Intercooler
Built-In Durability
Pistons
Connecting Rods
Crankshaft Dampener
Harmonic Balancer
Cylinder Heads
Camshaft
Stroker Engines
Valvetrain
Chapter 5: Custom-Built Engine Packages
Buy or Rebuild
Cost Considerations
Quality and Reliability Factors
Chapter 6: Suspension, Brakes and Chassis
Front Suspension
Rear Suspension
Tires
Springs and Shocks
Noise Isolation
Step-Out
Bushing Basics
Frame Details
Project: Hotchkis Suspension Installation
Racing Considerations
Strut Bracing
Body Bridging
Roll Bar or Roll Cage
Suspension Upgrades
Aftermarket Brake Upgrades
Performance Brake Kits
Wheel Alignment
Source Guide
DEDICATION
To my wife and social activities coordinator, Paula, and “the kids,” Jason, Misty, Cortney, and Kaylyn. Were it not for their understanding and support when I took a chance at this career, I would have never accepted the challenge and life change that got me to this point. I would probably still be driving a truck and shoveling coal!
Randy Bolig has been working on cars and involved in the car hobby since he bought his first car at age 14. Buying the car before he could drive it gave him the opportunity to work on it, learn about the ins and outs of auto mechanics, and build the car the way he wanted. He had two years to build the car so that it was ready to go when he could finally, and legally, drive it.
His passion for cars caught the attention of many locals, and he began to help them with their cars. Eventually, his automotive knowledge and persistence helped him land a job as an automotive magazine editor in 2001. Not only was he the editor of Mopar Muscle magazine, he also edited several issues of Muscle Car Review and launched the all-late-model Hemi performance magazine Mopar Now. Randy’s technical knowledge allowed him to work on the cars he was photographing and writing about, combining the talents of a mechanic, writer, and photographer.
In 2014, Randy was fortunate to be able to start his own company and work with many of the manufacturers that he had dealt with in the past, only this time on a more personal level without corporate “directives.” These days, Randy lives in Lakeland, Florida, and remains involved in the industry. You can find several of his bylines in places such as Mopar Collector’s Guide, Cars & Parts, and various automotive websites.
When Chrysler first introduced the late-model Hemi cars in 2005, I was editor of Mopar Muscle magazine. I knew at the time that these 21st-century muscle cars were going to be a big thing. Little did I realize how right I was. The Magnum, Charger, 300, and Challenger were the cars that breathed new life into Dodge’s muscle car history. Until then, Dodge was basing its muscle persona on . . . who are we kidding? Before the third-generation Hemi came along, no real “muscle” had been built since the mid-1970s.
When I began writing this book, I knew that I could not do it alone. I had a lot of material to gather and images to take and supply. I knew that I needed help, and a lot of it.
Therefore, I would like to acknowledge some of the people and companies that made this possible. First, I need to thank my wife, Paula. Without her support, I would have never been able to pull this off. I was traveling often and had to leave the family at home; she didn’t complain too often and the locks were never changed, so all went well.
Next, I need to thank Dave Weber of Modern Muscle, Ken Jones of Procharger, and Eric Hruza of shopHemi.com. If it weren’t for those guys allowing me to invade their shops and get most of the images and information that I needed, this book definitely would not have materialized.
Finally, I want to thank you. If you had no interest in this subject, there would have been no reason to compile all of this information. I just hope that you find some, if not most, of the material, worthwhile reading.
Before I began to compile the information required to write this book, I was asked why. Why would I want to take the time to compile all of this information about late-model Hemi-powered cars? The answer was easy: I wanted to do something that might help people.
From 2001 to 2014, when I was the editor of Mopar Muscle and Mopar Now magazines, I noticed a huge shift in the Mopar hobby. Many people were coming to the hobby because they had discovered the 2006 and later Dodge/Chrysler cars. This included the Charger, Challenger, Magnum, and 300 cars. It didn’t matter what car show or cruise night I went to, these cars were prevalent.
Despite the popularity these cars were gaining, it seemed that no one in the publishing world was paying attention. The magazine industry was not developing articles that pertained to these vehicles. If a late-model-Hemi owner wanted to upgrade his or her ride, they were on their own to search the Internet and hope they could find reputable information. It was at this time that I launched a late-model-Hemi performance magazine to cater to these enthusiasts. The magazine seemed to be a hit with readers, but for some reason, the corporate machine did not feel it was viable and shuttered the project. That was in early 2014, and I knew that enthusiasts needed help. Enter the decision to create this book.
When I was the editor of Mopar Muscle, I tried to develop each month’s issue with an emphasis on helping people. Sure, the magazine was easy to do because I enjoyed what I did, so it wasn’t really like work, but ultimately, if an issue went out the door without content that could help someone, I would have called it quits.
So, this book is my way of helping people. Gathering this information and compiling it in this book is a way I can direct enthusiasts when they decide that it’s time to modify their car. I could have taken the easy route, simply showed how to bolt on a few simple parts,