posted 02-23-2012 07:06 PM                  

Jet hot will coat inside and outside of the tubes and drops heat dramatically on the surface, improves engine flow .reduces friction heat, protects and increases HP 

Exhaust looks great, magnaflow high flow convertors installed and magnaflow performance muffler location set and ready to go.

Did not go with exhaust cut outs due to space limitations and to maximize the overall set up. 

Very very happy with the custom welding and build quality.

posted 02-23-2012 07:58 PM                  

This is the best one on the market. http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f134/afr-shaker-only-true-shaker-pictures-vide o-40365/

The performance innovation team put the hood back on for some initial positioning shots. I approved going in for the hood cut.

Afr created a custom trim ring mold off of the original challenger replacement hood that they normally make and supply for the shaker package.
Initial Pictures are just for positioning only
Every thing will go under the hood.

The only thing that will show is the core gills and top of the unit. The prowler Hood will be cut trimmed and then custom built up to insure a flush fit with the 6.1

Lambo doors a no go
Received lambo doors from vertical doors. Decision was made by the shop to keep it stock in order to insure for the highest quality, safety and overall looks of the car. I Plan on racing and feel it won't be the best fit for the overall build.

Will be returning the kit and keeping it stock.

Hd videos
Also received my new Hd go pro motorsports package. Just like the pros use you can attach it anywhere on the car for live Hd on the road videos. Bring on track day.

With the new hard top I'm pre approved for track days with NASA and
Scda and will learn to really drive the car in classes for fun this summer. http://www.scda1.com/ http://www.nasane.com/

Good progress all of the final parts are in and wiring harness will be there soon. That will allow for a first start up some time in the next month.

Really exciting !

posted 02-24-2012 04:19 PM                  

Coating the headers is a very good choice. Move as much heat out of the engine bay as possible.

posted 03-07-2012 10:08 PM                  

Coated Headers are complete look good. Kat tips are also back on so we are good underneath.

Shaker update
This is one of those big more risky and first time ever parts of the project. The hood got cut so no real turning back.
Just got a first view of the shaker positioned. Fits but does feel from the picture a bit big visually out the crate.

The whole Shaker, direct air flow, saving space, pulling cold air etc is right but it looks like
Its going to require a lot more custom work with the hood and design to pull it off.

The top of the hemi throttle body on the 6.1 already breaks through the stock hood position. So my idea was if we have to cut Through why not make it functional and help perfomance. Afr is the best hemi shaker in the market.

The first 6.1 had a hood scope that brought air inside but not direct and I was mixed on the look

On this one the aim was to do a real shaker.

Big drum roll
So Here is the first picture of the initial shaker positioned in the bay out the box.
Takes up alot of space but goes right into the intake directly in the front of the engine. Has a Built in filter, drains water and much more

Here it is just the first shot through the good before any modifications.
I will say personally As a first pass it does Feel a bit big visually to start but we still have alot of work to do. Hood as to be built up. Trim ring installed and much more. I must admit giving the go to cut this nice hood was not easy at all and some risk. But with risk can also lead to potiential reward
In the end.

Heres what im learning.
Anytime you go custom and doing things that have never been done before it takes alot of risk taking, trial, and pushing the edge of design
And engineering. That's also what makes this whole thing so unique
Challenging And fun. Nothing in this project is easy if so chrysler would have put the V8 in from the factory.

Performance innovations has been great and delivering great results with
Every New challenge.
Still alot more to go but getting closer everyday.

The big difference with this whole blog is its real time, work in progress and real. Most times people go tona car show and you only see the end product and say wow. I decided to do it different and really show what it really takes to get it done for all that maybe interested or even thought about doing something different with such a unique and cool car.

The end product I think will be pretty amazing. It's all work in progress.
Thanks all for the many emails, feedback and support. Thats what makes this site great.

posted 03-08-2012 05:52 AM                  

Even if you watch those shows there is a reality behind the build, timelines get changed they have big crews. I have to trust alot and so far so good.

He is very calculating and passionate about the whole thing. That really why I decided to do it.
Even on things like the lambo doors I thought it would be cool. I got it shipped it, they inspected, tested and made the call to not do it to insure the best Overall build Quality and Ended up sending it back.
I'm not posting everything but this is like
A true hollywood story. With alot of trust and commitment on both sides.
I'm in it for good now and plan to go down next time when I can actually drive it.

