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The Willomet Charger

A desecration to Mopar nuts everywhere, this is my protouring, LS-powered, 1970 Dodge Charger; built at my shop, Willomet Motor & Fabrication.
I’m just going to toss up the occasional “Wow” from now on. This being instead of the usual, your attention to detail is amazing, we’re not worthy to own tools compared to you, nice progress, beautiful welds, mind blowing execution, out of the box creativity, old skool craftsmanship..... and some others that I missed in my cloudy flu sick mind. So...



Edit- That’s fockin’ Sweet, eh!

WOW.....:bow: :bow:
 
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I’m just going to toss up the occasional “Wow” from now on. This being instead of the usual, your attention to detail is amazing, we’re not worthy to own tools compared to you, nice progress, beautiful welds, mind blowing execution, out of the box creativity, old skool craftsmanship..... and some others that I missed in my cloudy flu sick mind. So...





WOW.....:bow: :bow:
you missed "That's focking sweet eh!"
 
I’m just going to toss up the occasional “Wow” from now on. This being instead of the usual, your attention to detail is amazing, we’re not worthy to own tools compared to you, nice progress, beautiful welds, mind blowing execution, out of the box creativity, old skool craftsmanship..... and some others that I missed in my cloudy flu sick mind. So...

Edit- That’s fockin’ Sweet, eh!

WOW.....
Those are some very kind words, and I truly appreciate them. Thank you.

I’ve summarized the following thought before, but I’ll be more detailed. Rewind to 2014, and I'm just building my truck in the garage using the same checklist of ideas from 10 years earlier while I was in college, but now with a decent paycheck to get it done. Neat, but not especially challenging. I would occasionally lurk on CK5, but there's a huge gap in posts starting at 2004 from when I focused on my career and did all that government contracting. My skills are stale, and at the same level since graduating college. That guy wouldn't have attempted any of this stuff.

One day, while lurking, three build threads kick my ass into a higher gear - your first gen jungle gym, @Greg72 's contraption, and @muddysub 's not-that-muddy-anymore suburban. Each of those demonstrate to me that absolutely killer work can be done in a driveway or home garage. Vision, discipline, and patience are the hallmarks of those builds. From that time to now, I've been on a skill-building tear with just about all of it documented here. Like most of us, I'm self-taught and have great mentors and coaches that provide guidance and feedback. I also study the hell out of build threads. Sit next to me on a plane; odds are I have a few saved pages loaded up and I'm scrolling through a shop's photo gallery, or I'm drawing my next part in BendTech.

All that to say, there's no way I would have had the confidence to cut up a perfectly decent old car because "I didn't like the chassis design" without first seeing all of you guys taking your junk to the next level, and never fearing the sawzall. Whatever progress I have made, it is because you dudes inspired the start of it.

I'm big on respect, and I will always owe.

David
 
Totally on the same page. Someone was saying, “if you’re not making or modifying your tools, you’re not working hard enough.”

David

Cherry picker: level EXPERT!

1916D046-FFB6-4DBD-89C9-5906BCB28620.jpg



One of the best mods I ever made.... finally able to control the rate-of-descent without the jerking or surging that drops expensive engines to the floor.

Ditch the slotted valve screw.... and join me in 2019. :)



-G
 
Cherry picker: level EXPERT!

1916D046-FFB6-4DBD-89C9-5906BCB28620.jpg



One of the best mods I ever made.... finally able to control the rate-of-descent without the jerking or surging that drops expensive engines to the floor.

Ditch the slotted valve screw.... and join me in 2019. :)



-G
so old school man ........ been welding a old ball valve handle to mine for years now . but yes 100% better for use as it keeps the handle in the spot it needs to be and the down is its own handle .
 
Ditch the slotted valve screw.... and join me in 2019.
It will be done. I have a charger window crank that’s looking for an application.

But first, I’ve been putting off cleaning the LQ4...for like two years. No more. This made the Friday conference calls go by pretty quickly.

