Anybody running the RMS AlterKation? Was it really worth the cost?

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I'm amazed, impressed and envious of all of these ultra modded cars...but here's my personal take: You literally can't put coilover suspension or rack and pinion steering on a Dart or a Valiant, etc...because it changes something fundamental that defines the car. It's no longer a Mopar Abody at that point. Rather, it's a custom car that uses the Abody as a base.

This could be good or bad depending on your definition and your priorities...but what I love about my Dart is that it drives like a Dart. I'm fine with putting higher performance components into the existing architecture but preserving the original form is important to me.

100% my opinion. I have tons of respect and admiration for those of you guys who have gone for a totally new suspension format.
 
MRGTX said:
I'm amazed, impressed and envious of all of these ultra modded cars...but here's my personal take: You literally can't put coilover suspension or rack and pinion steering on a Dart or a Valiant, etc...because it changes something fundamental that defines the car. It's no longer a Mopar Abody at that point. Rather, it's a custom car that uses the Abody as a base.

This could be good or bad depending on your definition and your priorities...but what I love about my Dart is that it drives like a Dart. I'm fine with putting higher performance components into the existing architecture but preserving the original form is important to me.

100% my opinion. I have tons of respect and admiration for those of you guys who have gone for a totally new suspension format.
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I dated a girl with fake tits... it fundamentally changed her, they cost a lot...she was a bit of a custom... everyone was happy with the installation
 
67autocross said:
Well I would still like to see you post the work even if you are not doing it, it's still your build...it certainly looks like one of the more interesting car we have on the site.
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I will probably start a build thread soon. I expect, and fully understand, that many will object to fundamentally changing the foundation of the car from that originally conceived by Ma Mopar, but it's not like I'm cutting up a Formula S--this one was born a lowly 273 2-barrel automatic car.
 
So you are putting a Hellcat in it. Sweet. Defiantly get some some pictures and post the build. This is very interesting what you've done on the suspension.
 
MRGTX said:
I'm amazed, impressed and envious of all of these ultra modded cars...but here's my personal take: You literally can't put coilover suspension or rack and pinion steering on a Dart or a Valiant, etc...because it changes something fundamental that defines the car. It's no longer a Mopar Abody at that point. Rather, it's a custom car that uses the Abody as a base.

This could be good or bad depending on your definition and your priorities...but what I love about my Dart is that it drives like a Dart. I'm fine with putting higher performance components into the existing architecture but preserving the original form is important to me.

100% my opinion. I have tons of respect and admiration for those of you guys who have gone for a totally new suspension format.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%. My decision to go with a full frame and front and rear suspension that will bear little resemblance to any Chrysler product, except for the fact that the wheels will still roll, steer, and move up and down, was totally driven by my decision to make a change to the 3rd gen hemi. Had I kept my 340 or a modified version of that, I would still be rolling with T-bars, upgraded components, and a lot of structural stiffening. It does cause me a little pain to realize that the only pieces that will remain unmodified will be the roof, doors, rear bumper, and glass, but having driven the factory setup for 40 years, I think I am ready for a change. I fully understand that my car will not be of much interest to those who have beautifully preserved our heritage by painstakingly restoring their beloved Mopars, and mine will only be viewed as a novelty by many. I am comfortable with that at my age; I think I will still be able to enjoy driving it!
 
loganscuda said:
So you are putting a Hellcat in it. Sweet. Defiantly get some some pictures and post the build. This is very interesting what you've done on the suspension.
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No, the Hellcat plan actually ended after several frustrating months of delayed delivery dates, and finally getting the word that no delivery date could be guaranteed. However, as mentioned above, I think I will be fine with my "alternate" engine--almost as much horsepower, and a couple hundred pounds lighter.
 
MRGTX said:
I'm amazed, impressed and envious of all of these ultra modded cars...but here's my personal take: You literally can't put coilover suspension or rack and pinion steering on a Dart or a Valiant, etc...because it changes something fundamental that defines the car. It's no longer a Mopar Abody at that point. Rather, it's a custom car that uses the Abody as a base.

This could be good or bad depending on your definition and your priorities...but what I love about my Dart is that it drives like a Dart. I'm fine with putting higher performance components into the existing architecture but preserving the original form is important to me.

100% my opinion. I have tons of respect and admiration for those of you guys who have gone for a totally new suspension format.
Click to expand...

So, no aluminum heads, aftermarket intakes, carbs, overdrive transmissions, or else except 100% NOS mopar stuff??

I mean people are welcome to do the all original stuff(I'll never get why), but virtually every car that someone builds is a "Custom car with a (Insert vehicle) as a base". It's what makes the hobby fun. Having something that isn't the same as all the other vehicles of that make/model.
 
magnumdust said:
So, no aluminum heads, aftermarket intakes, carbs, overdrive transmissions, or else except 100% NOS mopar stuff??

I mean people are welcome to do the all original stuff(I'll never get why), but virtually every car that someone builds is a "Custom car with a (Insert vehicle) as a base". It's what makes the hobby fun. Having something that isn't the same as all the other vehicles of that make/model.
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100% valid and fair point.

This one is pure opinion...but for me, at some point a modification that changes a fundamental characteristic of a car loses the essence of what defined the car. The suspension layout is one of those things that (in my opinion) defines Mopars of this era.

