The Willomet Charger

[1970RT]

Art in motion!! Are you doing boost on your Lq4 6.0 or just keeping it N/A? one of the best blocks to start with.

Hey, thanks. I do like to think of this as somewhat of an art project, stretching my skills.

Boost is the plan. Likely a Procharger D1SC or F1. Still a ways off from finalizing that decision.

What are trying to convert on your 6060? It looks like its out of a GTO or CTSV.

The 6060 is out of a 2011 Camaro. I’m just going to convert it to a slip yoke Magnum with the 3.01 first gear - relatively minor changes.

The 3.01 related input shaft on the TR6060 still has 3/16” interference with the crank. This includes the Magnum front cover, 1/8” scatter shield, and QuickTime bellhousing. I probably just need the American Powertrain 1/4” bellhousing spacer, so I’ll run that to ground at some point tomorrow. It’s in stock locally at Summit.

Meanwhile, got some chassis junk done.

15* intersecting at the bend in the inner pieces - kind of like avoiding a dead node.

The inner rails are canted at 15*, so they make a nice right angle to the forward outriggers. Neat detail I stumbled into.

It was nice weather, so I could work with the doors open for a change.

David

 

[747mopar]

Just noticed your garage walls, I like it.. gives it a nice touch. I am really liking the way that frame is coming together, looks very stout and professional.

 

[1970RT]

Just noticed your garage walls, I like it.. gives it a nice touch. I am really liking the way that frame is coming together, looks very stout and professional.

Thanks! We live in an old neighborhood, and I had a lot of reclaimed lumber to make use of.

The frame design is strongly inspired by what I saw at the Roadster shop a few years ago.

David

 

[1970RT]

Cherry picker modifications so it’s easier to stab/pull the engine while the car is on the frame table.

David

 

[1970RT]

Another good few weeks of work, and a decent series of milestones.

Lateral chassis bits are burned in.

Just about ready to stab the engine and trans.

First, need to keep the input shaft from an interference fit with the crank. Quicktime RM199 1/4" bellhousing spacer leaves only a minor amount of contact, and just requires some light clearancing.

Maybe 1/32" of interference remaining.

Next up in the conversion - shifter rail. Here's the shorter TR6060 rail.

Two position magnum takeoff.

Only thing really remaining to convert is the output shaft and pump mechanism, but it's setup enough for mockup purposes.

Maximum effort shifter cover.

Because a $4.95 stamped steel cover is boring.

Stabbed.

Just enough rear angle for the heads to drain.

You can clearly see the 5* angle built into the magnum bell and tail housing.

Engine cradle detail.

That's about 1" of clearance.

Finally able setup driving position.

Shifter is exactly in line with the steering wheel - just where I want it - no bent shifters in this muscle car.

Pretty proud of this one - midengine Charger.

Setup for a flat bottom, with only the oil pan and bellhousing dipping a couple of inches below the rocker beams.

A friend performing driver position duties.

The work continues.

David

 

[Hemirunner]

Another good few weeks of work, and a decent series of milestones.

Lateral chassis bits are burned in.
View attachment 737211

View attachment 737212

Just about ready to stab the engine and trans.
View attachment 737213

First, need to keep the input shaft from an interference fit with the crank. Quicktime RM199 1/4" bellhousing spacer leaves only a minor amount of contact, and just requires some light clearancing.
View attachment 737214

Maybe 1/32" of interference remaining.
View attachment 737215

View attachment 737216

Next up in the conversion - shifter rail. Here's the shorter TR6060 rail.
View attachment 737217

Two position magnum takeoff.
View attachment 737218

Only thing really remaining to convert is the output shaft and pump mechanism, but it's setup enough for mockup purposes.

Maximum effort shifter cover.
View attachment 737219

Because a $4.95 stamped steel cover is boring.
View attachment 737220

Stabbed.
View attachment 737221

Just enough rear angle for the heads to drain.
View attachment 737222

You can clearly see the 5* angle built into the magnum bell and tail housing.
View attachment 737223

Engine cradle detail.
View attachment 737224

That's about 1" of clearance.
View attachment 737225

Finally able setup driving position.
View attachment 737226

Shifter is exactly in line with the steering wheel - just where I want it - no bent shifters in this muscle car.
View attachment 737227

Pretty proud of this one - midengine Charger.
View attachment 737228

Setup for a flat bottom, with only the oil pan and bellhousing dipping a couple of inches below the rocker beams.
View attachment 737229

A friend performing driver position duties.
View attachment 737230

The work continues.

