i think that he means for future models...

 

OK, I'm probably just as big a gear head as anyone here. I like what I'm hearing/seeing, but buying a base model car and putting a crate motor in it? Will the EPA let you do that? I mean yea, if it will pass state inspections. But I got a feeling that the dude driving the car with the old gum ball machine on top (retro) won't be flaging you down to tell you you got a nice ride. It'll be a fat ticket. As a matter of fact they might even tow the car.

Which brings another question. If I buy an SRT8 and pay the gas guzzler tax, does that mean I can put a crate motor in it and produce all the emissions I want?

 

Don't expect a 5.7L to be offered in the SE is my advice, even on cars that have only one real version beyond "special editions" like the Viper always have to have the exclusive badging of SRT. A V8 is not going to be offered in a SE trim. The truth of the matter is it appears that the Challenger R/T, will not be as luxury obsessed as other R/T packages, so that might work just as well for you.

 

Yes, certainly the RT is a preferred package. I don't like the TA spoiler. Maybe watch around for an SE decklid, paint and swap.

Don't know about which options (accessories) could be deleted. Maybe simpler radio, fewer speakers, manual windows, manual, non heated seats, no cruise control...???
Steve

 

Very few people these days would be able to drive it then...

 

cruise control adds no weight...its all in the computer, and maybe an extra switch. manual nonheated seats would be one option that would cut some weight...and i would be pretty surprised to see a challenger offered with manual windows.

stroken56, emissions laws vary place to place...in michigan, i know lots of people who dont own a vehicle with a catalytic convertor on it...in PA, if your car doesnt have the same exhaust configuration as it did stock, its not eligible for testing, and on vehicles 95 and newer (OBDII) its very difficult to "swap engines", and its almost impossible to pass an emissions test with a different engine than came stock.

 

Honestly, manual windows are extremely rare these days. They are about as rare as a car without air conditioning, perhaps even more rare than that. The problem is if you don't offer that, you will be chastised for it by the press. Plus it might add to the cost because they would probably have to add another hole in the door panel and make the mechanism. I doubt they designed it with the intention of offering that.

I don't know the laws down where I live by heart, but here is what I know. A friend of mine removed the catalytic converters on his Mazda and he got into serious trouble even though they don't do emission tests on the cars in IL. In Missouri, they do have emission tests so that could be a problem if I wanted to do that, which I honestly would rather bite the bullet and get the model with the engine that I want.

 

oh, its not legal to remove emission components, even in a state like michigan, but there is really no inspection here to check for them. i believe that ohio has a spot inspection, but that is mostly for officers to help get cars off of the road that are unsafe for road travel.

all of my cars APPEAR to have them...

 

Well, I don't know how he did all of this, but apparently he had a shop put in a different exhaust system that was supposed to be free of all of this stuff and although there isn't an inspection, he got caught anyways for the obvious reasons. I warned him that the authorities are not that easy to trick when you are in a town with a population that is hardly worth noting on a sign, but he had to find out the hard way first.

LOL! So it goes beyond just the Mirada then. Interesting! Nice work!

 

you can remove it but try passing an emissons test without it my buddy used to swap out hollowed out cats on his mustang with stock ones everytime he had to go for an emissons test and reconnect his smog pump