72 Charger

[Bill Howell]

There will be some more info on this build soon here, but for now, here are some sneak pics.

Yes, proof it is a backyard build.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/IMG00021200908041802-1.jpg

notice the heater and A/C lines
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/IMG00022200908041803-1.jpg

Vintage Air baby
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/IMG00020200908041556-1.jpg

Can you say three link and panhard bar?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/IMG00007200812151155-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/IMG_9112-1.jpg
XV stage II front suspension
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/IMG_9106-1.jpg
You know its mine with forgelines on it.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/IMG_9098-1.jpg

[BMF Machine]

Oh Day'uM! Just like you to only tease us Bill!

LookS completelY awsome, and yes the ForgelineS are smok'N!:smoke:

I still plan to take the young'ns down to PigeoN forgE for the aquarium and to see the beauty of the landscape down there. I will also want to take them past your place to show them two off the coolest damn hotrods out there. Would you let me strap a booster and a carseat in the goat? I would love to see the boys smiling in the back off one the coolest vert's ever!
Everytime they see my, "in the news" wall hanging, they go nuts. Well the 6 year old does anyway! His words are......"Dad have you never seen a car that cool before?" and then he adds "Did you really make tose parts out in Grandpa'S shed?"
Speaking of "In the NewS" I need to call and get my wall hanging of Lisa'S EmptY NesT! One of the other CoolesT day'um vert's ever built by ThE A TeaM! "ProdigY CustomS" and one of their temporarally disabled machinisT's?

ThankS for sharinG Bill, my back surgery has me stiR CrazY..... looking at these beautiful cars gives me hope that some day I will be in my dream.......a 62 impala vert on air with the 20's out back and 19's up front. CooL Vanilla exterior with a red interior. A hardtop would do me just as well, I guess? I may never be able to justify the verts extra 10 grand.....Plus the extra 10 grand would be better spent towards a NelsoN TwiN TurbO~I would have to have one of those as well especially after hearing the F'BomB video, nothing can compare? Absolutely NothinG!

You live'N large Bill, I am glad to see anyone on here, that has got the chance to make their dreams a reality! OlD MusclE cars with new wave mods are just FreakinG awsome! I think they are called Pro-Tour'ers!

[Bill Howell]

Thanks Kevin,
Hopefully you will be up and at em soon. :twothumbs

Here are a few facts about the car and build.

Original Arizona car, never any rust, never wrecked, perfect platform to start with.
6.4 Hemi Crate 392ci motor with XV motorsports custom headers
Complete Flowmaster 3' custom exhaust
TKO 600 five speed
Moser Dana 60 rear
XV Motorsports Stage II front suspension package
XV three link B-body parts, customized by us to fit the charger
Wilwood 14" disks all around
Vintage Air gen IV air
Factory gauges reworked by redline to work with new style hemi
Forgeline wheels- one set with 19 front and 20 rear and one set 18 with race tires for events.
Interior appears stock, but with 02 trans am seats without head rests for more support.

[zbugger]

Looking good, Bill. I can't wait to see it on the road. Are you going with the vinyl top? Any side graphics, or is that it?

[Bill Howell]

vinyl top - check
graphics - check (but that was one of the suprises I was saving...lol)

[zbugger]

Cool. And I was just guessing, since you had the small side graphic with two tone on the goat. It's not like I know anything....:dunno:

[wicked68]

looks good man!

I cant wait to see it one of these days


Hopefully I will see it in vegas.

[wellis77]

That looks real sharp. Can't wait to see the whole thing.

[thedodgeboys]

Nice Charger :machine: I wish my backyard had a lift.:smoke:

How did the xv stuff fit (lots of mods or easy bolt in)?

are you using the AEM box on the 6.4 hemi?

More pictures please

[jackfrost]

notice the heater and A/C lines

could you provide more detail on these? they look fantastic.

[Bill Howell]

Nice Charger :machine: I wish my backyard had a lift.:smoke:

How did the xv stuff fit (lots of mods or easy bolt in)?

are you using the AEM box on the 6.4 hemi?

