1999 Plymouth Prowler Receives Hellcat Swap
Slideshow: Could you imagine if Dodge started to make these?
The engine came from an Intrepid
For all of the hype that surrounded the Prowler back when it was first shown back in the 1990s the real thing fell flat on its face when it debuted. For all intents and purposes, it looked like it should have been a sure thing and looked right at home sitting next to a '90s Viper. Unfortunately, the car came with a 3.5-liter EGE V6 that only made a paltry 214 horsepower and 221-lb-ft of torque. From 1999 until its death in 2002, the Prowler got an upgraded all-aluminum 3.5-liter EGG V6 that made around 250 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. The Prowler was finally put out of its misery after six years of production and had sold about 11,000 units.
Ahead of its time
The Prowler was a victim of failed opportunity in that this vehicle somehow squeezed past the bean counters aesthetically unscathed and then got shot in the foot by way of a terrible engine. It's not the Prowler's fault, though, as the company just didn't have a credible V8 to slot into the retro-rod in the first place. The 5.2 and 5.9 liter V8s that were around at the time were so outdated that their performance outputs were near what the V6s were producing. The Prowler came in the form of the Howler concept that had a 4.7-liter V8 that was used in the Jeep Grand Cherokee of the time and produced 250 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. That model never made it to market but there is a Prowler that has finally received the engine it deserves.
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What's rightfully deserved
This Prowler's owner sent his car to Brand New Muscle Car in Tulsa, Oklahoma where the shop installed a supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8. We already know you are familiar with the performance capabilities of the Hellcat engine but now couple that with the Prowler's 2,800 curb weight and you'll start to see why this is the modern hot rod we need. Brand New Muscle Car is a six-person team that in the past have turned out Eleanor Mustangs and Yenko Camaros, so taking mid-century muscle and giving it contemporary power is an everyday operation.
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Good things take time
The build has taken over a year and a half with some changes in course happening during the process. First and foremost, the transaxle setup had to be upgraded as the factory one has been known to crumble under any serious power boosts. After that, the plan was just to install a third-gen Hemi and throw a dummy blower on top to finish things off. That course was understandably altered when Mopar decided to sell a crate version of the 6.2-liter Hellcat engine to the needy folks of the world. Fitting the power unit into the narrow engine bay of the Prowler required extensive adjustments to the headers, fuel, and cooling systems in addition to a bespoke radiator.
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No roof so it won't be official
After the engine was fitted in place with all of the creature comforts like AC and power steering still functioning, the owner requested converting the layout to an RWD setup with a Powerglide transmission attached to the rear of the motor. The rear axle was replaced with a Getrag limited-differential and sticks from a 2013 Challenger SRT8. With the Hellcat engine adding about 260 lbs up front, the 3,100 lb Prowler could be running 9-second quarter miles. On a scarier note, Morgan isn't quite sure if the wheels would hook properly, or if the aero of the Prowler could even withstand those speeds.
The exterior of the Prowler will remain the same as any other model with the only exceptions being the new hood that will be needed to clear the supercharger and the front bumpers.
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We'll keep an eye out for it
"We've done some oddball stuff before, so it wasn't out of our realm. But it's definitely the most outrageous thing yet," remarked Richard Morgan, head of Brand New Muscle Car's mechanical department. "We're talking 700 plus horsepower in this thing."
Morgan still has some bugs to sort out between the Hellcat's computer and the factory instrument panel but plans to show the car off at SEMA this year.
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