Farm Fresh Challenger SRT8 392

Love at first sight comes in many forms. For Arthur Vitoria, owner of several classic E-Bodies over the years, his decision to buy a late-model Challenger came with lightning speed.

A dairy farmer by trade, Vitoria’s legacy for Mopar muscle cars began with a 1971 Road Runner he purchased at the age of 13. His first Challenger was also white (you can see a theme here) that he purchased when he was 16. It required new paint, a hood, and side glass; these rare parts stolen while the car was sitting in a local barn.

Things stepped up dramatically when Vitoria spotted a 1970 AAR ’Cuda that was for sale in Hemmings. Unfortunately, the car was 1,400 miles from his home in Central California. Unable to make the trip, his father made the trek to check out the car, but found it to be in less than pristine condition, with significant rust and in need of major renovation.

Against his best judgment, but knowing full well the disappointment that would greet him if he didn’t haul the car back home to his son, Vitoria’s father loaded up the car and took it back to California. As expected, his son was over the moon with excitement when it arrived and set about repairing the rusty machine. In less than a year, the rare ’Cuda was repaired using funds he procured by selling his white Challenger. Victoria still owns that AAR today, the lessons learned about welding in quarter-panels and overall mechanics to restore and upgrade the ’Cuda serving him well with subsequent car builds.

Fast-Forward to December 9, 2016. On a random drive by the local Dodge dealership, Vitoria spotted a “lightly used” white-hot 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT 392. Vitoria was sold on that car in an instant. A couple of hours later, the car was home in the safety of Vitoria’s garage. Best of all, his wife loved the car too and was extremely supportive of his latest acquisition.

Over the years, Vitoria had learned a lot from his father, working alongside him on their various projects and on the dairy farm that currently supports 2,500 heads of cattle (that need to be milked twice a day — in case you think you have a busy schedule). Over the years, the two men built a number of cars, including a 1934 Plymouth street rod and a 1969 Camaro with a full ProCharger supercharger system, just to hit the highlights. So it was a given that Vitoria’s newest Challenger would go through a full makeover.

At the heart of the power upgrades was the installation of a ProCharger F1A-94 kit. ProCharger was first to offer a kit for this engine configuration, and Vitoria was the first to install one. But to get the most of the system, he knew he needed to improve the strength of the engine if he wanted crank up the boost. Key points to the ProCharger install include a Race (larger sizing) intercooler, “Red” blow-off valve and an Alkycontrol Methanol Injection system.

Vitoria removed the 392-cid engine and installed a “drop-in” stroker rotating assembly with Ross forged aluminum alloy pistons, Manley connecting rods, and a forged steel crankshaft. A Comp Cams custom camshaft with 0.618/0.620 inch is the perfect valvetrain component for this engine combination. In tandem with the CNC’d HHP factory cylinder heads upgraded with PSI valvesprings and Manley titanium retainers, the final compression was dropped to 9.7:1.

One look at the Challenger and it’s easy to see that the suspension has been heavily modified. Not only have the struts been changed in the front, but braces have also been added to reduce wheelhop — a severe problem with Challengers of this vintage. Eibach lowering springs are used all around, but the quality of the ride has been retained throughout. In final review, the front suspension was lowered 1.4 inches over stock ride height and 1.5 inches in the rear.

At the four corners, Vitoria added Rohanna RF2 wheels, 20×10 up front and 20×11 in the rear. Nitto 555 tires were used as well, 275/40ZR-20 in the front and huge 315/35ZR20 Nitto NTO5Rs in the rear. As an added touch, he had 392 Hemi lettering added to the sidewall, epoxied in place.

The result of all this work is a car that’s driven often and has the looks Vitoria envisioned for his Challenger. With 15 pounds of boost, the Challenger has been able to generate 725 rwhp on the dyno. That power is enough to push the Pearl White Challenger to 11.22 seconds at 129 mph with severe tire slip. Vitoria expects the car to run 10.20s on pump gas with improved tuning and tires.

In anyone’s book, that’s “moovin’” — dairy farmer or not!


















2015 Dodge Challenger STR8 392
Arthur Vitoria, Crows Landing, CA

ENGINE
Type: 392-cid
Bore x stroke: 4.055-inch (bore) x 3.79-inch (stroke)
Block: factory OE Gen III
Rotating assembly: Ross Pistons, Manley connecting rods, Forged crankshaft
Compression: 9.7:1
Cylinder heads: CNC’d HHP factory cylinder heads
Camshaft: Comp Cams 0.618-inch lift intake, 0.620-inch lift exhaust, 226 degrees intake, 235 degrees exhaust
Induction: Edelbrock intake manifold with ProCharger F1A-94 supercharger, Fore dual fuel pump system
Oiling system: factory oiling system
Exhaust: TTi header system with catalytic converters and Dynomax mufflers.
Ignition: factory Mopar original ignition
Cooling: Mishimoto radiator with 180-degree thermostat
Engine built by: Arthur Vitoria

DRIVETRAIN
Transmission: factory Chrysler 8HP70 automatic transmission
Shifter: Hurst shifter
Driveshaft: auminum lightweight driveshaft
Axles: 1,400hp special-duty axles
Rearend: factory-style 3:09:1 ratio with Sure-Grip and differential brace for added strength

CHASSIS
Front suspension: high-performance front struts, Eibach lowering springs
Rear suspension: factory rear struts with Eibach lowering springs, Speedlogix upper and lower control arms with aluminum bushings on rearend cradle to eliminate wheelhop
Steering: stock power steering box
Front brakes: Chrysler Demon lightweight front rotors with Brembo six-piston calipers
Rear brakes: factory rotors with Brembo rear calipers
Painter: factory original

WHEELS & TIRES
Wheels: 20×10 (front) and 20×11 (rear) Rohanna RF2
Tires: 275.40ZR20 Nitto 555 (front) and 315/35/ZR-20 (rear) Nitto NTO5R rear




















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