SRT Viper Showing Off Carbon Fiber Accessories - Photoshoot

Our Project SRT Viper has been keeping calm since the 2013 SEMA show where it debuted in the Seibon Carbon booth.  With all it’s carbon fiber accessories, we even scored some new trim parts to add to the collection.  Now equipped with a hood, front lip, canards, diffuser, rear tail light garnish, rear wing, we also have the fender ducts and window ducts all available for the SRT Viper.  The very glossy carbon fiber parts really finish off the super coupe well and are equal to the OEM quality… but available .  Check out this photoshoot we recently did and you can shop all our Dodge SRT Viper parts here.

 

SRT Viper Showing Off Carbon Fiber Accessories - Photoshoot

Should We Upgrade to 2 Piece AP Racing Braking Rotors

When it comes to braking systems there are a couple of names that always come to mind.  Brembo, StopTech, Alcon, and AP Racing.  Brembo is most commonly associated with big brake kits or OEM as almost every high performance vehicle now comes with them from the factory.  Beyond these 4, there are several other big brake kit upgrades from companies not associated directly with motorsports.   But once you cut away the bling and how many pistons you don’t really need, you have brake technology engineering.  AP Racing is one of those that is synonomous with racing.  They are involved in Formula 1, Rally,  Stock Car Racing, street cars, and more.  Engineered and built in the United Kingdom, AP Racing’s aftermarket components are extremely popular worldwide and starting to gain steam here in the USA.

Recently AP Racing sent us a set of their J Hook style rotors to test fit on to our Project SRT Viper.  From the factory, the Viper comes with a Brembo caliper setup using a StopTech 2piece rotor.  Personally I think this is very weird as if someone were to put a Mustang engine in a Camaro.  Beyond opinions, there is probably some serious testing from SRT on this setup.  No shortage of braking performance on the SRT Viper, this AP Racing upgrade is purely for that next level of stopping or replacing the OEM when needed.  For reference, the stock brakes are a 4 piston caliper front and rear with 14 inch (355mm) slotted rotors.

So what is the difference or why change them out?  Lets go over the basics…  The rotors are both 2 piece with aluminum hats.  The AP Racing features their unique J Hook design where the StopTech is a standard slotted rotor.  In the racing world, both of these are “technically” better than drilled.  Drilled rotors look better, but under extreme braking use continuously, they can develop cracks.  Rotor grooves and cross drilling are used to better allow gases produced to escape.  This is also known as heat dissipation.  When the face of the rotor is modified, the friction characteristics are changed.  Different grooves or patterns will help the braking performance so theorhetically, this really depends on the application or needs.  The J Hook design is suppose to give improved bite over slotted.  Obviously braking is via friction and brake pad material is used up and can adhere to the rotor surface.  The J Hook design is also suppose to give more clearance for debris and reduce vibration or distortion that can commonly happen from over used rotors.  These features are enhanced because the J Hook design does not run out towards the rotor end.

In addition to the rotor type, another major determining factor is the rotor hardware.  This determines if the rotor is a true floating rotor or not.  Brembo uses the patented McLaren hardware which features a bearing with a spring to keep a true center line of braking.  If you have ever heard a Brembo GTR kit, you will notice that it rattles.  This is because in the racing applications, they do not use the bearing but the spring only.  Because of this patented application, other companies must use a different design that is up for debate on its longevity.  StopTech uses a Belleville Iconel washer and bolt setup.  The washers were originally just designed to be a high-heat lock washer. They have a very high spring rate so once they are torqued down they don’t allow the disk to move.   Thus making it not a true true floating rotor.  When a disk isn’t allowed to expand the hat may crack around the bolt hole area.  With a 2 piece rotor, the hat should not become a consumable item.  AP Racing uses a common bobbin pin design.  The bobbin pin design uses a spring clip that when the hat is bolted to the rotor, gives it resistance to “float” under braking pressure.  When you talk about a floating rotor, it is meant that the rotor truely “floats” on the hat.  When you brake, the pads are clamping equally on both sides of the rotor to help with pad wear, rotor wear, heat dissipation, and clamping ability.

So the end question would be, which would you prefer and why?

