Corsa and Gears for 2008?

[DPViper]

I just bought a 2008 SSG coupe and I am considering mods. First, has anyone installed a Corsa cat back only on a 2008? Is it a big improvement over stock? At this point I am not interested in a full belanger exhaust. Second, does the car need a shorter gear? I put a 3.55 in my 03 and it made a world of difference. Does the gen 4 respond the same way? I did search the forums and find find few comments from 2008 owners that have made these mods. Thanks!

 

[adamlotus]

congrats on the car,pics please,i have heard 355s are the ideal street gear

 

[DPViper]

Hasn't anyone with an 08 has installed a Corsa cat back? I'd love to know how it sounds. Thanks

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

Hasn't anyone with an 08 has installed a Corsa cat back? I'd love to know how it sounds. Thanks

We have installed a few and they sound and look great. There is not as big a change in sound as there were with the Gen3 cars because now they don't have the factory crossover exhaust, but it will sound crisp.

By the way I am a HUGE fan of the 3.55 gear also.

 

[SkyBob]

By the way I am a HUGE fan of the 3.55 gear also.

At the risk of sounding ignorant among all you gentlemen who modify your cars, could you tell me how different my Viper will be with 3.55 gears? I have had my completely stock red 2003 for only a year.

Bob

 

[ViperCr8zy]

I installed the Corsa cat-back system on my '08 ACR. I bought it from Jon @ Parts Rack after seeing it at a Corsa vendor display at VOI. The construction quality is top notch (and should be for the price), and they went on well. I did have one issue where the locating pin was moved on the '08s, or perhaps just moved on my car, but I got Corsa engaged and they were very responsive. Corsa recommended re-notching the passenger side exhaust, and from there it went fine. I have a lift in my garage which eased installation, and I did all of it practically myself. Take your time, and it'll go well with no damage or scratches to the car. The biggest pain is lining it all up in the exhaust outlets. If you're a perfectionist like me, you'll put the side sills on a few times until satisifed everything is lined up where you want it and ready to bolt down permanently.

Regarding the exhaust note, it's deeper and louder than stock and has a lot more bark on downshifts. It isn't annoyingly loud, though, and I did think it was going to be louder than it is. I'm happy with the sound, and don't need it any louder. The rolled chrome tips also look a lot better than the stock tips.

 

[Hamrhead]

At the risk of sounding ignorant among all you gentlemen who modify your cars, could you tell me how different my Viper will be with 3.55 gears? I have had my completely stock red 2003 for only a year.

Bob

Basically, it'll make 2nd gear feel like your first gear does now. And first really jumps vs. a stock geared, stock motored Viper.

Around town driving and parking lot situations are easier when you need to be careful and go slower.

It also makes 6th gear useable at around 60mph, so there's really no reduction in gas mileage.

The downside is you won't be able to 195mph anymore in 5th. Probably only around 170. If that's a problem for you.


I replaced the stock 3.07 gears in my '06 Coupe with 3.55's and loved it. I just got my '08, but I'll probably do it again once I get to drive this one for a while (put away for Winter already with 85 miles on the odometer). Definitely a great mod if you plan on simple bolt-ons.

 

[Malu59RT]

Hmmm...195mph in 5th? I thought the 08's went to 202mph. I tried to see how far I could push it, but my 08 did fall on it's face after shifting into 5th the other night. Pulled great to 160 (top of 4th) but that was it. Stock gearing if that matters, LOL

 

[redtanrt10]

At the risk of sounding ignorant among all you gentlemen who modify your cars, could you tell me how different my Viper will be with 3.55 gears? I have had my completely stock red 2003 for only a year.

Bob

Bob, besides the comments by Hamrhead, it will feel like another 40-50HP

 

[ACRBruce]

I've been contemplating putting on headers and hi-flow cats but keeping the factory mufflers. I think I'll get more HP than just the muffler swap alone and maybe the sound won't be too loud w/ the factory mufflers in place?
BTW I did the gears already and highly recommend it. 1st gear now redlines at about 52 and second ends around 77 or 78. Don't worry about top speed as 6th will take you there, if there's a concern at all.
One side benefit is that the skip shift feature stopped working after the gear swap for whatever reason.

 

[SilveRT8]

The 3.55 gears seem like a great overall mod being 15.6% steeper than the very tall stock 3.07.
Will my speedo also read 15.6% high on my '08 ? How do you recalibarate for it ?
Claude

 

[redtanrt10]

Claude, it will work correctly, gen III and IV vipers don't need a speed recalibation kit

 

[johnk]

By the way I am a HUGE fan of the 3.55 gear also.

Listen to Mark. Unless you are spooling up for something more than a mid 10 second car, 3.55s are the way to go. 3.55s are what these Gen3-4s should have been delivered with.

 

[Hamrhead]

Hmmm...195mph in 5th? I thought the 08's went to 202mph. I tried to see how far I could push it, but my 08 did fall on it's face after shifting into 5th the other night. Pulled great to 160 (top of 4th) but that was it. Stock gearing if that matters, LOL

Well, I was referring to the '03 to '06 Vipers and that's what I read they were capable of.

With the stock gears in my '06, it did about the same as your '08 in 4th gear. I chose not to try 5th.

My new '08 hasn't been over 3,500 rpms yet.

 

[SkyBob]

One side benefit is that the skip shift feature stopped working after the gear swap for whatever reason.

This is something I've heard many negative comments about and I just don't understand it. The owner's manual says about a half dozen conditions have to be met for the skip-shift feature to occur. In my car (with 3.07 gears) I have found that I merely have to get the engine above 2,000rpm and then I can go right into 2nd gear.

For the people complaining about the skip-shift feature, does that mean you normally are trying to shift out of 1st below 2,000rpm? I don't hot-rod my Viper on the streets (well, sometimes I do) but to me it is nothing to rev above 2,000 before shifting.

Bob

 

[ACRBruce]

Most people probably won't shift below 2K, except in stop-and-go traffic, as in my case, I probably only got 4th 2 to 3 times in 700 miles, but it is just a side benefit of getting the gears done.

 

[ACRJUD]

how much is install for gears?

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

how much is install for gears?

It varies with doing them out of the car or if the place has to take out and re install also. 6-10 hours?

 

[Hamrhead]

how much is install for gears?

I paid around ~600 when I had them installed in my '06. Though he really took his time and made sure everything was perfect since it was his first time installing gears in a Viper. I never had a problem with them either.

I've heard others had them done in the $4-500 range.

Really depends how long it takes your mechanic. If they've done them before, it may save you some $$$.

 

[Flash1034]

Unitrax charges 850 bucks for 3.55s installed.

Flash

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

Unitrax charges 800 bucks for 3.55s installed.

Flash

Since their gears are less than the Dana kit that sounds like a fair price similar to the others for labor.

 

[Grant]

Unless you're launching on sticky tires or at well-prepped drag strips, why bother with gears? Traction is already iffy in 1st, and you could use that money to just increase the power of the car (which would make traction even iffier).

 

[Hamrhead]

Unless you're launching on sticky tires or at well-prepped drag strips, why bother with gears? Traction is already iffy in 1st, and you could use that money to just increase the power of the car (which would make traction even iffier).

In cold weather - I agree.

As for warm weather, my '06 dug-in pretty well on the street with 3.55's, both on Runflats and PS2's. I could easly take off and go WOT in 1st gear, in most situations.(assuming I ever drove in that manner)