V10 Charger (Update 5/25/21)

[GT]

None really - haven't touched the car since the arm incident.   

Sold off my 68 Imperial, next is the 77 GranFury.  Getting down to a single project... focus focus focus 

I just cleared out garage and on my way to pick up more shelving today.  Should have her moved back into the garage within a month so i can get back at it over the winter.

Winter is a good time to work on cars in Texas - easier to deal with 30-40 degrees than 105.

[rapidtransitrick]

hey thanks for the reply. gotta get organized, i understand. i'll be looking forward to your progress

[ChargerSG]

Looking forward to see your progress, best of luck with everything GT

[PocketThunder]

40º in the winter is much nicer than -20º......   or -30ºF...........or -40ºF......      

[472 R/T SE]

Sorry about your misfortune.  By telling people about it you've just prevented a bunch of similar accidents from happening.

I know all my buddies say they think about me while on the sand dunes & that the thought of me has made them safer riders'.  So with that I always make sure to stop & visit with anyone that has a trailer load of ATVs' with paddle tires & show them what could happen.

[aceofbones]

this is a great build!! any progress??

[GT]

Progress?  What's that?  Lol

Actually, I just finished getting the garage back into order.  Now I have to see where I left off and get back on it.  I need to finish the Drive shaft tunnel...

[JB400]

Are we moving forward on this build again, or is it still sitting idle?

[hollywood1336]

I'm in the throws of putting a Gen 2 viper motor in a 68 Charger, trying to get all my ducks in a row before I start engine installation. You mentioned a universal AEM (1900-U) earlier on in the post. Is this a replacement ECM over the stock unit, Can you explain please. It sounded pricey but might be worth it if it simplifies things over the stock system. I also have the 39 Plymouth on the go in the picture, 1957 392 Hemi under the hood. I have a very understanding wife.

[Supercharged Riot]

What a great thread!! 

[GT]

Hollywood - The last time I looked at engine controllers (~3 years ago), there were few options for a v-10 engine management system.  Most were extremely pricey and intended for racing ($5-$12K).  The AEM was a universal unit capable of handing a v10 engine - I'd definately contact them to validate it.  Anyway, it is a replacement to control just the engine (firing/fuel mgmt/etc.).  It looked like a good option to me but you'd definately need to research it and know how to tune/etc.  If you wanted to use any components of the donor car (such as guages, security, body computer, etc.) then that would be difficult to integrate in with AEM...

I chose to reprogram the stock unit because i had the harness, connectors, everything works, it was cheap and tuneable by folks that know what they are doing.

If you dont have the harness or the computer to begin with - it might be a good way to go with the AEM.

I think i fould like 3 companies that sold controllers for this application... AEM, Motek, and one I dont recall.

I spoke to the MSD folks and they just looked at me like I had an arm growing out of my forehead (we dont do v10's... not enough demand... etc.).


Hope that helps.

Oh yeah - update time    I finally worked up the nerve to start working on the rear floor pan.  I finished tacking it in place and hope to finish welding it this weekend.    I just read this entire thread to get re-motivated... 

[Darkman]

 

[GT]

Wow, near a year since my last update...

After many failed starts, staring at the rear floor plan and thinking about the arm incident, I glanced over and saw the solution to my problem... my sawzall... without hesitation i hacked out the old part of the tunnel and replaced it... a hours work:

[GT]

I'll clean up the welds later.  While i was at it, i went ahead and finished the rear wheel-wells... they had that annoying "pudge" in them that would rub my 335's if lowered...  A real PITA project... but i completed both sides.

[GT]

Then I moved onto the firewall - since most of the holes werent needed... But, it has been so long since I worked on it I couldnt remember all the brackets/holes/etc. so I had to mock up the pedals and steering column again.  That is when i noticed (perhaps i knew but forgot) that the new master cylinder was a 2-bolt vs 4-bolt design and wouldnt bolt up.  I found the adaptor, but I'll need to figure out the rod deal... i've been told i can remove the rod from the old and insert it into the wilwood master... (anyone know for sure?)

[GT]

Now the fun part - plugging all the holes in the firewall... rather than plug each, i decided to cut away the firewall to patch in single piece.  Pretty quick removal - i think this will be easier than plugging all the various holes, plus you can see how warped/wrinkled the original stamping was.  Hopefully i can put the new piece in new weekend.

[GT]

I also went ahead and re-installed the rear end and adjusted the ride height again.  I double checked the drive-shaft clearance and it looks like it is insufficient.  Since i was planning to modify the trans tunnel again anyway, i'll just tackle that as well and be done with it.   as it turns out i need to raise the engine about 1/2" and slide it back just a tad to better clear the oil pan (which will be modified later).  On a hunch, i got a hot-smoking deal on a new viper car engine oil pan (which is different than the viper truck oil pan)... unfortunately, either would need to be modified.  Drats...  The car pan is wide, flat, but about 5" deep which will hit the rack and pinion.  The truck pan has a deep sump, is narrower, but only about 2" deep in the front (clears the rack, but i'll have to shorten it for ground clearance). 

[six-tee-nine]

Glad to see your back in the saddle. Always loved your updates. I'm not affraid to get my hands dirty but I dont have the guts to do what you are doing.....

Great work

[fy469rtse]

yes good to see you back,  better than a magazine this thread , keep at it

[GT]

Quick update.  Finished the brake and clutch master cylinder mockup/installation.  I purchased a wilwood clutch cylinder, 2-4 hole adaptor, and a number of chromoly heim joints to finish it up.  The firewall support braket had to modified for attaching the clutch cylinder.  The adaptor had to be bored out slightly to fit the Wilwood master cylinder.  Also added a bushing on the brake pedal for the grade 8 attaching hardware.  Still have a few pieces of hardware to upgrade to grade 8 - but this serves for now in the mockup.

[GT]

Some more...  Obtaining all the bits and pieces were a hassle, but this was all done for under $150 (not including the brake master cylinder).

[GT]

Next step is to re-do the motor and transmission mounts and make some more modifications to the tranny tunnel - it's a little too tight for the drive shaft and ride height...

[sardillim]

nice o see ya back!

[GT]

Been a while since I posted an update... lots of progress.   Significant time spent on engineering fittings, etc. placing orders, and knocking out the small tedious things that are life sucking at best while I waited for parts to show up.

Some minor brake stuff - Never safety wired before, not to bad, but definitely a hassle to get right.  Always a battle between getting the length right, enough twists, not loose, getting the tools in the tight space and poking yourself with the stainless wire (*ouch*)   But I had some help too - little one using inch-torque wrench

[GT]

Can't tell you how much time went into figuring out all of the fittings needed... 45 degree, 37 Degree, AN, JIC, etc. etc. for Brakes, A/C, Power Steering, Water, Oil cooler, Fuel system...  Learned a lot on the journey... 

First, the brakes, here are 3 fittings just for one caliper.