Video: Project Hellbird Combines Hellcat Power And Superbird Status

gga02We knew it had to happen, and this is probably the first one – at least the first one that we’ve seen. A while back we shared that someone was selling a Hellcat crate engine on Facebook, and they said they were going to get a couple more, so we know they’re out there. What would someone use it for? The Mopar purists hope that it will only go into another Mopar, and at least we can keep them happy with this one.

In the video above, we see the first installment of Project Hellbird – a 1970 Plymouth Superbird getting the Hellcat treatement via Hellcat Hemi crate motor. The guys at G&G Automotive in Asheboro, North Carolina, have taken the liberty of transplanting a 707 horsepower Hellcat Hemi into a very fine winged warrior and we can’t wait for further episodes to see this beastly combination unravel. With the news that the Hellcat Charger is capable of hitting the 204 mph mark, it’s only fitting that the supercharged 6.2L Hemi is retrofitted into something that has already proven itself worthy of 200+ mph.

gga01We talked with Gil Goldstein, part owner of G&G Automotive with his better half, Rosie, and he was able to shed some light on this very interesting build that will be coming down the pike. So how did Goldstein come across a Hellcat Hemi crate engine? It’s an interesting story, and it all goes back to the one that was circulating a couple of months ago on Facebook. Yes, that one. Well, it seems that was one of those “cart before the horse” situations and a Hellcat Hemi crate motor was ostensibly ordered through a Chrysler dealer. A short while later, they had a Hellcat Hemi crate motor on their floor and had to find a buyer for it.

This is where Steve Knight comes in, he’s Goldstein’s customer and he owns the Superbird that is getting the 707 hp transplant. Knight is the third owner of the Superbird, and he is an avid Mopar fan with a Viper and an SRT8 Jeep that he spends regular seat time in. He’s also the owner of a 1969 Dodge Daytona, and came across this 440ci automatic Superbird, and wanted to replace the bench seat with buckets – and to plant a Hemi in place of the 440.

As Goldstein was working with various people about the Hemi, and knowing that Knight has grown accustomed to the modern Mopars he’s driving around, Goldstein got the idea to install a gen III Hemi into the Superbird. Through a series of phone calls and conversations, that idea transitioned into the Hellcat Hemi crate engine, and the rest, as they say, is history. A phone call was made, a check was cut, and not long ago, a Hellcat Hemi crate engine showed up at G&G Automotive.

gga06wmWith old school Mopars and engine swaps, they used to be fairly simple and straightforward. With Mopars, a quick call to Schumacher Creative Services put you one step closer to swapping a big block in place of a small block, or vice versa. But installing something as modern as “nobody has one yet” into a classic is going to be a little more difficult, and this is where Goldstein is quickly becoming the aficionado of Hellcat Hemi swaps.

Doing tons of research on a project like this isn’t just necessary, it’s mandatory, and Goldstein can attest to that. First thing he wanted to figure out is what transmission was going to get attached to the Hellcat Hemi, and who was going to get him everything he needed to do this? One thought was to install a modified GM transmission – the 4L85E – and he found that Zero Gravity could help him out with his needs for a transmission. After more phone calls and conversations, he came across Powertrain Control Solutions (PCS) and their modified 6 speed 4L80 valve bodies.

gga04wm

Car? Check. Engine? Check. Transmission? Check.

Goldsteins next problem was going to take even more phone calls and research, because he had to find out who in this world was going to be able to help him bolt up his six-speed 4L80 transmission to the Hellcat Hemi. That’s when he came across a gentleman who has been making transmission adapters since World War II, and finally Wilcap Company was the missing piece to that puzzle.

gga03wmWith the engine and transmission figured out, the front and rear suspension was going to have to be figured out. You just can’t put an engine like the Hellcat Hemi into a classic B-body like the Superbird and keep the stock suspension and brakes, so more research and phone calls took place and Goldstein decided that Magnum Force was going to have the winning ticket for the suspension, with a complete, bolt-in front coilover suspension, eliminating the torsion bar and tiny brakes.

Along with the new front suspension was a set of Wilwood disc brakes that will help handle keeping this Hellbird tame when that supercharger begins to howl incessantly. In the rear, Magnum Force will provide the solution again, with coilovers supporting the Strange 9-inch Ford rearend with beefy 35-spline axles finished off with Wilwood brakes.

hellcat12aSince taking on this incredible project, Goldstein has learned a lot, made new friends, and is tackling every step of the process so that when he puts this all together it’s done well, and it’s done right. Throughout the process, he’s learned a bit about coincidence as well, because after he switched to Pennzoil as one of his vendors, he learned that Pennzoil did some of the original development for lubricants in the Hellcat Hemi. When Goldstein asked if they would be willing to help him out with Hellbird, it was a no brainer for Pennzoil and they are now one of his proud sponsors for the entire project, helping G&G Automotive along the way with sponsorship and promotions.

Project Hellbird has begun, and we’ll bring you updates as the project continues and let you know what stumbling blocks G&G Automotive might be coming across, and how they get over the certain hurdles they’ll face. So far, a lot has been accomplished and while there is a lot more to do we know that Goldstein is going to make sure that everything is done just right, and that’s what musclecars are all about.

About the author

Michael Harding

Michael is a Power Automedia contributor and automotive enthusiast who doesn’t discriminate. Although Mopar is in his blood, he loves any car that looks great and drives even faster.
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