I bought the AR headers........hope they fit w/o too much hassle

 

43 lbs...........way too much for a car like the Viper. That's what happens when you have to make a racecar work on the street and driven by people who want "normal" stuff. That's about 1.25% of the whole car weight in one seat.

I'll use them b/c they are good....and paid for......

 

We all know how it is when we get parts....we gotta look..........

I pulled the OEM and stuck this on with two bolts to get a look. Damn....I knew I shoulda bought headers earlier. I will have to mod a lil bit more, but I don't think it's too much.






Just a bit of car **** for ya to drool over...........

In this pic you will note the cross bolted mains.

 

Oh my!

 

Full stainless - 5 into 1........1 7/8 to 3inch collector.

 

Darn Nice...

 

Some new front end gadgets........

 

For those who question the wisdom of choosing a 1 7/8 header primary:

Yes...it is big....it is too big for "normal" use. The 1 3/4 would be better as it helps flow speeds and makes better power in the lower RPMs. Bigger tubes matter higher up and for peak. Now consider that we are talking near 700HP with street tires and geared a bit. If the tires can be melted then more power has no use there. Now when we get rolling and can hammer on it....higher RPMs before and after the shift...the bigger tubes shine.

Considering these are indeed Drag Pak headers and custom made per order........at $1000 I prob paid about half.....so there is that

 

Now that I've spent some time looking at the pipes on the motor and how it all fits. I'm going to have to drop the engine and trans down a bit from my plan.
Remember......the Viper is low and the B body is high. When you sit in a Viper the rear spark plug is by your foot.....just on the other side of the firewall......and the drive shaft is inches from yer ****.

I will drop the engine and trans down 3-4 inches to gain the needed clearance. This will be a plus for my firewall mod and the only thing really affected is now my shift **** is down inside the boot...........nothing a shift handle extension won't solve.

 

My plan is to again mod the floorpan....stand by..........

 

Progress.... Hot in the Valley.......lol

 

Too damn hot

 

Just back from body shop.


I've decided that I'm not satisfied with my engine bay. SO.........after I finish up the metal work I will install enough parts to get it rolling for paint. I figure better to just do it now vs being unsatisfied later and have to tear it down.


Looks like I will have a nice yellow engine bay before too long.

 

So the metal work and fitment is all done..... Wow... Your on the move....

 

Nope....

I was at the body shop...not the car ....be a bit......

 

I've not given up on the project. There is no shortage of things to do ....and pay for....on such a project. Hoping to get back at it soon.

 

Will Stay Tuned.....

 

Remember that math we didn't like in school..............sure is handy.


Calculating $ and specs...........


Looking like prob M/T 29inch tires and 4.10 gears......

 

Just spoke with a local custom wheel maker. I can get factory looking black steel and 14 inches wide for the MT 29X18.00R15LT


............tread like so, but small 15inch stock wheel to be used

 

My math says you might want to buy 4 of those rear tires.

 

You mean due to smokage? LoL


I'll be able to get to about 49 in first ......70 in second and 100 in 3rd......130 in 4th ...the other 2 don't matter except for the 60MPH in 6th under 1500RPM for decent mileage on the highway.

 

The $ math says for my 2 wheels, 2 tires and third member I will spend about........


.........almost 3grand :-p


The 4 link is separate.........


Still - where could you buy a crazy car like this? LoL

 

Put in half a dozen hrs on it today. I have finalized the engine/trans location. Now I want to make the 3 mounts and attach it to the car so I can make a cardboard version of the firewall....then fab it up outside the car.

Amazing how long it takes to do what looks like nothing done............

 

Here it stays....give or take a few mm

 

It does take time to do things right. I hope your pipes will fit.

 

True............

It is not as well fitting as one would think, but there is something else I am doing.

Once all mounted and set..........I will be making a second floorpan....kinda like how the Viper has a flat bottom. This will give it a clean look plus be smooth for airflow as well as essentially make the bottom of the car a box - for rigidity :-)

 

Just an observation.... But wouldn't it be optimal to set the engine back 6-8 more inches to get the engine to spindle percentage closer? Or does this look as close as its going to get from the interior stand point?

 

The engine is mostly behind the front axle line. Discussing it with people who have built custom cars we agree it is satisfactory. While not as far back as in the Viper it is further back than the stock engine. The Viper engine and trans are LONG....so I have shifted weight rearward compared to stock and that is not including moving the battery to the trunk.....and even my being seated a few inches back.

And ...yes.......I do not want to drive from the back seat...........

 

Look how far forward this one is: