Viper Purists Might Call it a Tragedy, but Trading Away The V-10 for a Hellcat Redeye V-8 Was The Only Way To Finally Fall in Love With The Car

There is no shortage of insane builds in the car world and some of them are particularly bold. Performing an engine swap is a fairly common modification, but when it comes to iconic models like the Dodge Viper, certain things are taboo, at least if you are a purist. Similar to Porsche people, who frown upon LS-swapped 911s, this Hellcat-swapped generation two Viper would raise a few eyebrows. 

This is the first known Dodge Viper to feature a V-8 Hellcat Redeye engine swap. It has been done by Thotl. The build started about three years ago, when the team decided to buy the cheapest Viper RT/10 in the US. The car recently went up for auction at Cars & Bids where it is listed at no reserve. At the time of writing this article, the highest bid is at $23,250, with less than an hour to spare. Collectability aside, here’s why swapping in the supercharged Hemi V-8 makes a ton of sense.

While there are different tastes out there, it is safe to say, this Viper has lost any collector value. This being a 2001 model, it is the first model year with factory ABS. The car’s original 8.0-liter V-10 is the stuff of legends. 

Despite the low specific output (officially rated at 450 horsepower, but in reality around 490 to the crankshaft for late second-gen models), the big pushrod packed neckbreaking torque from low RPMs. In fact, the massive engine develops over 80 percent of its peak torque at 2,000 RPM, which makes for some interesting driving dynamics.

Swapping out the V-10 was the sensible thing to do

While aftermarket support for the Viper V-10 exists, these are now collector’s cars, which means many parts are in high demand and can be expensive to get. The logical solution? Swap out the V-10 for an 800-horsepower, Hellcat Redeye supercharged V-8 - in this case, a 2021 crate motor. Currently, you can get this crate engine from Dodge’s Direct Connection program for $21,807, which is shockingly close to the current bid. 

It’s a numbers game, and the simple truth is that the more modern crate engine provides a much better baseline. At 797 horsepower, the Redeye V-8 makes almost double the power of the original Viper V-10. Having forced induction from the factory makes extracting extra horsepower much easier. 

This particular V-8 Viper also features an extensive list of modifications, some of which include a 2.75-inch upper pulley, 1,500cc injectors, full MagnaFlow exhaust, and much more. All the mods are reportedly good for over 1,000 wheel horsepower.

It doesn’t end with the engine

Aside from a mildly modified Hellcrate Redeye engine, the V-8 Viper features a ton of supporting mods such as beefed-up cooling, custom engine mounts, racing coilover suspension, upgraded brakes, and more, in order to keep things reliable and power more usable (or less frightening).

Another key thing about this build is the TH400 three-speed automatic. While no longer a manual and with three gears less, the Viper now features one of the most popular torque-converter automatics, famed for its durability and vast aftermarket support.

The only thing I am not on board with is the matt black wrap, not because it’s bad (although the ad does mention some imperfections), but because I am a big fan of the original red hue the Viper is known for. 

In the end…

This isn’t about collectability, it’s about making a statement that even great things can be improved upon. The modifications alone cost way more than what the average second-generation Dodge Viper currently goes for. Does this V-8-swapped Dodge Viper pique your interest? Let me know in the comments what you think of this unique build, and whether you would rather it had retained its original V-10.

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Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

Image source: 2001 Dodge Viper V-8 swap in Cars & Bids