Chris Perna's 1968 Twin Turbo 580" HEMI Dodge Charger

2nd Gen HEMI projects and products.

Moderator: scottm

Post Reply
User avatar
scottm
Posts: 3442
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2001 7:00 pm
Location: Texas
Contact:

Chris Perna's 1968 Twin Turbo 580" HEMI Dodge Charger

Post by scottm »

Image

Chris Perna's 1968 Twin Turbo 580" HEMI Dodge Charger
http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/150 ... e-charger/
Chris Perna grew up with a very vivid imagination and a talent for drawing. Perhaps because he also loved horror films, especially the old black-and-white classics, his imagination pushed his art down a dark, sinister path that led to him creating all sorts of creatures and evil-looking monsters. Growing up in the Ed "Big Daddy" Roth era, monster cars also found their way into Chris' psyche and, to him, the basis for the ultimate monster car had to be a 1968 Hemi Charger.

While working as an art director for an ad agency, Chris was introduced to the first version of the video game Doom, and he knew then that what he really wanted to do was to work in the gaming industry. Fast-forward a bunch of years and Chris is now director of art, Worldwide Studios at Epic Games. (Perhaps you've heard of Gears of War.)

When the time finally came to turn his fantasy Charger into reality, Chris called on John Balow, owner of Muscle Car Restorations in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, to find out what was possible. Drawing on his extensive art-direction experience, Chris was able to work with MCR's design team to craft the best possible version of his childhood daydreams.

Professing a love for dark, sinister things, Chris went for a black-on-black-on-black look with a touch of red because, "Red on black presents an evil look." As one might imagine, Chris is not technology averse, so it's no surprise that there are multiple computer systems in the car: FAST XFI for the Hemi, TCI for the trans, a touchscreen head unit for the sound, and a full ISIS system for all the electrical components that lets Chris control the entire car (except starting) from any phone, tablet, or wi-fi–enabled computer. Even the parking brake is electronically actuated.

Of course, a monster car needs a monster engine. And while a "Big Daddy"–style supercharger would be in keeping with the theme, there was no way that Chris was going to cut a big hole in the top of his pretty lady. But Balow was able to assure Chris that scary power could be had with a pair of turbos lurking under the hood connected to a 580-inch Hemi.

Every creature also needs an intimidating roar that startles its prey into a panic. At first, this one will seem rather mild-mannered and friendly. That is, until all 1,200 horses are unleashed on the unsuspecting.

Being the dark, brooding sort of guy that he is, we're not sure how often you'll find Chris out it the daylight with this beast, but you can bet that you'll find him skulking around in the nighttime shadows looking for someone to frighten.

Tech Notes
Who: Chris Perna
What: 1968 Dodge Charger
Where: Raleigh-Durham, NC

Engine: A crate Hemi bumped up to 580 inches (4.530 bore x 4.50 stroke) and fed by a pair of Garret GT4094R 68mm liquid-cooled, ball-bearing turbos through a 90mm billet throttle-body and into a Lofgren 426-20 Indy EFI manifold. At 15 psi of boost, this monster registered 1,208 hp at 5,000 rpm and 1,313 lb-ft at 4,600. Since the torque was already falling at this point (the dyno couldn't pull it any lower than that), the best guess at available torque is somewhere around 1,400+ in the low 4,000s. Fully ported aluminum heads with 2.25- and 1.94-inch stainless valves together with a custom-grind cam from LSM Engineering (0.656 lift intake, 0.620 lift, exhaust with 244 degrees duration at 0.050 lift) provide the pathway for that kind of intake charge to get to the 9.0:1 custom Diamond Racing turbo pistons. K1 Technologies billet 7.100-inch H-beam rods make the connection to the 4.5-inch stroke Callies crank that is held in place by billet steel caps. Muscle Car Restorations made the custom turbo plumbing that includes a custom-made Bell intercooler. FAST's XFI makes this level of surprisingly streetable power possible.

Transmission and Rearend: A GM 4L80E managed by TCI's TCU handles the power, sending it though a 60-inch custom driveshaft to an MCR hand-fabricated 9-inch housing containing Strange Engineering S/S street axles and 3.70:1 gears.

Suspension: The front end is supported by a Reilly Motorsports Alterktion unit, while the back is controlled by a Morrison 32-inch Street Ladder bar system with 350-pound Hyperco coilover shocks. The slightly lowered stance promotes the sinister attitude.

Brakes/Wheels/Tires: Gripping the asphalt on all four corners are 26x8R18 and 31x18R20 Mickey Thompson Sportsman Radials on 7x18 and 15x20 Billet Specialties Smoothie IIs, each with a 4-inch backspace. Wilwood 14-inch rotors with six-piston calipers up front and four pistons in the back make it possible for Chris to reign in this beast.

Body: Chris' desire was to pare the body down to the pure lines of the original design by removing all the trim, drip rails, door handles, and locks. The quarter extensions were blended in, and the rest of the shiny parts were black chromed. The paint is PPG Pitch Black 9700 and has been what Muscle Car Restorations calls optically polished to the degree that you can read the name on the light bulbs that are reflected in it from the ceiling.

Interior: While the outside is Charger in its purest form, the inside is all custom done. The black-anodized, brushed-aluminum dash contains 10 Stewart Warner gauges in custom-machined bezels. The red-on-black illumination extends the evil look to the inside. The seats are Recaro Sport Top and the wheel is a Billet Specialties Boost. Rear seats are custom-made using Wise Guy frames. The whole interior, including the door panels and rollcage, is covered with hand-stitched leather and black Alcantara. The Custom Sound and Logic system with a pair of 1,200-watt Hertz HX 300D woofers in the truck can arguably release as much power as the Hemi under the hood. You haven't really heard Ted Nugent until you've sat in this thing.

Stuff We Like: The super-sinister look of the red LEDs surrounding the headlights. The custom Charger T/T (Twin Turbo) emblems about the car. The black chrome. The full-length interior console that continues on into the trunk. Black on black on black on black...
More Photos: http://www.thehemi.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=8624

Wow, this is a gorgeous Charger! I really love the engine and interior. :D
Post Reply