1970 Challenger Project Ultraviolet Payoff

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY ON DETROIT MUSCLE IT'S A BIG DAY FOR OUR PURPLE HEMI POWERED CHALLENGER, PROJECT ULTRA VIOLET. SHE'S OUT FOR HER MAIDEN VOYAGE AND WE'RE TAKING HER STRAIGHT TO THE TRACK WHERE WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO SETUP GMACHINE'S SUSPENSION.

(TOMMY)>> WHEN WE STARTED TO WORK ON OUR 1970 DODGE CHALLENGER IT WAS BARELY MORE THAN A RUSTY SHELL. SHE HAD TO TAKE A TRIP TO THE BLASTER SO WE COULD START FROM ABSOLUTE ZERO.

(MARC)>> AND THE FIRST THING TO BE REPLACED WAS THE ROOF, WHICH WAS THE FIRST OF MANY

SHEET METAL PANELS. [ WELDER CRACKLING ]

(MARC)>> FOR A CHASSIS IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST, A SCHWARTZ PERFORMANCE GMACHINE PLATFORM THAT WOULD COMPLETELY REVOLUTIONIZE THE

WAY THIS CAR HANDLES. [ SAW CUTTING ]

(MARC)>> AFTER THAT THERE WERE A LOT MORE PANELS TO REPLACE.

(TOMMY)>> MEANWHILE IN INDIANAPOLIS, A MONSTER HEMI WAS BEING BROUGHT TO LIFE. [ ENGINE REVVING ]

(TOMMY)>> AND WE BACKED IT UP WITH A SIX SPEED ALONG

WITH A DRIVESHAFT FROM DAN'S DRIVELINE.

(MARC)>> AND WITH SOME MODIFICATION THE SHAKER BECAME THE NEXT PIECE TO FIT IN THE PUZZLE.

(TOMMY)>> THEN WE HAD TO MAKE ROOM FOR SOME HUGE NEW WHEELS AND TIRES BY ALTERING THE REAR TUBS.

(MARC)>> IN SOUTH CAROLINA, SHE GOT THE PAINT JOB OF A LIFETIME, AND A TRIBUTE TO PLUM CRAZY PURPLE WE CALL "CAROLINA VIOLET".

(TOMMY)>> THERE WERE STILL LOTS OF PIECES THAT HAD TO BE FIXED OR REPLACED, LIKE THE GRILL AND BUMPERS.

(MARC)>> FINALLY SHE WAS READY FOR WHEELS AND TIRES SO WE COULD GET A LOOK AT THE STANCE.

THEN A CUSTOM FUEL SYSTEM TO LIGHT A FIRE IN THAT BIG HEMI.

(TOMMY)>> A FEW MORE CUSTOM TOUCHES TO SET IT APART FROM THE CROWD, ALONG WITH REPLACING AND REBUILDING THE ENTIRE INTERIOR ONE PIECE AT A TIME. DAG GUM, ULTRA VIOLET IS READY.

HEY GUYS, WE TOOK US A FIELD TRIP UP TO BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY, TO THE NCM MOTORSPORTS PARK. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL NEW TRACK AND THEY'RE FINISHING UP

THE FINAL TOUCHES AS WE SPEAK.

(MARC)>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND THE WEATHER'S SO BEAUTIFUL

TODAY WE FIGURED WE'D DO THIS CHALLENGER SOME JUSTICE WITH SOME TRACK TIME. [ ENGINE FIRES AND REVS ]

(MARC)>> TIME TO DO A LITTLE SHAKEDOWN RUN JUST TO GET HER BROKEN IN RIGHT?

[ ENGINE REVVING ]

[ ENGINE REVVING ]

(MARC)>> EVEN WITH COMPLETELY UNADJUSTED SUSPENSION SHE'S ALREADY LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF WHERE THE HANDLING WOULD HAVE EVER BEEN ON THIS CAR FROM THE FACTORY. [ ENGINE REVVING ]

(TOMMY)>> ALRIGHT GUYS, WE'VE GOT OUR CONES SET UP AND WE'VE GOT SOME PRETTY BIG PLANS FOR TODAY. SO WE BROUGHT IN A GUEST, BRIAN FINCH. YOU ALL HAVE SEEN HIM ON THE SHOW BEFORE. HE'S HELPED OUT A LOT WITH OUR PROJECTS. BRIAN FIRST THING TODAY, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

(BRIAN)>> WELL WITH ANY NEW BUILD THE FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO IS BASE LINE THIS CAR, RIGHT? GO OUT, PUT SOME LAP DOWN, TAKE SOME TIMES, TAKE SOME MEASUREMENTS, AND THEN START ADJUSTING. SEE IF WE CAN MAKE IT FASTER.

