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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Gregory Gill on October 28, 2006, 08:48:35 PM



Title: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: Gregory Gill on October 28, 2006, 08:48:35 PM
My Father in Law (FIL) had a 1970 440ci cuda for about 20 years.  Two summers ago, he asked me to help him sell it.  He had spent 20 years building the car, raced it once, and decided he didn't want it anymore.  It was a decent car, nothing special, so I helped him sell it of off ebay.

Like I said, basic 70's muscle car, ran 12 or 13 sec quarter miles:

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Cuda/DSCF0293.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Cuda/DSCF0294.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Cuda/DSCF0295.jpg)

Well, about 2 months after he sold the cuda, he bought this:

1996 Dodge Avenger, no motor, no trans

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF0024.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF0027.jpg)

I asked him, "What the hell you ganno do with that?"

"I'm gonna build a new drag car!"

"What! no way, you sold a 1970 cuda for this?"

"Yeah"

Everyone, my wife, my Mother in Law, my brother in law, we all thought he was nuts.

But he bought a tube frame at a swap meet:

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF0029.jpg)

And some big tires:

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF0030.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF0031.jpg)

And it is all in the process of getting fabbed together.

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF0181.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF0182.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF0183.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF0184.jpg)

I just got back from the shop, and the roll cage is in.  My FIL plans to reinstall ALL of the OEM interior panels.  And the exterior will be completely stock, with working taillights and headlights.  The only thing a person would notice (besides the huge tires) is a hood scoop, and a roll cage.  The car even still has TILT STEERING!  A fiberglass front clip will be hung, and the whole car will be painted an OEM Grey.

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF1192.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF1193.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF1194.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF1195.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF1197.jpg)

The car uses a Ford 9" rear end, and fox body mustang front suspension parts:

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF1211.jpg)

FIL bought a 440ci mopar block bored .060" over, and he plans to put a stroker kit in the car.  Final displacement: 541ci.  He is looking for 850RWHP and the finished car should weigh about 2400lbs.  Since he wants to keep the body style OEM, we are not sure what to do with this emblem:

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF1214.jpg)



All of the photos can be seen at:
http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20A...20Project/?start=all (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/?start=all)



Personally, I liked the cuda, but this avenger is going to be SWEET! :D  and fast.


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: True Horsepower on October 28, 2006, 09:12:02 PM
That's pretty cool.  Keep us updated.  Cool to see how two different people are building up two different V8 Avengers.  :)


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: Gregory Gill on October 28, 2006, 09:28:52 PM
That's pretty cool.  Keep us updated.  Cool to see how two different people are building up two different V8 Avengers.  :)

You mind posting a link to the other discussion?  I would love to see it.


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: Darktengu on October 28, 2006, 09:51:09 PM
This is awesomely ridiculous.  I can't wait to see it when it's done.  MAKE SURE TO KEEP UPDATING!!

The V8 topic is here http://asog.net/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,30/topic,1355.0


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: JusBringIt on October 29, 2006, 02:34:52 AM
omg if i was a fat kid this would be a double dip chocolate fudge banana split caramel covered syrup drizzled sundae!!


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: redstar_gearhead on October 29, 2006, 03:53:34 AM
By any chance do you live in Tahlequah, OK? Cause I met someone who is doing the same thing.....and I saw the body of it just after he gutted it and was working on the outer shell, and it looked just like this one.


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: Todd on October 29, 2006, 06:37:29 AM
REPRESENT!!!


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: silvercoupe97 on October 29, 2006, 11:26:06 AM
That's awesome, when was this started?
I know there was another silver 96 waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in the day that was sold or was trying to be sold and it was setup as a drag car with the stock body.


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: Gregory Gill on October 29, 2006, 01:26:21 PM
By any chance do you live in Tahlequah, OK? Cause I met someone who is doing the same thing.....and I saw the body of it just after he gutted it and was working on the outer shell, and it looked just like this one.


Sorry, but my FIL has lived in Metro Detroit his entire life.


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: Gregory Gill on October 29, 2006, 01:28:34 PM
That's awesome, when was this started?
I know there was another silver 96 waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in the day that was sold or was trying to be sold and it was setup as a drag car with the stock body.

Started the whole project  last fall.  We have been purchasing parts at swap meets, and started construction this august.  Car should be ready for paint, motor, and trans by Thanksgiving.  (And we will be giving thanks to the horsepower gods)


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: Gregory Gill on October 29, 2006, 01:43:34 PM
omg if i was a fat kid this would be a double dip chocolate fudge banana split caramel covered syrup drizzled sundae!!

