8 speed auto in a gen 5 viper

[slovenom]

I don't have a gen5 but I'm excited as hell to see this happen...

[Fatboy 18]

Good luck with the project, great to see new Ideas out there

[Disturbed]

Its not the Manual part , Its more of the clutch can't handle the abuse. Imagine a viper with DCT? Holy hell that would be sick.

Viper + DCT + TT (or Big SC) + Targa top and I'm in. A DCT shifting in 50-60ms would be so insane. Unless you have owned a car with a good DCT you will never understand how good it is. I love manual cars but after owning my M3 with the DCT. I SEE ZERO REASON to go back. It's still engaging, it can be adjusted to fit my mood (11 SHIFT MODES). It can shift so soft I never feel it or it can slam the gears so hard it breaks the rear end loose and that's with a wimpy 414bhp. 900-1000whp + DCT would simply be untouch able yet...docile when wanted.

[Vypr Phil]

Hi Wayne,

How is the 8-speed project coming?

This discussion has not been active in the last 4 weeks.

Did you get the transmission in your possession yet?

I wish you all the best with this endeavor and many thanks for your creative thinking and enterprising mindset.

Looking forward to your updates and hopefully pictures too.

[XTREME SUPERCARS]

Hi Wayne,

How is the 8-speed project coming?

This discussion has not been active in the last 4 weeks.

Did you get the transmission in your possession yet?

I wish you all the best with this endeavor and many thanks for your creative thinking and enterprising mindset.

Looking forward to your updates and hopefully pictures too.

GM still won't ship me one with out having a core
So I may go ahead and install a 6L90 to get the rest of the install finished and the hopefully find a 8L90 by then
Thanks
Wayne

[Dan Cragin]

This sounds great Wayne. Back when we did a lot of drag racing we installed Superglides and Turbo 400's in the Vipers, with Gear Vendor overdrives for the 1 mile stuff. Those cars drove really slick, but it was a bunch of work to integrate it all, make the torque converter live and keep it all cool. An 8 speed with the right integration and calibration would spectacular.

[IHOP]

I am in the same boat, well actually worse than the member featured in the Viper Mag. I'm a former Viper owner from back in the early 2000's but got into Super Bike racing and got hit off the track and lost my leg above the knee. The other member still has his knee which means he has more ability to use a clutch vs. myself because he is amputated bellow the knee. A member actually got me in contact with him because I would like another Viper but really hate the idea of a full auto trans and he has done a lot of research. As I am a purist at heart but I'm limited as it just takes me pulling on the steering wheel while I try to push the clutch in. Not feasible for driving on the roads. So I have started looking into this and actually with his help. I'm driving a Mercedes AMG now because of the power and the paddles. I wouldn't be caught dead in a Vette! It's nice to have options.

Personally, I enjoy the manual, but having had 3 knee surgeries on my left and one on my right, I could see a day in the future that I would need to switch to a different make for the auto. There must be 100s of people out there (either former Viper owners who've switched or maybe potential buyers who have shyed away because of this). Last Viper mag issue comes to mind with the awesome owner who wrecked the Viper, lost his leg and made a full recovery (Praise God) to get back into a Viper... Kind of a miracle that he is back in a manual.... Knees, hips, ankles, hips.... None of us is getting any younger.. ha ha

[Vypr Phil]

GM still won't ship me one with out having a core
So I may go ahead and install a 6L90 to get the rest of the install finished and the hopefully find a 8L90 by then
Thanks
Wayne

Thanks for the update Wayne, much appreciated I assure you!

Getting the components for your transformation sounds like the toughest and most frustrating part so far. I sincerely hope you will be successful in this intriguing endeavor. Is GM your only possible source for this project?

[Snakebit10]

Not wishing it on anyone but I'm sure there will probably be a crashed 15 CTS-V/Z06 soon enough that can be a donor car if you can wait. Beats buying a new one just to pull the tranny.

[TCurtner]

Yes, please keep us posted - am very interested in a sano - functional swap.
Current car: Gen IV ACR

[Gonabite]

GM still won't ship me one with out having a core
So I may go ahead and install a 6L90 to get the rest of the install finished and the hopefully find a 8L90 by then
Thanks
Wayne

Any updates?

[Antonio@CalvoMotorsports]

My only concern would be the width of the trans vs frame rails. I know putting a Th400 and Glides in these cars we have needed to cut away a good chunk of the inner frame rails and re weld in new pieces. Would be very cool to see though.

