streetking, is that a factory or aftermarket wheel on the viper you sold? OMG, that car is amazing!!

speed, i have been following your progress and it is looking great!

I've read every thread on that subject over at VCA. I've also spoken to Chuck Tator aka the Wizard. I don't buy it. You really believe an insurance company would deny a claim because the spare tire wasn't in place?? Think about it logically. There's nothing ANYWHERE warning you that removing the spare will compromise the crash safety of the vehicle. My God, there's a label on the car warning you about the side sill getting hot from the exhaust! I want to see something in writing from an insurer saying they will deny a claim. I want to hear about a factual case where that has happened. There is no way they would win that case if you sued. I think this is one of the biggest Viper myths ever created.

So, what did they change on the '03+ SRT's that don't come from the factory with a spare??

Rear 'luggage/storage' area complete with sound deadener.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...8_103_full.jpg

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I've been told that the cable in the pictures below links both sides of the frame rails for safety in the event of a rear end collision. Please note I have the exhaust heat deflector plate removed and inner wheel wells.

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You have a many very valid points. However, I am no Viper expert and therfore listen to Viper experts such as Chuck Tator. I'm going to speak with Chuck Tator about this and get the story from the 'horses mouth'.

SPARE TIRE ISSUE

I asked JonB (Parts Rack) to comment on the Spare Tire issue. Here are his comments:

"If you have a roll bar or cage, no worry. HOWEVER

Some history: When Vipers were first crash-tested by Fed mandate, it was discovered that the RT/10 TRUNK LID can dislodge in a rear crash. If the spare is not in the trunk, the trunk lid can intrude into the cockpit thru the rear window. The rear sport hoop acts as a blade-guide and the trunklid edge becomes a guillotene. The INFLATED Spare Tire, if BOLTED IN, becomes a great shock-absorber and rear tub stiffener and prevents the decklid from moving forward and therefore prevents head loss.

Team Viper members attending the FIRST EVER VIPER NATIONALS DRAG RACES in TX in 1995 pointed this out to the the TECH INSPECTOR there, and spares have been madated in RT/10s ever since. I am fairly certain that tech inspector was the same guy who informed SKIP THOMAS at VIPER DAYS. That tech inspector was me. At the fisrt VOI-sanctioned drags {VOI-4 Orlando} we required Spares in RT10s only.

If you have a ROLL BAR in the car, this prevents the trunk intrusion, so the spare was less important, but still a functional rear-crash safety device preventing more serious frame collapse. So VRL maintained the requirement in non-roll-cage cars, even tho federal REAR CRASH DATA on GTSs was not as forboding results as RT/10.

I think the SRT Spare tie-down is to prevent its mounting-point ejection, not to make it a structural component; But if it stays in place it certainly helps absorb impact. SRT10 frames are carry-over to 2008, and there is NO SPARE in the 08. I am curious about any crash-test results and steps taken for 08. "


Additional question to JonB:

My GTS does not have a roll bar and I do not intend on tracking the car. Having said that, is the spare tire a government requirement and/or insurance requirement for safety reasons?

JonB response:

"ABSOLUTLEY NOT. Racing venue sanctioning body requirements only. But anyone can sue you for any reason, or for no reason, if they get hurt in your car.

I just spoke to my friend SKIP SHIFTY over at DOT and he says "WE ARE THE FEDS and WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU......BUT WE HAVE NOT MANDATED THAT REQUIREMENT"

For more Skip Shifty Antics, Search SKIP SHIFTY"


So the consensus is that the spare tire is NOT PART OF THE BODY/FRAME/CHASSIS design.

Hello Keith a.k.a. KAA,

I want to thank you for raising the questions about the spare tire as it is not required in my GTS (as per post above). :thumbsup:

Cheers
Jason

:cheers:

Hell of a job you're doing on your Viper!

Only in a america:patriot: :willy: Get sued for not having spare tire on board.. :eek:

OMG!!! :wow: Where is my Viper??? :willy: Yuka, yuka, yuka .... I thought it was time to rewax my shop floor before I start doing some serious engine work. Pics of my shop with a brand new waxed floor.

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Viper outside my shop and on the ground...awaiting to re-enter shop. I LOVE THE WHEELS!! :hail:

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Ahhhhh, Viper feels so much better back in its resting spot. :)

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I purchased a set of Ultimate Racing Pedals for the Viper.

The OEM accelerator pedal is plastic. The aluminum racing pedal is fastened to the OEM plastic pedal with four stainless steel screws. I noticed that approximately 1/4" of the OEM plastic pedal was showing once the aluminum racing pedal was attached. I decided to use my Dremmel and remove the 1/4" of plastic so that when you look at the pedal you will only see the aluminum.

Pics show a before, during and after Dremmel work.

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Building for SPEEEED!! :unibrow:

Since I am going to great lengths to build a fast car I thought the next thing that should be investigated is the transmission and rear end. So I created a thread and asked the question, If I want to drive my Viper 250mph what is required for transmission and rear end? Here is the thread http://forums.viperclub.org/rt-10-gt...rs-advise.html

UPDATE: Heads shipped to GREG GOOD CYLINDER HEADS

I look forward to hearing from Greg when he receives them. I am very curious to see how well they flow having already been 'tweaked' by Hennessey.

