News:
I can start a thread on this site if people would be interested. I have lots of pics and stories. I found the site on a google search looking to see if there was another crazy person out there trying to put a Viper engine in a regular car. I wanted to add moral and technical support to the crazy individual through my lessons learned over the past 2 years. This is a cuda-challenger site so I didn't want to start a thread for an old Belvedere. For the Cuda/Viper project I would expect the issues to be similar to mine since the suspension in the old 1959 is not that much different from the Cuda. The thing that amazed me on the 59 was that the viper engine mounts lined up with the front frame cross member, and the rear mount for the Tremec 6 speed mounted right on the old Torqueflite crossmember! I used the stock viper engine mounts and just needed the frame mounts fabbed. I bet the Cuda will be similar because of shared engines over the years. The mounting length appears to have not changed much. The Viper engine is narrower and lower than the old 318 poly wide block I removed (and a LOT lighter) but is about 6-8 inches longer. The worst part of mounting it was the long continuous oil pan that is cast aluminum so not changeable. This required dropping the center of the front frame crossmember. Then there is the length issue and getting a radiator and fan to fit. The tunnel only required minor surgery and the shifter comes right out in front of the bench seat. I bet the Cuda would be similar. Now if I can only get it started this weekend......I have not yet heard it roar.
I'm not 100% on the details, but didn't the ViperCuda from one of the Mopar mags need the firewall moved because of engine length?
I can start a thread on this site if people would be interested. I have lots of pics and stories. I found the site on a google search looking to see if there was another crazy person out there trying to put a Viper engine in a regular car. I wanted to add moral and technical support to the crazy individual through my lessons learned over the past 2 years. This is a cuda-challenger site so I didn't want to start a thread for an old Belvedere.