That's gonna be the big pay off!! Every time I get in it , reflect and hit the streets. 3 words time, money, patience and I guess being a little crazy and adventurous.

From alot of my talks with other prowler owners that took on major projects
There stories are very simular just not online.
5.0s, twin turbos, strokers even the early supercharged guys they all have stories. Mine just became more documented.
Ha ha

posted 03-08-2012 07:47 AM                  

I'm sure you can imagine the anticipation

Gary as far as the price you are so right.
Here is how it was explained to me from fellow prowler owner eds cat
From flordia that changed my mind.

He compared modifying the Prowler to buying a really nice new custom harley. Not much different and can drive the prowler with 4 wheels.

He also told me about the options and decisions he went through. Prowler is paid for insurance is pretty low and for me with kids only drive once in awhile. What if everytime you drove it was like the ultimate driving experience.

The cost for me to get simular peformance by buying a new vette porsche, fast Camaro, mustang or even a srt 8 is way more and none ever look better or turn heads like a prowler. I plan to keep it forever.

Ed has 150k mikes on his car and smiles everyday that he drives his 5.0 cat. I hope to join the club of folks like him, jordon, terry, Laddie, mike k, milehi , marc 5.0#1 and many others that took risks with the car they had for fun in the future. Some day this summer i hope its me too.

posted 03-08-2012 10:54 AM                  

you stated this isn't everything

Make a CD of all you have on the car build. I did a slideshow of the Dart, you have much more detail, you will be glad you did. I had some help on my slideshow that made it fantastic.

Hope you can see over that hood ........... LOL

It should look great once completed, but you will have to just remember where the right front is cause you are never going to see it.

posted 03-08-2012 12:03 PM                  

Track info and riding video http://www.scda1.com/new-jersey-motorsports-park/

Check out the video http://vimeo.com/m/11651044

posted 03-09-2012 05:22 PM                  

If not already all you would need is to have a hard top and a helmet for the day. Lots of great instruction, and its a safe fun day and not competition based.

on the track video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0ZFmlRFZEw

Can't tell you how much it will mean after 6 months or so in a build to actually be on the track and achieve the goal. Its gonna be a hot summer!!

Track layout

posted 03-10-2012 04:05 PM                  

I think the passion started back in 2002 when CJ set up a tour for us of the Conner ave plant.

I saw prowlers being built from scratch. Like hand assembly and the people where really dedicated to making them, it was amazing.

During this hemi conversion project the car is pretty much stripped and it reminds me of the Tour and same process since every thing is custom. It's like building a brand new prowler. This time the builder is Brendan and the team from performance innovations.

That's me in red. Just another reason to be passionate about the car and performance possibilities of having a true hemi and everything else we are doing to the car.

posted 03-16-2012 05:05 PM                  

Now this week was very interesting.
The team spent over a week doing custom fiberglass work to try to build up the hood using the custom trim ring to shape the hood. Overall was not bad but required alot of material and build up to make it to the lip of the shaker. They wanted to insure the highest long term quality for the car. 

As you can see there been alot of custom welding in this project. So Brendan and the team decided to take another route and start over.

The prowler hood is made out of aluminum to save weight. The goal here is to create a custom hood that integrates the shaker into the curves and design.

So they have decided to create a custom aluminum panel to raise the over hood to line up to the shaker so it will look almost like more of a stock piece.

Aluminum can be formed welded and the directly integrated into the current prowler hood.
This can insure for a perminate sealed   solution  as well as provide a rear nice look to the car.

The first step was a custom trim ring.
On the picture below you will see a aluminum ring around the shaker. This set the positioning and build up area that the shaker with come through from the engine.

Then using tape the team laid out the build up outline design form the custom aluminum piece to be built, formed and  attached to the hood. As you can see its slopes only leaving the top of the shaker sticking through. Very creative. See side view

This maybe hard to picture but I really like the concept and think its the best option.

As you can see It's alot of trial and error and testing but shows the creativity and craftsmanship of the shop.

When you see the real piece I think it will really connect. Aluminum Forming and welding to kick off next week.