SRT Chat HERE on May 14th!

[tbsviper]

First, thanks for building a great car! Background for question. We have seen that several new 08 Vipers have been crashed at the dealer, by new owners, etc. On this forum, someone suggested that perhaps it was possible to have a key/program that would cut performance for first, say 1,000 miles (break-in) or for use by new drivers. I have a supercharged jet ski and it has two keys, a "learner" and an "unlimited". While I fully appreciate Dodge can't make the Viper "idiot" proof, does the idea of two keys make sense? Is it feasible or too complicated in view of sophistication of engine management systems and emissions requirements?
Again, thanks for building a great car that I truly enjoy!

[black08]

Originally Posted by SRT Engineers

Understand that you're looking for something to get a bit more performance however while we have some experience with the Belanger system we can't endorese it.

Thank you for your response. Do you feel that the addition of an aftermarket exhaust system with headers is too much stress on an already stressed engine?

[SRT Engineers]

Originally Posted by Alexarz

Although the ACR is a bit lighter than the standard Viper, can you tell me why Chrysler was unable to address the weight issue, particularly when compared to the Z06?
I also notice on my SRT that, if the air conditioning is not on, it blows hot air on the vent position. What is the cause and can this be fixed?

The Z06 is lighter in large part because its motor is smaller. The Z06 aluminum chassis is also a weight benefit but it is only intended for a coupe. The Viper has a chassis built for both a coupe and convertible version. This adds a bit of weight. Also, the new Corvette ZR1 (which is based on the Z06 chassis) is about the same weight as the ACR. Horsepower, durability and stiffness all require weight. That said, we're not content with the current weight of the Viper.

Concerning the hot air, the 2008 Viper has made a big improvement versus the 03 to 06, particularly in reducing heat picked up in the plenum. We recommend that you take a test drive in an 08 to check it out.

[Paul Hawker]

Current feedback from 08 owners is that the new car is a significant improvement over the previous years cars.

Other than the engine/drive train. Which improvement are the engineers most proud of in the 08?

[SRT Engineers]

Originally Posted by black08

Thank you for your response. Do you feel that the addition of an aftermarket exhaust system with headers is too much stress on an already stressed engine?

The problem is we really don't know what the long term effects are since we haven't had an opportunity to do that kind of testing. It may be ok ...........

[Nader]

In first and third gear I get a decent amount of tranny noise through the shifter. Doesnt happen in any other gears. Is this normal? It does seem excessive. I do have the Mopar shifter which was installed by a quality dealership two years ago.

I have an 04 with 16,000 miles. Tranny fluid has been changed recently.

[SRT Engineers]

Originally Posted by tbsviper

First, thanks for building a great car! Background for question. We have seen that several new 08 Vipers have been crashed at the dealer, by new owners, etc. On this forum, someone suggested that perhaps it was possible to have a key/program that would cut performance for first, say 1,000 miles (break-in) or for use by new drivers. I have a supercharged jet ski and it has two keys, a "learner" and an "unlimited". While I fully appreciate Dodge can't make the Viper "idiot" proof, does the idea of two keys make sense? Is it feasible or too complicated in view of sophistication of engine management systems and emissions requirements?
Again, thanks for building a great car that I truly enjoy!

The old ZR1 (1994) had a valet key... but later dropped it. Some of the concerns we would have in implementing one were likely shared.

The Segway has two speed cards as well...

[Alexarz]

Originally Posted by SRT Engineers

The Z06 is lighter in large part because its motor is smaller. The Z06 aluminum chassis is also a weight benefit but it is only intended for a coupe. The Viper has a chassis built for both a coupe and convertible version. This adds a bit of weight. Also, the new Corvette ZR1 (which is based on the Z06 chassis) is about the same weight as the ACR. Horsepower, durability and stiffness all require weight. That said, we're not content with the current weight of the Viper.

Concerning the hot air, the 2008 Viper has made a big improvement versus the 03 to 06, particularly in reducing heat picked up in the plenum. We recommend that you take a test drive in an 08 to check it out.

I have noticed how rigid the Viper frame is and I am sure that a rigid frame adds weight. Do you know if the Viper frame is more rigid than the Z06 frame? Thanks for answering my questions but I intend to keep my '06. I commend you on improving the situation on the '08 but is there anything I can do to diminish the hot air coming in the vents on my '06?

[SRT Engineers]

Originally Posted by Alexarz

I know that the air is heated. My question is why? I have never been in any other car that does this. The vent is supposed to circulate air from outside or close to it. Can it be remedied? What about the question I asked concerning weight?