Making the stock style suspension better is fine...switching it out for something that affects every moment of the driving experience that could easily be in a Chevy Nova or Ford Maverick just changes things a bit too much to still call it a Mopar A-body.

Would a convertible Duster still be a Duster? Would a Barracuda with a diesel engine still be a Barracuda? Is a Valiant with a monster truck 4x4 setup really still a Valiant?

Where you draw the line is a personal preference, of course.

If only Plato was here to explain the universal platonic form of a Mopar. he could clear this up. :D
 
MRGTX said:
100% valid and fair point.

This one is pure opinion...but for me, at some point a modification that changes a fundamental characteristic of a car loses the essence of what defined the car. The suspension layout is one of those things that (in my opinion) defines Mopars of this era.

Making the stock style suspension better is fine...switching it out for something that affects every moment of the driving experience that could easily be in a Chevy Nova or Ford Maverick just changes things a bit too much to still call it a Mopar A-body.

Would a convertible Duster still be a Duster? Would a Barracuda with a diesel engine still be a Barracuda? Is a Valiant with a monster truck 4x4 setup really still a Valiant?

Where you draw the line is a personal preference, of course.

If only Plato was here to explain the universal platonic form of a Mopar. he could clear this up. :D
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I completely understand and respect your position, and the position of others like this. I think the point is that we all (or most of us) draw the line somewhere. For me, suspension, rear axle, and even transmission are all fair game. My line is the engine. That's the heart of the car. As long as it's some form of Mopar, no matter how highly modified, I'm good. LS conversions and other makes are completely out. I don't wanna see 'em, and I have a hard time appreciating or respecting the mentality it requires to undertake such a swap.
 
If your going from dead stock to rack and coilover suspension I imagine it would be night and day but compared to a well setup I bet a lot less difference. But a completely redone stock is still gonna set you back some dollars.


Coilovers shine when you race especially multiple tracks ease of setup plus the weight and space savings but don't think mandatory in a street car.

Stock suspension sucks cause of weak torsion bars and leaf and little or no sway bars. Not cause there's some inherent flaw in the design.
 
Well FWIW, I have heard too many good things about Bill's stuff from RMS. I will be picking up both Front and Rear next week in Carlisle. Takes ALL the guessing out of the equation for a 69 big block Dart.
 
JeffisOld said:
Well FWIW, I have heard too many good things about Bill's stuff from RMS. I will be picking up both Front and Rear next week in Carlisle. Takes ALL the guessing out of the equation for a 69 big block Dart.
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. Good choice mine is several years old now and love it. I take it every year to get alignment checked cause I have lifetime alignment and it never has to be adjusted have about 40, 000miles on it
 
Thanks, I am glad to hear that, and NOT surprised!

Power steering, sway bars, correct (comfortable) spring rates - what's not to like!
 
loganscuda said:
. Good choice mine is several years old now and love it. I take it every year to get alignment checked cause I have lifetime alignment and it never has to be adjusted have about 40, 000miles on it
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Have you had to replace the heim joints on the upper control arms? Thinking about this system but not crazy about heim joints.
 
Only thing I replaced was the rack. And that was self inflicted. Call Bill and ask him if that is an issue. He will be honest and he will usually be the one who answers the phone. When I blew the seals out I (my fault). I dropped it off at the manufacturer in Dallas for repair when I picked it up they put metric ends on it. I called Bill for advice fix and he sent new ends for free parts and shipping. Best customer service I have ever felt with. Hands down the best
 
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I installed it in a day in my garage. No lift just floor jacks,jacks stands, engine hoist with motor and trans still in the car.
 
67dodgedartconv said:
Have you had to replace the heim joints on the upper control arms? Thinking about this system but not crazy about heim joints.
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I think the whole heim joints being junk thing is way overblown. For one, that came about back in the 60s/70s when people were literally taking the heim joints off of tractors and other farm equipment and trying to run them as four links and other suspension devices on high speed autos. Problem is those joints were never designed to take the consistent poundings a passenger car let alone a race car takes over the crappy roads we have.

Now a days, there's several top end makers of heim joints specifically for the automotive and racing hobby. From QA1 to Viking to even IRL and NASCAR. As long as one isn't trying run a heim off grandpa's 4020, you'll be fine. I don't know which brand Bill Reilly runs but I bet you it's not from Tractor Supply or God forbid Rural King/ Harbor Frieght
 
I agree. The Hemi joint thing is way over blown.

Bill used to sell bushing ends for his arms for guys that wanted them. Not sure if he still does or not. Couldn't hurt to give bill a call and ask if you are that worried about Heim joints. B
 
On my alter-k I had one joint go bad. It was a tie rod one. He asked what it looked like and when I told him it was an older one that he no longer used. He found a better quality one and started using them.

That's what is better about the alter-k then some of the cheaper systems out there. RMS has been around quite a while now and have slowly found what the weaker parts were and weeded them out for better quality parts.
 
abodyjoe said:
On my alter-k I had one joint go bad. It was a tie rod one. He asked what it looked like and when I told him it was an older one that he no longer used. He found a better quality one and started using them.

That's what is better about the alter-k then some of the cheaper systems out there. RMS has been around quite a while now and have slowly found what the weaker parts were and weeded them out for better quality parts.
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Thanks, fellas.
 
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