Final time, HELP!!! HMS VS DLM

[Dr Roof]

Ok I promise this is my last post concerning my quest for More Horse power. So please help.

I have heard many opinions on the route in which i am to take to modify my car. After speaking with many viper owners i have narrowed my choice of mods down to two tuners: But in doin this i am stuck between two different types of mods.
1. John Hennessy - I have talked to several folks and have heard a lot of things. But after of hearing the bottom line i have determined that John does excellent work. It is possible that John is the best viper Tuner in the business.. I have been most impressed with his magazine coverage and is worldwide name recognition. The only real hold up that concerns me is some of the customers was not happy with his customer service and response. However I have talked to john and i think we are on the same page and has addressed any issues to my satisfaction.

2.Doug levin Super charger. It seems this is a popular route to go. It seems alot of HP is generated and many people are real happy. No complaints on customer service, just takes a while for work to be completed. but, good things come to those who wait!

my question is this of the two which is better for:
1. Driving the car on regular basis/ road trips/ wife?
2. Resale value?
3. Drag racing/ track and street/?
4. dependability will one have more trouble than other?
again im sorry to keep bugging/ but im hoping to make a decision this week/ with your help i can make a good one. sorry so long of post? Please real HONEST help only. Concerning work performance. Thanks ALot

 

[Dion Fisher]

Wow, lots of room for controversy here as there is alot of folks on both sides of the tuner vs.tuner fence..

You are talking about apples and oranges here so it would be VERY hard to compare one package to another but as far as whom I would do business with;

That's REAL easy DLM ---HANDSDOWN---!!!!!!!!

 

[jimandela]

Dr. Roof,
I am not a huge fan of supercharge or turbos. like bigger cubic
inches.
I would consider TNT also.
the numbers king gts posted for only the serpent 505
are very impressive!!
01 GTS/Serpent 505

+ TNT 3" Stainless Exhaust
+ 1 3/4" TNT Headers
+ TNT 65mm Throttle Bodies
+ Ported Intake manifold
+ Race Air Induction
+ 1.7 Billet Shaft Rockers
+ Hardened Pushrods
+ 8.5 mm Plug Wires
+ 3.45 Rear End
+ TNT Aluminum Flywheel
+ Eibach Lowering Springs


Horsepower ****
537.2 HP & 587.9 TQ
459.2 RWHP & 502.5 RWTQ

I would check with roy first!! Never heard a bad word about TNT!!

 

[C O D Y]

If I had to make this difficult decision, I would take the comments of the previous customers in to consideration more than anything else. You will soon be one of those people who speaks from experience with his dealing from one of these two turners. I personally would not take a chance on Hennessy based on the sheer volume of bad comments from numerous upset past customers.

I've had dealings with neither one of these turners, however I have read and talk to a few customers from both guys and I'll tell you I've never heard one bad thing about Doug Levin.

With that said, nothing comes close to the good looks of Hennessy's front fascia and rear wing. By far the best looking after market body pieces for the viper. Good luck and either way you go, have fun and get everything in writing.

 

[DEVILDOG]

Dr.,
Just to round out the voting, that's real easy...HMS VENOM 650R...SMACK DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously, you have to make the decision. Based on your decision criteria I would say HMS for 2,3 & 4. #1 is anyone's guess. My wife prefers the Q45t to my VENOM 650R. I prefer my wife in the VENOM due to the ride characteristics...

Good luck with your choice.

 

[Chuck B 98 GTS]

I haven't had any work done by HMS but I'm sure they have a very good product. My experiences with DLM have been outstanding and first rate. I would highly recommend you speaking with Doug if you haven't already? He would be gracious enough to answer all of your questions. Doug's car's are a work of art and over engineered. I would find it rather reassuring knowing a Viper shop is VERY busy and custom fabrication work takes time -- WELL WORTH THE WAIT! Been there done that!
I haven't had much maintenance other than the usual oil changes, keep the clamps tight and belt tension routine. My car makes 700 rear wheel horsepower under full boost.
Driving on the street with the supercharger IS VERY TAME. You don't need to go too rational with your exhaust, cam, etc... Be patient and consider the supercharger route. I can't say much about the resale, I plan to keep my car for a VERY long time.

Chuck B.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I agree with Cody. There are only three tuners I would deal with.

Caldwell - supplied winning engines to Team Oreca.

Lingenfelter - been around as long as I can remember.

Levin - steadily building a reputation as being "the man."

 

[MaxedGTS]

I've shipped three Vipers to Doug Levin Motorsports. One to rebuild an engine that was from another tuner nightmare and two others for superchargers. I sold one sc car ONLY for the looks of another. I say bite the bullet, get on the list and be patient. The're all custom built. Well worth the down time.

A supercharged Viper from DLM = A loyal customer!
Max Moran

 

[Marc Lublin]

Dr Roof,
To me this would be an easy decision. I know John to be a theif through my own experience and countless stories from others. I have only heard great things about Doug. Even if you don't believe all the bad that has been written about John, do you want to take the chance of getting ripped off? I've never heard anything like that in regard to Doug. Easy decision!

 

[Martin D]

Dr. Roof,

I enjoy my 650R. It performs beyond my expectations. 9k miles and going very strong. Great customer service.

Regards,

 

[TOOOFST]

You don't seem like the wrench type,so maybe the closest turner and best warranty on his product.Have a plan if Sh*t happens!
Make sure you'll still be smiling when some TOOFAST nitrous passes you by!

 

[Vip-RT10]

DLM...there is no other alternative

 

[Mike Brunton]

Dr. Roof,

I would suggest you visit the Corvetteforum.com and seek out a guy named "No mercy".

He was you about 6 months ago. Lots of folks warned him, but he really figured HMS would be a good idea and he went with it. I won't slam HMS, but suffice it to say this guy is out $20k, he had no motor in his car when he finally had it "removed" from HMS's shop and taken somewhere else to be fixed. You will find satisfied HMS customers. You will find unsatisfied HMS customers. If you are looking to hear what you want to hear, then you will and you will dismiss the negative comments. Ask around some folks who have been on this board for a long time. Ask some of the higher-ups in the VCA and make your own decision.


If it were *ME*, and I was thinking of forced induction or a stroker, I would be considering DLM and Lingenfelter. My friend drove the LPE 542 and said it idled and drove just like a stocker, but when you got into it - WOW! Comparatively, I've driven some HMS 650's and I found them to be less liveable than stock cars.

To address your points...

#1) The S/C is not going to affect low-throttle performance. It's gonna hit when you get on it, so I think a supercharger is superior here

#2) Hard to say. DLM is quickly building a strong reputation, while HMS has been taking blows to his rep left and right. I've seen some HMS cars go for LESS than stock cars. There is a 650R locally that they guy is selling for the same $$'s as comparable stock cars of the same year/miles. He can't sell it.

#3) DLM cars are making alot more power. It all comes down to how well you can hook it up - are you willing to make it into a drag car?

#4) Hard to say - I've never heard of a DLM failure, but I have heard of several 650 failures. In HMS's defense, they have (I think) a lot more cars out there than DLM does.

You forgot to take customer service, reputation, and attention to detail into account. They are AT LEAST as important.

If you wanna go with a stroker, I'd strongly suggest comparing HMS to LPE - then call LPE!

If it's between DLM and HMS, I'd go DLM 'till the cows come home.