I will ask Greg to provide me with flow data before working on them. I am also curious if he what his other recommendations may be...if any. I will then post the information here.

**Greg is one of the best Viper head porters in the industry

Stay tuned ;)

UPDATE: I will be installing CPE Sidemount Twin Turbos instead of a Paxton

Thanks to Viper Club of America members DSG2003SVT and JD I plan on purchasing a twin turbo setup from CPE (Paolo Castellano)!!

I have spoken to Paolo and I must say that I AM SO PUMPED TO INSTALL TWIN TURBOS ON MY VIPER!! Paolo is very enthusiastic and a very comical character He took the time to answer all my questions and reply to all my emails. The best part is I can install the system myself!!

Here is Paolo's website http://www.cpeturbos.com/

WOW.... that look like a well put together package, and the price is right too... but please... pretty please post pictures of everything!!

I will definitely be posting many, many pics. When I send the engine to the machine shop I am going to have them take picutres for me. I am going to have the machine shop assemble the rotating assembly and make sure everything is blue printed. I will install the intake manifold and turbo system, etc.

Cheers
Jason

Jason you are doing fantastic job !! The twin turbos sounds like ideal plan!!

Btw you should chage your signature for this : "Too much modified?? It's never too much modified!" :D

"Too much modified?? It's never too much modified!" LOL!! :lol:

I am working on the engine build details with Viper expert, Joseph Dell a.k.a. JD. Here is what I am thinking using. But this is just preliminary. I haven't added up the $$$$ yet so things may change :wow:

Pistons - JE
Rings - Child & Albert
Wrist Pins - JE
Rods - Manley or Oliver
Cam - Greg Good to select grind
Roller Lifters - Comp Cam
Push Rods - Comp Cam
Main Caps - billet
Bearings - yes but don't know manufacturer???
Heads - Greg Good (flowed and massaged)
Damper - ATI
Throttle Bodies - Accufab
Fasteners - ARP
Gaskets - Cometic

JD has advised me to bore and stroke the engine. I am going to discuss with him the displacement to shoot for. JD's Viper is 510 cu in.

Removing front facia to prepare for engine removal and pending twin turbo install.

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Front facia removed.

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I like the Kevlar(??) inner bumper. :unibrow:

I have had 6 Vipers since they came out. I had the first blue/white '96 in Austin, the first '06 Coupe ect. I really like them all, but I am just Vipered out..

You are dealing with two good people, Joe and Paolo are good guys..

Your car looks great.

Redbird, the wheels are Forgeline VR1 full polished.


SW

Yea, I hate when that happens....

Vipered out, hey?? Not me ;) I want to keep my Viper to the day I die...hence the reason I am pouring a bunch of monies into it. :D

THIS JUST IN...

I have just hired a 3D computer rendering expert who will be generating the following renderings of my Viper!

Exterior - with new wheels and custom hood
Interior - with custom; upholstery, gauges and dash
Chassis - will include suspension, wheels, engine and tansmission
Engine - with twin turbos

Some people may ask, "Why are you having 3D renderings done for your car?" Because I want to see what my car will look like before it is complete. This will give me a real good idea of what the custom hood will look like and the twin turbo system.

But simply.... I LOVE 3D COMPUTER RENDERINGS!!! + IT'S COOL

Stay tuned for some awesome 3D pictures of my Viper

Hood is off! Getting ready for engine removal.

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Thought I would post the first piece of rendering received. I can't wait to see the wheels complete! This is just the beginning :hail:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...842608_131.jpg

Below are the renderings for the custom instrument gauges. Changes made to all gauges were; new font style, text size reduced, new needle indicator, added Sneaky Pete (snake)logo and Viper GTS text.

Speedometer -(km/h)
I removed the mph numbers from the gauge for clarity. Also increased to 400 km/h = 248.5 mph. Removed the trip odometer and the reset button.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...8_138_full.jpg

Tachometer

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Fuel

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Temp

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...8_135_full.jpg

Oil

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...8_136_full.jpg

Amp

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...8_137_full.jpg

Engine removal

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Fantastic job!!!!!!!!! I love the KMH meter, kilometers are way cool! Who is going to do the face renovation ?

Thanks for the positive comments! :thumbsup: I'm thinking of using Black Cat Customs to create the custom gauge faces. I'll let you know once I decide.

Cheers
Jason

My Viper's frame renderings. Tom will be rendering the suspension and wheels next.

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Below are some renderings that Tom (individual who is creating renderings of my Viper) did for his '69 Camaro. This will give you an idea of what type of renderings will be generated for my Viper. Needless to say his work is OUT OF THIS WORLD!! :hail:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...8_145_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...8_146_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...8_147_full.jpg

Man that Camaro looks HOT!!

wow that is some true talent right there. can't wait to see the ones of the viper!

More frame rendering pics. Amazing detail!

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