(TOMMY)>> YOU'VE SEEN HIM ON OUR SHOWS BEFORE.

JUST IN CASE YOU FORGOT, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT BRIAN FINCH. HE'S A PROFESSIONAL AUTOCROSSER FROM TENNESSEE, THAT KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT IT TAKES

TO PUSH ONE OF THESE CARS TO THE LIMIT. HE'S ALSO THE OWNER OF FINCH PERFORMANCE, OFFERING A VARIETY OF SPEED PARTS TO GET THE MAXIMUM OUT OF A CAR'S CAPABILITIES.

(BRIAN)>> YOU KNOW YOU'RE ALWAYS WANTING TO LOOK A TURN OR TWO AHEAD TO PUT YOUR CAR IN POSITION.

(MARC)>> HE'S GONNA GIVE US A RUNDOWN OF HOW TO HANDLE THIS COURSE.

(BRIAN)>> STAY NICE AND TIGHT, THERE YOU GO. ANOTHER 180, BACK AROUND THIS WAY.

(MARC)>> HE'S ALSO GAUGING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR. FOR EXAMPLE, HE NOTICED OUR FRONT TIRES ARE

PUSHING IN THE CORNERS A BIT. [ TIRES SQUEALING ]

(BRIAN)>> THERE YOU GO, STRAIGHT AHEAD, STRAIGHT AHEAD.

(BRIAN)>> GO AHEAD AND SHORT SHIFT INTO SECOND.

BACK AND FORTH.

(MARC)>> WOW, THAT CAM, HUH?

(TOMMY)>> A COURSE LIKE THIS TAKES A LITTLE GETTING USED TO, BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF LAPS WITH BRIAN...

...YOU GET A LOT MORE CONFIDENCE, AS WELL AS A BETTER FEEL FOR THE CAR.

[ ENGINE REVVING ]

(TOMMY)>> THAT INCLUDES BRIAN TOO. HE TAKES A COUPLE OF SPINS TO GET THE FEEL FOR WHAT THE CAR'S DOING. [ ENGINE REVVING ]

(TOMMY)>> AND FOR WHAT WE'LL NEED TO DO TO IMPROVE IT. AFTER EVERYBODY HAD SOME SEAT TIME, IT GIVES US A

PICTURE OF WHAT THE CAR'S DOING.

(MARC)>> WHILE IT'S FRESH OFF THE COURSE, THE FIRST THING TO DO IS CHECK THE TIRE TEMPERATURES IN A FEW KEY SPOTS. AND ONCE THAT'S ALL DONE WE'RE HEADING TO THE PITS.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, WE'RE GONNA DIVE UNDER

THAT PURPLE MOPAR AND GET TO WORK SETTING UP THE SUSPENSION. CHECK OUT HOW A FEW TWEAKS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

(MARC)>> HEY, WE'RE BACK WITH OUR CHALLENGER AT NCM MOTORSPORTS PARK IN BOWLING GREEN.

AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE DATA WE GATHERED ON THE AUTOCROSS COURSE AND USE THAT TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR CHASSIS. WE'RE GONNA PUT HER ON THE SCALES.

(BRIAN)>> THE FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO BEFORE WE SCALE THE CAR IS MAKE SURE THE TIRES ARE ALL THE SAME PRESSURE ALL THE WAY AROUND BECAUSE SO MUCH AS A HALF A POUND DIFFERENCE IN A TIRE CAN REALLY EFFECT THE SCALE READINGS.

(KEN)>> HOW MUCH CAN IT EFFECT IT?

(BRIAN)>> I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, WHERE A HALF POUND YOU CAN BE 20-30 POUNDS MORE PRESSURE FORCING DOWN ON THE SCALE IN THAT CORNER. ALRIGHT, LOOKS LIKE 3,530 POUNDS.

(MARC)>> WHAT DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN AND HOW'S THIS GONNA HELP US?

(BRIAN)>> WELL WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE GONNA CHECK THE CORNER WEIGHTS

OF THE CAR, RIGHT? SO WE'VE GOT IT ON THE SCALES. WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THE FRONT TO REAR BIAS. WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT EACH CORNER'S BIAS.

