Sound:
I always said a Viper sounded like a John Deere tractor on Steroids! That is until the engine was exhausted through true custom headers and then through straight through bullitt built (by me) side pipes!.
DVII was built strictly for SCCA and racing. Different exhaust and it did sound wimpy-but
West Coast Cobra? Good luck- DV II was built, raced and driven by a gentleman (Nick) that was just a fraction over 6'4, 130 (+/-). The car was built with full sized Recaro high back racing seats and Nick had to move the seat forward to reach the custom Tilton pedal set-up.
My suggestion is to go with a CR cobra, it IS the only one on the market (at least at the time) the Viper V10 AND the T-56- 6-spd and bellhousing will fit in to and then only with a slight customization of the inner frame rails.
Ford TRUCK V-10?, Why not the Dodge V-10? Because neither of them have even the remotest torque and speed of the Viper V-10. And the Viper V10 is hundreds of pounds lighter. In fact the Viper V-10 vs the Ford 460 with all attached hardward is HUNDREDS of pounds heavier than the Viper V10.
To answer the next questions; all testing was done at the Honda of Marysville Ohio test tack and National Trail Dragstrip in Columbus, Ohio. Much of the minor mods were done that were suggested by "Roger" of the Honda track, speed "open" at the limit of our speed limit of 157 mph-same as Run N Gun on the back straight from turn 4 down the front straight into the chicane. (NOT even close to a WOT speed!
100' Official Skid Pad- Roger-Honda of Marysville OVER 1.3 an amazing number, especially when we started out with virgin suspension wimpy at .79!
Drag numbers with a pure stock Viper V-10, EXCEPT exhaust, (my stock exhaust was used) with street M&H tires; 11:00 flat in the 1/4 mile @ 128 to 133-(Track officials kindley warned me that if we broke 11's my 4-point bar would be considered invalid, we would have to mount a parachute, etc. etc... But, then they would allow me to run the wheelie bars!
Randy Hunter: I talked to Randy about his V-10 exsclusively, turns out he insists he didn't build it and had nothing to do with it! The fellas that did were "warned" about calling it a "Double Venom" years ago at one of the original Flings. As far as I know they have never sold it and may still be the same one they have been trying to sell ???
Run N Gun, first time out set a new track record by over 2 full + seconds, took first in our class and in fact the times and speeds would have put us up with Gary Priorea (sp) first place winner Class A (?) unlimited!
In fact the people couldn't believe the times and the speed!
"THEY" protested to the judges of the track that we were running illegal tires! "They" came up to me, impounded the car figuratively speaking until the tires would be checked out! I believe it was "Wayne Maybury" (?) who inspected the tires and started to laugh hysterically! Tires: Cooper 255x60x16's M&S !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you know what that means? "M&S" means mud and snow tires from the factory! And we won our class and set track records- Need I say more about Cooper Tires?
Gentlemen, by ALL means build your Cobra your way but please don't call it a "DV" or Double Venom" cobra. The Cobra people/famly named this car and if it isn't obvious I am very proud of what we (IT) has done.
Ed/DV Combs
PS: Ernie, If I was still active I'd have to hire you! : That 9" rear end pinion your showing came out of the car as shown at National Trails raceway right in front of the officials and "JEGS" himself while we were racing in the "Chrysler Classic Nationals"-racing Vipers! They said they had seen rear ends destroyed many times before but never had been housing twisted in half! I'm still using the "ring & pinion" to this day-3:55's if your'e interested.