The Chargers quest for 9's

[shayne]

run 9's then, header...header...header.
from what i have seen in this thread, it would appear as though you don't mind modifying things to achieve a goal, power amount,or proper fitment.
^agree, quality cage is worth it. you likely got people that enjoy having you around, and probably want you around for a while yet. the best way to do so is manage your risks in life.

[turbovanman²]

Having said that, that's not how I roll, so prob going to change up at least a few things to make it even easier and to get even more info towards actually Building a serious P/T for the Charger.
\

What's that?

Would be cool to see you run a 9 as is but we all know how the itch to mod takes over.

[Shadow]

What's that?

What's what?

[OmniLuvr]

p/t = power train... i think...

[Shadow]

lol. if that's the "what" then yes, P/T = powertrain.

[Shadow]

10 Years After..........






and I haven't done a thing to the Charger




Not that I don't have parts kicking around and time to put them on, just kept putting it off thinking I needed a whole bunch of time all at once to run again.

For the first 5 years or so, brought'er out from storage, activated the insurance and drove around during the summer.

Just realized last week that I hadn't activated the insurance since 2019. So through Covid, I still brought the Charger out of storage, washed'er down and she sat on the driveway all summer. Maybe ran her up the side street a few times and back to storage.

1000kms on this last oil. I guess from the summer of 2019. I changed it yesterday. Was the darkest looking oil ever to come out of her. Guessing mostly from all the start-ups and limited driving? From being almost 5 years old? Either way, I've never squandered oil changes and not going to start now.

WE lost 94 octane around here several years ago, so going to need to retune for 91 and lighter W/G spring, maybe 15-16PSI boost.

Going to stick to that first and then start making a list of things to do, prob starting with Adam L.'s Billet 568 trans end plate.

Most of the things are going to add weight to the Charger, so we'll see how that goes and what counter measures can be taken along the way.

Hopefully just seeing some familiar faces around here gets the ol blood pumping again!!!

[Reeves]

Who is this? Where am I?

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[Shadow]

Who is this? Where am I?

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Exactly!!! lmao!!!!!!

[Warren Stramer]

Looking forward to seeing it out and about again!! Been too long.

[Shadow]

Thanks Warren, and great seeing you posting as well James! Funny how the little things can add so much inspiration.

Finally got to do some wrenching yesterday. Figured I'd start slow and build from there.

The Charger rear end has always bugged me since I lighten it, as the Camber was way out and made it look like me perforating it had weakened it and tires were slowly moving in towards the body.

Now this wasn't the case at all, but it looked so bad that every time I see it from behind it seems worse.

So while I had it up on the hoist swapping oil I figured it was about time to do a little correction.

Started by removing the rear tires and shooting a measure front and back on rotors and this is where the light bulb turned On. Dead Nuts On!! I mean Dead straight! So now I remembered measuring this all those years ago and was so perfect and with time constraints, that I decided to just install and adjust for camber if needed once back in car.

Unfortunately no before pics on driveway because I wasn't thinking pics. I will have to try to get into the habit again though.

I did take a pic of Left side before shim vs Right side after which, like I said, pretty reveling being so bad.

Started with 1/32" just to see and was obvious it was going to need a lot more. So slapped a 1/16" in and looked close enough that I figured a good start. Problem is, the 4 bolts attaching spindle are not top/ bottom square, so shim across top 2 move top out as well as toe out in front.

I corrected this by thinning down the front of shim almost to a knife edge as it moves forward and to about .25mm toe out from straight. I left it there because going back and forth on flat disc grinder 8 times was enough! lol (I really should have just used 2 separate shims)

Anyway, got lucky on the 2nd one and nailed it in one shot. Total out toe about .5mm on rotors. We'll see how it is but looks dang straight to the naked eye.

This also taught me a lot about rear alignment, as I've been fighting with a lot of newer FWD cars and the bad feather/ cupping on rear tires even after 4WA. even seeing it brutal on brand new cars and no one seems to be able to fix it.

Both rear tires on Charger are well worn, but very even. Surprisingly so, considering the bad camber angles all this time. That showed me that it's Not the camber that's doing it, it's every other angle that takes it out of dead straight ahead.

