Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
500 torque and 450 hp. Who cares about how many valves it has?
Viper Question for all you enthusiests
- Thread starter Chuck 98 RT/10
- Start date
JimDavis MT 97GTS 650R
Enthusiast
More valves = more cost & eventually more maintenance. Where else can you find this kind of performance for the price? Go ahead and spend the extra $$$ and we will probably still out perform you.
luc
Enthusiast
4 valves are usually used on "small" engine to give them better power.
The down side of it is that without a variable intake/camshaft/valve, the extra power is on the top end.
What move a car,is torque and torque is directly proportional to size (liter/ci).
I agree that the horsepower per liter is not this good on the Viper,but with so many ci we don't need it.
Formula 1 engine crank out a lot of power from small engine,I think something like 800 hp from 1.5 liter but at very HIGH rpm,about 17,000rpm.
At the same horsepower rating,the car with the more torque will always be the car that is more fun/easier to drive and the less rpm,the longer the engine will last.
Ferrari is a good example,they use a high revving,high technology
engine that need a LOT of EXPENSIVE maintenance.
Also on a big engine,the weight of the reciprocating parts
(pistons,rods,etc)dictate a lower maximum rpm.
As the saying go; : "there is no replacement for displacement"
Luc.
The down side of it is that without a variable intake/camshaft/valve, the extra power is on the top end.
What move a car,is torque and torque is directly proportional to size (liter/ci).
I agree that the horsepower per liter is not this good on the Viper,but with so many ci we don't need it.
Formula 1 engine crank out a lot of power from small engine,I think something like 800 hp from 1.5 liter but at very HIGH rpm,about 17,000rpm.
At the same horsepower rating,the car with the more torque will always be the car that is more fun/easier to drive and the less rpm,the longer the engine will last.
Ferrari is a good example,they use a high revving,high technology
engine that need a LOT of EXPENSIVE maintenance.
Also on a big engine,the weight of the reciprocating parts
(pistons,rods,etc)dictate a lower maximum rpm.
As the saying go; : "there is no replacement for displacement"
Luc.
Miles B
Enthusiast
Sure, more valves would make it go faster top end (and I don't see how they would reduce bottom end torque), but it's kinda the point... Dodge make muscle cars.. huge displacement single cam tyre burners.. it's what they do and it's cool. Cube for cube that straight six can't be beat, but the Viper has a lot more cubes and that's kinda the point I think. At this size, 4 or 5 valves per cylinder and the technology like in the 2JZGTE would produce crazy, unnecessary (STOCK) power..
USAF BAD ASP
Enthusiast
dodge wanted to stick with the 'refined yestertech' and not do all this multi valve, variable this, traction that, cupholder crap...
David
Viper Owner
Heads with multiple valves are not as strong as simpler two valve heads. Add in the extra valve holes, the required cooling channels for the valve stems, valve seats etc., and you simply don't have much material there. The Viper engine is a very reliable beast. The Chrysler durability tests are 300 hours at WOT. Most engines spend very little time at WOT, but it appears that the Viper engine was built with that in mind.
Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SavedSoul:
why not the Venom 800.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Because you might not get what you paid for.
But Caldwell, Lingenfelter and Levin Superchargers are another story.
why not the Venom 800.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Because you might not get what you paid for.
But Caldwell, Lingenfelter and Levin Superchargers are another story.
Snakester
Enthusiast
There is a simplicity in the Viper's design, which relates to lower production costs for a car with this performance and potentially more reliability for a car with this much power.
Superchargers, turbos, and multivalve engineering adds to the price, increases complexity and potentially reduces reliability and ease of repair.
It is just a different approach to getting the best performance.
If you look at other factory stock cars that deliver 0-60 around 4 seconds flat, and the 1/4 mile at around 12 seconds, and 1G on the skidpad, and awesome slalom times (a very small group), most are MUCH more expensive, and include expensive maintenance costs to keep all of that complex engineering technology in tune.
Americans like torque. And having LOTS of power available from idle on up, and large displacement motors provide that in abundance, whenever you want it, in any gear.
See if you can get a ride in a Viper and then you will understand what it's all about.
-Dean.
Superchargers, turbos, and multivalve engineering adds to the price, increases complexity and potentially reduces reliability and ease of repair.
It is just a different approach to getting the best performance.
If you look at other factory stock cars that deliver 0-60 around 4 seconds flat, and the 1/4 mile at around 12 seconds, and 1G on the skidpad, and awesome slalom times (a very small group), most are MUCH more expensive, and include expensive maintenance costs to keep all of that complex engineering technology in tune.
Americans like torque. And having LOTS of power available from idle on up, and large displacement motors provide that in abundance, whenever you want it, in any gear.
See if you can get a ride in a Viper and then you will understand what it's all about.
-Dean.
Gavin
Enthusiast
Go rent yourself a Viper for the day.
Then you will understand the Viper, and why we owners are hooked, captivated, enthralled, don't want to hear about any other make, could care less about, GT3000 , F or P cars -2,4,6,8 or ten valves and their associated rediculous reliability and maintenance cost. My comments do not apply to the Vette - now that's a fine AMERICAN muscle car.
Any conversation about this brand or that brand being better than the Viper - well this guy could give a hoot - those brands are not a Viper - and for this guy (MEANING ME), what counts is that there is a AMERICAN MADE Viper in my garage and I'm happy you have whatever turns you on in yours.
Seriously, you have no idea what it means to me to have a Viper in my Garage - there is not a car built that has the impact on me that this car does. Now maybe the GT-40, when they build it will be a close second.
Then you will understand the Viper, and why we owners are hooked, captivated, enthralled, don't want to hear about any other make, could care less about, GT3000 , F or P cars -2,4,6,8 or ten valves and their associated rediculous reliability and maintenance cost. My comments do not apply to the Vette - now that's a fine AMERICAN muscle car.
Any conversation about this brand or that brand being better than the Viper - well this guy could give a hoot - those brands are not a Viper - and for this guy (MEANING ME), what counts is that there is a AMERICAN MADE Viper in my garage and I'm happy you have whatever turns you on in yours.
Seriously, you have no idea what it means to me to have a Viper in my Garage - there is not a car built that has the impact on me that this car does. Now maybe the GT-40, when they build it will be a close second.
Jeff Torrey
Enthusiast
Gavin- What you said.
Alternative
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SavedSoul: I too was wondering the same thing before, I used to own a modded Twin Turbo 300ZX.
If you're looking for a car that is technologically advanced, quiet, smooth, economical (hence, smaller displacement, multivalved, variable timing, etc.), it's not the Viper.
The Viper is built for brute force/performance. It will not be smooth, it will not be quiet, and it will not be comfortable like a Benz or a BMW. But drive one, and you'll forget everything else. There's just no other car like the Viper, it's a street legal race car!
If you're looking for a car that is technologically advanced, quiet, smooth, economical (hence, smaller displacement, multivalved, variable timing, etc.), it's not the Viper.
The Viper is built for brute force/performance. It will not be smooth, it will not be quiet, and it will not be comfortable like a Benz or a BMW. But drive one, and you'll forget everything else. There's just no other car like the Viper, it's a street legal race car!
