Newer IRS in Rear of 71

[glovemeister]

Hey guys,

My car restoration plan involves obtaining a newer charger to transplant into my 71 as much as I can.

I believe the axle that is in my 71 doesn't have a ring and pinion in it, or needs a rebuild.

Just curious as to what you think about installing the rear axle/suspension, transmission and driveline in my 71?
Since I also need a driveshaft, transmission/trans plate, it seems like the best, most cost effective plan.

Near as I can tell modern LX cars run a 120" wheel base, and e bodys run a 110" wheel base, modern challengers run a 116" wheel base. With proper rim/tire selection it may not be a bad problem.

Also if you have any reading on the subject please send it my way. Gonna have to do a lot of learning.

[brads70]

This might give you a few idea's.
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,101925.0/topicseen.html

[moparman82]

This might give you a few idea's.
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,101925.0/topicseen.html

Holy crap brad that is a seriously insane build!!

[glovemeister]

Appreciate that link. From that I was able to see several more. Read that entire thread and it sure looked cool.

I see that the "grafting" of chargers onto the new LX frames is a rather popular swap, 300, magnum, charger, etc. My thought is that it would be a good idea in my case to start with a newer challenger to get everything closer.  The issue with that is they are substantially more expensive than the above listed ones.

[grimmey71]

I w as always thinking this would be great, only not like the whole body on new chasis. Making a mount for the irs, Just bolting in a new challenger/charger rear end into an ebody.  I almost did this but chickened out and went four link.

[glovemeister]

Yeah. I'm not sure which direction I'm going to go. I've learned that swapping bodies onto the lx frame cars is something many people have done successfully with Chargers and it works beautifully.
 
Given how much I need on my car and the fact that I want a modern interior it would be nice to have a floor pan already set up for that interior. Further since I can buy a salvage 300c, Charger or Challenger for probably $6k, I'd get my drivetrain, trans, front and rear brakes, and fuel system.

My other option is to do as you did and install coil overs in the rear, with rear axle rebuild.

My car is not rusty on the underside so an entire new floor pan is not totally necessary, so that part of the body swap wouldn't be necessary.

My most major concern of the  body swap is the fact that I'm not a master fabricator, but am decent. Also that no one has done a challenger body swap onto body of lx charger.

[HP2]

So buy the LX, cut it down to the appropriate wheelbase length, then weld AMD panels on top of it without cutting up your '71. Everything is reproduced to build a Challenger from scratch so build it on top of your LX instead of cutting up your existing body to fit all the LX things inside.

[brads70]

I remember a 72-74 Challenger at Carlisle a couple years ago that had a late model LX rear suspension grafted into it. Purple I think it was. Seems like a lot of work for little handling  benefits?

[ragtopdodge]

I think it may be easier (although a bit more expensive) to get a full IFS/IRS-equipped frame from Art Morrison or the Roadster Shop and just build the floor pans.

[brads70]

Then there is this.....    Sure looks pretty though!

http://www.artmorrison.com/multilinkirs.php

[73restomod]

I think the easy way to approach this is to not graft the lx frame in, but instead custom make the cross-member, to hold the assembly. This is far better than trying to graft a car onto another car. The assembly could be relatively modular and adjustable for ride height, but you'll have to find a rear from at minimum an R/T or better. With the sheer torque our big blocks make it's an iffy proposition, and should be left stock if only going for cruiser power levels.

[glovemeister]

Here is a thread with front cradle swap, and rear IRS swap. Granted a different car, but still provides some good info/pics. Not a real horrible project in the b-body it was put in.
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?86463-Coronet-SRT-8

[GreenFish]

Here is a thread with front cradle swap, and rear IRS swap. Granted a different car, but still provides some good info/pics. Not a real horrible project in the b-body it was put in.
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?86463-Coronet-SRT-8

Dude!  That guys is a maniac!

[RAPIDRICK]

irs would be cool under the ebody

[cjd automotive]

Their are a few ways to go about it.  Mine is a little different, and probably more work, but allowed me to set the ride height to what I wanted.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/7354411/site_id/1