GEN4 Hennessey Venom 700R

[BAD BEAR]

Looking at a 2009 ACR w/ the Hennessey Venom 700R package. Car has 3.4K miles. Anybody here with this package? Would appreciate any feedback including dyno numbers, reliability, drive-ability(especially at 1st, 2nd gear speeds), performance 0-60, .25 mile, mile, top speed. TIA!

Please don't respond with the usual Hennessey bashing. Heard it all many times over. I owned a Gen2 Venom 650R for 18 years with great performance and zero issues so please don't pollute my thread.

[City]

I see you're in Texas. I just hope the car you're considering is also a Texas car with a Texas owner. That seems to be the best "filter" for issues.

[Vprbite]

There is an owner/club member here in Arizona who has one. He bought it after a wreck and rebuilt it. As far as I know the only problem he has is passing emissions as it won't test. That's any car with the venom ecu though.

But I know the reputation for that builder is iffy at best.

Would you like me to connect you with the owner here in AZ?

[BAD BEAR]

There is an owner/club member here in Arizona who has one. He bought it after a wreck and rebuilt it. As far as I know the only problem he has is passing emissions as it won't test. That's any car with the venom ecu though.

But I know the reputation for that builder is iffy at best.

Would you like me to connect you with the owner here in AZ?

If not too much trouble yes. TIA.

[Rocket]

That would be me! Viper has been awesome for me. Runs rock solid, sounds wicked (albeit a little loud), good dyno numbers, and 161 in the half mile! Just turned 35k miles (had 7k when I got it). Also just back from a 2800 mile trip with gas mileage that was surprising - 19 - 25 mpg.

Let me know if I can answer any more questions.

[Mbccenter]

I owned one for a short time. Ran well and pulled really hard. Very nice job with the headers and exhaust setup. Would not be afraid of one at all.

[BAD BEAR]

That would be me! Viper has been awesome for me. Runs rock solid, sounds wicked (albeit a little loud), good dyno numbers, and 161 in the half mile! Just turned 35k miles (had 7k when I got it). Also just back from a 2800 mile trip with gas mileage that was surprising - 19 - 25 mpg.

Let me know if I can answer any more questions.

Rocket,
Thanks for the response. Vprbite thanks again. Rocket, loud is fine with me! Do you have emissions testing in AZ and if so does the car pass? Got any pics of the engine bay? BTW, love the color scheme on your car. The 2009 ACR I'm looking at is white w/ black center band and I would add the red driver's stripe.

[BAD BEAR]

I owned one for a short time. Ran well and pulled really hard. Very nice job with the headers and exhaust setup. Would not be afraid of one at all.

Mbccenter, appreciate your feedback!

[Rocket]

It will not pass emissions here in AZ, which Hooks up via the obd port. It will not pass because the Mopar pcm does not recognize the secondary o2 sensor - so it will always show not ready when hooked up to a scanner. I debated about getting a stock pcm, but the Hennessey headers DO NOT have the O2 bung, AND the stock pcm also has issues working with headers - so the easy fix for me was to register in a different county.

Driving in 1st/2nd is like any other Viper. Every now and then I do get a bit of "idle hunt" where the idle will fluctuate between 500 - 800, but does not affect drive ability - and others with mods done to their general 4 have reported the same thing. I have not done the update to the pcm. I've only been to the strip once and was traction limited - stock pilot super sports and bad track prep - but trap speed was high.

I should have pics in my gallery - and will add more when I get back to my laptop.

[BAD BEAR]

It will not pass emissions here in AZ, which Hooks up via the obd port. It will not pass because the Mopar pcm does not recognize the secondary o2 sensor - so it will always show not ready when hooked up to a scanner. I debated about getting a stock pcm, but the Hennessey headers DO NOT have the O2 bung, AND the stock pcm also has issues working with headers - so the easy fix for me was to register in a different county.

Driving in 1st/2nd is like any other Viper. Every now and then I do get a bit of "idle hunt" where the idle will fluctuate between 500 - 800, but does not affect drive ability - and others with mods done to their general 4 have reported the same thing. I have not done the update to the pcm. I've only been to the strip once and was traction limited - stock pilot super sports and bad track prep - but trap speed was high.

