This past Friday the regional presidents had a great presentation from DC on the new Viper engine. The presentation lasted 3 hours !+
It is amazing how the McLaren & Ricardo folks helped Dodge use their race proven technologies. There was and there is still a really close collaboration between these companies. Guys, we have got a real 4 Gen high tech Race Viper that we can call the McLarren Generation.
During this presentation we had access to about 10-12 engineers to ask them questions about the new engine. They were friendly and open while keeping some future secrets. These engineers are working very hard to provide us a highly reliable race engine.
There are two major changes which required a lot of work: CAM and PCM (they call it now Venom Control). Especially the new VC device required a lot of work. It is a brand new computer built from ground by DC and Motorola. Both the hardware and the software are new. The new engine management program is able to handle 1000 times more signals than the old PCM. The Venom control is the basement of a new generation high tech Vipers.
DC has spent and still spends millions of dollars to develop this new Viper engine. The new engine should be highly reliable. All mechanical improvements are coming from race proven technologies. I think there are 5 dynos running full time this new engine. Believe me the new engine is highly tested. But really the challenge is the new Venom Control device and not the mechanical improvements. Engineers explained that they have done everything before deciding to replace the Old PCM from the early 90's.
Unfortunately the VC is so sophisticated that it will be harder for tuners to alter its signals. According to engineers the last GEN 3 vipers from 2006 should gain in value since they are the last generation Vipers with the old PCM. However they insured us that they will do their best to make performance Venom controllers available through Mopar.
One of the mechanical improvements that I saw and nobody is talking about is stunning. I am talking about the PCV system. Racers know very well how hard it is to breathe the engine. Engineers paid a lot of attention to the new valve cover breathers. The valve covers were redesigned several times on the new engine to prevent oil from entering the intake. Each dyno had a very “accurate catch can” to measure the oil breath from the valve covers. Guess what ? They were all empty and clean … It is a very good news for racers ! What stunned me was the huge quantity of vapor that I saw during down shifting in these catch cans without the oil !
I am confident that there will be a GEN 5 Viper with more technology from McLarren and a new body. The 600HP is just a start ... At DC everything is ready for the production. They are running the last test cycles on the production engine … Keep your 2006 Viper its value should increase and be ready to order the new 2008 !
It is amazing how the McLaren & Ricardo folks helped Dodge use their race proven technologies. There was and there is still a really close collaboration between these companies. Guys, we have got a real 4 Gen high tech Race Viper that we can call the McLarren Generation.
During this presentation we had access to about 10-12 engineers to ask them questions about the new engine. They were friendly and open while keeping some future secrets. These engineers are working very hard to provide us a highly reliable race engine.
There are two major changes which required a lot of work: CAM and PCM (they call it now Venom Control). Especially the new VC device required a lot of work. It is a brand new computer built from ground by DC and Motorola. Both the hardware and the software are new. The new engine management program is able to handle 1000 times more signals than the old PCM. The Venom control is the basement of a new generation high tech Vipers.
DC has spent and still spends millions of dollars to develop this new Viper engine. The new engine should be highly reliable. All mechanical improvements are coming from race proven technologies. I think there are 5 dynos running full time this new engine. Believe me the new engine is highly tested. But really the challenge is the new Venom Control device and not the mechanical improvements. Engineers explained that they have done everything before deciding to replace the Old PCM from the early 90's.
Unfortunately the VC is so sophisticated that it will be harder for tuners to alter its signals. According to engineers the last GEN 3 vipers from 2006 should gain in value since they are the last generation Vipers with the old PCM. However they insured us that they will do their best to make performance Venom controllers available through Mopar.
One of the mechanical improvements that I saw and nobody is talking about is stunning. I am talking about the PCV system. Racers know very well how hard it is to breathe the engine. Engineers paid a lot of attention to the new valve cover breathers. The valve covers were redesigned several times on the new engine to prevent oil from entering the intake. Each dyno had a very “accurate catch can” to measure the oil breath from the valve covers. Guess what ? They were all empty and clean … It is a very good news for racers ! What stunned me was the huge quantity of vapor that I saw during down shifting in these catch cans without the oil !
I am confident that there will be a GEN 5 Viper with more technology from McLarren and a new body. The 600HP is just a start ... At DC everything is ready for the production. They are running the last test cycles on the production engine … Keep your 2006 Viper its value should increase and be ready to order the new 2008 !
