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Story & Photos: Eddie Maloney
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Don’t be fooled by the name, this twin turbo Mopar is a hardcore hitter! The name Challenger was first given to the Dodge Coronet released in 1959. The car was a special edition called Dodge Silver Challenger, and it didn’t exactly look like a typical muscle car. As a matter of fact, the era of muscle cars hadn’t even started yet, but it was just around the corner.
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The Challenger keeps nearly all the integrity of its factory appearance. One major upgrade was the lightweight doors with Lexan windows and cool six-pack style scoop hood.
The front-end on the Challenger is iconic and easily separates it from other vehicles. Mopar is kept this slick intimidating look throughout all 3 generations. Inlets for the twins have been cut into the front valance which is a dead giveaway when you see the car from the front.
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Ford, Chrysler and GM were coming up with the ideas that would change the automotive world in just the next couple of years, and those trends would continue through our modern day muscle car production. And the name Challenger, it seems, would somehow make its way back into Mopar’s lineup, only this time it would take on a whole new iconic identity. With the demand for more stylish 2-door cars with more power growing each day, it was game-on for the Big 3, and soon we would see an amazing lineup of affordable high horse cars cruising the streets; Camaros, Barracudas, Mustangs, GTOs, Coronets and Chevelles to name just a few. Dodge would step-up with bigger power engines like the 340 small block and the 383 and 440 big block platforms, and of course, the game changer, the Hemi. By 1969, the industry was hitting the pinnacle of the horsepower wars between the 3 major American automobile producers and this prompted Dodge to start developing the first Challenger, falling under the “E-Body” platform.
RAM CLUTCHES
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By 1970, we saw a lineup of seriously high horsepower cars roll off the showroom floors including the Chevelle LS-6, Boss Mustangs, and the Hemi Challenger. The Dodge Challenger is now in its third and what Chrysler claims, its final generation. The first generation spanned from the model years 1970-1974 with vehicles being produced in both Los Angeles, California and Hamtramck, Michigan. The least popular second generation made in Japan ran from Model years 1978-1983, and the current lineup has been rolling out of the Brampton, Ontario, Canada plant since 2008. Guillermo Suarez was born and raised in Cuba, a kid with big dreams and aspirations in life. He also loved cool cars and knew one day he would be successful enough to have a few of his own. “I was born and raised in Santa Clara, Cuba, left my country and migrated to the United States in 2008.
A far cry from a mean, lean racing machine, the Challenger’s 1959 namesake was more fat than muscle. 60
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Yep... it’s gutted... ...And for good reason. Typically the first objective with these Mopars is to lighten them up - even just a bit - since they tip the scales at over 4,000lbs fresh off the production line. It’s all business inside this cockpit with the massive Holley EFI dash taking center stage. The need for cooling the charged air is evident in the interior and trunk area of the Challenger – the cooler the air, the more potential power.
MANTON 6TH
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MEZIERE
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LESS WEIGHT = PERFORMANCE Bill Mitchell Products creates nothing but the best blocks from 357-T6 Aluminum as our standard.
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GRP
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Guillermo would purchase his first Hellcat in 2018
I faced numerous challenges once I arrived, but the language barrier is one of the most common among immigrants.” Guillermo managed to learn the English language and put himself through Physical Therapy school while working in a cafeteria as a dishwasher. With sights set on eventually operating his own business, upon graduation he was able to land a more sought after position in a doctor’s office where he would gain the type of real world experience he would need to pursue
his American dream. By 2014 he opened his own business and is a successful entrepreneur, who still loves fast cars! In 2012 he bought his first toy, a Lancer Evolution (EVO), and began tinkering with it right away. Evo’s were quick right out of the box, but Guillermo got nearly 800HP out of his before it all was said and done. Fast forward to 2018, and Guillermo would purchase his first Challenger Hellcat.
GRANATELLI
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BAER 2
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He became good friends with Mario from Gearhead Fabrications in West Palm Beach and the two immediately discussed how to make it faster. They started by adding a few bolt-ons and took it to the track. The HellCat saw mid to low 9-second passes at nearly 150 mph, however Guillermo would
sell it to buy a Blue 2020 Charger Hellcat. The Charger is a bit heavier than the Challenger, but the Gearhead crew had Guillermo flying in no time, turning 8.80s at over 160 miles per hour. While happy with the Charger, it still wasn’t fast enough, and Suarez wanted more, so he set out to find another Challenger.
