NITROUS or HEADER?

[Tom Welch]

Jacky,

I love and use both. The fastest vipers on the planet use nitrous. Having been a nitrous user for over 15 years I have NEVER hurt any engine part with nitrous. Like any other form of performance modification a nitrous kit needs to be tuned to compliment your combination. Please see the FAQ's at my website for answers to your operational questions(btrviper.com)

Headers and a free flowing exhaust, in my opinion are the foundation of all future mods that you may consider for your viper. There are lots of choices on the market. You will have to choose the ones that are best for you.

As for a choice between headers and nitrous, I started out with nitrous first on my viper because I have had lots of experience with it. My car responded very well and ran 10 second quarter mile times with stock exhaust. Later when I added the headers and exhaust I gained another 60+ hp to the rear wheels which made the car that much more fun to drive and listen to even without nitrous!

I like to use the equation of dollars per horsepower gained when shopping for mods. Lets take an example:

1). Nitrous..My kit sells for $ 1,899.00 and makes 170 rwhp. That equals $ 10.58 per horsepower gained. You will need to refill bottles occasionally which will add @ 25.00 for every 12 passes down the dragstrip. If you do not race at the track a 15lb nitrous bottle will last a LONG, LONG time for traffic light fun and so on which will lower your ongoing cost.

2). Headers..My exhaust kit sells for $ 3995 complete and we GUARANTEE 50 RWHP. That equals $ 80.00 per horsepower. Significantly more cost per horsepower gained, but well worth it. Using this math you will find these mods and their costs to be very competitive.

Thanks again for your questions. Feel free to contact me by phone at 352-622-6219 or check out my website at the link below.


Tom Welch
Http://btrviper.com

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Get Tom's headers and nitrous. That's ALL you'll need!

 

[FikseGTS]

how much for the NOS system if you install it?

will the dragstrip give me problems with the system being track legal?


Brooks

 

[Tom Welch]

Brooks,

Thanks for your questions. If I install the system add $ 400.00 and I need the better part of a day for the installation. Your installation will include filled bottles.

The NHRA has very specific rules regarding cars that have elapsed times under 11.99 seconds. They are:
1). An approved ROLL BAR with side bar must be properly installed per the rule book.

2). Aftermarket 5 way 3" racing harness must be installed.

3). Nitrous Oxide bottles must have a blow down tube attached that vents nitrous out of the drivers compartment(GTS vipers only). This is a simple device that attaches to the bottle and threads on and off with bottle removal.

Should you run faster than 10.99 there are other items that may need upgrading as well.

With all of the above said, I can tell you from my personal experience that most tracks escpecially those not sanctioned by the NHRA(of which there are hundreds)will not dismiss you for lack of the above items. Not one viper was put through a technical inspection at the VOI6 drag race event.

Several of us run regularly at Desoto Speedway in Bradenton and at Orlando Speedworld where low 10 second times are common and we have NEVER had equipment issues.

If you race at Moroso, there is a chance of being dismissed for lack of NHRA approved equipment. I have raced three events there and have been dismissed one time out of the three. Go figure? I have since installed a roll bar in my viper that I have developed myself that passed the technical inspection at Gainesville Raceway, a NHRA owned and operated facility.....very strict to the rules.

I used to buck some of the controversial rules, but with recent racing trageties and the fact that Im going to be a Daddy again in two months, a roll bar couldn't hurt my chances of surviving an accident.

Thanks again for your questions,

Tom
Http://btrviper.com

 

[FikseGTS]

thanks for the info.... I'm not worried about the 11.99 and better part... I'm familar with that.... I was kicked out of moroso 3 times for runnin in the low 11's with my RX-7... I refused to ruin the inside with the roll bar... and add weight..

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I was talking about getting the NOS/Propane system itself past tech-in....

I don't want them saying.... uh... you can't have this, or that... or whatever... so the system you install is 100% legal for the dragstrip....

is the system active in all gears? I would think using NOS in first gear for street use would be pointless... no traction...

does the install require removal of the spare tire? will a trunk mat hide the bottles in the back?

Brooks

 

[Tom Welch]

Brooks,

The system is 100% dragstrip legal. The propane bottle is DOT and ANSI approved. The nitrous bottle is the same as those in 6 second pro mod cars. Moroso passed my installation of the nitrous system, they would not allow me to run 11's because i did not have a roll bar installed at the time.

The system is active whenever it is activated by a toggle switch and the tps computer senses near wide open throttle voltage. I agree that for street use low gear activation is pointless, therefore driving technique and/or activation after shifting into second gear is recommended.

Removal of the spare tire is required unless you wish to make some kind of mount that sits above it. I use a piece of plywood covered with carpet that has the nitrous bottle brackets bolted to it. It has a hole drilled through that the spare tire lug passes through and is held down by the spare tire washer and wingnut. A simple, effective mount that requires no modification to your viper trunk. I have a simple cargo cover that fits in the trunk that hides my bottles(and anything else that can go in the trunk). There are others available on the market also that are fancier.
Tom

 

[FikseGTS]

thanks for the info.... looks like I have my work cut out for me....

I lightly hinted to the wife that I was thinking about putting a nitrous system in the viper....

and I got the "what planet are you from" , "have you lost your mind" , "isn't anything ever good enough / fast enough for you" look.... followed by "there is a snowball chance in hell of making that car faster".... (she is terrified of the car)

my response was "ahh... so there is a chance".... hehe


Brooks

 

[Hisser]

Jacky,
I am trying to get in touch with you via e-mail. I e-mailed you before you posted your last comments. please read your e-mail.