The Charger rear axle is simple and fixed. It can really only move from 2 mounting locations, the actual mounts and bushings, and the rear struts. While newer independent rear suspension can have multiple bushings and mount locations that can all contribute to throwing things out. Add to that all those locations have bushing that most likely start to sag and wear from day one.

So really thinking this is an oversight by vehicle manufacturers. If there are going to be that many locations for movement and wear, they should all be urethane bushing to mitigate sag and wear right from the factory.

Anyway, going to test this theory, as I already have my own spec for 4WA on the Darts and it has improved the rear tire uneven wear dramatically, but hasn't completely gotten rid of it. Now I Know, that dead straight forward is 100% what I'm looking for, and if I need to modify components to achieve this, then so be it.

[wheming]

Big improvement there Rob!
Nice to see the car getting some attention after it's hibernation!

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[Shadow]

Thanks Wayne.

This is all stuff that l never got around to doing while we were focused on simple going Faster. 🫣

I came up with this plan last fall, because it didn’t seem likely to happen if l didn’t.

Now that l’m on to in, going to try to get to all of these little pieces of the puzzle. Steering wheel is still off center from tubular k-frame and manual steering back when we were burning the candle to make SDAC 21. Going to get that center Sooonnn. 😊

So the rear tires ended up looking so much straighter on the ground that l was almost afraid l had gone too far. Shot a level and they are both still about 1/4” in at the top from level. I think that’s Good. Shot a measure from tire to tire and that .5mm ends up being about 1/8” tow out at the tires. So l may revisit to get it closer, we’ll see.

[Loudexploder]

Im glad to see you've gotten some motivation to work on the Charger. Cant wait to see the progress!!


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[Tonatom2]

Wicked. The Calibers, compass and patriots were absolute horid vehicles for rear camber wreaking havoc on them. Pure junk. And sadly the only adjustment was toe.

[Shadow]

Im glad to see you've gotten some motivation to work on the Charger. Cant wait to see the progress!!


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Thanks Nick, going to be slow going at first, but should be able to build momentum as l go.

Took’er out for first cruise and to top up tank. Need to run through a full tank before l retune for 91. Then l can see where everything is and slowly start deciding how far to go this year.

I turned on the Dtec to check maps from 10 years ago and didn’t have a clue how to navigate screens. 😆

So just goes to show, gonna take some time for it all to come back to me.

[Shadow]

Wicked. The Calibers, compass and patriots were absolute horid vehicles for rear camber wreaking havoc on them. Pure junk. And sadly the only adjustment was toe.

I’ve discussed this with so many over the years. Growing up, you wore tire out, but unless something was seriously wrong, they wore pretty even. Not sure l even heard the term cupping back then.

Took this long to actually “see” the problems inherent in the evolution of independent rear suspension.

I can now see that the more components that are involved, the more the need for bushings that aren’t going to constantly wear and sag. Often to the point where they tell you it can’t be brought into spec.

Add to that, l think their spec is way off because they prob could care less how often the end user has to buy tires.

Anyway, we will see, as l’m going to apply what l’ve seen to the Dart rear suspensions and see how it goes. Unfortunately l may be SOL on poly bushing for every moving joint, as this would be the first thing l would change.

[rx2mazda]

Love the updates!

- - - Updated - - -

Love the updates!

[Warren Stramer]

I'm thinking maybe your camber got out of whack from hauling 4 or was it 5 engine blocks to my shop 375 miles.

[Shadow]

Ha, and that was much on my mind, but no, it's always been that way and the 800-1000lbs in engine blocks, cranks etc was a test to make dang sure nothing was moving. I measure out before I left and measured again when I got home

How great is that!!

I just look up past pics and there they are, just as if I was leaving today!

[Shadow]

Had a chance to get back on hoist, so centered the steering wheel after 13ish years lol

Flushed the Wilwood 570 fluid out and all new bleed on the brakes.

New 215/45/16's on the back to see if I like better than the 205's.

And it's off to the cabin where the Charger hasn't been since it ran in 2012!!!