I should have pics in my gallery - and will add more when I get back to my laptop.

Rocket, thanks for the additional detail. I'll check your gallery. If I get this one I'll work something out regarding emissions. I have a few other states I can register in. Sounds like a great car w/ the 700R package. I'll update here when I acquire my ACR which won't be until January for investment tax reasons. Thanks again.

[Special Ed]

Thought you were done with vipers and getting a corvette!

[Vprbite]

Rocket,
Thanks for the response. Vprbite thanks again. Rocket, loud is fine with me! Do you have emissions testing in AZ and if so does the car pass? Got any pics of the engine bay? BTW, love the color scheme on your car. The 2009 ACR I'm looking at is white w/ black center band and I would add the red driver's stripe.

You're welcome. I mean I feel bad connecting anyone with Rocket but his new meds seem to be working well. If not we'll have to go back to the straight jacket but for now he seems to be behaving himself alright.

The registration thing is due to the PCM. That will NEVER pass emissions, ever. It will always read "not ready" when they plug in the OBD II port. It's not a 700r problem, it is the PCM. That being said you will have to register somewhere that doesn't test or insure it as a collector in states that allow collecter cars to avoid emissions.

Good luck. Enjoy the car.

[TrackAire]

You're welcome. I mean I feel bad connecting anyone with Rocket but his new meds seem to be working well. If not we'll have to go back to the straight jacket but for now he seems to be behaving himself alright.

The registration thing is due to the PCM. That will NEVER pass emissions, ever. It will always read "not ready" when they plug in the OBD II port. It's not a 700r problem, it is the PCM. That being said you will have to register somewhere that doesn't test or insure it as a collector in states that allow collecter cars to avoid emissions.

Good luck. Enjoy the car.

I'm not familiar with the Hennessey headers, but wouldn't it be possible to weld on bungs for O2 sensors if needed? I too have headers with O2 bungs and put on the stock PCM for smog purposes....as long as I'm running a pair of fresh aftermarket cats, I can get by the OBDII plug in reading for smog purposes.

I've found I can get about 2500 miles on aftermarket cats with the stock pcm before I get a check engine light. I'm running the ACR-X headers.

Good luck to the other person on finding the car he desires.

[Rocket]

Good information - thanks for sharing. I do not have the original stock PCM - so in addition to welding in the bungs and buying the O2 sensors, I would have had to buy a new PCM and have it programmed by the dealer for about $1400. Which I may have done, but I did not get a warm and fuzzy feeling from anyone that it would actually work without throwing codes. Have you also tried the spark plug non-fouler extensions on your secondary O2 sensors - as I can't imagine going through the expense and hassle of changing out the cats after only 2500 miles?

I'm not familiar with the Hennessey headers, but wouldn't it be possible to weld on bungs for O2 sensors if needed? I too have headers with O2 bungs and put on the stock PCM for smog purposes....as long as I'm running a pair of fresh aftermarket cats, I can get by the OBDII plug in reading for smog purposes.

I've found I can get about 2500 miles on aftermarket cats with the stock pcm before I get a check engine light. I'm running the ACR-X headers.

Good luck to the other person on finding the car he desires.

[TrackAire]

Good information - thanks for sharing. I do not have the original stock PCM - so in addition to welding in the bungs and buying the O2 sensors, I would have had to buy a new PCM and have it programmed by the dealer for about $1400. Which I may have done, but I did not get a warm and fuzzy feeling from anyone that it would actually work without throwing codes. Have you also tried the spark plug non-fouler extensions on your secondary O2 sensors - as I can't imagine going through the expense and hassle of changing out the cats after only 2500 miles?

No on the spark plug foulers because I do run the Mopar PCM 99% of the time. Since the aftermarket cats are about the size of a large grapefruit (replacing two larger cats per side), I just don't think they have anywhere close to the longevity of the stock cats with stock manifolds. I don't care what the marketing brochure says, consider them a consumable item if running them full time.

