Previously... on "Redneck Science," Westen Champlin bought a 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. The goal was to turn it into an off-roading monster. Will they succeed during this episode? No one knows, but what we do know is that one guy set himself on fire by mistake trying to do so. But just a bit! Also, is a Dodge Demon next on the 4x4 transformation list?
The SRT Hellcat they bought is one sweet ride. It packs a 6.2-liter HEMI that can deliver 707 horsepower (717 ps) with 650 lb-ft (881 Nm) of torque. It's RWD with a 6-speed manual gearbox and can hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 199 mph or 320 kph.
In the first episode, the boys ripped its undercarriage apart, pardon my language, and tried to make it 4 ft. taller (121 cm). They also had to install a four-wheel drive system, replace the steering and the brakes, install a 1-ton F350 axle, and an entirely new suspension system.
But the most exciting part is that because the F350 axle they were using measured 81 inches (206 cm), and the Hellcat was just 71 inches (180 cm), that meant it would be sticking out 5 inches (13 cm) on each side. The "widebody" wheels that resulted from that looked mouth-watering, like a mini monster truck.
For better or worse, they didn't complete the transformation during the first episode, so now the saga carries on with special non-CGI (computer-generated) effects like someone setting their hoodie on fire for not paying attention when handling machinery. Thankfully, only a tiny flame rose from the event, and no one got hurt.
Photo: Westen Champlin
The first bump in the road they hit was with the new four-wheel drive transfer case not correctly fitting, so they started cutting and welding. The axle was a bit problematic, but nothing a little staring at it didn't solve. It was a geometrical issue, so after measuring left and right, they made it fit.
What they managed to do by the end was to successfully modify the rear suspension along with part of the front suspension, as well as the axle positioning. Thus, some scientific tests had to be performed to see if the Frankencat could hold its own, literally. They set the car down and it didn't collapse, but not just that.
The Hellcat even rolled forward a bit, thus proving Redneck Science is alive and well. That was it for the second episode, which ended like a third one might be the last of the "series."
But the most exciting part was that during all the cutting, welding, mounting, and tomfoolery, a Dodge Challenger Demon was sighted, which could be the next off-road transformation victim on Westen Champlin's list. At this point, it's probably just a matter of time until we see that driving around in the mud or marshlands racing the Hellcat.
Codrin just loves American classics, from the 1940s and ‘50s, all the way to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. In his perfect world, we'll still see Hudsons and Road Runners roaming the streets for years to come (even in EV form, if that's what it takes to keep the aesthetic alive). Full profile
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