1996 Viper GTS Venom 550 Hennessey - modifications

[spddmnjay]

Here is another project that I am working on. I purchased this 1996 Viper GTS Venom 550 Hennessey a couple years ago and am now in the process of "tweaking" the car...for both power and looks. This Viper only has 1800 miles and hasn't even reached it's first oil change!! I can not own a vehicle and not "tweak" it regardless of its age and/or value. So let the wrenchin' begin!!!

Here are the stats before the "tweaking" began.

Engine

• V10 8.0 L - 488 cubic inch

• 10.0:1 compression (increased due to the Hennessey mods)

• Hennessey Venom cylinder heads

• Hennessey roller camshaft

• Hennessey intake manifold

• Hennessey Venom 550 valve covers

• 514 HP and 543 TQ (at wheels)

Exhaust

• Hennessey 1 3/4" stainless steel long tube headers

• Hennessey 3" stainless steel tubes

Brakes

• Brembo 13" racing calipers - front/rear

• Mov'It 13" cross drilled rotors - front/rear

Suspension

• Koni coil over shocks with Eibach springs - 2" lowered

Wheels

• 18"x10" HRE - front

• 18"x13" HRE - rear

Tires

• 285/35 18 Michelin - front

• 335/30 18 Michelin - rear

These pics are what the car looked like when I purchased it.

[spddmnjay]

More pics before modifications.

[spddmnjay]

Here is a list of modifications that I am planning to do. I am also working with one of the best Viper tuners, Joe Donovan - Performance By Joe - PBJ (www.performancebyjoe.com) to see how much more juice I can squeeze out of the engine.

Engine
PBJ Air Intake System
PBJ camshaft (to increase HP) - to be determined
9.0 L racing oil pan with windage tray & ACR adapter - to be determined
VEC 3 controller (to enable more precise engine control)
CNC machined power steering bracket (OEM unit has the tendency to break)
Gen. III Viper valve covers
Powdercoat valve covers and intake (darker Red)

Transmission
skip shift module
B&M Ripper Shifter

Exhaust
ceramic coat headers and tubes
Borla XR-1 Racing mufflers
Random Technology catalytic convertors

Cooling
Ron Davis aluminum racing radiator

Wheels
Forgeline SP3P wheels (gunmetal centers)
19" x 10" - front
19" x 13" - rear

Tires
Pirelli PZERRO ROSSO
285/30 19 - front
355/25 19 - rear

Exterior
upgraded Viper GTS emblems
upgraded Venom 550 Hennessey emblems
MGW Viper emblem pop open gas cap
U.S. Exotics Diamondback hood


Interior
Venom 550 Hennessey floor mats
Venom 550 Hennessey seat emblems
Venom 550 Hennessey dash plaque
MGW first strike race shifter knob
Viper GTS side sill covers
Viper GTS door pull surrounds
Aluminum control knobs - all
Aluminum dash console
Aluminum racing pedals
Push button start
Dynamat sound deadener
Stereo system - to be determined

I will be posting pics as I work through the modifications.
Cheers
Jason

[spddmnjay]

Here are some pics of the Viper in my shop just before I started the modifications.

[spddmnjay]

Here are some pics of disassembling the interior. I removed the carpet and original sound deadener so that new Dynamat could be installed.

[spddmnjay]

More pics of the interior.

[spddmnjay]

Here are some pics with the intake manifold and valve covers removed. I removed them so I can have them powdercoated with a much more vibrant Red. I am removing the original wiring harness tape and convulted tubing because it is old and dried out. I will be rewrapping the wiring with new tape and installing high-temp convulted tubing.

[spddmnjay]

Additional pics.

[spddmnjay]

When I removed the intake manifold I used a Dremmel to grind off the casting ridges where the two halves were fused together during the manufacturing process. I wanted the manifold to look smooth without the rides. Next step is to remove the original paint.

[spddmnjay]

Here is a picture of the stainless steel exhaust headers before they were ceramic coated.