Prices on CF X Brace

[99Vipers]

What is a fair price for one and from whom? Name of a vendor who will paint mine or should I just contact a local paint shop if I go that route?

[ViperPete]

Here is the real thing:

http://theviperstore.com/Viper5_Products_Performance_Engine.htm

[BJG32]

Here is the real thing:

http://theviperstore.com/Viper5_Products_Performance_Engine.htm

That is xtreme's version. OEM is $3k

[BJG32]

What is a fair price for one and from whom? Name of a vendor who will paint mine or should I just contact a local paint shop if I go that route?

Contact xtreme for the best price. I think $1750 is their price if you buy direct.

[99Vipers]

Contact xtreme for the best price. I think $1750 is their price if you buy direct.

Yes, I am waiting to hear back on a list of parts I sent them....I also sent you a PM about a gas door and some X-Brace bolts..

I listed in parts but I thought I would throw out that I am looking for Left and Right Gen V mirrors. If I could find them in Viper White that would be best but used ones in any color would be ok as I am having them painted Viper White and I want to keep my originals.. Mirrors MUST be complete with stalks and non-chipped/cracked glass.

[Stealth]

FYI, this is a purely cosmetic mod, other than saving about 6lbs or something. The OEM metal X Brace is stronger and stiffer.

[99Vipers]

That is xtreme's version. OEM is $3k

BJG, Dont want to be a pest but did you receive my PM about a gas door and some x-brace bolts?

[Smokin]

I bought an OEM brace for $2600.

[99Vipers]

I bought an OEM brace for $2600.

Could you tell why the potential 1,200.00 difference in price between the two?

[dewilmoth]

FYI, this is a purely cosmetic mod, other than saving about 6lbs or something. The OEM metal X Brace is stronger and stiffer.

False. Well documented to be a couple pounds lighter and equivalent stiffness. It's not just some pretty part that they threw together.

http://www.materialstoday.com/composite-applications/news/composites-intensive-chrysler-srt-viper-wins-spe/

http://papers.sae.org/2013-01-1775/

[Stealth]

Let's agree to disagree. Those links are not conclusive. I believe there is contrary information posted somewhere on this site. In any event just get what you're happy with.I have all of the exterior carbon-fiber on my GTS as well as the engine Beauty covers from extreme and door sills. I elected not to get the brace because I believe that the brace takes away stiffness and would make the engine compartment look too busy with the CF engine covers. again each to their own.

[dewilmoth]

Let's agree to disagree. Those links are not conclusive. I believe there is contrary information posted somewhere on this site. In any event just get what you're happy with.I have all of the exterior carbon-fiber on my GTS as well as the engine Beauty covers from extreme and door sills. I elected not to get the brace because I believe that the brace takes away stiffness and would make the engine compartment look too busy with the CF engine covers. again each to their own.

Did you not click on the actual SAE paper? Its pretty dang conclusive when the engineers say their requirement going into it's design was equivalent stiffness, haha. Not really sure how thats even debatable, especially when your sole argument is that there is "contrary information posted somewhere on this site." Whether or not a couple pounds savings is worth $3k is a totally different discussion. I'm just pointing out the facts, and if you can show otherwise, I'll happily correct my statement.

[SSGNRDZ_28]

On my scale the standard one weighs 5.86 lbs. and the carbon one 3.15 lbs.

[dewilmoth]

On my scale the standard one weighs 5.86 lbs. and the carbon one 3.15 lbs.

Ha, strike one against the SAE paper. I'll admit, that makes more sense, 9 lbs is a lot. I wonder if the aluminum x-brace has changed at all since 2013? Seems odd to me that Dodge would give a weight that was off by such a large factor.

[99Vipers]

I just want to know the difference in the OEM C/F brace and the X-Treme C/F brace besides price???

[Voice of Reason]

I just want to know the difference in the OEM C/F brace and the X-Treme C/F brace besides price???

OEM would have some kind of ridigity testing behinds it's design. Xtreme would have just copied the design and hoped for the best. (IMO)

[Smokin]

Could you tell why the potential 1,200.00 difference in price between the two?

I just wanted OEM parts. I've heard through some sources that the quality isn't quite as good, but haven't validated these claims.

[cplabaunza]

I think you're referring to this thread, post #20, 30, and 31 = https://driveviper.com/forums/threads/17164-Hmmmm-Woodhouse-ACR-E-Edition-Double-Trouble?p=277214#post277214


Let's agree to disagree. Those links are not conclusive. I believe there is contrary information posted somewhere on this site. In any event just get what you're happy with.I have all of the exterior carbon-fiber on my GTS as well as the engine Beauty covers from extreme and door sills. I elected not to get the brace because I believe that the brace takes away stiffness and would make the engine compartment look too busy with the CF engine covers. again each to their own.

[One Viper Bite]

False. Well documented to be 9 lbs. lighter and equivalent stiffness. It's not just some pretty part that they threw together.

http://www.materialstoday.com/composite-applications/news/composites-intensive-chrysler-srt-viper-wins-spe/

http://papers.sae.org/2013-01-1775/

I'm almost positive that it has been reported in a few places that the carbon fiber X-brace, while lighter, is not as rigid as the aluminum brace. I will find the source...just need to remember where I read it.

[The_Ruski_Driver]

Other than looks, no reason to switch over. Diff in weight is equivalent to one steak dinner.

[sadil]

Standard brace weighs only 5.86 lbs? That's it?

Regardless, even if it was the same weight and less stiff, it looks so much better to run a sexy carbon X across the engine rather than bulky aluminum bands or worse...painted aluminum....then you really have a clown-tastic engine bay.


--Edited--

The SAE paper states the weight at 2.7 kg (5.94 lbs) and the carbon brace being a 50% weight reduction, so right in line with what was measured above. It does also conclude to be similar stiffness.

[Bill Pemberton]

Correct , there is a reason the metal brace is on an ACR ---- Engineers stated it is stiffer.

But , no argument , I would imagine, as the CB one looks really cool too.

We have ordered plenty for folks, then they have both, and Mark J. has also custom painted a bunch of the metal braces to match the car's paint or design.

[One Viper Bite]

Correct , there is a reason the metal brace is on an ACR ---- Engineers stated it is stiffer.

But , no argument with anyone, I would imagine, as the CB one looks cool.

We have ordered plenty for folks as then they have both, and Mark J. has also custom painted a bunch of the metal braces to match the car's paint or design.

I can't remember where I read it, but I believe even Ralph Gilles said it in an interview that the CF brace is not as stiff as the aluminum one.

Spent all morning searching for it and can't find it.

[Arizona Vipers]

The carbon fiber brace is 2.7 lbs lighter, not 9 lbs as stated above. I've weighed both.
Also there is no way the carbon fiber version is as stiff as the aluminum one, not because of the material, but because of the design. The carbon fiber piece just has three sides, there's no bottom. It feels very weak to me compared to the aluminum one.

[dewilmoth]

The carbon fiber brace is 2.7 lbs lighter, not 9 lbs as stated above. I've weighed both.
Also there is no way the carbon fiber version is as stiff as the aluminum one, not because of the material, but because of the design. The carbon fiber piece just has three sides, there's no bottom. It feels very weak to me compared to the aluminum one.

I edited the weights in my post since you guys have obviously weighed both parts. I was just going off the weight savings claimed in the first link I posted. I still find it hard to believe Dodge went to the effort of designing a CF structural part that is less stiff than the part it replaces, but hey, stranger things have happened.