My 08 ACR to ACRX Conversion
I thought I would start by explaining where I came from in the car world to where I am know. I know it is not important but I get asked a lot of questions when people see what I am doing.
I come from a Mustang background and have owned two Vettes in the past as well. I am more an Automobile fan than anything else but the Viper has captured all of my passions in one car.
I started in the Competitive Automotive world street racing, then drag racing. I have had many Mustangs from nitrous pushrods to supercharged modulars as well as a drag only modular motor with a large turbo.
This last Mustang ran 8.36 @ 160 in 2002.
I then went through two Vettes before it was time for my first Viper. I purchased a 2006 off of a showroom display in Spring, TX. I went to a HPDE day at a local track and loved it. Unfortunately I decided to go back to my roots and build the car for power. I ended up installing a 522 stroker with a RSI Twin Turbo System. I did the entire project myself in my garage. I did have Tony from RSI stop a couple times and show me where a few things went but in my true fashion I like to build what I drive. This car ran a best of 9.56 @ 155 on a Mickey Thompson Drag Radial and a soft launch (stock half shafts and differential).
I had a friend that was building a TT GTS that had never had a car with "Real" power. He asked that if he attended a driving school that I attend it with him. I said sure and off we went to Bondurant for the 4 Day Grand Prix class. This was the beginning of my new passion, Road Racing! Within the next few months the ACR was released. I call Bill P up and ordered a Black/Graphite car. It took from February 08 to Sept 08 to receive the car. This is the bad part of Viper ownership, hopefully this will get better in the future.
Long story short, I have been to many DE/HPDE events, a few ViperDays and now the time has come. I have sold the 06 to free up a racing budget and I am about to try Wheel to Wheel with the NARRA group.
I looked into the ACRX but the price of admission and the loss I was going to take on the 08 ACR just didn't sit well with me. I wish I had an unlimited budget but I am not that lucky. I asked myself if I thought I could be competitive in the DVC (Dodge Viper Cup) and honestly though no. I think within a year I might but the racing budgets that a competitive team needs was not in the cards. Fast forward to today. I want to run SCCA - NASA - and NARRA style racing events. This meant I had to convert the ACR to full track duty. After much consideration and research I have decided to convert the car to close to X Specs as possible.
Things I have learned, boy this could be really long but I'll sum it up. It is hard to spend money sometimes with Vendors. Sometimes they don't respond other times they steer you the wrong direction. As luck would have it, I have assembled a great team to work with. Tom Francis from Viperraceheadquarters, Jon B with Parts Rack and ART out of Buda are my new team. Tom has provided access to all the X parts I need for the project, Jon has provided all other parts. ART is building the new cage. I originally asked them to build an exact replica to the X Cage, I thought it was good enough for Dodge, it will be good enough for me. WRONG! The X cage will not meet the letter of the rules for SCCA or NASA. This does not mean you can not use an X but you will have to get waivers and mine will not be a real X. ART instead is building my cage to meet the more strict rules of SCCA and NASA while allowing more room around the cage than the X provides. The cage will hopefully be done this week.
The motor just got back from ARROW racing and installed by Tomball Dodge so the project will be full steam ahead in the coming weeks and I will update with pics. I never started this project to document it so I apologize for the lack of pics that I have to date. I have always wanted to find this information on the internet so I figured since I couldn't find it I would provide it for others. Please follow along and ask any questions you have. I'll do my best to answer and remember I am not a Professional mechanic, Race Team nor am I a Race Car builder. I am a sportsman racer that loves to know everything about my car. I rely on others to do Chassis set up and I work with Coaches to get better. I always use Archer for my Setups (Russ is awesome!) and I have used Tommy Archer twice for a driving Coach (Class Act and unbelievable behind the wheel!)
I will have everything except for a 2010 wing when I am finished. I am still trying to decide whether or not to do the Quaife rear but I do have the complete Differential Cooling system that I have assembled from parts. The motor is an Arrow Racing built stock motor with ACRX forged pistons, stronger push rods and the ACRX modified valve covers. The transmission will have an updated fifth and sixth gear ratios and will still use the stock clutch. The suspension will be all X including the adjustable sway bar links. Brakes are stock with brake pads and stainless lines and of course the brake cooling system from the X. I will not upgrade the rotors just yet. This project is monumental for me and I am hoping it all comes out as I hope to debut the car in late April for some test and tune at TWS. I will not run the race but the DE program to help sort out the car.
Here are a few pics of the project:
Installing the brake ducts and radiator cooling shrouds
Removing the interior for cage install
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Originally Posted by DaveGF
