Back at SEMA 2011, Mopar tossed a bone to the muscle car crowd with a pair of distributor-ready front timing covers, P5155929 and P5155930, for the G3 Hemi. For those who wanted to ditch the OEM computer-controlled ignition arrangement in favor of a good old-fashioned spark thrower, it looked like somebody in Auburn Hills was finally speaking our language. However, both were abruptly discontinued just a few years later and lost to the sands of time…or so we thought.
Blackbird Performance Products recently kicked up that dust and shocked social media with fresh pictures of a G3 Hemi sporting a carbureted intake and distributor-drive front cover. Discerning eyes might even notice the mechanical fuel pump mount, further leaning into the “old school is cool” mood.
While some minds might’ve gone straight to dreams of single points and a Carter AVS, ours thought about the obvious hole this has been in the G3 Hemi market. Is it as efficient as dual coil-on-plugs controlled by Blackbird’s very simple Afterburner ignition? Probably not, but that’s not always what hot rodding is about.
Sometimes it’s about vintage, sometimes it’s about vibe, and sometimes it’s about making a modern Hemi feel right at home in an old car. For some, the best way to move a G3 Hemi forward might be to turn back the clock and Blackbird is holding the hands of time.