IDEALLY WHAT WE WANT TO GET IS A TRUE 50/50 CORNER WEIGHT CROSS WEIGHTS ON THE CAR, AND WE WANT IT WITH THE DRIVER IN THE CAR CAUSE THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GONNA BE OUT THERE ON THE TRACK RUNNING. ALRIGHT SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE, RIGHT,

WE'VE GOT OUR LEFT FRONT, RIGHT FRONT, RIGHT REAR, LEFT REAR, EXCETRA. THE WEIGHTS ARE JUST BEING DISPLAYED. RIGHT NOW WE'RE SHOWING THAT WE'RE 54.7, 54.8 ROUGHLY WEIGHT TO THE FRONT. THAT LEAVES US OF COURSE YOU KNOW 45 ROUGHLY IN THE REAR. SO WE KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FRONT END WEIGHT. WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL CORNERS, WE START LOOKING AT OUR CROSS WEIGHTS. SO NOW WE KNOW WE'RE 47/53, SO OUR CROSS

WEIGHTS ARE A LITTLE BIT OFF. I'M GONNA GO AND MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CORNERS AND GET THIS THING 50/50.

(TOMMY)>> NOW THE WAY THE CAR WAS DRIVING OUT THERE

IT WAS PUSHING IN THE CORNERS. SO WE MEASURED THE TEMPERATURE OF THE TIRES, AND ON THE OUTSIDE THEY WERE HIGHER, OR HOTTER. SO THAT MEANS OUR CAMBER'S OFF.

(BRIAN)>> YEAH IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ABOUT ONE DEGREE POSITIVE CAMBER. SO THE TIRE'S TILTED OUT, WE NEED TO GET IT TILTED IN.

(TOMMY)>> AMONG THE THREE MOST POPULAR ALIGNMENT TERMS IS CAMBER. THE ANGLE OF THE WHEEL WHEN VIEWED FROM

THE FRONT OF THE CAR.

IF THE TOP LEANS OUT FROM THE CENTER, THE CAMBER IS POSITIVE. IN FROM THE CENTER, THAT'S NEGATIVE. NOW CASTOR IS THE ANGLE OF THE STEERING PIVOT WHEN VIEWED FROM THE SIDE. IF THE TOP OF THE PIVOT LEANS TOWARD THE REAR CASTOR'S POSITIVE, TOWARDS THE FRONT IT'S NEGATIVE. TOE IN IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE TIRES, MEASURED IN FRACTIONS OF AN INCH. TOE IN MEANS THE FRONT TIRES ARE ACTUALLY CLOSER TO EACH OTHER. TOE OUT MEANS JUST THE OPPOSITE.

(MARC)>> MAKING CAMBER ADJUSTMENTS ON THIS SCHWARTZ CHASSIS IS SUPER EASY. YOU BACK OUT THIS BOLT CONNECTED TO A ROD THAT GOES TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SPINDLE. THEN UNDO THE CONNECTING ROD ON THE SWAY BAR TO FREE IT UP.

THEN YOU TURN THIS EYELET OUT FOR MORE NEGATIVE CAMBER AND IN FOR MORE POSITIVE.

NORMALLY THE ADJUSTMENTS HAVE TO BE MADE UP HERE BY SHIMMING THE CONTROL ARMS, BUT THIS SETUP

MAKES IT A LOT EASIER.

(BRIAN)>> WELL WE'VE SWUNG HER TWO DEGREES. SO WE TOOK OUT THAT DEGREE OF POSITIVE AND PUT A DEGREE OF NEGATIVE IN. SO A GOOD STARTING POINT.

(MARC)>> NOW BEFORE WE CAN PUT THE FINAL TOUCHES ON ADJUSTING OUR SUSPENSION WE NEED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE DRIVER. THAT'S TOMMY'S JOB.

SO NOW WE CAN GO BACK, SET OUR CORNER WEIGHTS, CHECK THAT OFF OUR LIST. YOU KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

(BRIAN)>> SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE VEHICLE. YOU CAN SEE BY THE RIGHT REAR AND THE LEFT FRONT THAT WE'VE KINDA JACKED THE CAR. IT'S KIND OF PIVOTING ON THOSE TWO. SO FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA DO IS GO TO THE LOWEST WEIGHT, WHICH IS THE LEFT REAR, START ADJUSTING THAT UP. WE SHOULD PUT MORE LOAD ON THE RIGHT FRONT, BALANCE OUT THE CAR.

(TOMMY)>> THE WAY WE'RE GONNA MAKE THESE CHANGES IS WITH THE ADJUSTING RINGS ON THE SHOCK BODIES. THIS CHANGES THE SPRING TENSION, WHICH ADJUSTS THE AMOUNT OF LOAD ON EACH CORNER. THE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE GOT IS THESE TWO CORNERS ARE CARRYING A SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF THE CAR'S WEIGHT THAN THESE TWO ARE. SO WE'LL ADJUST THEM ACCORDINGLY.

