chassis • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **simopar** » 06 Sep 2005 5:41

Help!!! I've got a 71 challenger with bodywork that has seen miles of english salted roads. Shes too far gone to restore so ive decided to stiffen her up and put a 9" in the back. Can anyone give me any tips?? How much can i cut out? do i have to strengthen the chassis rails or will a rollcage do the job?? Has anyone got any photos?? Help!!!!

by **dave-r** » 06 Sep 2005 8:20

It might be me but I don't understand most of that?

What is a 9"? You mean you want to put a Ford axle in the car?
What has that to do with rust in the chassis?

Also this bit about "how much can I cut out"? How much of what cut out of what and why?

I am just a slow Northerner you know? You have to talk slow for me to understand. :lol:

The bits I did understand are that the chassis has some rot in it. Maybe the floorpan too?

Auto Rust Technicians sell chassis repair sections. You can get replacement floor panels from several sources. The chassis torque box sections that were fitted to the 440/426 and convertibles can be bought from them too and they add a far bit of strength.

As for chassis connectors. Always a good thing. I would use them on anything other than a proper restoration and any car that sees the strip wearing sticky tires or slicks.

Roll cage. Fit one if you want but if your car runs 13s or slower you might get laughed at. If it runs mid 11s or faster you need one for sure. Roll cage is optional between those power levels.

Hope that helps. :wink:

And please tell me you are not fitting a Ford axle? :disbelief:

by **simopar** » 20 Sep 2005 18:43

Thankyou for the info and especially Thankyou for replying. I never thought i'd get that. When i wrote this message i had not long joined and really didn't know what i was doing so forgive me for the vacant words. :?:

I went to the mopar nationals and saw duncan cannonball watt's cars and just kept looking and couldn't stop looking and thinking what to do to mine. My car is so far gone now that i don't think it would hurt to tub it out and syrengthen it up abit. The 9" was refering to a ford :oops:

I thought that would be the most bomb proof axle??? Tell me different i'm all ears???

by **dave-r** » 21 Sep 2005 7:31

The Ford axle is very common and lots of people use them. But to be honest I think people use them just because other people use them. There is a lot of that sort of thing in this game.

The pinion in the 8.75" axle found in Mopars is actually much stronger than the Ford in stock form. The stock Chrysler axle is fine without mods up to about 500hp. Stronger parts will take it up from there some. They do have their limits. The case is too weak for HUGE power levels.

Above that you have the big Dana axle that was used in 4-speed 440 and Hemi cars and optional on automatic versions.
Now that axle is a real mother. Try breaking one of those. It's drawbacks are it's weight and mass. It soaks up a lot of power just spinning the damn thing.

by **dave-r** » 21 Sep 2005 7:33

Are you an MMA member?

A few people in the club have tubbed their cars.

by **Tim** » 21 Sep 2005 10:09

If you’ve got a 318 engine, limited experience with the car and/ or limited funds, it may be wiser to steer clear of tubbing the car, etc to start with.

If you tub it, you have to fill those tubs with great big wheels and tyres, otherwise it’ll look well weird :shock:

. They could end up slowing the car down in the quarter, due to bogging the engine off the line, increased rotating mass, etc.

Another (cheaper) solution might be to re- locate the springs inboard to make room for 295/60/15 tyres. Summit do a little kit (DCC-4120076).

I think I’m right in saying Duncan’s car isn’t tubbed (?). He’s putting 700+ horsepower through 275 or 295 slicks. It can be done. :twisted:

Think hard about what you want to do with the car, what the finished result should be. Plan forward, and ask lots of questions.

by **simopar** » 25 Sep 2005 6:47

Thanks again you lot! I think you've saved me a shit load of time and money

. Now how many horses do you recon i could put through
my stock axle :?:

I think i was being alittle previous don't you?
I really would like a car that i can drive aswel! What's a good size engine for power to wieght? And would i have to change the offset of my wheels? So many questions and so many people to ask i love it

by **simopar** » 25 Sep 2005 6:50

Sorry Dave r you've answered my questions on axles thanks bud :oops:

by **dave-r** » 25 Sep 2005 7:38

simopar wrote:I really would like a car that i can drive aswel! What's a good size engine for power to wieght?

Decide from the start how fast you want this car to go. That will save you time and money in the end and will give you a direction to work in.