Ford Fan Converts to Mopar Love After Driving Hellcat
Once a lifelong Ford lover, this tuner’s brand new white-hot Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is set to undergo an epic tuning adventure.
South Florida is a haven for the finest cars ever to grace the neon-lit streets. Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bugattis, Maseratis, Corvettes, Jeeps, Mustangs, Vipers, the list just goes on and on. Whatever you’re looking for, if it has four wheels and a commanding presence, you’ll find it in this tropical paradise.
It is in this paradise that a Ford fanatic begins his path to redemption into the Brotherhood of Muscle. Ken Bjonnes of Mustang tuning shop (and YouTube channel) Palm Beach Dyno recently became the owner of a white-hot 2018 Charger Hellcat.
Bjonnes previous encounters with Dodge was a sixth-gen Charger whose Hemi he tuned to 777 horses at his old shop in Cincinnati, Ohio. For 15 years since moving to Palm Beach, Florida, however, his life has been filled with Mustangs, an Explorer, and at some point, a Ram pickup. His tuning shop was even built around making Fords (and Vipers) better. But he did notice a need for Charger tuning options in the area, so he figured he’d work on one to see what he could do.
“A friend of a friend” loaned Bjonnes their black 2016 Hellcat a month prior to the video, where he discovered how stout the Hellcat’s transmission is when it comes to tuning the supercharged Hemi up front. What sealed his fate, however, was during his drive to deliver the car to its owner one Saturday night. The following Sunday afternoon, he bought his own white Hellcat for a good deal (which will include selling one of his Mustangs, which we’re fine with).
As for Bjonnes plans for his own Hellcat, he’s already tinted the windows (it is South Florida, after all) and had it receive ceramic coating to protect the white-hot paint from the elements. He’s also picked up a set of lowering springs for the suspension, and an involved tuning process which includes the purchase of a special cable to access the PCM before any real work can begin.
Regarding his initial impressions with his new Hellcat, Bjonnes says there’s no comparison between it anything Ford currently offers. For him, “everything is a little bit nicer in [the Hellcat],” especially the lovely and soft dark tan leather, though he’s not a fan of the plastics used on the door panels and dash. All we know is we can’t wait to see what happens with his Hellcat as he slowly learns more about the car. Maybe he’ll sell all his Fords?
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