(BRIAN)>> I MEAN IT'S 39, 40 NOW.

(TOMMY)>> WE'LL REDUCE THE SPRING TENSION A LITTLE ON THE CORNERS THAT CARRY MORE OF THE LOAD AND TIGHTEN THEM ON THE LIGHTER ONES.

AFTER A SERIES OF TWEAKS ON EACH WHEEL WE'RE ABLE TO BALANCE IT OUT TO RIGHT AT 50 PERCENT SPLIT ACROSS EACH SIDE.

(MARC)>> NOW WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET THE SCALES OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ADJUSTMENT, WHICH WILL BE TOE IN.

(BRIAN)>> 71 AND THREE QUARTERS.

YOU CAN TELL THAT WE'RE TOED IN A TON. SO AFTER WE'VE ADJUSTED THE CAMBER, WE'VE GOT THE SUSPENSION SITTING RIGHT, WE NEED TO GET THE TOE BACK OUT. WE'RE GONNA PUT ABOUT A 16TH TOE OUT, HELPS THE TURN IN. THEN WE'LL GO OUT THERE AND MAKE SOME RUNS.

(MARC)>> WE'LL MAKE THIS ADJUSTMENT ON THE TIE ROD AND WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. NOW ONE LAST THING THAT WE NOTICED WHILE WERE DRIVING IT IS THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE KICKING IN TOO HARD. WE CAN EASILY ADJUST THAT RIGHT HERE ON THE BRAKE BIAS KNOB.

(ANNOUNCER)>> AFTER THE BREAK COME ALONG FOR ANOTHER RIDE AS WE FIND OUT IF THOSE TWEAKS HELPED.

(MARC)>> WELCOME BACK GUYS. WE'VE GOT ULTRA VIOLET OUT ON HER MAIDEN VOYAGE AT NCM MOTORSPORTS PARK. ALRIGHT SO WE'VE MADE OUR ADJUSTMENTS. WE'VE MADE A CAMBER ADJUSTMENT, TOE ADJUSTMENT, SET OUR CORNER WEIGHTS, MADE A BRAKE BIAS ADJUSTMENT, AND SET THE TIRE PRESSURE. YOU THINK WE'RE READY TO GO?

(BRIAN)>> YEAH, CAR'S READY, SO LET'S GO OUT AND PUT IT ON THE TRACK.

(MARC)>> ALRIGHT COOL. [ ENGINE REVVING ]

(TOMMY)>> ALREADY YOU CAN TELL THAT THERE'S A BIG

DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THE CAR TAKES THESE CORNERS. LESS LEAN, NO TIRE PUSH, AND NOW WE CAN PUT THAT BIG HEMI TO WAY MORE USE. WE'VE EASILY CUT A FEW SECONDS OFF THE TIME IT

TAKES TO MAKE IT AROUND THE COURSE. [ ENGINE REVVING ]

[ TIRES SQUEALING ]

[ ENGINE REVVING ]

(MARC)>> IT ACTUALLY HANDLES SO MUCH DIFFERENTLY FROM BEFORE THAT DRIVING IT TAKES A LITTLE GETTING USED TO AGAIN.

LOOKS LIKE TOM GOT A LITTLE EXCITED.

[ BLEEP ]

(MARC)>> WE'LL LET HIM TAKE ANOTHER STAB AT IT.

[ TIRES SQUEALING ]

(MARC)>> THIS TIME HE'S LOOKING A LOT BETTER.

(TOMMY)>> THE CLOCK DOESN'T LIE, AND WHAT IT'S TELLING US IS THAT THOSE ADJUSTMENTS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN RUNNING THE COURSE FASTER.

WITH MORE TIME WE COULD KEEP WHITTLING IT DOWN EVEN FURTHER, BUT THIS WILL DO IT FOR NOW. THE DODGE RAN PRETTY GOOD AND IT RAN EVEN BETTER WITH THE HELP OF OUR BUDDY BRIAN FINCH. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN.

(BRIAN)>> ANY TIME TOM, MY PLEASURE.

(TOMMY)>> WE'LL LET HIM FINISH UP.

(BRIAN)>> HELL YEAH!

(ANNOUNCER)>> STILL AHEAD WE'LL SHOW YOU SOME OF OUR SECRETS FOR KEEPING YOUR RIDE NICE AND COOL!