David

I would have had to run it through the gears making engine noises, lol.

 

[Kern Dog]

Yeah....But a GM engine?

 

[JB400]

Looks good.

 

[1970RT]

I would have had to run it through the gears making engine noises, lol.

Totally did. Like most of us, I’m a grown child.

Yeah....But a GM engine?

There’s a quote from Jim Clark that’s been a favorite of mine. He was asked his thoughts on the Ford-Cosworth engine in his Lotus Type 43, and he replied something along the lines of, “it’s just a tool in a drawer.”

Looks good.

Thank you. Might have a few significant changes, and I’ll keep y’all posted.

David

 

[chargervert]

I thought that the engine in my Daytona stock car project sat back in the chassis, but that GM engine is way way back! My engine is placed in the current location of a modern Nascar car. Mine will be powered by a stroked 472 Hemi engine, the chassis is a modern Loughlin style Nascar chassis. I installed a stock 26 inch b body radiator support because the whole Daytona nose assembly bolts up directly to it. I will still need a radiator shroud that looks like it came from a 1970 Monte Carlo.

 

[chargervert]

Follow Jim Clarks advice and leave that GM tool in a drawer somewhere, and put a real Mopar engine in that Charger.

 

[Hemirunner]

It’s always amazing that we can swap in Tremec (ie GM) transmissions, GM turbo 400’s, Ford 9” rear ends, aftermarket everything else and nobody says a word, but swap in a LS engine and look out! Lol.

 

[747mopar]

It’s always amazing that we can swap in Tremec (ie GM) transmissions, GM turbo 400’s, Ford 9” rear ends, aftermarket everything else and nobody says a word, but swap in a LS engine and look out! Lol.

Tremec transmissions come in lots of Mopars, 9" Fords have become an aftermarket item not a Ford part, 400 turbo's but the engine is the heart.

That thing is looking wicked, keep it up.

 

[chargervert]

To see someone build an elaborate Charger with amazing fabrication,and then go with the Generic Motors belly button engine,takes the wind out of the sails on an otherwise cool car!

 

[dadsbee]

I'm sure if you guys pooled your money together and flipped him the $20K more that a Mopar crate engine costs he'd gladly take your money and satisfy your requirements!

 

[chargervert]

I'm sure if you guys pooled your money together and flipped him the $20K more that a Mopar crate engine costs he'd gladly take your money and satisfy your requirements!

No ones paying for my Hemi,and anybody that has built one knows what they cost,but I'm not cheaping out on my Charger.

 

[1970RT]

I thought that the engine in my Daytona stock car project sat back in the chassis, but that GM engine is way way back! My engine is placed in the current location of a modern Nascar car.

Badass! Love your build and approach. Very cool.

Follow Jim Clarks advice and leave that GM tool in a drawer somewhere, and put a real Mopar engine in that Charger.

He was expressing a lack of brand preference, but rather one for whatever powertrain performs the required task. It’s an engineer’s approach to design - the glass is neither half empty, or half full. It is twice as large as it needs to be for the volume of liquid.

It’s always amazing that we can swap in Tremec (ie GM) transmissions, GM turbo 400’s, Ford 9” rear ends, aftermarket everything else and nobody says a word, but swap in a LS engine and look out! Lol.

The LS is ubiquitous, but effective. 330CFM from an unported wedge head is impressive.

Tremec transmissions come in lots of Mopars, 9" Fords have become an aftermarket item not a Ford part, 400 turbo's, but the engine is the heart.

That thing is looking wicked, keep it up

Always appreciate your perspective.

No ones paying for my Hemi,and anybody that has built one knows what they cost, but I'm not cheaping out on my Charger.

Me either. There is no cheap way to do it right.

David

 

[Hemirunner]

No ones paying for my Hemi,and anybody that has built one knows what they cost,but I'm not cheaping out on my Charger.

Not everyone wants to shell out the cash to do that assuming they have it in the first place. I can appreciate the fabrication and creativity that goes into a build like this regardless of weather or not I like the engine.

 

[chargervert]

No one has said any negative comments about the fabrication of his car. His fabrication skills far exceed what I am capable of for sure.

 

[1970RT]

I can appreciate the fabrication and creativity that goes into a build like this regardless of weather or not I like the engine.

Your build has been a major inspiration to me - very clear design aesthetic with a well defined purpose.

His fabrication skills far exceed what I am capable of for sure.

Whatever skills I’ve built, I’ve done so in the last 7 years. I’m fortunate to have great mentors, and a handful of of forums from which to draw inspiration. This place has been a big source.

David