For most car enthusiasts, they can only dream of that certain car they would get if only they had the money. A rare classic, an exotic Italian sports car, or perhaps just a car with sentimental value is the first purchase once that winning lottery ticket is cashed in. Then there are those who will just never have enough horsepower in their cars. A high budget would mean high amounts of horsepower. That's where Heffner's Performance of Baltimore, Maryland comes in. They make it happen for those lucky few who can actually make their dream a reality.
Jason Heffner has been in the business of tuning cars since 1998 and has quickly become one of the more renowned and trusted Viper tuners in the industry. While a few other Viper tuners might be better known or get more coverage in the media, Heffner has just focused on offering the best product and service possible and let that do the talking for him. "You just try to do above and beyond," Heffner says about his work. A trip to the customer's house after a purchase to make final tuning adjustments for altitude and climate is not uncommon. Heffner makes sure his cars are built right the first time, and each of his engine packages includes a one year limited warranty.
Also adding to Heffner's reputation is that he just happens to build the fastest Vipers on the planet. Heffner Vipers own 1/4 mile records including the quickest Viper using the standard 6-speed manual (8.75 sec @ 168 mph) as well as the fastest Viper using an automatic transmission (8.26 sec @ 176 mph). Heffner-built cars also compete and do very well in the V10 Nationals, a Dodge Viper-specific drag racing. How much power are these cars making to achieve these times? Using an in-house dyno, the modified V10 engines can make 1100 rear-wheel-horsepower on 93 octane and as much as 1500 rear-wheel-horsepower on racing fuel.
Not all of the Vipers built by Heffner are necessarily this extreme. Owners can purchase a variety of engine packages to suit their budget. Naturally aspirated, supercharged, or turbocharged packages are all available, ranging anywhere from 575 horsepower all the way to 1300 horsepower. The featured car achieved 902 rear-wheel horsepower and around 957 lb-ft rear-wheel torque on 91 octane.
For this particular Viper, the list of modifications runs longer than just about any car out on the street. The basic twin-turbo package on the car includes not only the dual turbochargers, but also the addition of a front-mounted intercooler, an AEM engine management system, upgraded air filters, a modified fuel delivery system, and larger fuel injectors to name just a few. Some of the other performance modifications in addition to the standard package include custom forged pistons, upgraded intake and exhaust valves, and a three inch stainless steel cat-back exhaust system.
One of the unique features of the Heffner Twin Turbo Vipers is the AEM management system. Heffner is the only Viper tuner to use an engine management system to regulate the boost and fuel for the twin-turbo set up. One main advantage of this is that lower boost can be run at certain times to make the car drivable on the streets. It's one thing to build a 1000 horsepower car, but an entirely different accomplishment to build one you can actually drive on the
street. In theory, the more horsepower you have the better, but actually driving a car with this amount of horsepower on the street can be quite difficult and many times dangerous. Here's a helpful hint: if your car can lose traction at 100 mph or more when you give it too much gas, then you should probably stick to the drag strip. With the AEM system, however, boost is regulated until the wheel speed increases enough to make the car drivable at any speed. Heffner has allowed horsepower freaks to have their cake and eat it too. While most of Heffner's cars have complete engine packages, they do vary depending on the owner's preferences. Some other personal touches to this particular car include an Autoform roll bar and beautiful HRE 840R wheels painted to match the car. Moton Club Sport Coilovers add to the world class handling the car is already capable of. A Stoptech brake system makes sure the car can stop as well as it can accelerate, and Tech Team 6-point harnesses strap the driver and passenger in nice and tight. Also added to the interior of the car is a B&M short throw shifter, and a Pioneer sound and navigation system with Memphis amplifiers, speakers, and subwoofers. Jealous yet? Looking at the finished product is simply amazing. The engine bay is a work of fine art. The car looks and sounds like anything but stock, but still maintains a professional OEM look. Much of this is due to Heffner's philosophy that it's the details that count. Every part added to the car is of the highest standard. Heffner wants his customers to not only own the fastest street machine on the road, but also for them to be able to count on the reliability of their car.
When all is said and done, it doesn't get much better than this. Heffner's Performance offers a car literally unrivalled on the road, yet maintains the drivability and reliability of a car straight from the factory. Attention horsepower fans - your ride is here.
I'll have to nab those when I get back to my dorm in...another 6 hours.