Back in the day, folks who got into muscle cars wanted that adrenaline rush of eluding cops. Now, the boys in blue are using that same playbook by investing in speedier pursuit vehicles, like the F-150 Police Responder, reportedly the fastest cop car in the country. Not to be outdone, Texas law enforcers recently began investing in Camaros as part of their ghost car fleet. It makes one wonder what would happen to these cars once they're decommissioned. Well, here's a clue offered by a fan of Dodge Challenger RT and Charger RT muscle cars. In a YouTube video released Sunday, this mechanic bought a police Charger and souped it up even more.
Charger Engine Boasts 500 HP On The Dyno
The Charger purchaser, whose name wasn't revealed in the eight-minute video, bought the Dodge two years earlier from someone in Virginia who had purchased it at a police auction. Even after it changed hands, it appears that nothing was done to the vehicle, which still had its back-seat cage intact and a few law enforcement tools still strewn about on the floor in the back.
The heart of this Charger is a 6.4-liter, 392 cu in Hemi V8 engine that when running on a dyno could generate up to 500 hp to the wheels. And while the stats weren't available on how quickly this beast could hit 60 miles per hour from a stationary start, let's just say the video showed the occupants momentarily glued to their seats the moment it accelerated.
Major Focus On Cylinder Head Porting
He also added a MONSTER camshaft to the Dodge, but the bulk of his work focused on cylinder head porting to improve the intake and exhaust airflow. The upgrade in performance was evident from the dyno tests, given that a 392 engine, in his estimation, would ordinarily generate between 420-430 wheel hp. But he prefers the no-muss, no-fuss approach to his work.
"I don't ever want people to think that porting means you do this extravagant big thing," he said. "Polish make everything pretty. Pretty don't make power."
This Dodge Is A Local Attention-Getter
While running, the Dodge doesn't sound very pretty either, more like a formidable behemoth warning anyone within range not to mess with it. And when it accelerated down the road outside the owner's shop, the Charger lived up to its name. "This thing gets so much attention," said the owner after performing a burnout.
As for the reaction from the local boys in blue who come across this former law enforcement vehicle? "It's ridiculous," said the owner. "Cops seem to like it."
Source: R/T Life