DESIGN ENGINEERING 6TH TOM’S UPHOLSTERY
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misener
A very clean and simple yet powerful stroked 4 This combination backed by the twin turbocharg 70
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415ofHEMI cubes
MISENER 6TH
415 cubic inch HEMI engine rides under the hood. gers produces well over 1400 reliable horsepower. www.rpmmag.com | june 2022
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“The first time I laid eyes on my current car was 2 years ago at a track rental in Palm Beach,” he said. “It caught my attention instantly; the car was built, and I knew it had tremendous potential. Not long after that Mario from Gearhead told me the owner was selling it and I just couldn’t resist, so I did my due diligence and bought it.” For the most part, Guillermo’s 2010 Challenger T/A looks like a factory Challeneger, but there’s more to it than that, much more. While the car does maintain all its functioning street equipment, that is about where the similarities end, it is however fully registered and insured for street driving if the urge arises.
Although it has been beefed up with aftermarket parts, the Challenger still utilizes its factory located IRS. Thanks to a set a Menscer Motorsports shocks, the power is easily transferred to the Mickey Thompson 275 60 R15 ET Street Radial Pros.
Guillermo Suarez Twin Turbo 2010 Dodge Challenger T/A Body and Paint:
Brakes:
Factory OEM, with addition of composite hood with 6-pack style scoop.
Tires & wheels:
Suspension: Factory IRS with Menscer Motorsports shocks and AAD Track Pack arms.
Wilwood brakes. Weld wheels, Mickey Thompson tires.
Interior:
Engine:
Simpson 5-point harness, MPI steering wheel, Kirkey aluminum drag seat.
415 cubic inch HEMI, HHP aluminum block, Callies crank and rods, Diamond pistons, Comp Cam. Thitek ported heads.
ET & MPH:
Induction & Fuel Delivery: Holley EFI Sniper. 1700 cc injectors.
Power Adder: Twin 76mm Boost Lab turbochargers.
7.45-1/4 mile, 4.70- 1/8 mile.
Thanks To: Gearhead Fabrications Eliany Humpierre
Transmission: TH 400 transmission with FTI torque converter.
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Follow this tubocharged Hemi Challenger from burnout to launch. It used to be that a solid 7-second quarter mile car would have big tires, a complicated race-only suspension system and it would leave the line violently, then maybe need some serious maintenance between rounds. Not so today as cars like this represent the new breed of quick street-style drag car. Guillermo traditionally races at 3 tracks in Florida; West Palm Beach, Bradenton, and Orlando Speedworld.
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RACE PARTS 6TH
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While the car has been lightened a bit with the removal of the factory interior and side windows, it’s still a monster since the factory weight was a tick over 4,000 pounds. The 2010 model year, while a solid foundation to build on, did not have the factory upgrades of the later model Hellcat editions. It is an excellent candidate for a from-scratch build for the right person though, so while it is still street legal, Guillermo has it built for one main reason, to go fast on the drag strip! The heart and soul of this Challenger is the 415 cubic inch Hemi engine complemented by the twin 76mm Boostlab turbochargers. The Hemi features an all-aluminum block from HHP. A Callies crankshaft
doubt was soon put to rest after checking into things a bit further. Power is transferred through a built Turbo 400 transmission and the car rides on, believe it or not, a beefed up version of the factory independent suspension equipped with Menscer Motorsports shocks. “Slow Cat” is the nickname for Guillermo’s Challenger. Guillermo has been to He also keeps it fully street legal for those seldom cruises numerous events with this around the Tampa area. car, and it just keeps gospins Callies rods and Dia- on the high-rise intake ing faster. Thus far it’s run mond piston, while a Comp and the engine mounting a best of 4.70 to the 1/8th cam controls the valvetrain. plate. And if you didn’t you and a 7.45 at over 175mph Thitek ported heads were would think it was busi- in the ¼ mile. And with a used and Holley EFI con- ness as usual as the work few tweaks and upgrades, trols the package through was meticulously done to Suarez expects the Chaltheir Sniper system and maintain a neat, clean, al- lenger can hit the very low 1700cc fuel injectors. Mods most factory look. In fact, 7-second zone. So don’t let under the hood are plen- while looking under the the license plate fool you, ty, but you wouldn’t know hood at first glance we this Slow Cat is anything it unless you recognized found ourselves thinking, but! the near vertical runners turbos…what turbos? Our
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