GenIII HEMI build thread - wife calls it Mistress

[1fastsedan]

Just a quick update. Everything is almost done at powder coating. Here are the small parts. The chassis should be done this week too. 2-stage misty purple powder on all.



They finished up the chassis today. Lots o' purple pipes.

[1fastsedan]

Final assembly of the chassis started yesterday!

[1fastsedan]

Pretty busy day working on the 33 today. Had some successful testing for engine turning the firewall, re-tapped all of the holes in the chassis, got all the aluminum chassis panels primed and undercoated with special blend of bed liner with ceramic microspheres (kind of like a polyurethane version of lizard skin), fuel tank/lines and brake lines were reinstalled, and we got the exhaust re-installed. All while it was 100 degrees out.

[1fastsedan]

Well, another month has gone by and unfortunately we haven't had a lot of time to work on the 33 due to prepping parts and cars for SEMA. Now that the show is over, I can get back to work on this thing. Today, we finally glued and screwed down all of the chassis panels, laid the first layer of sound deadening mat, and installed the e-brake handle and cables. We're waiting on some mill time to finish the firewall. Once the firewall is done, then the motor goes back in.

[1fastsedan]

We got some time on the mill today at our machinist's shop. It took about 4 hours to get the upper firewall panel 90% turned. As our machinist said, "You guys are crazy, but it does look *****in'."

[1fastsedan]

Finally got the firewall finished, that was a lot of work.

[1fastsedan]

Now that's what I had in mind. Should have these guys and motor/trans back in this weekend.

[thestigwins]

Wow! That was worth all of the hard work. It looks amazing.

[1fastsedan]

Thanks thestigwins!

We got some serious final assembly work done over the weekend. The firewall went in, then the motor and transmission, we modified and re-glassed the transmission tunnel, and then started running some wiring today. Next week the fun of connecting all of those wires starts. Ugh.

[1fastsedan]

It's been almost 2 months since I last updated this thread. I've been busy wiring, wiring, and wiring some more. I figure I've got about 12 full days in running and connecting all of the wiring in this thing. Finally, it all paid off. We put power to the system today and everything worked! We got the PCM flashed and hopefully will be able to start it in a week or 2.

[1fastsedan]

First start today! We've been fighting some PCM and shifter computer issues. We finally got the PCM sorted out this morning.

Video -> http://s161.beta.photobucket.com/use...b274f.mp4.html

[maczter]

Holy crap on a cracker! Awesome build, great craftsmanship. Mine is being built in a very small garage, with a non-metal working fool behind the wrenches, but that is half the fun after all.

[wallace18]

Awesome job!

[1fastsedan]

Thanks guys. We finally got the paddle shifters programmed yesterday and got the brakes bled. Their programming software only works on Windows Vista or XP, so it took a week just to figure out how to make that happen. We still need to check all of the chassis bolts and grease it before its ready to go-cart.

[monty1269]

FOUND! Hi Adam!

[1fastsedan]

FOUND! Hi Adam!

Hahahaha, hi Monty.

After 4 months of research, design, measuring, and production, these are finally ready for pick-up first thing Monday morning.

[Vman7]

I am looking fwd to when you get this done Dan I love the swirled alum. Dan are going to do a swirled alum dash panel?

[1fastsedan]

I am looking fwd to when you get this done Dan I love the swirled alum. Dan are going to do a swirled alum dash panel?

No, we're not going to do a dash panel because we're using a full Dakota Digital dash not gauges.

[Vman7]

No, we're not going to do a dash panel because we're using a full Dakota Digital dash not gauges.

I saw the picture earlier in your thread, I thought you might be doing some swirled alum around it of some kind. So I gather it is going to look pretty much like this picture you posted.

[1fastsedan]

I saw the picture earlier in your thread, I thought you might be doing some swirled alum around it of some kind. So I gather it is going to look pretty much like this picture you posted.

Pretty much, of course the dash will be smoothed out and painted body color. We're shooting a super clean interior, no visible switches, lights, wiring, etc.

[1fastsedan]

Go Kart today!!!! Its drives great, and blows the tires off easily.

http://youtu.be/j8sWh17NNCM

[1fastsedan]

Thanks guys, unfortunately the 20's won't fit under the fenders. I did make a new air filter intake this weekend and picked up the wheels/tires today. The body goes back on next weekend.

[myjones]

Thanks guys, unfortunately the 20's won't fit under the fenders. I did make a new air filter intake this weekend and picked up the wheels/tires today. The body goes back on next weekend.

I'm amazed that no one has sectioned a set of fenders and pulled a mold for the rear at least.

I will likely settle for 28's since that seems like the extreme of what fits the back.
Dale

[1fastsedan]

Now that it's running...the body work begins. We got the tub, doors, and trunk on last weekend.

[1fastsedan]

It's been a busy couple of weeks for us. We took the 33 to a big Chrysler owner's event last weekend and it was a big hit. The CEO of the SRT division, Ralph Gilles, liked it a lot. He even put it up on his twitter feed.



Yesterday, we did the final chassis set-up. Got the ride height set, corner weighted what we could, and did the alignment.



Current weight is 2471 with 50.3% up front and 49.7% in the back.

[wallace18]

Boy it is looking great. Your weights are right on. It should handel like a dream.

[1fastsedan]

Thanks for the compliment. We were a little worried about it being nose-heavy with the HEMI and boat anchor of an automatic that we put in there. Luckily, it weighed out pretty well.

[1fastsedan]

Just some mock-up and continued rough fitting of body panels this week.

[1fastsedan]

Thanks guys! We're still plugging away on this thing. Last weekend we went to the Huntington Beach event and had a great time!
Since my last post, we got the windshield mounted, started on the hard top body work, and finished wiring up the plate and reverse lights.

[wallace18]

Where did you mount your reverse light?

[1fastsedan]

It's kind of hard to seen in the daylight, but there are white LED strips on both sides of the plate frame. They're hooked up to turn on in reverse.

[1fastsedan]

We've been working steadily on the body and getting ready for smog and brake/light inspection.

[1fastsedan]

Well after waiting a few weeks for some back-ordered hood parts, we finally have the body all mounted and rough fit. Plus, before the hard top went on I finally passed all inspections and got it registered! Custom plates will be coming once all of the paperwork is completed.

[1fastsedan]

I've had a few people PM me and ask about the hot rod. The short story is that in August of 2013 my wife and I bought our first house, and it needed a good deal more work that we initially thought. So now after finishing re-wiring the house, re-doing most of the landscaping, and building a new shed for some decent storage, I'm finally back to working on the hot rod. I'm almost finished with my part of the body work and then it will be going to a pro.

[Mike6568]

Good to see you back! Very nice work.

[erlihemi]

Awesome Build!!

[6t8dart]

I love it, I'm a Mopar man, I just sold my 68 Dart and looking for a project.

[Shoeless]

This is one heck of a build!!! Great work so far.