(MARC)>> HEY GUYS WE GOT ULTRA VIOLET BACK IN THE SHOP NOW AND WE'RE JUST PUTTING A WRENCH ON SOME

OF THESE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS BEFORE WE SEND IT DOWN THE ROAD. AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU HERE.

(TOMMY)>> IF YOU'LL TAKE A LOOK RIGHT HERE YOU CAN SEE THAT WE WRAPPED OUR THREE INCH EXHAUST IN DEI EXHAUST WRAP ALL THE WAY FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK. THE PRIMARY REASON WE WRAPPED OUR EXHAUST WAS JUST FOR THE LOOK. NOW IT'S PRETTY EASY TO DO AND DEI OFFERS A FEW DIFFERENT COLORS. THEY HAVE IT IN TAN, BLACK, AND THIS TITANIUM, BUT IF YOU DECIDE TO GO WITH THE BLACK OR THE TAN A LITTLE TIP FOR YOU. SOAK IT IN WATER FOR JUST A BIT. IT'LL MAKE APPLICATION A WHOLE LOT EASIER. NOT ONLY DOES IT LOOK GREAT, BUT WRAPPING EXHAUST AND HEADERS SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASE THE RADIANT TEMPERATURES THAT THEY CREATE. SO IF YOU'RE FIGHTING THAT ISSUE, MAYBE SOMETHING YOU NEED TO CHECK INTO.

(MARC)>> SO WE GRABBED A SET OF SHORTY HEADERS WE HAD LAYING AROUND THE BACK, AND I'M GONNA TITANIUM WRAP AND SHOW YOU HOW TO PUT IT ON. ALRIGHT SO THE FIRST THING TO DO IS TAKE THE WRAP AND PUT IT AROUND ONE OF THE TUBES AND COUNT OUT HOW MANY OF THESE LOOPS YOU'RE GONNA NEED. AND KEEP IN MIND YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO HAVE ABOUT A QUARTER INCH OVERLAP EACH WRAP. ALRIGHT, SO THAT COMES OUT TO ABOUT SIX. SO WE HAVE ONE WRAP HERE. WE'RE JUST GONNA COUNT OFF SIX OF THOSE.

CAUSE WE'RE GONNA FOLD THIS OVER, CORNER TO CORNER, AND THEN FLAT, AND THAT'S GONNA BE OUR STARTING POINT. NOW WE CAN BEGIN WRAPPING IT AROUND THE TUBES USING THAT QUARTER INCH OVERLAP THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

WE'LL ALSO REPEAT THAT CORNER FOLDING TRICK HERE AT THE OTHER END TO KEEP THINGS NICE AND TIDY.

THEN WE'LL USE DEI'S LOCKING TIES TO GET IT CINCHED DOWN USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO FINISH THE JOB.

BE SURE TO TUCK THAT END UNDERNEATH.

(TOMMY)>> THEN ON TO THE WREST OF THE TUBES. SOME OF THEM WILL BE WRAPPED INDIVIDUALLY, SOME TOGETHER.

THE CLOSER YOU GET TO THE COLLECTOR THE MORE LIKELY YOU'LL NEED TO WRAP MORE THAN ONE AT A TIME.

(MARC)>> ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT. NOW THAT'S GONNA HELP CONTROL THE HEAT IN YOUR ENGINE BAY, PLUS IT LOOKS PRETTY COOL.

(TOMMY)>> DEI OFFERS SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS AND A FEW OF THEM WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND INSTALL ON OUR CAMARO, QUITE FRANKLY BECAUSE WE NEED TO. THE FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA INSTALL IS A SET OF THESE SPARK PLUG BOOTS. NOW THE INSTALLATION IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE BECAUSE IT JUST SLIDES ON AND OFF. AND SINCE WE'RE RUNNING THOSE HEADERS WE KNOW IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE END UP EATING A SET OF PLUG WIRES. THEN FOLLOW THAT UP WITH SOME OF THIS PROTECTING SLEEVING FOR OUR ELECTRICAL WIRES THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT TOO CLOSE TO THE HOT SPOTS IF YOU WILL.

NOW DEI OFFERS SEVERAL OTHER COOL COMPONENTS, KINDA LIKE THIS TURBO BOOT COVER. OUR CAR ISN'T BOOSTED BUT THIS THING IS COOL. ANOTHER THING IS THIS INSULATING HOSE COVER. IT'S PRETTY NEAT TOO. WELL THAT PRETTY MUCH DOES IT FOR THIS GO AROUND ON DETROIT MUSCLE. WE'LL SEE YOU GUYS NEXT TIME.