COTA pictures, and some Gen V info.

[FLATOUT]

Had the opportunity to attend the COTA IMSA race this weekend with the Houston Viper Club and other VOA people from San Antonio and Austin this weekend. Probably the most fun I have had as a Viper Owner outside of a track day. We had some fantastic dinners that were attended and sponsored by Ben Keating/Bernie Katz and Viper Exchange. Great race strategy and general Viper talk. I think everyone was excited to see the sales of the new car since the price reductions were announced.

Had a great talk with Dick Winkles about aftermarket tuning of the gen IV and V cars. I was specifically interested in false knock and how to define what is false and what is real knock. I have experienced false knock on Vettes, F Bodies, and Vipers over the years and I always get slightly concerned about bypassing it when tuning. He told me anything from aftermarket motor mounts to other small changes can cause false knock but that I should be concerned with it as long as I KNOW that I am running good fuel in the car. He mentioned that the factory tune is roughly a 91 octane tune and that if I am always running 93 octane fuel here in Texas that I wouldn't have any issues turning it up a bit. Great news.

Talked to Ralph a bit about wheel offsets and weights. Nineball and I have been in and around the wheel business for a long time so it was nice to chat with him about the factory setup. He mentioned that the front wheels are tucked in to increase the top speed of the car. Similar to the race cars the front fascia flairing out improves the aero at speed. He also mentioned that the sidewinder II wheel is the lightest wheel that they have ever put on a Viper, and that his one off Motegi's were actually slightly heavier in the front and similar in the rear. Spoke about a couple other minor things that may or may not have been confidential so I'll leave that alone. Wonderful person and it was great to get to know him a little.


https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3878/15126465468_ee8286f8fe_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15126465468/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15126465468/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3918/15312702602_88a9ee7960.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15312702602/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15312702602/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3878/15289960916_a8c3791f61_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15289960916/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15289960916/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr

[FLATOUT]

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5556/15126503837_9425d2a701_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15126503837/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15126503837/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3871/15309882581_b70b5a5278_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15309882581/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15309882581/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr

[FLATOUT]

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3906/15313056265_5634ae9660_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15313056265/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15313056265/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr


https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3840/15126468918_1dd56b59c7_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15126468918/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15126468918/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3903/15289896466_9d69d144ee_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15289896466/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15289896466/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr

[FLATOUT]

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3853/15126472938_46ebe640f5_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15126472938/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15126472938/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3904/15289906326_26ef9477c3_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15289906326/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15289906326/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr

[FLATOUT]

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5583/15290010156_84ec40b486_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15290010156/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15290010156/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3847/15312709402_0ff695a913_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15312709402/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15312709402/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr

[XSTAR]

Looks like an awesome time!

[daytonprowler]

Excellent!

[Canadian venom]

Cool stuff, nice pics!!

[pdv25]

Good stuff Andy! Would of loved to attended the event!!

[Bruce H.]

Andy,

Talking with those two gents one on one is definitely a pleasure, and so informative. Sounds like they told you some things as well that you're afraid to repeat for fear of burning your source. They're way out ahead and excited about stuff they're working on, would love to spill it all (because they're enthusiasts like us), but have to be careful.

Did you ask them about the TA 2.0, and did it give you the feeling you'd like to move up? Did they express any optimism about the other tune coming out by a 3rd party that we've been waiting for?

[FLATOUT]

Andy,

Talking with those two gents one on one is definitely a pleasure, and so informative. Sounds like they told you some things as well that you're afraid to repeat for fear of burning your source. They're way out ahead and excited about stuff they're working on, would love to spill it all (because they're enthusiasts like us), but have to be careful.

Did you ask them about the TA 2.0, and did it give you the feeling you'd like to move up? Did they express any optimism about the other tune coming out by a 3rd party that we've been waiting for?

Did speak briefly about the 2.0 and I expressed my thoughts that I wouldn't move from my TA for it. It's not a real down force car and you won't get one until they build an ACR. The TA 2.0 makes less down force than the old aero coupes if I'm not mistaken. If and when they come out with an ACR I'll take a look at it.

As for the 3rd party tuning read my 2nd paragraph where I spoke with Winkles about it. That's specifically what that conversation was about.

[Bruce H.]

As for the 3rd party tuning read my 2nd paragraph where I spoke with Winkles about it. That's specifically what that conversation was about.

I was referring to the tune that many thought was going to be offered by Mopar, and that is on Ralph's car. SRT had first hand knowledge about that tune, and it was done by the same company that tunes the stock ECU. I've been hoping it would eventually make it to market, but we probably won't know if it's coming until it's here.

Thanks for the report and photos.

[FLATOUT]

Ok most of us that have been in the Viper community for a long time consider the Mopar ECU a manufacturers tune. It may be sold via Arrow, or the dealerships but it's Winkles tune (factory). The third party stuff is the HPtuners software. I didn't ask him about the Mopar stuff, they missed the boat on that unfortunately. It's a canned tune (one size fits all) and is never as good as a private session with a good tuner.