 

Should We Upgrade to 2 Piece AP Racing Braking Rotors

SRT Viper Sneak Peak with Loads of Carbon Fiber

Its that time of year again where everyone is getting ready to spend a week of their life in fabulous Las Vegas, staring at the industries most well equipped vehicles.  Queue music… Its SEMA!  For the rest of us not able to make the trek to car Mecca, we live vicariously through blogs and forums showcasing pictures and videos.  So we are starting ours off ahead of the curve.  Here is a sneak peak of our 2013 SRT Viper with all its new carbon fiber upgrades that will be debuting at the Seibon booth.  Having Seibon as a partner last year with our BMW M5 F10, we wanted to go that extra step for this years event.  Upgrades from Seibon include a carbon fiber hood, carbon fiber front lip, carbon fiber canards, carbon fiber side skirts, carbon fiber diffuser, carbon fiber tail light surround, and carbon fiber wing.  One thing to note with the carbon fiber hood is Seibon’s ability to have a custom weave done that allows this giant hood to be done as 1 piece.  The top and bottom are not seamed at all which from a production aspect is quite an accomplishment.

Along with the Niche wheels, Pirelli tires, Agency Power intake and exhaust this already equipped boss machine just became that much more awesome.  You might be thinking, “yeah thats a lot of carbon”.  But don’t worry we will have a suprise instore for those that go to the show!

Check out this sneak peak video and pics by Cody Gephart.  Want to buy these for your SRT Viper?  Contact our Sales Team here.

SRT Viper Sneak Peak with Loads of Carbon Fiber

SRT Viper About to Get a Blast of Root Beer, Carbon, and Cool Air

Count them down industry peeps and car junkies as we have 30 days till the worlds best cars head to Las Vegas for the 2013 SEMA show.  Having had a car, I believe, at every show since 2003, this will be our 2nd appearance in a row with partner Seibon International.  Our 2013 SRT Viper will be in full effect with some serious changes.  While we continue to leak out some updates, there are some recent ones we thought you should see!  The big focus for the SEMA show will be the exterior aero enhancements.  Everyone asks why we took off all the body panels to dyno the car in our SRT Viper Smoke Show video.  We took them off because we are creating some really cool carbon updates that will drive the SRT Viper owners crazy.  Including a updated front lip spoiler, hood, side skirts, rear diffuser, and rear wing, we have just had a chance to test fit and install the GT style rear spoiler.  This Viper will be more function than some will think (wind tunnel testing???).

In addition to the styling, Agency Power has begun performance parts development on the car.  With plans for updated headers, race exhaust, and other effective bolt-on parts, AP has started with the air intake system.  The twin tube intake features high flow aFe filters, intake heat shield tray, and a beautifully mounted CNC machined AP logo bridge keeping the 2 intake tubes together.  Stock ride height and stock wheels are always such a bore.  So starting with the wheels, we are working with our partners at Niche Wheels by MHT, the manufacture of the wheel industries top names.   The Vicenza wheels are a 20×10.5 in the front and a 21×12.5 in the rear for some serious rubber on the ground.  The 1 piece monoblock forged construction still retains a lightweight function and the root beer finish makes them extremely sexy on the white body.

Stay tuned to our Project SRT Viper Gallery Here for more pictures and updates.

SRT Viper About to Get a Blast of Root Beer, Carbon, and Cool Air

SRT Viper Smoke Show for the Latest VR Video

What does a stock 2013 SRT Viper make for horsepower on the dyno? Well check out this video as we begin our newest Project Car here at Vivid Racing. Take a glamourous look at the new V10 snake ride as we light up the tires, slide sideways, then get her in the shop to go under the knife. Look for this venomous white Viper to debut at the 2013 SEMA show in Las Vegas with Seibon International.

Video by www.codygephart.com

SRT Viper Smoke Show for the Latest VR Video

SRT Viper Glamour and Naked Photos

With only a week to play with it on the public streets, our Project SRT Viper is now under the knife for the 2013 SEMA show with Seibon International.  We have removed the front and rear bumper, as well as the hood to which Seibon will do their work.  Much like our 2012 SEMA BMW M5 F10, Seibon will be working on making a rear carbon accent, front carbon accent, and a new hood design.  Following with other products we have collabed on, the rear will get a carbon fiber diffuser and the front will get a nice front lip spoiler.  Being that the OEM hood as well as decklid is already beautiful carbon fiber from the factory, how could we improve upon this?  Well it comes down to styling.  With such a complicated design, we as well as you are very intrigued to see how the hood will turn out.   As well, we will be doing the side skirts to complete the package.

With the car stripped down naked, we will be putting the Agency Power touch to the car.  This includes building custom headers, new exhaust system, air intake all to start.  As we dive deeper, we will be analyzing engine components, suspension adjustability, as well as dress up parts.  So stay tuned to our SRT Viper build here as we start off with some baseline number analysis.

View more photos of the Project SRT Viper here.

SRT Viper Glamour and Naked Photos