YOU LIKE IT FAST, FASTER, FASTEST? CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!
They say American musclecars are only good for going in straight lines and in this Challenger's case it couldn't be more true, because this monster was built to conquer the 1/4 mile track, in a blistering 9 seconds!
The Challenger was described in a book about 1960s American cars as Dodge's "answer to the Mustang and Camaro". It was first introduced in 1969 with this specific model being a 71' model. Looking at how it currently looks, with those massive slicks, flashy paintjob and intimidating raised hood, you won't say it, but this car was actually just a bare shell, in really bad condition when it was found by it's owner. He luckily saw the massive potential it had and he saved it from certain death in some dodgy scrapyard or even worse, a crusher.
The build was a long and tedious one, which was carried out by master builder Mark Slooten. The shell of the car was fully restored, with rust holes filled up amongst other things and then it was finished off in the beautiful multicolour paintjob that you just simply can't take your eyes of.
With it being built as a drag car, the chassis was strengthened quite considerably and brought up to the right specifications to be able to compete on a national level. The car is now what they call a back half car, with stock front suspension and ladder bar rear suspension. For safety and rigidity it also has a custom built 8-point rollcage. Along with this there is also Competition engineering drag shock absorbers installed in the car.
The drivetrain on a top-level drag car takes a lot of punishment and it's one factor that definitely need to be of the highest standard. With this in mind, the car had a long list of drivetrain upgrades installed. This includes a JW performance aluminium bellhousing and case, 2 speed Powerglide transmission with transbrake, TCI 3500rpm stall 10 inch "Street Fighter" torque convertor, a massive Ford 9" diff with Strange center section with 4.11 gears and 33 spline side shafts, and a 28 spline 1350 yoke with pinion support. That's a proper drivetrain setup if there ever was one!
Brakes are also key to bringing an insanely fast car to a halt in time, so the brakes were upgraded to modern Mercedes brakes in the front and rear, with integrated line lock. Covering those brakes are some of the best wheels on the market. These are Centerline Competition Series - Rev wheels, with 26x4.5x15 Hoosier front runner tyres in front and monstrous 32x14x15 Mickey Thomson drag slicks at the back. How fat are those things!?
At the center of this beast though is it's ultimate masterpiece, it's fire-breathing V8 powerplant, enough to make any man, or woman weak at the knees. The car still uses the factory cast iron 2 bolt main 440 Chrysler block, but it's seen a whole lot of upgrades and new additions. It now has a 500cid steel stroker crank, steel 7.1" H-beam rods, SRP and forged flat-top pistons with metric low tension rings. The upgraded heads are 440 source aluminium units that have been fully ported and the motor runs a compression ratio of 11.8 to 1. Making some there is no fuelling issues on a motor of this caliber is vital so the fuelling system has seen some considirable upgrades. The motor runs a rather large Holley HP 850cfm double pumper carburettor with mods to make it flow a mind-boggling 900cfm. There is also a 220GPH Barry grant fuel pump, filter and regulator. Reliable spark is also quite important in any car and this car runs one of the best ignition systems on the market, which is a MSD 6AL with two step, billet distributer and 8.5mm plug wires along with a Accel coil. Overheating is a big no-no so a good cooling system is key. For this purpose there is a CSR billet Chrysler big block water pump, with BMW 740i aluminium radiator in place. Then the Challenger also has a transmission cooler and fan fitted in back of the car.
If you ever sit to yourself and think your car has enough power, then you are not a true petrolhead. That's why this car has another trick up it's sleeve for some added power output. This is a Edelbrock RPM II carb plate nitrous system (single stage 200-400hp). So how much power does this beast make? Well there's not an exact power figure, but just know this. It has more than enough power to obliderate 9 second 1/4 mile runs.
This masterpiece of a 1971 Challenger is definitely not just a show-piece, but in the hands of it's owner, Simon Slooten, it actually managed to claim the title of 2015 MSA National and Regional Super Competition Eliminator Champion.
Car Specs
Model: 1971 Dodge Challenger
Power: Enough for 9 second 1/4 mile runs
Engine: Factory cast iron 2 bolt main 440 Chrysler block, 500cid steel stroker crank, steel 7.1" H beam rods, SRP forged flat-top pistons with metric low tension rings, 440source aluminium heads - fully ported, Compression ratio of 11.8 to 1
Fuelling: Holley HP 850cfm double pumper carburettor with mods to make it flow 900cfm, 220GPH Barry grant fuel pump, filter and regulator
Power adder: Edelbrock RPM II carb plate nitrous system (single stage 200-400hp)
Cooling: CSR billet Chrysler big block water pump, with BMW 740 aluminium radiator, Transmission cooler and fan fitted in back
Ignition: MSD 6AL with two step, billet distributer and 8.5mm plug wires, Accel coil
Chassis: Back half car with stock front suspension, and ladder bar rear suspension, 8 point rollcage, Competition engineering drag shock absorbers
Brakes: Mercedes front and back with line lock
Drivetrain: JW performance aluminium bellhousing and case, 2 speed Powerglide transmission with transbrake, TCI 3500rpm stall 10 inch "Street Fighter" torque convertor, Ford 9" diff with Strange center section with 4.11 gears and 33 spline side shafts, 28 spline 1350 yoke with pinion support
Wheels: Centerline Competition Series Rev wheels with 26x4.5x15 Hoosier front runner tyres in front and 32x14x15 Mickey Thompson drag slicks at the back
Builder: Mark Slooten
Achievements: 2015 MSA National and Regional Super Competition Eliminator Champion
CHECK OUT THE PHOTO-SHOOT OF MEGAN JACKEL WITH THE CHALLENGER HERE:
MEGAN JACKEL - DODGE CHALLENGER - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW & PICTURES