D012E42C-4893-4F4F-9189-398C6DAFDD36.jpeg

Also, Holley 302-1 and 3” better ground clearance. If I ever lost a wheel, it would be nice if the oil pan was not the first thing to hit the ground.
F2612F2F-F91C-4D59-973C-43BC4F597FDE.jpeg

The sump is about even with the QuickTime bellhousing.
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Now I can post photos free from the shame of my grease bucket engine.

David
 
Some inspiration for you David...
A couple B bodies from the Detroit autorama
Thank you, sir. Inspiring indeed. I saw that body swapped charger at SEMA. Many of those efforts result in tall and goofy looking cars, and their’s didn’t.

Also, most Mopar folks don’t approve of body swaps, so I immediately liked the guys. Rule breakers.
Troy Trepaniers’ latest artwork and Huge turbo’d powerplant
Beautiful. Rolling art for sure. That’s a ridler-level build that has gone 200mph more than once.
Speedtech makes a wicked low profile pan as well.

Progress looking great
I just looked that one up - very nice piece of gear. I like the baffle design.

David
 
Outside of a handful of friends and the brand partners, this draft is CK5-only. Please keep it private and off the social medias until I publish the finished version.

This design has been in my head for years, and I’ve worked with an artist for the last several weeks to get it on “paper”. It’s 95% there. Y’all’s feedback is welcome.
402BA8CB-DE0D-4964-BE66-EE7789E32A17.jpeg

As we’ve discussed, this is a driver’s car. Everything is about enhancing function without losing what made the design unique, plus a few “take out the ugly” modifications.
  • The valence and bumper are modified to increase air flow
  • Lower air dam wraps to direct air and decrease lift
  • Valence turn signal buckets are now intakes for brake ducts
  • All the go-fast reliefs are functional heat extractors
  • Side markers are ugly
  • Drip rails are ugly
  • Vintage Fiat barchetta door handles
  • 19” BBS wheels to fit over 15” brakes
  • Minor fender flares to clear the 305/325 rubber - I think the big flare fad is passing, and these are sized similar to the more conservative cuda or challenger
  • Color is a take on one of my dad’s childhood toys - a lotus type 43 windup car. This uses a modified corvette goodwood green, and the yellow-gold from my shop logo.
That toy car was a hand-me-down, and one of my favorites growing up. It’s now on the shelf in the shop.

Let ‘er rip. I know it won’t appeal to everyone, and I’m accepting all critical feedback.

David
 
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I like it! Looks really sharp without being over the top with the subtle modifications
 
I like it too. The green/gold is very un-mopar in a good way and heavy with the euro influence. It reminds me of the 515 GTB Pure Vison design (Steve Strope) built almost 10 years ago.

https://www.purevisiondesign.com/rides/projects/515-gtb.html

I see a little cuda in the lower valence opening too.

The BBS wheels are right for it too. I dig it.
 
Can we get a pic off the car on the shelf? Hard to see the correct paint color from a drawing.
 
I like it! Looks really sharp without being over the top with the subtle modifications
Subtle is the definitely the game. It should feel familiar, but stand apart.
I like it too. The green/gold is very un-mopar in a good way and heavy with the euro influence. It reminds me of the 515 GTB Pure Vison design (Steve Strope) built almost 10 years ago.

https://www.purevisiondesign.com/rides/projects/515-gtb.html

I see a little cuda in the lower valence opening too.

The BBS wheels are right for it too. I dig it.
That build was definitely an influence, specifically how far he went into the car to capture and detail an idea. Those wheels and their staggered offset are inspired by the E39 M5 fitment, my favorite of the series. It's possible I may end up with Forgelines, but the mesh look will be 90% the same.
Can we get a pic off the car on the shelf? Hard to see the correct paint color from a drawing.
True.
D8E65F9D-4222-4F7B-BDE0-C4A598DAF279.jpeg

EE17EE7A-4945-4D62-BF36-BEA2AAA6FCEC.jpeg

RefB.jpg

David
 
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