LTTR BOX Journey

[greasy]

I appreciate the warm welcome here guys. This thread will be my journey through my ownership of this car. A little about myself....always a car enthusiast from a little kid playing with matchbox cars. Fell in love with my parents 1987 Pontiac Trans Am with the 305 that they bought brand new, dreamed about owning a WS6 Trans Am in high school/early college, mid college my best friend picked up a 1994 GT Mustang, and got bit by the Mustang bug. From there picked up my first "muscle car" a 1998 Silver Mustang GT which was SLOWWWW, to a Sonic Blue 2004 Mustang GT still slow, and then into a 1997 Rio Red Cobra that made 500 rwhp via a Paxton Novi 2000. I was making that power on a stock bottom end and after looking into building the bottom end to handle more power I quickly realized everything in the drivetrain would need to be upgraded. Rather than dump a bunch of cash into a old platform I started to entertain new platforms.

The Hellcat was on the radar based on the amazing retro look and the power/potential. Always reminded me of a newer version of the 2003/2004 Cobra with its allure and capability. I started researching cars and was looking for cars to test drive. The first car I found was a 2016 Go Mango Hellcat M6 Challenger with 4,500 miles. Went to the dealer to test drive and with some persuasion convinced them I was seriously interested. I went outside for the test drive and when the sales guy fired up the car, I knew at that very moment that I am buying the car. The exhaust note was so amazing, I was HOOKED. Took the car for a test drive, looked over the car, it was perfect. After some negotiating, I signed the papers, and put a down payment that night........Literally the first and only car I looked at ! Probably a little silly, but that is just the way I operate.

June 2019 - When I picked the car up.

 

[greasy]

When it comes to cars I like clean and while the decal is kind of cool, I felt it had to go! I spy the 1997 Cobra in the background with the front bumper off, the car would be sold about a month later.

This 3M adhesive remover is a must afterwards for any decal removal.

All removed!

 

[greasy]

After about a month of ownership and me never being able to leave well enough alone I started upgrading. The stock Pirellis were BRUTAL, the P-Zero's pretty much stand for zero traction....absolutely worthless. So I picked up some 285/35R20 Firestone Firehawk Indy's for the front and the same size Toyo R888R for the rears. Also got a great deal on some Eibachs from fellow Hellcat member and new friend @Beast707. Billy is the one that has made me aware of these great Hellcat forums! Also grabbed a Barton shifter.

 

[greasy]

Got the lower profile tires mounted and the car is now looking like a Dodge Ram more than a Hellcat Challenger with all dat wheel gap!

 

[greasy]

Couldn't handle the gap anymore so I got to installing the Eibachs for the the much needed drop. Started working later in the evening, but got the car done. Left the rear isolators out on the top and just covered the top coil in some 5/8" heater hose for that little bit extra drop. Might need to change that later down the road.......more to follow.

 

[greasy]

Convinced @Beast707 to lower his ride and knocked out the job. Did a little shoot in my driveway, Widebody vs Narrow

 

[greasy]

Did I mention I like to detail too? Gave the car its first fall detail a few months after picking her up. Also switched out the side eblems prior to the detail.

 

[DGatzby]

I like it, nice work, good story. When we come over to Elgin to see a friend, I’ll let you guys know.

 

[greasy]

Now let's get a little more serious! I told myself I was not going to mod this car power wise for a couple of years.......4 months later I am buying shit to make it faster. That fall I ordered up The GripTec 2.85 pulley, Demon injectors (700cc), 180 degree thermostat, blower blanket and spacers, crank pin kit, and new idlers.

It is kind of crazy that these cars don’t come with a keyed crank and people have lost motors when pulleying down and the crank spinning on itself. I was not excited about drilling into my almost new motor’s crank pulley but the kit was pretty straight forward. Needed to pull the front bumper being off the car to give me the room to make this modification. I figured since it was off I might as well get the license plate holes filled and the bumper resprayed.

Untouched....

Done drilling, was not for the faint of heart!

Crank pinned!

 

[greasy]

I like it, nice work, good story. When we come over to Elgin to see a friend, I’ll let you guys know.

Absolutely bud, I am super close to Elgin!

 

[greasy]

Before I got too involved in the install I needed dyno numbers stock. Something I forgot to mention is that I have also added an aFe CAI and Corsa Xtreme catback. Being stock and untuned I don't think this really added any power. Car made 643 RWHP 583 RWTQ on a Mustang Dyno

NO DISASSEMLBE JOHNNY NUMBER 5!!!!

 

[greasy]

Since I got my baseline it was time to start tearing into her.

I then clamped off the coolant hoses for the blower to limit coolant loss and avoid having to refill/bleed that system because I heard it was a PITA. If you zoom in on the pic below in the upper left you can see the Proto plier clamps that worked out awesome for this.

With all of the hoses off and sensors unplugged (so I thought) and removed the unit. Kind of crazy tearing into a sub 10K mike motor, but cool nonetheless!

I was having some trouble getting the blower off of the car so I yanked it off like a caveman and then soon realized I forgot to unplug a sensor off the of the backside of the blower......WHOOPS I ended up ripping the wire right out of the female connector. There was no good way to salvage the connector, so I looked to see if Mopar offered it and they didn’t. I ended up scouring the internet and found a very similar Delphi connector to the one that I FUBARed. I ordered them up with some wire to extend what I screwed up with all the proper bullshit that goes inside. The connector wasn’t perfect as the Mopar piece had some proprietary bullshit fins on it, but that was easily taken care off. Shaved off the fins with a razor knife and I was back in business!

 

[greasy]

Stock - Booooooooooooooo

GripTec - WOOOOOHOOOOOOOO

 

[greasy]

Bolted up the blower spacers and affixed the heat shield blanket. Got the blower back in the car and torqued to spec along with the new Demon injectors. SHE'S READY FOR TUNING!

 

[greasy]

Still a decent amount left to the story, but it is getting late. I'll resume tomorrow or later this week

 

[Octanewide]

Looking good so far. 💪

 

[Magnified]

Bolted up the blower spacers and affixed the heat shield blanket. Got the blower back in the car and torqued to spec along with the new Demon injectors. SHE'S READY FOR TUNING!

Nice black rag in the intake. You'd think you didn't want any crap to fall in there!

 

[greasy]

Looking good so far. 💪

Thanks Jeff, does seeing your old Race Ramps make you feel nostalgic?

Nice black rag in the intake. You'd think you didn't want any crap to fall in there!

Yeah that would suck!

The likelihood of something going in there while the blower is off the car for a day is small, but it would be my luck to have something stupid happen and then I would kick myself for not taking the small step of being extra careful.

 

[Heminized]

@greasy
Kudos on the upgrades. I too share the Barton and Eibach upgrades.
Especially Kudos on getting rid of the sticker, I never felt the need for more Hellcat emblems on my Cat, and especially get a laugh when I see a "supercharged" emblem or sticker...

I too will be doing some major engine overalls, but sadly that will come much later down the road. So for that I am envious of you.

As far as esthetics, not sure your taste on the stock rims...but I feel our Cats just crave the 5 spoke look. Just my opinion.

and as far as...

Widebody vs Narrow

Narrow all the way bro.

Anyway, nice ride...keep the updates coming.

 

[EL JEFE]

I can tell you from being in the car myself a short period of time....the car moves. The torque is bonkers!!! Keep me posted if you guys meet up...I would love to hear you car dudes chat about your power upgrades so I can be motivated lol. @greasy