More pictures please

The front clip was absolutely a bolt in piece, no issues at all.
I also used their body stiffening kit and it too fit well.
The three link was a different story. Going into the deal they and I knew I was the guinea pig since no one had done a 72 charger before. Their kit they sent me was actually for a 70 and older cuda. We basically took the pieces we could use, and refabbed everything else. Now, that was my decision, and I am not knocking their products. They were helpful all the way through and we swapped ideas for the newer E-bodies. There is a reason I picked a 72 charger that I will share later so I knew I would have to do more than just bolt on the parts to make it work. If you buy the parts they have already built for a certain car, I don't think there are any issues at all, but I just had to have a different car. I would do it again if you are asking, because I love the engineering that they have put into their parts. We will know soon how it all works, but I think it will be fine. The major issue that came up was we had to cut 3inches out of the gas tank to shorten it for clearance of the panhard bar. That could be a whole chapter, but the finished product is cool and purists will scratch their heads trying to figure out just how we did that. All this is what makes a hot rod a hot rod, so it is all good.
For now we are planning to run the factory computer supplied by Mopar. However, there is a good chance this will change. I am looking hard at the Kenny Bell blower offered for the new hemis and once I do that, we will upgrade the computer. More on that later, but it will be a winter project.

[Bill Howell]

could you provide more detail on these? they look fantastic.

They are off the shelf Vintage Air pieces you can order at your local hot rod shop, vendors here on protouring or from Vintage Air. Very high quality pieces and fit is perfect. I love the choices I had and was able to come out right above the heater supply lines on the crate motor for a direct connection. I have about 6 inches of heater hose to each connection. The A/C lines are hidden as well and come out right about the brake booster. The hoses will be tucked nicely under that new bracket that holds the two tanks. I am happy with the way all of this is coming together and it should mean a very tidey engine compartment.

[Tucks69]

Looks Good Bill! You have come along way since I saw it sitting in your shop last year at RTTH!

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Lookin' good, Bill! Keep us updated.

[Bill Howell]

Many said not to put a vinyl top on the car, but I had to.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/cvt-1.jpg

We got the car running Sunday, took it to the interior shop Monday for headliner, top and carpet. We should get it back tomorrow, and finish up all the little things. I plan to make some miles in the car next week.
Oh, played with the billboards last week. Keep in mind, the one in the picture is the wrong color obviously and the word "HEMI" is way too large, but you can start to get the idea.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/0817091555-1.jpg

[130fe]

Looking good Bill!

[Motown 454]

Nice car. The vinyl top makes it look choped. I like it.

[Bill Howell]

Thanks Wayne, my thoughts exactly. The car is soooo long, the top brings it all down and helps the looks tremendously. I am hoping the billboards help even more.

[Ron S]

I feel for you, getting the proportions right on a stripe that large is really tough Bill,especially if it has never been done before. The quarters are so big on the Chargers,the billboards will really break it up, and slim it down.

Should really be a nice car, can't wait to see how the 6.4 Hemi runs. Its funny, with all the parts you've put on the car, it will probably weigh no more then a Duster or Dart with a small block. Ron

[wellis77]

Looking real good Bill! I really like the look of the vinyl top and I agree about the billboard, I think it will break up the big quarter nicely. Looking forward to seeing the finished product. Keep the pics flowing...

[PasiR]

Awesome build!! Could you share your rear tire size? :worship:

[Bill Howell]

Awesome build!! Could you share your rear tire size? :worship:

295x20 and I have another set of 305x18 for race days.

[Damn True]

I kinda dig the big billboards. A bit cartoonish, but it's a Mopar. The whole product line from that period was straight outta Warner Bros.

[Bill Howell]

LOL, those were the exact words out of my mouth as I stood there taking that picture True. In fact that is why we are cutting the size of HEMI down more like the original billboards that were on Cudas. That was just the rough draft to see how the fit was. I will probably be doing them in a gray, almost an exact match to the wheels, so it should come off as a ghost billboard, and not so noticable.

[Bill Howell]

Well, not 100% finished, but close enough to make a couple trips around the block, actually about 8 miles tonight. Still need to get it aligned, door panels on, a couple wiring things, and billboards on, then stereo if we have time before RTTHs, but she is on the ground and moving under her own power as of tonight. Everything is brand new of course, and tight, but seems to be all messing good. Great brakes, and handles terrific. Absolutely no body roll in a pretty good curve.

Obviously we did not wash the hood that has been in storage for about six months before I snapped the picture, but you get the idea.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/IMG00008200909031955-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/IMG00010200909031956-1.jpg

[Mike Holleman]

Well, not 100% finished, but close enough to make a couple trips around the block, actually about 8 miles tonight. Still need to get it aligned, door panels on, a couple wiring things, and billboards on, then stereo if we have time before RTTHs, but she is on the ground and moving under her own power as of tonight. Everything is brand new of course, and tight, but seems to be all messing good. Great brakes, and handles terrific. Absolutely no body roll in a pretty good curve.

