2000 Black. Im far from an expert. What you said makes total since to me in theory, but in order to get the correct roll center dont the suspension mounting point need to be moved or longer arms? If my assumption is correct, the acr has a lower stance "center of gravity" but the same mounting points on the a arms. The car needs to transfer weight on the outerwheels thru roll or downforce transfer and if the ride height is lower than than roll center it will actually push the weight out instead of transfering it down. That being said and taking the ride quality, oem cost, out of the equation, which car between the srt10, acr, and acrx has a better, roll center setup, or what is the best setup/ride height for the fixed postions on these cars?
Oh btw the car looks great.
This can end up being a VERY complicated debate regarding vehicle dynamics. First of all yes lmcgrew79 (great reply btw!), adjusting the geometry for a wider track is definitely more ideal, yes low volume parts are very expensive (it's always a challenge to get a program team at an OEM to justify costs) and there are bandaids to accommodate this. Dodge has surely thoroughly designed their setup, I would highly question a modification appreciating the depths that they have go into. As an analogy, it's like shaking salt or pepper on a dinner that a professional chef's dinner that you haven't even tried yet (trying to be funny). I know enough about the major ingredients to justify my intial comment. Yet there seems a bit or lack of respect or knowledge of what the OEM has achieved, thinking that some can just bolt on stuff or adjust it and to make it better.
Perhaps as a suggestion for the next VOI, Dodge could present how they develop or tune the vehicle dynamics of a Viper.
Shift the roll center at the front and rear will have an impact in many aspects. Such as a questionable comment about the Comp Coupe using spacers so it must be a good thing. I'm not here to debate, but I actually do enjoy a decent conversation and freely share past knowledge. First of all the body roll, shifting the roll center will change the loads on the springs and the anti roll bars (which is different) in addition to changing the track width, heck even the last company I worked at actually helped design and build the first Comp Coupe prototype for Chrysler (in addition they designed suspension for others in FIA F1 (i.e. Red Bull, Ferrari), GT1, GT2, GT3, ALMS, Daytona Prototype, etc.) in addition to the Gen2 GTS-R race Vipers in the past. It's a system needing to consider all of the components (everything, even the bushings). These changes also has an impact on under / over steer characteristics, jacking, etc.. Spacers add stress to the wheel bearings. It changes the handing attributes of the car at the front and rear. Again it's a system, as I realize some haven't been exposed to the indepth validation of a car, my perspective may be crudely rejected, which is ok. I think what some don't realize is that if you change one thing, something else has to change. I've been trained at work by a coworker Murray W. (but he went back to Lotus in the UK) who was a go to guy for the Viper / SRT team at one time, it's surprising what is involved with vehicle dynamics, as it is a science that's for sure. Sure lowering the car right off the bat can help aero, but... I'll go more indepth as questions arise if it's of any interest, but I DO NOT consider myself an expert, as I learned from others.
Couple pics in the last shop I worked at..
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Cheers,
Mike
PS.. my comment about being VERY complicated, what I learned is what may feel good regarding to handling from a novice is entirely different than a professional, and as working and learning from them, designing cars with them in my career has really changed my perspective. As Murray told me "the more you end up knowing about vehicle dynamics, the more things you will not like about the car that you are driving and you'll never be happy". Ignorance is bliss.