Making my Brick Beautiful

[Mr. Tibbs]

Like many of you, I ordered a 300C sight unseen (though I did sit in one at the Barret Jackson auction) and am currently stuck in the Canadian dependant line of anxious customers. My car is slated to be built the second week of March, but nobody can give me an estimate as to how long the trainride south will take.

When it arrives there are some customizations I want done immediately. As in, use the delivery truck as a rack, I don't want to hit public pavement with a stock automobile. I am eager to find someone, anyone, plant, animal, mineral that has spoken with or knows of vendors offering 300C mods...as I have found none (thanks for getting the specs out DC!)

#1. Flowmasters. My Durango's 5.9 is hooked to them and it rattles house tiles while driving by. I do not want a 2000 decibal exhaust bullhorn like that on my 300 , but I would like a subtle, enhanced growl to reverberate from those shiny tubes out back. Anyone got a suggestion for a kinder, gentler, compassionate conservative type exhaust note?

#2. 20" wheels. After viewing the pics of the 300C in 50cen's video, I might consider 22" wheels, but so far I can't find a wheel supplier that will even acknowledge the 300C exists. Shoes for Bigfoot are easier to find. The 18s that come with are not going to do.

#3. Cold air intake. Well, that and a Jet chip. I've been told these won't be available for a year or so, but that seems odd since the Hemi isn't exactly brand spanking new on the scene (crammed into a car's confines may be reason for development delays). I bought my Durango in '97, sight unseen (the only way to fly!) and was able to find a plethora of aftermarket engine mods for it. Not so with the 300C, so far.

#4. Tint. Here in Arizona we can tint the driver and passenger windows up front. I'm looking for suggestions. On the one hand, it looks fantastic. On the other hand, it obstructs your vision, and this car already carries windows so slight a Sherman Tank would seem like a greenhouse by comparison. I'm also concerned about the numerous BMW drivers that won't get to clearly see me laughing at them as I pass their overpriced Bavarians.

#5. Sunroof, satellite radio, walnut trim, navigation system, adjustable pedals....oh wait...that stuffs already on the car!

BTW, it's nice to find a site for owners, future owners, and gawkers. Apparently this car's styling isn't immediately turning every witness to it into a giggling spastic freak with outstretched cash in hand. I saw the first pictures and thought "damn, they made a freakin dad's car, yike". Then, I saw it in person. Sold.

That I happen to be a dad is merely coincidence...I think.

[Curt@BMCPerformance]

ok for the mufflers, if you dont want a to loud of a sound, go with the flowmaster 60 series there loud yet quiet if you know what i mean. For intake, hell just get the measurements, go to autozone but the pipe and filter and make a custom one. if you need help with that let one of us from DI.net know we pretty much make only custom intakes for our cars. for tint, go limo tint back 3 windows and maybe like 35% on the front windows.

[Justin33]

I can't wait to see pics of that thing with the mods...

Drool........................

[YB Normyl]

We had a 300 HEMI C with a slightly loose exhaust clamp just past the cats.
:o What a sweet sound, just like the muscle car days. :D

[Capitalcity R/T]

Its great that you live in Scottsdale. I wish I lived there too. 18' wheels spell disaster in our Canadian winters, I cannot imagine how much trouble 18, 19, 20 or 22" wheels would be. I prefer sticking with 17" all year rond but I am sure there are those who will change the complete set of wheels betwwen winter and spring, and again fall/winter. A pain in the butt and our summers are so short too. For all those in AZ, TX, FL, go for it. Those of us in Canada will be mildly (sort of speak) disappointed and a bit more broke.

Canada is a nice country. You can always drive up and get it. At least it will be spring (we hope) when your car is ready. Then you can get to drive it home.

Good luck with your new baby.

Danny
ex Capitalcity RT
Now Capcity GTP 04 GTP Comp G
mods to come...CAI, 3.4" pulley, to start. Only $250.00

[Mr. Tibbs]

It's a different world up there. Until I began reading the doomsday comments from Northerners concerning RWD, and it's proclivity for treating cars like Brian Boitano's fancy shoes, I had always wondered why manufacturers had switched to FWD in the first place. I hadn't ever considered the people who have to drive in snow...afterall, the only snow we see here is the unmelted stuff adorning the herds of Lincoln Continentals that migrate here each November, and it melts fast.

Arizona concerns, when it comes to vehicle acquisition, are quite different indeed. For instance, I'm worried about the Ray Ban textured steering wheel on the 300. How's that gonna feel when heated to 140 degrees? Will my skin peel from it with a simple cleaning solution, or should I butter them beforehand? Is the sunroof UV compliant? The tire sealing chemical, does it have a boiling point? Will the coyotes bounce off the soccer goal sized grill, or will they be cubed on impact?

My biggest concern is the paint up front. We moved here two years ago, and in that time my Durango's front end has acquired more scars and divots than the surface of Mars. There's no shortage of wild rocks streaking across the road out here. The front end of the 300 has a lot of landscape to decorate with the pebble pencils.

My solution is to drive fast enough so that the rocks haven't the time to impale themselves against the hull. 340 HP? That should do the trick.

[DMAG]

Will the coyotes bounce off the soccer goal sized grill, or will they be cubed on impact?

LOLOLOL!!!!

GREAT visual! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[E55 KEV]

Mr. Tibbs, once the cars actually on in the hands of the general public we will see some aftermarket stuff for the 300 and Magnum start to dribble out. Many companies, especially exhaust, brake and performance part companies actually need a doner car to make parts. The first thing most will do is buy wheels and so far it is almost impossible to get the exact specs for the OEM wheels. It is reported that the bolt pattern is 5x115 and IMHO that is the worst pattern to put on this car because few of the most desired wheels are made in those specs. 5x115 is a Cadillac bolt pattern and more cars wheels are 5x114.3 or 5x112 (Mercedes) and 5x120 (BMW).