[mike@calvomotorsports]

I think it would be awesome and I'm interested in seeing the outcome. I just sold a 6L90 out of a ctsv for a pretty cheap price. ... auto viper would mean fast viper

[Shooter]

So.
Any updates?

[DonatoEng]

Tunnel fit will be the big issue without major surgery to the lower rails for the 8 speed. Not saying it will not fit but will take some work.
I have done quite a few auto conversions / kits for owners and they do drive nice.

[SnakeWatching]

Interesting article today about DCT trans and FCA

http://www.autonews.com/article/2015...-favor-in-u.s.

[TrackAire]

Wouldn't life be easier if DCT transmission was moved to the rear of the car and became a transaxle?......seems much easier to redesign the diff cradle location. What am I missing here??

[Jack B]

That is an excellent question.

Wouldn't life be easier if DCT transmission was moved to the rear of the car and became a transaxle?......seems much easier to redesign the diff cradle location. What am I missing here??

[Jack B]

John

welcome to the forum, for those that do not know John, he was the key driveline eng for the G1 and G2 platforms.

He still is one of best shops for rebuilding or customizing the T56 or T6060. He is also a source for the auto adapter plates

Tunnel fit will be the big issue without major surgery to the lower rails for the 8 speed. Not saying it will not fit but will take some work.
I have done quite a few auto conversions / kits for owners and they do drive nice.

[I Bin Therbefor]

Wouldn't life be easier if DCT transmission was moved to the rear of the car and became a transaxle?......seems much easier to redesign the diff cradle location. What am I missing here??

Reference: SRT Viper by Liang. Page 32. Quoting Ralph G

"We had long debates about whether we should move the windshield, change the location of the engine, or GO TO A REAR TRANSAXLE. (emphasis mine). Those are the only things that can change the proportions."

The choice was to keep the proportions as is.

[DonatoEng]

Tried to get an automatic option in production several times and was beat up. There are several hidden auto "prep" items that I did get into the production Vipers.

[Autodoctor911]

If the gm 8l90 front mounted auto doesn' fit, and I'm pretty sure the corvette version wouldn't fit in front of the axle, maybe the easiest, and possibly most desirable to technophiles that abhor a torque converter planetary sequential gearbos(regular automatic transmission), maybe a Cayman pdk 7 speed would do the trick.

In stead of cutting any floor area, or vital central chassis tubing, it would hang off the back of the axle, which would require moving exhaust, and cutting the cross braces, and reinforcing the area, which may or may not be easier than the front mounted unit. Instead of an adapter plate, it would require a bearing plate to mount the wet clutches to, with no engine on it. The bearing plate should also act as the front mounting bracket.

The Trans is essentially the same unit as a 997 tt , so it should be plenty stout. Software may be a issue though. I am sure Syvecs/eliseracing could do it, but development would be extensive. They have done it for the bmw dct.
This development could be shared with those wishing to have a good dual clutch gearbox for mid engined kit cars though, as it is hard, or expensive to find any gearbox for high hp mid engine kit car, auto or manual.

[uberpube]

http://www.garagewhifbitz.co.uk/news...on-conversion/

BMW dct swap?

[Jack B]

It is way easier keeping it up front. There is no room towards the rear, plus, you would be starting from scratch at the front end also. The front auto install requires the frame to be notched, that is far easier then other options. Take a look at the Nth Moto post, that is as clean as it gets for an auto.

If the gm 8l90 front mounted auto doesn' fit, and I'm pretty sure the corvette version wouldn't fit in front of the axle, maybe the easiest, and possibly most desirable to technophiles that abhor a torque converter planetary sequential gearbos(regular automatic transmission), maybe a Cayman pdk 7 speed would do the trick.

In stead of cutting any floor area, or vital central chassis tubing, it would hang off the back of the axle, which would require moving exhaust, and cutting the cross braces, and reinforcing the area, which may or may not be easier than the front mounted unit. Instead of an adapter plate, it would require a bearing plate to mount the wet clutches to, with no engine on it. The bearing plate should also act as the front mounting bracket.

The Trans is essentially the same unit as a 997 tt , so it should be plenty stout. Software may be a issue though. I am sure Syvecs/eliseracing could do it, but development would be extensive. They have done it for the bmw dct.
This development could be shared with those wishing to have a good dual clutch gearbox for mid engined kit cars though, as it is hard, or expensive to find any gearbox for high hp mid engine kit car, auto or manual.

[q8blueviper]

auto trans. on a viper !!!! I think the enjoyment of driving a viper is gone !


but im interested to know what its gona be like if there is an auto tans. viper !
biggest reason why the viper is out in 2017 cuz its manual = not selling will