Why were the sidepipes discontinued?

[Lawrenzo]

Just curious as to why the sidepipes were discontinued on the RT-10's. And, why they are being brought back on the SRT-10's?

 

[garolittle]

Excellent question. I have always wondered this myself. I will be interesting in hearing the answer to this one.

 

[Bonkers]

From my understanding it was due to complaints about people being burned as they tried to get out of the car. DC also said the tail exit flowed better and produced more power.

Either way those pipes are the reason I like the GenIs over the rest. I wish the conversion was cheap, then I could love the GTS too...

 

[-RUNNR]

Rumor I heard before I owned a Viper was too many lawsuits due to burns...

Just like the hairdryer with it's "Do not use in water" tag...

Some folks just never learn

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">The heat issue is cat related and the cats are still there.

My understanding is rather that because of new (at the time) 1996+ ODBII requirements, a post cat O2 sensor was now required. The only position available on a side-piped Viper placed the sensor in a location that exposed it to water / debris severely impacting reliability.

New O2 sensor technologies have addressed these issues, hence the reappearance of side-pipes.</FONT f>

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I haven't heard the "burned leg liability" reason before. Like Ron said, "it's still there," so that can't be the reason.

I heard it was because side exhaust couldn't be sold in Europe. Too loud or whatever.

The SRT sounds very good.

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">I'm pretty sure Chuck is correct on the European noise standards as the reason for the rear exhausts on Europe destined cars.

If you look at early GTS prototypes even they had side pipes, though also with rear exhausts, my guess not because they were going to do both (at least I hope not!) but in case they could get the O2 sensors to work.

My understanding as to why rear exhaust GENI's went up 15HP vs. a side piped car was that the rear exhaust enabled the behind cat resonator / muffler to be less restrictive given that they'd be another muffler to finish the silencing job downstream. </FONT f>

 

[randall]

Don is correct,i just finished the viper book by dan carney from cover to cover.it was emission related to the o2 sensors,with the new o2 sensor it can handle the heat and moisture.

 

[CAP]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ron:
<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">My understanding as to why rear exhaust GENI's went up 15HP vs. a side piped car was that the rear exhaust enabled the behind cat resonator / muffler to be less restrictive given that they'd be another muffler to finish the silencing job downstream. </FONT f>

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The '96 RT/10s (at least) had NO "behind the cat resonator/muffler".

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Funny that you mention that Craig, most of the exhaust line drawings in various manuals do not show the behind cat resonator. I thought perhaps that was an early GTS design that never made it to production.

Does your car have the same type muffler in the rear as a current Viper? If so, I'd imagine it would sound different / louder than current Vipers which have both the sill resonators and the rear muffler.

</FONT f>

 

[Joe Dozzo]

I agree with Bonkers, I guess we just have different definitions for "expensive".

Sidepipes were certainly less than any set of wheels. Also less than headers from most vendors.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Too funny Gabe! I had to read that over to get it.

 

[CAP]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ron:
<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Funny that you mention that Craig, most of the exhaust line drawings in various manuals do not show the behind cat resonator. I thought perhaps that was an early GTS design that never made it to production.

Does your car have the same type muffler in the rear as a current Viper? If so, I'd imagine it would sound different / louder than current Vipers which have both the sill resonators and the rear miffler.

</FONT f>

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The '96 had the same muffler as my '01 - same part number stamped in the stainless steel. It's been awhile, and I had the Snake-Oyl muffler delete on the '96 for a long time, but I don't remember that it was significantly louder than the '01 - comparing before mods.

(I was actually surprised to see the sill resonators on the '01. I didn't think any cars had them.)

 

[Matt M PA]

It was my understanding that it was due to drive-by noise issues. The car can make more noise from the rear without upsetting these drive-by noise standards.

 

[99 R/T 10]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
With a GEN 1, there were no windows and this was not a problem. With the GEN 2, to make it legal, it would either had to have no windows, a exhaust that exited past the rear axle (it does), or a pipe exiting somewhere near the middle of the rear wheels, lol. Just what I heard.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
So how would this apply to the new SRT-10? I believe it has windows and the side exhaust is back for 2003.

Mike

 

[Matt M PA]

Guys...it was due to noise drive-by standards. This is why the '96 RTs have slightly more power; the less restrictive and louder rear exhaust.

 

[Mike Brunton]

And the cap to this story is that they were able to return to sidepipes with the SRT because the SRT has the exhaust crossing over underneath the car, so that the left side of the engine exits the right side of the car, and vice versa. They were probably unable to do this on the GTS & RT/10 because if you've ever seen underneath the car, you'd see there is no room for such an arrangment.

 

[Sniper]

It was for the old farts-too loud so they took them away.
Then everyone complained no side pipes so they brought them back and changed the look of the car-for the old farts!
If they'd quit catering to the old farts, the car would be just right!

(Flame suit on)