Alright, buckle up, because I’m about to spill the beans on my 2016 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack project. This wasn’t just a “change the oil and call it a day” kinda thing, we’re talking real wrenching, real learning, and a whole lot of swearing.
It all started when I snagged this beauty – a 2016 Challenger Scat Pack in TorRed. Looked slick, sounded mean, but I knew there was more potential lurking under that hood. First thing’s first: I wanted more power. Who doesn’t, right?
The Power Plant Upgrade:
- Cold Air Intake: I started with a simple cold air intake. Figured it’d be a good first step. Went with a K&N system. Installation was pretty straightforward, just followed the instructions, undid some bolts, swapped the parts, tightened everything back up. Noticed a little bump in throttle response, and the engine sounded a bit throatier. Win!
- Cat-Back Exhaust: Next up, the exhaust. Decided on a Borla Atak cat-back system. This was a bit more involved. Had to get under the car, unbolt the old exhaust (which was a pain, those bolts were rusted solid!), and wrestle it out. The Borla system went in pretty smoothly, though. The sound? Oh man, the sound! Deep rumble at idle, and a screaming roar when you put your foot down. Totally worth the scraped knuckles.
- Tuning: After the intake and exhaust, I knew I needed a tune to really take advantage of the new airflow. I got a Diablosport tuner and a custom tune from a reputable shop. Uploading the tune was easy enough, just plugged it into the OBD port and followed the prompts. The difference was night and day. The car pulled harder, shifted smoother, and just felt more alive.
Suspension and Handling:
More power is great, but you gotta be able to control it. The stock suspension was okay, but I wanted something tighter, something that would inspire more confidence in the corners.
- Lowering Springs: I opted for a set of Eibach lowering springs. Dropped the car about an inch, which made a huge difference in the stance. Installation was a bit of a chore, compressing springs is always a little nerve-wracking. But the end result was worth it. The car looked meaner, and the handling was noticeably improved. Less body roll, more planted feel.
- Sway Bars: Added some thicker sway bars from Hotchkis. This really tightened up the handling. Cornering felt much flatter, and the car was more responsive to steering inputs. Installation wasn’t too bad, just had to unbolt the old sway bars and bolt in the new ones.
Cosmetic Tweaks:
Okay, so maybe these didn’t improve performance, but they made the car look even better. And let’s be honest, looking good is half the battle, right?
- Tinted Windows: Got the windows tinted. Not only does it look cool, but it also helps keep the interior cooler in the summer.
- Blacked-Out Badges: Swapped out the chrome badges for black ones. Just a small detail, but it made a big difference in the overall look of the car.
The Result:
After all that work, I ended up with a 2016 Challenger Scat Pack that was faster, handled better, and looked meaner than ever before. It was a blast to work on, and I learned a ton in the process. Sure, there were a few setbacks along the way (stripped bolts, busted knuckles, the occasional “where does this thing go?” moment), but that’s all part of the fun. Would I do it again? Absolutely. Already planning my next project!
So, that’s the story of my 2016 Scat Pack build. Hope you enjoyed the ride!
