CREAM PUFF? Piston/rods or older motor swap

[Greg B]

I own a 2001 GTS, I am a new viper owner with little experience. I just purchased Belanger headers, B&B exhaust, Random tech cats, T&D rockers, smooth tubes/ K&N filters. I plan on going with a Supercharger but understand i can only run a 5psi pulley which may equate to 100 HP I think tat is alot of money for little return. Would a 96-99 block fit in my GTS? I have been contemplating getting an older salvage motor VS. the parts and labor/cost of replacing pistons,Rods,etc. I dont really plan on racing the car but just want the power and ability to smoke new mustang shelby or perhaps a new vette. Could i go with a larger pulley if i dont really beat on it to bad? Is a twin turbo as ******* the engine/pistons? Is the TT a better way to go?

 

[KenH]

You can go up to about 6.5lb with water methanol injection on your cast pistons. You can safetly get to around 575-600RWHP without much trouble, though the cast piston cars are always subject to possibly breaking a piston even at 5lbs if the tune changes, etc. If you want to go more than that, all you really have to swap out are the pistons. The rods and crank are forged just like the older cars which work fine unless you are going for really big power.

 

[KepRght]

i am at this same turning point right now.

if your car has low miles consider pulling the block for use later & getting a 96-99 short block that is in good shape. $3000-4000 complete short block. you can easily swap in forged rods and pistons scary thing is the assembly is not balanced. i would prefer a balanced short block from an earlier car over just tossing in pistons and rods without having someone like arrow(viper engine builder) go over it.

TT is the way to go if you have the money & want boost, almost everyone who goes deep into supercharging sells their setup for TT.

think about NA too. you can get close to 600/600 N/A with heads,cam,computer,fuel. at this point im thinking of staying cast/re-ring & going na 600/600. there are good things about cast pistons in n/a applications. you can spend the same amount as NA 600/600 and get far more power with a roe or paxton though. just depends what you want from the car and for your money.

when you get to computer/ecm choice spend the extra 1400$ (over vec) and get an AEM + knock sensors.

 

[Knight Viper]

Who makes the Best yet still affordable AEM for our cars? For calculating Heads cam and maybe nitrous? Thanks

 

[XLR8]

I have put aftermarket rods and pistons in several Gen 2 cars, so I have several sets of the stock forged pistons and rods. The engines were in geat running condition with low miles and were upgraded for more compression. I will sell you the piston and rod sets ready to go and cheap, if you want to go that way. Let me know if you want them.