As I think about these responses more a couple of things come to mind. My intent with my G-body is still to get the A/C functional this winter and with a full stock interior it should be a comfortable drive, summer or winter. I am trying to figure out what wheels I can stand to look at that are reasonably priced in the 18” range to work with the suspension I have which is obscene when compared to the 15” drag wheels that are on it now. At that point it should out handle my Magnum SRT8 or a Hellcat. Comparable brakes would cost me more cash although probably not $2K. With the current engine between 575-600hp and 625-650tq as it is normally aspirated, a current TH400 capable of 1000hp, a current 3” chromoly driveshaft and billet yoke, and current braced 9” with 3.00 gear and Strange LSD, weighing approximately 3400lbs, it should run high 10s which is Hellcat territory. 10psi of boost or 300hp nitrous which I built it to handle would make it a Hellcat killer........I think. With what I know that I have invested now, plus the brakes and homebuilt turbo setup, I’d have $25K in the car. That’s a lot of money to me and I make a good living. I don’t, and won’t owe a penny on it. That isn’t the case with the average Hellcat owner and their $65K+ investment. A Hellcat my car is not. A Charger Hellcat stock is capable of 204mph. My Magnum has been 171mph with room to spare and felt good. But if you think I’d consider those speeds in a 1980 Malibu you’re insane. Most homebuilt cars that run 10s are not that street friendly with anything short of boost and fuel injection and typically don’t do well over long distances. People will talk all kinds of sh@t but who out their can claim to have a 10 second car that they put 20K miles per year on? Don’t lie. It’s highly unlikely. A Hellcat owner could do so easily.
So in closing, every time you pass a $60K pickup truck (35 times a day), remember that the ‘snob’ driving it could have been driving a Hellcat. Kind of puts in perspective how little $60K will buy doesn’t it? And that a Hellcat owner ain’t that much more snobbish than the average pickup truck owner.
Now let’s race......
Steve
So in closing, every time you pass a $60K pickup truck (35 times a day), remember that the ‘snob’ driving it could have been driving a Hellcat. Kind of puts in perspective how little $60K will buy doesn’t it? And that a Hellcat owner ain’t that much more snobbish than the average pickup truck owner.
Now let’s race......
Steve
