Spy shots - Don Garlits Challenger

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by Jared Jordan

That's definitely one advantage the Challengers have over the CJ's. If the CJ's get hit a few times they will be out of Stock like so many of you want them to be. On the other hand, the Challenger, which is rated 40 HP less for the "big" motor, will be around for the foreseeable future.

I haven't seen anyone discuss which of the two combos will be the faster of the two. I'm betting on the Dodge, but I'm admittedly biased...

My $.02

Jared,
In Stock Eliminator my WAG or wild *** guess is the 6.1L Hemi will initially make 685 HP as a prepared stock eliminator engine following the rules and current tricks of the trade. That's engine Dyno.
My WAG on the 5.4L is 725-750 HP.
Plugging those numbers and weights of 3250 Challenger and 3570 Mustang show both equal at 9.78+/-.
Previously I had predicted by the end of 2009 a Mustang CJ500 will clock a 9.42. So far we've seen an official 9.79 on race #2 so I don't think I'm going to be out in left field on the Mustang prediction.
And I'll bet a 5-speed with the proper race clutch behind a 6.1L Hemi will see at least a 9.55 ET by the end of the year.
My WAG is that by the end of 2009 if a 5-speed Challenger 6.1L is properly built and driven with a high RPM launch (7500 or so) , it will be the fastest car in class. And I don't think a auto trans Challenger will be much slower.
I'm betting the Challengers will always have less traction issues (start and down-track) than the Mustang.
Maybe this should be it's own thread?