I was referring to the tune that many thought was going to be offered by Mopar, and that is on Ralph's car. SRT had first hand knowledge about that tune, and it was done by the same company that tunes the stock ECU. I've been hoping it would eventually make it to market, but we probably won't know if it's coming until it's here.

Thanks for the report and photos.

[viper04]

Andy
Thanks for posting pic and info. " Wonderful person and it was great to get to know him a little" +1 on that statement about Ralph. He a great guy to talk to about any of the SRT brands.

[Nine Ball]

We did ask the SRT guys and Keating if they planned on taking a TA or 2.0 to the 'Ring, and they said no. They think it would not beat the ACR on that track, due to the reduced aero, and non-adjustable suspension. Hints were made about needing height adjustable suspension and more aero...

[Steve M]

Ok most of us that have been in the Viper community for a long time consider the Mopar ECU a manufacturers tune. It may be sold via Arrow, or the dealerships but it's Winkles tune (factory). The third party stuff is the HPtuners software. I didn't ask him about the Mopar stuff, they missed the boat on that unfortunately. It's a canned tune (one size fits all) and is never as good as a private session with a good tuner.

Soooooo...when ya gonna bite the bullet?

[FLATOUT]

Soooooo...when ya gonna bite the bullet?

Soon, we have a bunch of gen V's here in Houston so I want to set something up to get a few of us done at once.

Heading to Mexico for a few days so I plan on talking to Torrie next week.

[VENOM V]

Flatout, I've gotta say your informative, interesting posts are drawing me back to participate in this forum more often. Glad you got the TA, keep 'em coming!

[Slithr]

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3853/15126472938_46ebe640f5_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15126472938/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125600825@N07/15126472938/) by mrandrewwheeler (https://www.flickr.com/people/125600825@N07/), on Flickr

I thought, I overheard Ralph saying that everyone in this room (including photographer) needs to always travel with team SRT, due to the massive amount of race Juuu Juuu we bring. Do you know who at SRT Motorsports I need to contact for tickets to the next race?

Thanks for posting the pictures!

[Herrsss]

What an amazing weekend! Andy, thanks for the pics - I see what you did when you got home since you didn't have to wash a dirty snake!

[Jack B]

HPT Update - The current program has over 90% of what you need to tune a G5. IMHO this version is actually better than SCT 's G2 version.

The HPT scanner now can log over 100 pids, shortly the ability to log KR will be added.

[FLATOUT]

Flatout, I've gotta say your informative, interesting posts are drawing me back to participate in this forum more often. Glad you got the TA, keep 'em coming!

You made my day with this post. Things are moving in the right direction again thanks to many of the recent threads, good posters, and great events. Nineball, Jack B, Magnus, Torrie, Bruce, Shooter, and quite a few others are starting to post their actual experiences with the car which is always better than magazine racers and keyboard warriors.

[viper04]

HPT Update - The current program has over 90% of what you need to tune a G5. IMHO this version is actually better than SCT 's G2 version.

The HPT scanner now can log over 100 pids, shortly the ability to log KR will be added.

Nice!! will they will be able to log LT KR and ST KR that would be sweet.

[cashcorn]

Good Times! Thanks for sharing.

[Jack B]

The G4 version already records KR, the G5 should be close. The G5 scanner part of the software accesses 109 PIDS on my car. The only ones that seem to be missing are the KR PIDS. For those that have not used HP Tuners, the software is two discrete elements, the editor (for flashing) and the scanner for logging the data from the car's sensors. If you have used SCT in the past, this HPT package is a grade above.


Nice!! will they will be able to log LT KR and ST KR that would be sweet.

[Simms]

As usual, nice writeup and pics! Thanks for sharing.

[viper04]

The G4 version already records KR, the G5 should be close. The G5 scanner part of the software accesses 109 PIDS on my car. The only ones that seem to be missing are the KR PIDS. For those that have not used HP Tuners, the software is two discrete elements, the editor (for flashing) and the scanner for logging the data from the car's sensors. If you have used SCT in the past, this HPT package is a grade above.

Jack B
thanks for the reply, Wow!! 109 PIDS is a lot, I guess you can just about monitor what's going on with the car is most scenario's. Good stuff.

[Jack B]

I talked with Steve M and his G4 version of HPT sees over 150 PIDS.


Jack B
thanks for the reply, Wow!! 109 PIDS is a lot, I guess you can just about monitor what's going on with the car is most scenario's. Good stuff.

[Steve M]

Jack B
thanks for the reply, Wow!! 109 PIDS is a lot, I guess you can just about monitor what's going on with the car is most scenario's. Good stuff.

You can definitely get a good idea about what's going on, that's for sure.