You need a rear seat brace or you will get rear roof cracks.
Build A Hellcat Eater
- Thread starter Speedman87
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You need a rear seat brace or you will get rear roof cracks.
You're spot on with the expense factor - agree completely.
Be careful putting tons of boost before peak torque - that defines 'rod tester' lol. That is where an aftermarket rod shines.
What will he have spent on this car once complete?
Managing cylinder pressures and torque production is paramount:
Not bad for a stock long block with a cam, eh?
Cheapest way to build a hellcat killer for anything pre 1995 is a c4 stick Vette and swap the sbc for a 6.2 and takeoff lsa blower with a t56 or 80e.
Otherwise everything else needs either time or money or both.
The only other American car that would compete well against a hellcat really would be a cts-v or a 04-06 gto. Mustang/Camaro is really not a "GT" car and unless you jump to an Aston or something along those lines there isn't many cars in the field.
The reasons challengers continue to sell with almost no updates is the Jeep Wrangler effect. There really isn't anything else in the price range on the market, and everything a competitor tries they try to be different or innovative and screw up. Challenger is the only big car with attitude that priorities comfort (size) and power in an attractive package.
Otherwise everything else needs either time or money or both.
The only other American car that would compete well against a hellcat really would be a cts-v or a 04-06 gto. Mustang/Camaro is really not a "GT" car and unless you jump to an Aston or something along those lines there isn't many cars in the field.
The reasons challengers continue to sell with almost no updates is the Jeep Wrangler effect. There really isn't anything else in the price range on the market, and everything a competitor tries they try to be different or innovative and screw up. Challenger is the only big car with attitude that priorities comfort (size) and power in an attractive package.
Kinda curious if your friend actually goes to the track and runs 9.80's or just taking it as advertised.
Stock Hellcats are advertised between 11.2 to 10.9; on a drag radial that drops about 3 tenths. The only cars that come near 9s stock are the Demon (on a factory drag radial) and need perfect conditions/prep to get close to the advertised time of 9.65. The Redeye will do low-10s on a drag radial and a competent driver.
Lots of modified HCs running in the 9s.
As already noted the recipe isn't too tough and can be done for much less than what Hellcat costs. LS + Boost and the necessary chassis mods would get it done. My car runs 11's and is scary enough as it is....no need to be king of the hill.
I highly doubt it can be done PROPERLY without spending 25K, up here probably 30K+ and that is the vast majority done by the owner. I am talking similar handling, braking and power. You guys are talking a lot of luck on buying used parts. A 4L80E core go for $500+, good converter for them is easily that and the 5.3 is similar here. It still leaves a meh ratio 4 spd OD or old school TH400 and tall gearing.
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