HPI Customs - 71 Challenger "The Contender"

[HPIcustoms]

Couple updates on the Challenger. Hung the new fenders into place, and amazingly... They fit pretty damn good for some reproduction fenders. Anyone who's ever done panel replacement knows the struggle of them fitting out of the box.

[HPIcustoms]

Some care packages arrived yesterday from BAER Brakes, it was like Christmas.
So today we mocked the front brakes. Monster 14" drilled and slotted discs with monster 6 piston calipers.

[HPIcustoms]

The HEMI arrived for the '71 Challenger, a 392 6.4L which will of course have our personal touches for more horsepower.


Why a 392 and not the 426 that we had mentioned before? Well, no matter what MOPAR tells you, the 426 is NOT available to anyone... Which they will also not tell you till a lot of telephone tag and hair pulling to get the answer out of them. So, we have to give a HUGE shout out and THANK YOU to Cleveland Power and Performance for yet ANOTHER clean, pristine engine for one of our builds. If you need anything from them, be sure to check them out and tell them HPI Customs from Canada sent you.

[Leadfoot1]

Originally Posted by 64pontiac

Nice parts..... But is it just me or that weld looks like it might not be a full penetration weld? It looks like its just the "bead" that s joining the parts, as if its surface welded only? Or if those parts are beeing stack welded?(one stitch over another) .

Only asking because i want to learn to evaluate what im looking at. I weld ok (far from great!!) and love to learn about it and this just looked like what i wrote to me.... Maybe its the picture, maybe its ok too!!!

To me it looks like i could wack it off and seperate them if i got at it motivated... So i tought about the pressure of the roadworks.

Thanks for the info, and awesome job on that build!

Lead.

[tones2SS]

Very nice!

[raustinss]

Originally Posted by Leadfoot1

Nice parts..... But is it just me or that weld looks like it might not be a full penetration weld? It looks like its just the "bead" that s joining the parts, as if its surface welded only? Or if those parts are beeing stack welded?(one stitch over another) .

Only asking because i want to learn to evaluate what im looking at. I weld ok (far from great!!) and love to learn about it and this just looked like what i wrote to me.... Maybe its the picture, maybe its ok too!!!

To me it looks like i could wack it off and seperate them if i got at it motivated... So i tought about the pressure of the roadworks.

Thanks for the info

, and awesome job on that build!

Lead.

As someone who is a red seal certified fabricator there is nothing wrong with that weld. Yes it looks like a bunch of tack welds stacked,which I'm positive it is. If you tack and don't let the metal cool beyond "the orange state "as it cools then move and hit it again you will achieve a good strong weld. Although a horizontal weld is ideal sometimes you have no choice but to weld out of position. This is one way of doing it.
Cheers
Keep up the good work HPI

[HPIcustoms]

This part/ weld is NOT an HPI Customs welding or fab job. This is the rad cradle that was used on the car from another company. The weld is called a "whip", just to clarify all of our welds are done properly, especially when its a structural integrity part.

Originally Posted by Leadfoot1

Nice parts..... But is it just me or that weld looks like it might not be a full penetration weld? It looks like its just the "bead" that s joining the parts, as if its surface welded only? Or if those parts are beeing stack welded?(one stitch over another) .

Only asking because i want to learn to evaluate what im looking at. I weld ok (far from great!!) and love to learn about it and this just looked like what i wrote to me.... Maybe its the picture, maybe its ok too!!!

To me it looks like i could wack it off and seperate them if i got at it motivated... So i tought about the pressure of the roadworks.

Thanks for the info, and awesome job on that build!

Lead.

[HPIcustoms]

Drivers quarter cut out and the passenger quarter has been widened. Nothing crazy, just a nice subtle change that still flows nice with the body line. Still some minor tweaking left.







And be sure to check out our YouTube channel for video updates on this car and other projects we have going on, including installs, product lines and more.
Here's our shout out to Cleveland Power and Performance for supplying us with this awesome engine for the build. Be sure to check them out.

[johns cuda shop]

Looking good

[extralight]

Originally Posted by HPIcustoms

Drivers quarter cut out and the passenger quarter has been widened. Nothing crazy, just a nice subtle change that still flows nice with the body line. Still some minor tweaking left.







And be sure to check out our YouTube channel for video updates on this car and other projects we have going on, including installs, product lines and more.
Here's our shout out to Cleveland Power and Performance for supplying us with

this awesome engine for the build. Be sure to check them out.

Love the slight fender widening, it's noticeable but not too much!