You may enjoy some of the other toys I work on.  I am a robotic engineer, but my passion is race cars.

I do the suspension, engine tuning, and general prep work for two SCCA racecars at www.waterfordhills.com (http://www.waterfordhills.com)

(http://www.waterfordhills.com/track9b.GIF)

The first is a 1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL SE.  220RWHP and it weighs about 2200lbs and blows the doors off of 500hp corvettes.  (around curves anyways)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/jgr2y0528.jpg)

The second car I work on is a late 80's NASCAR Chassis, which has been converted to sport car track racing (it can turn right!)  It has about 550rwhp a tube chassis, and fiberglass body.  That is me hanging out the side of the car.

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/GT1win.jpg)

I also have my own car, a 1984 Mazda RX7 which races in a different class than the other one I work on.  It is only 140rwhp, but it's a LOT OF FUN.  I call it my five speed go-cart.

(http://www.waterfordhills.com/gallery/jwds065.jpg)

More pics of waterford cars can be seen here, waterford races everything from Ford Festivas to Chevy Corvettes, Mustangs to Cameros, Mazdas to Dutsuns, and even a few formula cars:

Sorry, I haven't seen any avengers or sebrings, but I know they'd be welcome!

http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Waterford/ (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Waterford/)

My wife and I are also big into motorcycles.  I ride an old yamaha venture, because it's cheap, and plenty fast.  My wife rides a 92 Nighthawk 750.  Ocassionally I "borrow it" to give my kids a ride.

My daughter, Kim, is almost 4yrs old and she loves going for rides while her lil brother takes a nap:

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Kids/DSCF0984.jpg)

Nathan is not even two yet, but anything his sister does, he does:

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Kids/DSCF0989.jpg)


Basically my point is, follow your passions!


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarn
Post by: JusBringIt on October 29, 2006, 03:54:16 PM
sounds good. In a year i'll have my degree in mechanical engineering, Im all about making cars faster/better/more efficient. so i'd be interested in anything.. i will take a look at ur site.


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarn
Post by: Gregory Gill on October 29, 2006, 04:47:58 PM
sounds good. In a year i'll have my degree in mechanical engineering, Im all about making cars faster/better/more efficient. so i'd be interested in anything.. i will take a look at ur site.

Where are you studying?  My undergraduate is from General Motors Institute (Now Kettering University) and my masters is from the U of Michigan.


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarn
Post by: JusBringIt on October 29, 2006, 04:56:12 PM
u probably havent heard of it: SUNY Institute of Technology. It's located in Utica, upstate NY. They have a pretty good program  there, gets kinda retarded at times. i.e the teachers are good..but can be a**holes. the professers always talk about being accredited by tac/abet, and im pretty sure u have heard about that accreditation board. im finishing up my undergrad in case it wasnt clear. i wont be going for a masters b/c from what i heard, at this point, it wouldnt be necessary as employers wouldnt pay me what i'd be worth..sooo...there goes that. I'll probably do it later on after i get some industry experience.


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: Spectre on October 29, 2006, 07:30:13 PM
  Since he wants to keep the body style OEM, we are not sure what to do with this emblem:

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/FIL%20Avenger%20Project/DSCF1214.jpg)


I say keep it on!


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: Burn504 on October 29, 2006, 08:19:16 PM
very nice work... keep it updated


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: ken on October 29, 2006, 10:00:41 PM
yup, thats awsome.  first, my father had a cuda just like that one and to the=is day he says his biggest mistake was gettin rid of it.  now, its also very cool to see 2 dif v8 concepts goin at the same time.  i love it, our cars are slowly but surely becoming a force to be reckoned with.  screw you honda!!!!


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarn
Post by: Sroufe7 on October 30, 2006, 03:19:49 AM
very nice!  ;D should put a '97+ front on the car if your gonna keep the stock body. 

Work looks very nice.  I wish I had the funds to do a project like that. 

Good luck with the rest of the work...and be sure to keep us posted.


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarning)
Post by: Frank on January 16, 2007, 07:14:46 AM
any updates??? lerts see this sucker


Title: Re: I thought some of you may enjoy this: FIL's 1996 Dodge Avenger (56k uberwarn
Post by: Shiano on January 17, 2007, 06:07:56 AM
i haven't heard anything in a loooooooooong while


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