I will desparetly awaiting some aftermarket rims, exhaust FROM Borla, Bosal, B&B Tri-flow or Magnaflow, Supersprint or perhaps a SRT Mopar exhaust. I will also be hoping for sport springs and dampers to firm up and lower and hopefully companies like Bilstein, H&R and Eibach. I think eventually you will see a myriad of Aero Body Kits. We will have to wait some but once the flood gates open there will be some very nice mods for the 300 and Magnum.

I predict the 300 and Magnum will be the hottest and biggest platform for aftermarket stuff than any other US car. I hope the stuff rival that of Honda and BMW,

[Capitalcity R/T]

Id like to think so as well but the GM3800 has tons and tonz of aftermarket stuff and it will take a long time for the Hemi stuff to catch up.

I know everyone who gets the Magnum or 300 hemi will be elated with the pushrod OHV engine as they produce torque N/A with OHC engines. I know I'm happy with the torque (as opposed to the SOHC engine in my ex Trep RT).

However, with my GTP being leased, my mods will be limited to a 3.4" pulleyand Wizaird/KN CAI. I'd love to do more bit its not worth modding too much on a leased vehicle.

Danny
04 Comp G
Ottawa

[C4me]

Not so sure about that aftermarket stuff. The 300M and R/t made a fair sized dent out there and NO NONE made anything. Except for a couple of great guys, G8TWHT and Joekd come quickly to mind. So, I am glad that the HEMI is pretty darned good as it is.

[E55 KEV]

Not so sure about that aftermarket stuff. The 300M and R/t made a fair sized dent out there and NO NONE made anything. Except for a couple of great guys, G8TWHT and Joekd come quickly to mind. So, I am glad that the HEMI is pretty darned good as it is.

The FWD 300M and R/T are boring vehicles mainly sold to older fold and retire people compared to these RWD LX cars. Plus the older cars are carryover FROM Chrysler and the LX cars are DCX with Mercedes roots and that makes the biggest difference in the world while bringing in a more sophisticated buyer. The 300C is being compared and competes against the likes of BMW 5-Series and of course E-Class. The 300M could never do that. The LX chassis cars are bringing something to Chrysler and Dodge that they never had before - Mercedes and BMW customers.

The Magnum will also inspire a lot of truck customizers to pick the vehicle as a platform due to it's truck classification just like the PT Cruiser. The PT is one of the biggest platforms for aftermarket and custom stuff that rival Honda. The future is going to be nice. :D

[YB Normyl]

There will be more aftermarket parts available just FROM the fact it has a HEMI. It's up to DC to encourage the aftermarket by giving them info they need and sponsoring. SEMA will be the biggest avenue for the aftermarket, if you see alot of goodies for the LX's there, then you know there'll be plenty more to come.

[joekd]

judging FROM the amount of rap stars alone showing off the 300C I think we will be seeing plenty of aftermarket items

[YB Normyl]

judging FROM the amount of rap stars alone showing off the 300C I think we will be seeing plenty of aftermarket items

Really, you can't buy better advertising than that.

[Hersbird]

Well I have had a hemi for over a year and the aftermarket for the motor is good and bad. First don't buy anything FROM Jet for a Dodge. I don't think they really have any idea when it comes to how DC is tuning their motors. At best Jet seems to make a $300 piggyback computer that tricks the air intake sensor. This could be done with a $0.50 resistor. They may work on other makes, but FROM what I have seen on the old 5.9 R/Ts and the new Hemi they are paperweights. Basically the computer is the bad part of the Hemi aftermarket. This new Hemi computer is quite a bit different, and Dodge is not helping at all with the codes. Even the biggest aftermarket companies like Kenne-Bell, Superchips, and Hypertech are pretty stumped by it. Superchips is supposedly the closest, but even they don't have anything out for the Rams and they have had the Hemi for almost 2 years now. Even thought there is a bunch of stuff out for the Hemi, it looks like the stock computer is somehow adjusting for the mods in the wrong way. It's like it can sense the added power and then back off on the throttle and timing to put you pretty much back to stock power. I beleive that electronic throttle is the real hangup. I really don't think it opens all the way, all the time you have your foot floored. Mopar is also floating rumors of making their own aftermarket computer for the Ram and also putting it in a package with injectors. Supposedly there is a ton of HP corked up in the factory computer tune. I find it hard to believe, but some have made claims the MP computer and injectors may be worth over 50 HP. Add to that, it should allow for the full gains of stuff like long tube headers and cold air intakes, as well as letting the motor rev higher which it is still pulling strong when the factory program shifts it.

This all applies to the Ram, it will take a while for headers and cold air intakes to be made specifically for the LXs. Hopefully the PCM won't take over 2 years though like it's looking for the Ram!

One thing for now that works wonders for the Hemi Rams is N2O. It seems to fool the computer INTO not knowing anything is up. There are a few Hemi Rams running in the 13's with nothing more then a mild shot of N2O, soon there should be some in the 12's on a 125-150HP shot. There is also a custom turbo that is probably in the 12's but it is not ready for daily driver prime time yet either. Keep in mind these times are on a 5000 pound Ram that starts it's life in the high 14's and low 15's. The 300C is potentially in the high 13's and low 14's so the same mods could put them in the 11's, which is where the stock Vipers run. (then again the viper internals will take even bigger shots of N2O or boost so don't get to froggy!)