GTSnake
02-14-2015, 12:32 PM
Ok, hear me out. I want to get your thoughts on this idea, I've heard of this being done before and since I track my cars this idea has always come to mind. It's basically taking a GEN3 Viper that had been in an accident and stripped of all its body panels, doors, lids, etc. and turning it into a dedicated track car, like an Ariel Atom. Things that can be removed to lighten it up even more are the interior, AC, HVAC, dash, and stock seats. From what I understand, the GEN3 is capable of weighing in at close to what I think could be 2200lbs, correct me if I'm wrong. All this while making 510HP. I've seen those custom built roll cage cars at the track and they dominate with only 300HP, but this would have the benefit of an extra 200+hp, a bullet-proof engine/trans, real brakes, a lightweight adjustable aluminum suspension, 345 rear / 305 front tires, basically the arsenal to out corner and out handle just about anything including an Ariel Atom.
It's hard to find a wrecked 2003+ Viper with minimal or no impact to the frame for under $20k, I've been looking for months. One of these was featured on Jalopnik and dubbed "the ultimate go-Kart". I tried to get in contact with the guy but it had sold. Now another one popped up, same guy, different chassis. He apparently has found, stripped, and sold a few of these. What are your thoughts? With some racing seats, roll cage, fiberglass inner bumpers, I'm thinking $1500 at most would be needed to make this a wicked racer, not including tires.
So my questions are...
Has anyone here heard of or know of someone who has done this? What's their verdict?
Would a roll cage, raw bumpers, racing seats and harnesses be pretty much all I'd need? (Windshield not required, or Lexan maybe used)
Would you put a fuel cell in it or leave it?
Would you put a wing out back to keep it planted?
What would the weight of this thing be completely stripped down to a running chassis? No body, doors, glass, trunk, AC/HVAC, carpet, dash, radio, or stock seats. The roll cage will add some weight, but it will be a very small cage.
It's hard to find a wrecked 2003+ Viper with minimal or no impact to the frame for under $20k, I've been looking for months. One of these was featured on Jalopnik and dubbed "the ultimate go-Kart". I tried to get in contact with the guy but it had sold. Now another one popped up, same guy, different chassis. He apparently has found, stripped, and sold a few of these. What are your thoughts? With some racing seats, roll cage, fiberglass inner bumpers, I'm thinking $1500 at most would be needed to make this a wicked racer, not including tires.
So my questions are...
Has anyone here heard of or know of someone who has done this? What's their verdict?
Would a roll cage, raw bumpers, racing seats and harnesses be pretty much all I'd need? (Windshield not required, or Lexan maybe used)
Would you put a fuel cell in it or leave it?
Would you put a wing out back to keep it planted?
What would the weight of this thing be completely stripped down to a running chassis? No body, doors, glass, trunk, AC/HVAC, carpet, dash, radio, or stock seats. The roll cage will add some weight, but it will be a very small cage.