200 mile impression on exhaust & mods so far, FWIW

[Dman]

This gen5 is my 4th viper since 1999, I've done full Belanger exhaust before, as well as Corsa and Aero (vipair).

Exhaust - I had Tom Sessions install Belanger headers with using the stock catback. I drove the past 3 days on mixed roadways, with & without the wife, windows up & down. My impression is that this is a loud setup, not a LOUD setup, but loud. The car is definitely louder than my gen3 or gen4. I am very glad I heeded the advice of JonB, who was adamant about the full Belanger being LOUD, I can only imagine. I know some guys are going to say I'm crazy, full open gutted straight pipes are too quiet, lol, but I drive my cars a decent amount and this setup is right at the line for me. At 3k RPM it starts to get too loud to talk, at 4500 & up it just roars, the tone is more like my Aero than Corsa, deep. For track events I'd have a plug in my left ear for sure. If it were a decibel louder my wife would complain for sure as well. I did a drive by at full throttle and she said it was "crazy" ... eh, women.

I don't want to exaggerate or overdue it, but thought this input may be good for people who might be like me. I put loud exhausts on all my bikes, my mustangs sound like NASCAR cars, and I've always done catback on previous gens, but all that said, I would not want my gen5 even a smidge louder for sure.

There was some question about rattling when using the stock catback, I have no issues at all. Tom said that Lou indicated that was an issue on the very first run and fixed with a little angle change for better clearance.

Gearing - I was strongly considering doing a 3.73 swap immediately, JonB and MarkJ and others, talked me out of it, I'm so glad. Again, I know some will say 4.10s aren't enough, but I'm also used to swapping gearing on my bikes & stangs immediately, but for the stock gearing of 2-6th, I'm thrilled, this car pulls soooo hard in 2-5th. At 75mph on the highway, a 3.73 would annoy me with the RPM and exhaust, for sure. I will say that first is so taaaaaaaaaalllllllll, holy cow, it's funny they made it so darn tall, but it'd be interesting to see how it does on an auto-x, all 1st gear for sure.

Spoiler - I bought the TA CF spoiler from JonB, and it looks amazing. It does really cut into your visibility. Thank god for the backup camera. I've not been an advocate of all the new tech on these cars, but with the spoiler installed, if you didn't have the backup camera, I don't know how you could navigate reverse.

Comfort - 6'4", 190lbs, and I'm comfy, I have managed to adjust the seat so I have room for my melon head and legs are comfy, easily the most comfy viper yet, I think with the right helmet I'll fit fine for track days, I do have the laguna & yes the radio is stupid nice. I don't find visibility overall to be an issue, I'm coming from 3 verts, this is my first coupe and I'm not regretting it at all.

Car gets tremendous attention, like they all do I guess, lol.

Other than washing, claying, polishing, filming, and ceramic coating, that's about it for now. Tune is waiting for more news on the PCM vs HTP.

Big thanks to Tom Sessions, JonB, MarkJ, and others for PM advice. I am loving this car!

front spoiler.jpg

[swexlin]

Thanks for the writeup.

[FLATOUT]

I love the tall fist gear for Autocross. It works great in that arena and not really anywhere else LOL.

[rlhay2]

Thanks for the info!
How is the exhaust drone using the stock mufflers?

[mjorgensen]

Nicely done Dave and always glad to help.

[Dman]

Thanks for the info!
How is the exhaust drone using the stock mufflers?

I may not be a great judge on drone. I've had previous stangs that had drone so bad it was crazy. So it takes a lot of drone to make me cringe.

I never heard the car stock, Tom picked it up at the dealer and did the install so I can't compare, but it's not an issue for me or the wife cruising on the interstate in the 70-80mph zone. I find it starts to get loud in general above 2500 RPM, and at 3k is when you really notice you can't hear the radio or each other anymore.

[ViperSmith]

You really find yourself looking for any excuse to get it on the road.

I'd love to hear before I decide if I want to do anything to mine.

(Finally found the service manager I like at Ourisman in Alexandria, he left koons last year before I sold mine and it was just a terrible experience)

[Crotalidae]

Nice write up...thanks!!!

[SilveRT8]

I may not be a great judge on drone. I've had previous stangs that had drone so bad it was crazy. So it takes a lot of drone to make me cringe.

I never heard the car stock, Tom picked it up at the dealer and did the install so I can't compare, but it's not an issue for me or the wife cruising on the interstate in the 70-80mph zone. I find it starts to get loud in general above 2500 RPM, and at 3k is when you really notice you can't hear the radio or each other anymore.

My drone zone is between 2000 and 2400 rpm with the stock manifolds and mufflers or Corsa catback, especially when cruising in the 70-80 zone. If you didn't notice any drone in that range, maybe you have the right set-up ?

[Bruce H.]

Thanks for the informative feedback. Please post your impressions from the track once you've done that.

My drone zone is between 2000 and 2400 rpm with the stock manifolds and mufflers or Corsa catback, especially when cruising in the 70-80 zone. If you didn't notice any drone in that range, maybe you have the right set-up ?

Exactly the same on mine, and the drone is definitely pronounced enough in that range to be noticed, and rather objectionable to some. I definitely avoid that range when cruising, or slip in the foam ear plugs for short periods just to take the edge off a bit.

[Dman]

My drone zone is between 2000 and 2400 rpm with the stock manifolds and mufflers or Corsa catback, especially when cruising in the 70-80 zone. If you didn't notice any drone in that range, maybe you have the right set-up ?

I'll double check that RPM range. I don't recall anything being an issue, but I didn't note the RPM/speed exactly. I made a point of taking the wife out on I70, a 65MPH interstate and cruised with traffic, which is in the 75 range, we did have the windows up and were listening to the radio and chatting about how nice the car was at speed for doing some cruising events this year ... my previous gens got to her on the highway with the top down and the exhaust, she'd be OK for a while but then start to feel nauseous. It's dropping in the 20's and teens now, so when the temps allow, I'll update.

[SilveRT8]

I'll double check that RPM range. I don't recall anything being an issue, but I didn't note the RPM/speed exactly. I made a point of taking the wife out on I70, a 65MPH interstate and cruised with traffic, which is in the 75 range, we did have the windows up and were listening to the radio and chatting about how nice the car was at speed for doing some cruising events this year ... my previous gens got to her on the highway with the top down and the exhaust, she'd be OK for a while but then start to feel nauseous. It's dropping in the 20's and teens now, so when the temps allow, I'll update.

The drone I get is more noticable when cruising with the windows up, between 2000 and 2400 rpm. It's like a deep humming sound that fills the cabin unpleasantly, when you have it it's very noticable. Once I get over 2500 or under 2000 the humming is gone and the sound is just the loud exhaust.

[Dman]

The drone I get is more noticable when cruising with the windows up, between 2000 and 2400 rpm. It's like a deep humming sound that fills the cabin unpleasantly, when you have it it's very noticable. Once I get over 2500 or under 2000 the humming is gone and the sound is just the loud exhaust.

As soon as the weather permits here, I'll go out and both record and use a decibel meter app to capture the levels and sound in the cabin for comparison sake & reference for folks, for this particular setup of Belanger/Stock Catback. And use the wife-ometer as well. I'll post an update in a new thread once I do that, unless someone beats me to it.

[Dman]

You really find yourself looking for any excuse to get it on the road.

I'd love to hear before I decide if I want to do anything to mine.

(Finally found the service manager I like at Ourisman in Alexandria, he left koons last year before I sold mine and it was just a terrible experience)

Happy to let you hear it, it'd be nice to meet anyway, feel like I know you and yet, don't. lol