ETERNAL WEDGE
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           He crowned the long-block with a Mopar single-plane intake manifold (PN4529463) and a Holley 1000HP carburetor topped with a traditional style K&N filter. Those slick, coated headers are Tube Technologies, Inc. (TTI) with 2-inch primaries running to a 3-1/2-inch collector. The 3-inch system maintains an X-pipe and Flowmaster 30-series mufflers. As we said, Alan’s recently been infected with the juice bug, so the NOS Cheater 2-stage should keep him amused for the time being. Big cylinder pressure demands a virile spark as offered by the MSD 6AL box and Pro Billet distributor.

            Torque transfer begins with a Coan 8-inch converter pushing a 4,000rpm stall speed. The issue continues down a Denny’s Nitrous Ready driveshaft that passes through a safety loop. Our driver manipulates a manual valve body with the B&M QuickSilver shifter and guards the tranny fluid with a B&M cooler. The rebuilt 8 ¾ axle sports a Randy’s Ring and Pinion 4.10:1 gear set and a Sure-Grip differential. As long as Alan’s going to continue the updating process, why not a Gear Vendors for the back of his trusty 727 to cut down that axle gear on the highway?

CHASSIS

            Alan made some basic, popular modifications to chassis integrity with a 4-point rollbar and welded-in sub-frame connectors. Though the steering box, spindles, anti-sway bars, and torsion bars are stock,  tubular upper control arms, 3-way adjust Competition Engineering shocks (front), Cal Tracs mono-leaf springs and Cal Tracs bars, Rancho 4000 shocks amend the chassis situation according to Rutland’s use.

WHEELS & BRAKES

            Though more street-and-strip than Pro Touring, the Charger’s meager OE drums will soon fall to Wilwood discs. Will Alan’s vintage-inch rollers compromise this swap? You gotta go for the biggest ones that’ll fit behind the hoops. At all times, the vintage Cragar 5-spokes are 15x6 with M/T 28.0x7.60 Sportsmans in front and 15x8 with M/T 28.0x10.50 ET Streets on the driven end.

INSIDE   

            This pit is just as clean and urgent as the exterior. Don’s Upholstery in Memphis applied the plucky blue stripe-over-black vinyl to the stock seats while Alan rewired the entire car, installed the Grant steering wheel, the Pioneer CD player, 4-speakers, and a 10-inch sub-woofer. No a/c though. The RCI safety harness depends from custom 4-point rollbar/belt anchor.

BODY

            Alan praises Robert Wooley at Customs & Classics in Moscow, TN for salving the body and applying the black. It came back to Rutland as a shell, but a very clean one. “To this day, only one person has noticed that the gas filler cap has been eliminated from the top of the fender. Since my car is basically about function, I didn’t need that fluff when there’s a 16-gallon fuel cell in the trunk. Wooley also reworked the rear valance to accept TTI Challenger-style exhaust tips. The fiberglass Six-Pack hood is secured by the OE latch as well as pins that prevent the panel from lifting at speed and cracking the fiberglass surrounding.

PERFORMANCE

            At 3,950 pounds (Alan in it), the nuts-only combo ran 11.57. On one stage of juice, it pulled out a 10.76 at 126. More to come. The 440 has never been on a dynamometer.