Now that I think about it, I'm a little confused....the Hennessey headers do not have any sort of O2 bung on them? How does the computer (regardless if stock or aftermarket) run the vehicle if it cannot read air fuel mixtures? Are you sure that there are no bungs after cat?....that would make more sense. With the aftermarket PCM, you don't need after cat O2 sensors since they typically get shut off.

[RedTanRT/10]

Jim,

That viper looks great, good luck on the purchase. Sorry we couldn't get together on mine!

I found these specs on line, not sure what he means/did with the "engine management calibration" listed below. He's got smog to deal with in TX, so I would think he built it to pass? I would also think you could find a used stock ECU to swap for smog testing.

Keep us postted, Mike

Venom 700R Upgrade Includes:
• High-Flow Cylinder Heads
• Hennessey Stainless Steel 1-7/8 inch Long Tube Headers
• High Flow Catalytic Converters
• Stainless Steel 3 inch Exhaust System
• K&N Air Filter
• All Necessary Gaskets & Fluids
• Engine Management Calibration
• Professional Installation
• Venom 700R Exterior Badging
• Serial Numbered Dash & Engine Plaques
• Hennessey Premium Floormats
• Chassis Dyno & Road Testing
• 1 Year / 12,000 Mile Limited Warranty

[Vprbite]

Rocket makes a good point. Replacing with the stock computer would skeeve me out because of tune issues. Throw off those fuel trims and code, you aren't going to pass.

Acrvprc, mopar ecu will never pass emissions. Ever. It simply doesn't read for downstream 02 sensors. It's like asking a blind person to tell you what he sees. It's not that he has his eyes closed and sees nothing, there is no input. Mopar ecu doesn't even have an input for downstream 02 sensors. So you can't even run simulators. Now if you live in a state that only uses a sniffer test, maybe you will pass. No idea.

[RedTanRT/10]

Vprbite, I told him "used stock ECU to swap for smog testing."

My '08; belanger header w/Lou's cat back, ported intake & heads. Swaped the venom ecu for stock, it will pass, just did it for the second time 2 weeks ago. CA smog test

[TrackAire]

Vprbite, I told him "used stock ECU to swap for smog testing."

My '08; belanger header w/Lou's cat back, ported intake & heads. Swaped the venom ecu for stock, it will pass, just did it for the second time 2 weeks ago. CA smog test

I did the same thing.....as long as the shop does not know or realize that those are aftermarket headers, it is just plug and read the computer here in California. No dyno or sniffing of the car anymore. Pretty sure its the same for everywhere else on these newer cars.

Again, I would think car would not run without some sort of O2 sensor pre cat......does that sound right?

[RedTanRT/10]

I did the same thing.....as long as the shop does not know or realize that those are aftermarket headers, it is just plug and read the computer here in California. No dyno or sniffing of the car anymore. Pretty sure its the same for everywhere else on these newer cars.

Again, I would think car would not run without some sort of O2 sensor pre cat......does that sound right?

They all see those headers, kind of hard to miss!!! Two years ago I had two shops looking for a CARB sticker/plate and wouldn't test my car. But others smile and just hook it up. Last time I was on the rollers, with a good a cat back, like Lou's, it will pass the Sniff Test (although no more testing!)

The issue becomes, "if not when" the headers will cause a CEL. Don't lug the motor in 5th after the codes are cleared before the test.

[Rocket]

Cleaned up the engine bay a bit today and shot these: Has the Hennessey plaque on the right inner fender and the "Hennessey Powered" stickers on the "valve covers". Not sure if the polished intake was part of the package. I also added the oil catch can and changed out the leaking oil cooler lines with the Viper Specialty lines.

[BAD BEAR]

Cleaned up the engine bay a bit today and shot these: Has the Hennessey plaque on the right inner fender and the "Hennessey Powered" stickers on the "valve covers". Not sure if the polished intake was part of the package. I also added the oil catch can and changed out the leaking oil cooler lines with the Viper Specialty lines.

Rocket, thanks for the pics! Polished intake is sweet.