The fresh air intake on this car is actually located in the engine box - this is different from most other cars and was done this way for packaging. On other cars it's usually on the other side of the firewall. Because of this air entering the HVAC tends to get more heated and will blow hot some air at you even if you don't have the fan on - especially if you don't have the AC on. We remedied this in the 08 car by moving hood louvers away from the plenum lowering the overlall intake temp.

[SRT Engineers]

Originally Posted by KenricGTS

What kind of performance can be gained with the aero package on the roadster? Is the wing on the roadster as effective as the ACR? Which is lighter the Vert or the coupe? What is the top speed of the roadster? Do you think the Viper can out perform the new ZR1? Also why not think about turbos or some kind of forced induction?

Thank you SRT and Dodge I LOVE my Viper and the new Gen 4!! You guys ROCK!

The ACR makes significantly more downforce than either aero package. The aero package wings are based on the ACR form but they are twelve inches narrower (cross/car) and do not have the Gurney kick up at the trailing edge.

The roadster aero package makes about the same downforce as a base coupe (roughly 170 lbs at 150 mph). The coupe aero package makes about 600 lbs of down force at 150 mph. The ACR makes 1000 lbs of DF at 150mph.

The ZR1 team has made some lofty claims about it's track performance. We'll have to wait and see what the production car does.

[SRT Engineers]

Originally Posted by KenricGTS

What kind of performance can be gained with the aero package on the roadster? Is the wing on the roadster as effective as the ACR? Which is lighter the Vert or the coupe? What is the top speed of the roadster? Do you think the Viper can out perform the new ZR1? Also why not think about turbos or some kind of forced induction?

Thank you SRT and Dodge I LOVE my Viper and the new Gen 4!! You guys ROCK!

The ACR makes significantly more downforce than either aero package. The aero package wings are based on the ACR form but they are twelve inches narrower (cross/car) and do not have the Gurney kick up at the trailing edge.

The roadster aero package makes about the same downforce as a base coupe (roughly 170 lbs at 150 mph). The coupe aero package makes about 600 lbs of down force at 150 mph. The ACR makes 1000 lbs of DF at 150mph.

The ZR1 team has made some lofty claims about it's track performance. We'll have to wait and see what the production car does.

[SRT Engineers]

Originally Posted by Alexarz

I commend you on improving the situation on the '08 but is there anything I can do to diminish the hot air coming in the vents on my '06?

If you don't want to change your hood the best advice I can give you is just to run the AC. ....

[Nader]

Originally Posted by SRT Engineers

The ACR makes significantly more downforce than either aero package. The aero package wings are based on the ACR form but they are twelve inches narrower (cross/car) and do not have the Gurney kick up at the trailing edge.

The roadster aero package makes about the same downforce as a base coupe (roughly 170 lbs at 150 mph). The coupe aero package makes about 600 lbs of down force at 150 mph. The ACR makes 1000 lbs of DF at 150mph.

The ZR1 team has made some lofty claims about it's track performance. We'll have to wait and see what the production car does.

The Roadster areo package makes only 170lbs of downforce? Why bother even offering it then? What on the coupe is creating more downforce then the roadster?

[SRT Engineers]

Reply for Nader on 1st and 3rd gear transmission noise...

I can't say why specifically 1st and 3rd would be worse. The Mopar shifter and many other aftermarket shifters do not have the rubber isolator that the production shifter has... therefore it is common that these shifters may allow a little more noise, vibration, or 'feedback' thru the shift knob in exchange for a precision feel. Make sure use are using the correct Mopar manual trans fluid P/N 04874459 (Castrol 75W-85) for the T56. Special note... the new '08 TR6060 uses onlyATF+4 fluid.

[SRT Engineers]

Originally Posted by Nader

The Roadster areo package makes only 170lbs of downforce? Why bother even offering it then? What on the coupe is creating more downforce then the roadster?

170 lbs of downforce is actually very good considering we did it without adding any drag. The goal roadster aero package was to add moderate downforce without increasing drag. Most sports cars actually make about 100 to 200 lbs of lift at speed. The base roadster is neutral (roughly zero DF).

If you are going to the track, we recommend the ACR. If you've got to have a roadster and still plan on going to the track you'll notice a good improvement in high speed stability and grip with the aero package.

The wing on the coupe aero package is higher in the clean air stream. This makes the wing pick up more downforce.