostly stock, but I did put a Holley 750 and do 410s in the rear. I have a shift kit in the 727 which is awesome as it reminds you that it is a muscle car. I would like to add a HI stall torque converter, when budget allows.
note on the 410s, it makes it awesome from stop light to stop light, but you lose you 150mph on the freeway. 

[Nacho-RT74]

If my 74 is labeled R/T ( by Venezuelan market ) and I'm stroking the 400 engine with 3.75 stroke... so, getting same or more power than a regular 68/71 440... do I get a R/T in a full status ? LOL

[Magnumcharger]

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Thats what I call the ultimate upgrade!! I'm planning on heading down that road myself, hence the torque boxes and subframe connectors.