General Challenger

  • Auto-Stop/Start Technology

    Since the Obama Administration finalized standards in 2012, to encourage the automotive industry to reach a 54.5 miles per gallon corporate fuel economy average by 2025, manufacturers have been employing every means possible to squeeze another mile out of a gallon of gasoline. A combination of aerodynamics, weight savings, electrification, hybrid technologies and advanced engine management software has gone a long way, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that you save a lot...
  • Paddle shifters

    Paddle shifters, once exclusive to race cars and exotic sports cars, like the Ferrari F430, are now becoming commonplace on performance cars with automatic transmissions. This is because manual transmissions are going away faster than the landline telephone. Critics of automatics say that they take the passion and command out of driving. Paddle shifters, however, bring some of that joy and control back by allowing drivers to manually shift an automatic transmission with steering-wheel or...
  • Safety Regulations/Equipment for Racing

    If you plan to enter your vehicle in any competition sanctioned by the NHRA, your Challenger is going to have to pass a series of pre-race inspections for the required safety equipment. These requirements get more stringent as the expected horsepower and speeds increase.The SFI Foundation sets the standard for quality assurance in the vast majority of aftermarket and performance products. Basic Safety The basic safety stuff for the street legal classes is pretty simple. You’ve got to have...
  • Car Weight Terminology

    There are three different terms that are used concerning a car's weight- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and Curb Weight. So how are they different? A car’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) refers to the maximum poundage your car can weigh to operate safely and without harm to its components. Put simply, it's the maximum weight before everything breaks. Manufacturers calculate this number by testing the structural integrity of your car’s suspension...
  1. What is a Stroker Engine?

    Internal combustion engines are commonly referred to by their displacements, whether its old-school cubic inches or more modern CC and liters. An engine's displacement is calculated using the diameter of its cylinders and the length of its crankshaft stroke to determine the volume of each cylinder. That volume is multiplied by the number of cylinders to get the total displacement. There are two ways to increase the displacement of the engine in your car. You could bore the cylinders to a...
  2. Exhaust Backpressure

    This YouTube video explains exhaust backpressure, exhaust scavenging and turbo pressures.
  3. How does MDS Work?

    The following Motor Trend article, describes in detail, how the MDS system works. What Is Hemi MDS? (motortrend.com)
  4. Pulling Fuse #2 and Adaptives

    HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PULL #2 FUSE (older Challengers) Pulling Fuse F2 resets: All PCM DTCs erased. All OBD2 monitor results erased. All "long term fuel trim adaptive" values reset to Zero. Long term Fuel Adaptive trim will now start over the next 100 engine start cycles. Cycle the headlights as described above will create a Short Term Fuel Adaptive trim table over the next 50 start cycles. Driver Adaptive? Driver Adaptive and related fuel table trim is probably the least...
  5. EV Charging & Battery Life

    Electric cars need to be recharged frequently for efficiency. However, charging an electric car is a much different experience than refueling a gas or diesel vehicle. Instead of a few minutes, charging an EV can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over 30 hours. This is because there are actually three levels of electric car charging. Levels of Charging NeoCharge provides a breakdown of the three levels of EV charging. Each level of charging is defined by the amount of voltage, which...
  6. New LED's for my 2009 R/T. Pictures do not do it justice!

    Well I've been waiting around to win the lottery so I could afford some LED tail lights. So just for giggles I bid 400 bucks for a set on eBay and the offer was accepted. I ordered my three layer center decal in advance so I put it on before the lights. It was a little tall so I just trimmed it before I took off the paper. I always wanted a blacked out rear end but I never liked those covers that went over the stock lights of the 2008 through 2014. I purchased the smoke set and it does not...
  7. Featured

    Windshield Dots

    The small black dots on a car windshield are called frits, which are black painted enamel that’s baked onto the surface of the glass. Modern cars have a windshield bonded to the frame. He described how the windshield is bonded using a strong and long-lasting urethane adhesive, which makes the windshield a structural component of the vehicle’s body. The frits “provide a secure point of contact between the glass, urethane adhesive, and windshield frame. Essentially, the small black dots help...
  8. Blind Spot Monitoring

    What is Blind-Spot Monitoring? Blind-spot monitoring one of those features we didn’t know we needed or wanted until carmakers began offering it. Volvo was the first, incidentally. It offered its Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) for the S80 in 2005. BSM is just what its name implies. It keeps an eye on the space just off the rear quarter areas of your vehicle. These blind spots can hide a vehicle approaching in an adjacent lane because many drivers improperly set their car’s outboard...
  9. Li-Ion Batteries

    We are now entering the electric car age. These vehicles are powered by Li-Ion batteries. This type of battery is energy dense and durable. However, it can also be unstable and prone to catching fire under certain circumstances. But not all Li-Ion batteries are suited for vehicles. How Do They Work? Lithium ions store the energy by creating an electric potential difference between the negative and positive poles of the battery. Those are isolated using a separator material to prevent...
  10. Featured

    Prochargers

    In a previous article, superchargers and turbochargers were discussed in detail (see link, below). Superchargers vs. Turbochargers | Dodge Challenger Forum Anyone who goes to the track, or watches the cable TV show, Street Outlaws, knows that many knowledgeable racers are going to prochargers. In fact, Ryan Martin, switched his Fireball Camaro from twin turbos to prochargers. Watch his interview at the 2:30 minute mark. Prochargers, superchargers and turbochargers are all different...
  11. 100 Anniversary Edition Challenger.

    Hello, I have a 2014 Anniversary Edition Challenger. purchased it new in 2014. Since then, I have NOT seen any other anniversary models on the road, except I did see a 2014 anniversary Charger. Everywhere I go, a lot of Mopar guys ask me, What model is your car. In the winter time, its kept in the garage, covered and I drive my Ram. Which is also awesome. Several people at car shows ask if I want to sell it. The answer is, always, NO. I love this car. I have under 30,000 miles. Now, I've...
  12. Wind Tunnels

    When most people think of wind tunnels, an aerospace tunnel usually comes to mind. This helps designers and engineers understand how aircraft will behave during various flight conditions. Automotive wind tunnels are usually very similar to aerospace tunnels, but they often feature a rolling floor that lets test engineers simulate a car driving on the road at various speeds. What are Wind Tunnels? Wind tunnels are large tubes with air blowing through them which are used to replicate the...
  13. Security Devices

    As you know, there has been an ongoing problem concerning the theft of high performance Dodge cars, notably Hellcat and Scat Pack Challengers and Chargers. Security devices are now more important than ever. They can be categorized as follows deterrent devices, anti-theft devices and tracking devices. Deterrent Devices Alarm System Alarm systems are only effective in areas where they will attract immediate attention. And unless the alarm is unique, it will be ignored. If you want to add...
  14. Window Tint

    Window film (a/k/a, tint) is a thin laminate film that can be installed to the interior or exterior of glass surfaces in automobiles. It is usually made from polyethylene terephthalate due to its clarity, tensile strength, dimensional stability, and ability to accept a variety of surface-applied or embedded treatments. Window films are generically categorized by their construction components (dyed, pigmented, metallized, ceramic or nano), by their intended use (automotive, marine or...
  15. Ethanol Fuel Mixtures

    The question frequently comes up, “Are E10 and E85 fuels harmful to my engine?” Here is everything you wanted to know about the chemical compound ethanol that is added to gasoline. Ethanol is used as an “oxygenate” and is added to fuel to help reduce hydrocarbon emissions that cause air pollution. It is highly refined beverage (grain) alcohol, approximately 200-proof, that can be produced from natural products such as corn, sugar cane and wheat. New technology allows ethanol to be made...
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