Gen 1 track car?

[MoparMap]

So I'm most likely going to be the owner of a gen 1 engine and transmission package complete with electronics in the coming months. It's being swapped out of another car with suspected rod bearing issues due to a knocking sound. I'm no stranger to working on engines and jumped at the chance to play with a Viper engine as it was too good a deal to pass up. However, I'm struggling to find a home for it after I have a chance to go through it. I was initially thinking about a swap into something else for fun, but just started thinking about getting a salvage Viper to build a track car out of. The difficulty is that it's a gen 1 engine, so I'm not sure how easy it would be to swap into any other generation of Viper.

Obviously a gen 3/4 would be a better starting point due to the upgrades in brakes and suspension, but I'm guessing a gen 1 engine wouldn't be the best fit in one. Similarly, a coupe would be a better choice over a roadster, so a gen 2 would be the better pick of earlier gens, but I have similar concerns with fitment of the earlier generation engine. Has anyone built or seen a dedicated gen 1 track car? Alternatively, what all would be involved with putting a gen 1 engine in a gen 2? The car will need to be street legal at the very minimum, but I realize that's a fairly loose term. The reasoning behind that is that I don't have the means to be towing a race car around, but I can put up with driving something to a nearby track as I daily drive my 04 anyway.

 

[ViperPete]

I can't imagine a ton of fabrication would be needed to install a Viper engine into any Viper. Short of mounts and wiring, what else could there be? They must be similar.

 

[CWhiteRun]

Other than trying to put the engine in an old Mopar, I don't see why you would try to put it in a track car? Even a salvage car will come with an engine that probably works well. S the Gen I engine you are getting has a rod knock? If so, I would say
get it on an engine stand and just tear into it. Learn a few things. Sounds like a fun project.

 

[MoparMap]

My main concern was just how the wiring in the different gens would get along. I know the mounts are different between gen 1/2 and gen 3/4, so didn't think that would be the easiest, not to mention intake differences. I think the intent for a salvage car would be find something with a blown engine or a roller track car that someone has already started as opposed to having two engines sitting around.

Worst case I just rebuild the thing and sell it back off (hopefully for some profit), but I'd really like to try to use it in something as an opportunity like this doesn't come up too often. I've gone round and round on several swap ideas, but nothing is really settling. Figured putting a Viper engine back into a Viper was probably the least painful route.

 

[ViperJeff]

Find an old D50 to stuff it in, wouldn't be a track car, but would be fun as hell

 

[MoparMap]

Find an old D50 to stuff it in, wouldn't be a track car, but would be fun as hell

I do need something to tow my karting trailer...

 

[ViperJeff]

Set it up with modern suspension, brakes, etc...... And have some fun

 

[CWhiteRun]

Find an old D50 to stuff it in, wouldn't be a track car, but would be fun as hell

That is a great idea. Uber cool.

 

[FrankBarba]

A Gen I race car is sooo much fun. I raced a Gen I for many years. While the others were
doing engine work, and all the speciality items i'd go around the track, pass them as they broke down
Winningest GEN I Car out there. Gen I's are getting ready to go into Historic Racing....Lots of little
things you can do. I only quit racing the GEN I when the series i was involved with told me that since
i won too many races i needed to either purchase a new car and develop it or take the GEN I and race against
real race teams and Semi Pro Drivers....

 

[MoparMap]

A Gen I race car is sooo much fun. I raced a Gen I for many years. While the others were
doing engine work, and all the speciality items i'd go around the track, pass them as they broke down
Winningest GEN I Car out there. Gen I's are getting ready to go into Historic Racing....Lots of little
things you can do. I only quit racing the GEN I when the series i was involved with told me that since
i won too many races i needed to either purchase a new car and develop it or take the GEN I and race against
real race teams and Semi Pro Drivers....

What all did you have to do to prep the car? The first obvious one that comes to mind is a roll bar, but other than that did you do any other mods you'd suggest? Brakes stand out in my mind as something that could use an upgrade, but I'm not sure how far I'd take it from the start. Realistically I'm not even a part time racer, it would just be a car I could have fun with and not worry about scraping up a bit.

 

[DaJerseyViper]

Throw it in a Honda Civic and piss everyone off..

 

[Dom426h]

The total cost to put a weak(relatively) gen1 motor in a Gen2/3 salvage could be similar just buying a Gen2/3 that was in an accident and just fixing. The latter would leave you with a more complete sellable car as well as the better motor.

Only use i can think of for that Gen1 motor would be to put in a bucket hotrod.

http://www.tbucketplans.com/how-to-build-a-t-bucket-hot-rod-roadster-for-under-3000-kickin-it-old-skool/



If you realy want a Viper trackcar then just buy a highmileage Gen2 with an accident on its history for a good price and upgrade the suspension & brakes. Simple.

Keep us posted on what you end up with!!!

 

[MoparMap]

That's part of my struggle. I know the gen 1 engines are pretty dang strong (all forged I believe), but they aren't the best rated and certainly can use some help in the breathing department. However, I'm already getting all the electronics with it, so I don't really want to mess with the engine as it would require tuning (which is now possible, but not the most convenient), or just replacing the system with a standalone. The more I look at it the more a work truck sounds like a fun idea, though at the same time it feels like a waste of an engine that came out of a sports car. Essentially I just see it as an old big block. Similar power, similar torque, similar weight, just a different package.