Engine swaps are a fairly commonplace modification in the automotive aftermarket but there’s one combination that apparently hasn’t been completed before now. Despite the obviously shared DNA, it seems that nobody has ever dropped one of Dodge’s Hellcat V8s under the clamshell hood of a classic Viper. Here’s what it takes to rip out the V10 in preparation for a modern supercharged heart.
Devised by the folks over at Throtl on YouTube, this build features a 2001 Dodge Viper as its base platform. By that time, the car was actually onto its second generation but shared almost all of its styling with the first-gen car. Under the hood was a 450-hp (366 kW) engine mated to a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive.
The new motor is a Hellcat Redeye crate engine that came from a Dodge dealer in an actual crate. In addition, a new T56 transmission came as part of the drivetrain package going into the Viper. That motor is factory-rated at 807-hp (601 kW) and 717 lb-ft (971 Nm) of torque.
Read More: 1998 Dodge Viper GTS Up For Auction Has Two Turbochargers, Almost 900 HP And No Reserve
To make the swap easier the entire front end of the Viper gets disassembled in this episode. That includes the hood, the headlights, the fender wells, the radiator, and more. By the end of the disassembly process but before the drivetrain components come out it is completely unrecognizable as a viper.
In fact, the most forward part of the frame prohibits the team from using an engine hoist safely so the transmission has to come out separately. Accomplishing that means dropping it from the bottom which it wasn’t designed to do. After removing the bell housing and a little twisting they manage to pull it off though. Thankfully, the Hellcat V8 going back in should be a little easier to work with.
The entire build is a part of Dodge’s Roadkill Nights event taking place on Saturday, August 13th, 2022. It’s an all-day event that will feature both stock and highly customized Dodge vehicles from across the country. This Viper will be a major part of the event and we expect it to compete during the Dodge Direct Connection Grudge Match Race.
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