Throwback: 1969 Charger Gets Viper V10 Transplant and Turbos
This classic Charger cares little for aesthetics and more about the raw power its twin-turbo Viper V10 provides.
Taken to the Extreme
The concept of putting newer engines into older cars is nothing new, of course. This idea has existed since the early days of hot rodding, and it's arguably more popular than ever today. But rarely do we see it taken to the extreme that Dave Trevisan has gone with his classic '69 Dodge Charger recently featured at Hot Rod.
Photos: Hot Rod
Bitten Hard
Back in 2008, Trevisan found himself bitten by the drag racing bug after watching his brothers race their own rides. But he also wanted to modify his Charger in a way that would retain its street-ability. The car had been in his family since 1975, and in his possession since 2006, so it seemed like the perfect candidate for a serious infusion of power.
Odd Couple
At first, Trevisan was planning on stuffing a Hemi or 440 in his Charger. But he soon got the urge to do something different. And he just so happened to find a wrecked, low-mile Viper for sale nearby. After a good bit of manipulating the engine placement and installing a complete custom front suspension setup, Trevisan was able to shoehorn this massive mill into his classic machine.
Best of Both Worlds
Of course, Trevisan couldn't just leave his newfound engine alone. He first ported the heads, then redid the top end. But soon, the real work began with a twin-turbo setup consisting of a pair of 67mm Precision hair dryers. To ensure the blown engine was receiving enough fuel, he went with an aluminum tunnel ram intake, topped with a trio of throttle bodies in a new school setup that looks decidedly old school.
Wild to Mild
The interior of this wild machine was left mostly alone, however. The rear seat was deleted to make room for tubs to fit the massive rear rubber, and a roll bar was installed for safety. Other aftermarket goodies here include Scat seats, G-Force 5-point harnesses, AutoMeter gauges, a Grant steering wheel, and the push-button start switch from the donor Viper. But the coolest feature here is an engine management computer disguised to look like an 8-track player.
Modest Exterior
That same simple theme continues on the Charger's exterior, where you'll find the same paint job this car was given back in the '70s. The only major change is the rolling stock, which consists of Yokohama S.Drive 215/55R17 tires mounted on 17x7 Rocket Racing Fuel wheels up front, and Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/R 31x18R15 rubber on 15x15 Bogart Racing wheels in the rear.
Goes Like Hell
Of course, that's intentional. "I'm not getting any younger," Trevisan said. "I'm driving the hell out of this thing and not worrying about chipped paint or dirt. I've had it on the road since 2013 and I've only washed it once. I blow it off with the air hose every spring and it's good to go." And honestly, with a car like this, the driving experience is all that really matters, right?
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