Obviously we did not wash the hood that has been in storage for about six months before I snapped the picture, but you get the idea.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/IMG00008200909031955-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/IMG00010200909031956-1.jpg
Looking good Bill, Can't wait to see it up close and personal.
Mike

[Ron S]

You mash on it yet Bill?, I'm real interested in how you like the big Hemi. Glad to see it motivating under its own power.Ron

[Bill Howell]

I mashed it pretty good. First gear+WOT= smoke+ rev limiter :)
Second gear is going to be fun when autocrossing.
I have a 4.10 gear, with the 20s but that may have been too much gear.

[WS6]

looks great Bill. Congrats on getting it running.

[WILWAXU]

Great looking project!

[thedodgeboys]

looks nice how is your 3g hemi working out for you?

[Ron S]

I mashed it pretty good. First gear+WOT= smoke+ rev limiter :)
Second gear is going to be fun when autocrossing.
I have a 4.10 gear, with the 20s but that may have been too much gear.

Its crazy how quickly these new engines tach up (nothing like the big blocks of old)You can hardly shift fast enough! My mustang has 4:10's ,I think it is a little too much also. 1st gear is too much for AutoX and 2nd is kinda weak,I may drop back to 3:73's.Your Charger is abit heavier,but should have way more HP's,2nd gear should be just right. Ron

[badbu68]

Really looks nice, I like the vinyl top, I think the billboards and vinyl would make it look like too much going on. Looks great as is!

[Bill Howell]

Thanks for the comments guys. The more I look at the car the more I dislike the black hood. I think I am going to repaint it, just leave the budge black.

The billboards are going to be just a shade darker than the car color, not black. I am doing them in vinyl so I can decide if I like them or not, easy to remove if I don't.

We got it aligned and the A/C charged today, both make alot of difference in the car. It absolutely has enough power, second gear, clutch out, nail it about 20mph and the tires go up in smoke.:smoke:
Me loves tire smoke....haha

[OLDFLM]

Thanks for the comments guys. The more I look at the car the more I dislike the black hood. I think I am going to repaint it, just leave the budge black.

The billboards are going to be just a shade darker than the car color, not black. I am doing them in vinyl so I can decide if I like them or not, easy to remove if I don't.

We got it aligned and the A/C charged today, both make alot of difference in the car. It absolutely has enough power, second gear, clutch out, nail it about 20mph and the tires go up in smoke.:smoke:
Me loves tire smoke....haha

I have to agree Bill! Not diggin' the black hood either... I know that was the thing to do on these cars back then but I think it would look better/classier/more complete painted body color fwiw... why not do the hood buldge in the same vinyl as the billboards? Then if you don't like it you can remove it... LOVE the car my friend!!!!

[Bill Howell]

The R/Ts that year had the bulge black, and it really helps show the bulge. I will be good with it black, just not the whole hood.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

ooooohhh!!

get that hood washed bill and some new pics and ill have a jackfest courtesy of you, you orange mutha... ahahha!

[ProdigyCustoms]

John and I went to lunch today and talked about getting some color on his hood also. When the hood is all black, it just looks like the hood blew off and you could not afford to paint the new one!

I like the black bulge idea. Probably have to blend the color on the fenders and clear them complete, no big deal.

[Bill Howell]

ooooohhh!!

get that hood washed bill and some new pics and ill have a jackfest courtesy of you, you orange mutha... ahahha!


LOL, that is way TMI....
I did wash the hood today, but trying to finish the car, then I will worry about a detail job. You think the pictures make you smile, wait to you sit in it and mash the loud pedel.......hehe

[Ron S]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/BZhHJtBmkKGrHgoOKiwEjlLmVWD3BKnEbzBlHg_1-1.jpg

[Bill Howell]

Yeap, that is correct, that is a 71 but real close to my car. Actually you could not get a 72 in both SE and RT trim, but who's looking. You couldn't get one with a corvette suspension and 392 hemi either...hehe
I have even considered the rear wing, but just can not bring myself to winging it. The front spoiler is out, as I don't like the way it just seems to end mid way on the front fender????

[OLDFLM]

I think it'll look good like that on your hood Bill!!

Don't care for the front spoiler nor the rear one either...

Can't wait to see the hood painted and the grey billboards! :twothumbs

[BA.]

