9 0L Stroker or Calvo Twin Turbo

[TheMadMachinist]

I am just starting to research this and I am wondering what would be best for what I really use the car for. So I thought i would ask you guys what you thought.
My GEN 5 has a little over 55,000 miles on it and the extended warranty runs out in about ten months and this is about the sametime I will be due for it's bi yearly Cal. smog check. I plan on being moved to anther location that has no smog requirements before the next smog is due in anther two years.
One thing to consider is that my new location will be at 4,800 ft above sea level as opposed to the 55 ft I am currently at.
The car is used mostly for blasting down the freeway with no forseeable closed course work in the future. I would like to attend some half mile or one mile speed trials. You know a bucket list kind of thing.
I would like to add that I have no need to be the fastest out there. I learned a long time ago that there is always someone out there faster, and I'm fine with that.

My first thought was to send the car to Prefix for their 9.0L Extreme deal.
Then I saw Calvo offers a 9.0L Stroker Package with the option of installing a MoTeC. For more money off course. My first thought was maybe this mite be a better option due to the higher altitude I will be moving to. I really don't know that is why I am asking.

This much I do know and that would be Stroker Motors don't like boost. So going this route this would mean no more power upgrades if I went in this direction.

All this leads to the question do I really need 785 hp with the stroker. No, not really. But if I am going to go this far why not consider a Calvo 1100 hp Twin Turbo option.

Yes, I do fully understand the finances involved with any and all of these endeavors. you can bet I will be doing my do diligence well before making a decision. I just thought it would be interesting to ask here on the forum and perhaps there mite be many things brought up that will be very helpful.

Due to the distance I am from ether shop the first thing on my list would be reliability and longevity.

It seems both shops have proven Stroker Packages. I would think that Calvo would be more likely to accommodate any customization to said package for my specific application. If needed.

Correct me if I am wrong here. I was thinking that going with the Turbo option at cruising speed. That this option would be easier on the motor for the long run. No boost at no load or light load.

You can't turn down a stroker motor.

I was thinking that a final drive gear change would be advantageous with ether option. No need to spin a stroker motor any higher than needed and with the turbos it would have more than enough power to make up for losses in acceleration and be a little more livable at highway speeds.

So I would really like to hear from those that have real life experience with ether of the kits mentioned above. I also welcome any and all comments from everyone else as we are never short on opinions around here.lol

Your thoughts?

[Steve M]

I've not done either, mostly because I don't have the disposable income required to them. Doesn't stop me from dreaming though, and I was heading down this path with one of my old cars, so I did a LOT of research about both options.

Big NA builds come with compromises. That mostly comes down to the cam chosen. If you go wild because you want big power, you'll end up with surging/bucking issues that you may or may not be able to tune around. If you go mild, it may leave you wanting for power. Big cubes will make a big cam seem smaller, but that only goes so far. Big NA builds are also very sensitive to getting the exhaust right...if you don't have the combo down just right, you'll end up choking it. If you ease the restrictions, that generally means LOUD. You can build a free flowing, quiet exhaust, but it will be a one-off, custom build type of thing. If you want big, reliable power NA, you have to pay very close attention to all of the details, because everything matters.

Turbo builds will have packaging constraints dictated by the vehicle, so you have to make sure you won't have things like water ingestion issues due to where they stuffed the turbos if you get caught in a downpour. I'm guessing Calvo would be able to tell you exactly how good or bad of an idea that might be. The other big drawback is expense...it just isn't cheap to build a turbo Viper, at least not one that is reliable and runs well. The benefits, though, are hard to overlook - pretty much dial-a-power settings to match how much you need at any one time, and you can just flat out make more power than any NA build will ever get to, and with far better driving characteristics. The turbos will also be less affected by altitude, which is clearly going to be an issue for you in the near future.

If I had the coin, I'd go turbo without a doubt. But I don't, so I won't. Also, going with a stroker doesn't mean you can't turbo it...pretty sure all the big builders making big power use strokers + turbos, but they are very different engine builds NA vs. forced induction. A big stroker built for a turbo application isn't going to work very well unless you attach a couple of snails to it.

[No hemi]

GO turbo!

[HANKFAN]

Hard to beat a Turbo setup.

[serpent]

OP, how do you pass smog?

[TheMadMachinist]

OP, how do you pass smog?

Read my first post it's all there.

[IndyRon]

I think the framing of the question is a bit unusual. My answer to the question would simply be, why do you want to modify the car in the first place? Nothing has to be done to the car to get into the 10's stock in the 1/4 mile other than driver improvement and decent weather. 1/2 mile or 1 mile events are still fun with a stock car, especially if you are just out there to have fun and participate and aren't trying to win. You talk about 1 tuner having more opportunity for customization for your specific application but you don't have a stated application other than enjoyment. There is no dyno graph specific to that. Don't get me wrong, none of my vehicles are stock so I'm not against modifications. Just a few observations. I suppose if I had 20k+ burning a hole in my pocket I'd try to decide what would give me the greatest amount of enjoyment and go from there.

[kriskyk]

NA build will be more of a one and done kind of thing plus the cam lope / exhaust is amazing...

The turbo build will be a commitment. Your going find other weak links and have maintenance that only a performance shop can handle or if your pretty mechanical incline and have the time and the interest

I would recommend calling calvo and he will walk you through the considerations...they are a very service oriented company

[outnumbered]

Calvo H/C. I think it would ultimately be a more reliable set up. Twin turbo's are sweet, but with that much power, things will break.

[TheMadMachinist]

Thanks for all your responses. The allure of a set of twins is exciting to say the least. I myself have never really liked the whole placement issues that are inherit with this platform. But what you guys really helped me to do was take a harder look at myself and what level of personal commitment I am willing to invest into this endeavor. I was already a little uncomfortably with distances involved with a project on this level. It's one thing to commit to the funding of something like pair of twins "Not easy by any means" but it is a whole other deal with consideration to the effort on my part and in my case lack of skill needed to pull something off like this. Even going the 9.0L route mite be more than I want to get myself into at this stage of life.

So my eyes are a bit more wide open to H/C setup. Reliability is paramount and I will Know more after I make a few phone calls.

Don't you just hate it when reality steps in and just totally screws up your plans.lol

[Bapple30]

I have been absolutely blown away by my Calvo H/C car. Calvo and his team were awesome to work with, best in the business. Talk with Antonio or Andrei, they will lead you in the right direction, good luck!

[M5toViper]

I would do h/c if all you want is more power for the occasional hwy blast. More reliable and tons of money saved.

[Matt Dillon]

Thanks for all your responses. The allure of a set of twins is exciting to say the least. I myself have never really liked the whole placement issues that are inherit with this platform. But what you guys really helped me to do was take a harder look at myself and what level of personal commitment I am willing to invest into this endeavor. I was already a little uncomfortably with distances involved with a project on this level. It's one thing to commit to the funding of something like pair of twins "Not easy by any means" but it is a whole other deal with consideration to the effort on my part and in my case lack of skill needed to pull something off like this. Even going the 9.0L route mite be more than I want to get myself into at this stage of life.

So my eyes are a bit more wide open to H/C setup. Reliability is paramount and I will Know more after I make a few phone calls.

Don't you just hate it when reality steps in and just totally screws up your plans.lol

Yep it Sux sometimes when reality steps in & it seems like it steps in more the Older you get! GL & keep us informed which way you go

[USAFPILOT]

Personally, I'll be doing the Calvo H/C package. And, I don't think there is enough value in stepping up to the 9.0L unless your bottom end needs a total replacement for some reason.

But if I was living in Denver or anywhere else at 5000', I'd want forced induction. Any NA car is going to lose power with less air available. the only thing that worries me, lie you, is longevity. Anytime you are pushing out more power and increasing cylinder head pressure, things aren't going to last as long. But none of us know if we have a GenV bearing failure time bomb on our hands either, which is one of the reasons I want the Calvo H/C package done, because he addresses this and prefix does not. And, he offers a 2 year warranty. One other thing I saw is, Calvo tunes for 93 Octane and the Prefix packages are setup for 91. So that could be a factor depending on where you live.

I intend to drive mine stock until the max care warranty runs out, then send it to Calvo. So a couple more years with the stock setup. GL!

[SandViper]

How about Twin Turbo the 9.0L

[serpent]

How about Twin Turbo the 9.0L

Theres a purple ACR with that setup, i think on the CM1800 package, with a 9L motor.

[Fatboy 18]

Have any of you guys watched this Video? OH BOY it gets expensive! I seriously don't know how so many of these guys get the monies to do these builds?

[Fatboy 18]

There is a guy who has posted on the UK Pistonheads forum saying he has a 2000hp Viper in the USA (Calvo)

Thread here
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/...t=1871647&i=-5