Agreed Bill, it looks 'unfinished' with the black hood.

I like what'cher doin' there.

[Roger M]

The car looks awesome, Bill! Nice work steppin way outside the box. I dont care for the black hood either. Another suggestion(just IMHO) would be to paint just the sides of the hood bulge black... or the same color you do the billboards.

Regardless, That is one sweet looking Mopar. :cheers:

[thedodgeboys]

Now that is how she should look e body stuff on a b body just looks wrong...

Love your car :smoke: SWEEEET


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/BZhHJtBmkKGrHgoOKiwEjlLmVWD3BKnEbzBlHg_1-1.jpg

[Bill Howell]

I put the race wheels and tires on it today checking fit and clearance. It is amazing how much difference wheels make. Notice these have no chrome.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/IMG00011200909051606-1.jpg

[OLDFLM]

Definately looks more "pitbull" than "show dog" with the 18s! :twothumbs

[ProdigyCustoms]

WOW! Those Forgeline EV3s are awesome but damned it that big Ole car does not make those 18s look like 15s! The 19s and 20s fill the wheel openings much better. Either way, sharp as hell and not another Camaro.

[Ron S]

Here is a quarter the same size as yours with a billboard,i think it looks pretty good and breaks it up nicely.Do love the Mopars, Ron


https://www.pro-touring.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=189&g2_serialNumber=1

[srh3trinity]

Both sets of wheels look great, but the track setup looks a lot meaner. Very nice build.

[MoparCar]

Bill,
Nice build. Great to see it near completion.

Question regarding the XV front suspension:
Do you think there is room for air ride? I called XV about it for my project and got a response that basically said they didn't want to discuss air ride and they wouldn't sell their suspension without their proprietary valved shocks (AFCO). Any opinions on clearances?

Thanks, Wes

[Bill Howell]

Bill,
Nice build. Great to see it near completion.

Question regarding the XV front suspension:
Do you think there is room for air ride? I called XV about it for my project and got a response that basically said they didn't want to discuss air ride and they wouldn't sell their suspension without their proprietary valved shocks (AFCO). Any opinions on clearances?

Thanks, Wes

I don't know. Bret is here this weekend, I will ask him. I would think there is room for their system just looking at it but not sure. I will say this, the car rides great with the Avco shocks, I did have to put heavier springs on the front of it. Firmed up the ride, and certainly helped out in the turns.

Hot Rod shot the car this afternoon and tonight, I am looking forward to seeing the pictures.

[MoparCar]

Thanks,
I'd love to know if their set up (specifically the new titanium series with the remote resevoirs would fit).

I would appreciate Bret's and your opinions for sure!
Wes

[1971CHEVELLE]

Awesome build :) car looks very good

[bret]

I don't know. Bret is here this weekend, I will ask him. I would think there is room for their system just looking at it but not sure. I will say this, the car rides great with the Avco shocks, I did have to put heavier springs on the front of it. Firmed up the ride, and certainly helped out in the turns.

Hot Rod shot the car this afternoon and tonight, I am looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Although I have not yet fit an actual ShockWave into an XV suspension, my visual impression after looking at Bills Charger is that it will not be any problem whatsoever. There seems to be plenty of room for the airspring portion. XV uses an Afco shock, as do we for the Titanium series. Matching the proper length will not be a problem. Our Sales VP Bill Floyd has a realtionship with John at XV and is planning a trip there in the next few weeks to offer info and training on our products so they can make a decision on offering them as an option on their suspension.
I see only benefits with using the Titanium series in this suspension...better suspension control - load capacity compensation - road or track condition adjustments - ride height adjustment. A ShockWave would have eliminated Bill's coilspring change entirely...he could have simply increased the air pressure to compensate for whatever load the car was seeing.
From the suspension manufacturers view, I think they may be concerned about the customer "mis-adjusting" the units and experiencing poor performance as a result. I choose to believe that this group is a bit smarter than that.

[MoparCar]

Bret,
I appreciate the reply. That would be great if the two companies could come to an agreement using your titaniums. That would be my ultimate choice. When I asked they said they absolutely would not sell the frame without their afco valved shocks. Perhaps their rear 3-link/panhard doesn't have room for air and they don't want to redesign?? I won't be using their rear suspension most likely so for myself it would not matter. I do understand their commitment to performance and research which could be undermined if someone put poor quality shocks on their set up. Please keep us updated if possible.

Bill-thanks for following up also!

Wes