(from DaimlerChrysler Press
Release) February 2, 2004 - The Dodge
Ram SRT-10 unleashed its Viper power today, taking its place in the
Guinness Book of World Records as the "World's Fastest Production Pickup
Truck."
Only recently off the Saltillo, Mexico, assembly line and not modified
in any way for additional power or enhanced aerodynamics, the Dodge Ram
SRT-10 posted a two-lap, both-directions average speed of 154.587 mph
over a "flying kilometer" on the 4.71-mile oval at the DaimlerChrysler
Proving Grounds here in Chelsea. The record run by the Dodge Ram SRT-10
was certified by Guinness World Records and the Sports Car Club of
America (SCCA). The previous record was 147.54 mph, set last July by the
Ford SVT F-150 Lightning, before the Dodge Ram SRT-10 went into
production.
"When we set out to develop the Dodge Ram SRT-10, our mission was to
create the ultimate performance truck," said Dan Knott, Director, Street
and Racing Technology. "With 500 horsepower, sports car-like handling,
world-class braking and race-inspired design appointments, we know we
reached our goal. Setting the Guinness record today simply confirms
that, and solidifies the Ram SRT-10 as the ultimate -- and fastest --
performance pickup."
According to Guinness World Records rules, the record speed had to be
the average of two one-kilometer runs in opposite directions along the
same track, made within an hour of one another. The timing equipment had
to be certified as accurate to within 1/1000th of a second, and supplied
and operated by a qualified third party. The speed of each run was timed
by means of sensors at the start and finish of the measured kilometer,
thus giving an average speed over the full distance.
The Dodge Ram SRT-10 is the third Dodge vehicle branded with the Street
and Racing Technology label, following the Dodge Viper SRT-10 -- the
ultimate American sports car -- and the award-winning 230 horsepower
Dodge SRT-4, that has taken the sport compact "tuner" crowd by storm.
Behind the wheel of the Ram SRT-10 in the record-setting run was Brendan
Gaughan, a six-time winner in a Dodge Ram in the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series (NCTS). Gaughan makes his NASCAR Nextel Cup debut later
this month at the Daytona 500 in the No. 77 Kodak Dodge.
"I've certainly driven some fast trucks," Gaughan said, "but I've
certainly never experienced anything like setting a Guinness world
record. I've known for a long time that the Dodge Ram is the ultimate
truck for the race track, and this certainly proves the Ram SRT-10 is
the ultimate performance truck for the street."
Hein Le Roux, research team member at Guinness World Records traveled
from the company's London headquarters to monitor the record run.
"I'm pleased to be here in Chelsea for this record-breaking attempt," Le
Roux said. "Guinness World Records is the ultimate compilation of
superlatives, and I am proud to officially recognize that Dodge has set
a new Guinness World Record."
Le Roux said watching the record-setting speed run was a great way to
begin the new year, in which Guinness World Records celebrates 50 years
of world records.
"People aren't too surprised when they hear about expensive super cars
or race cars setting speed records," he added. "But few people expect a
standard production pickup truck, which they can drive straight off the
dealer lot, to be capable of this sort of speed. That's what makes this
such a great Guinness World Record."
With a Guinness World Record now under its belt, the stock Dodge Ram
SRT-10 now heads to Florida, where it will pace the field at the Feb. 13
Florida Dodge Dealers 250 NCTS race at Daytona International Speedway.
2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10
It ain’t bragging if you can
do it. With a maximum speed of 150 mph and the biggest engine in a
performance pickup, the Dodge Ram SRT-10 backs up its claim as the
baddest truck on the block.
The Ram SRT-10 makes the most of its 500 horsepower Viper engine with a
combination of high technology, performance icons and some old-fashioned
hot-rodding.
“When it came to creating a 150 mph, PVO-designed Dodge Ram pickup, only
the best would do,” said Dan Knott, Director–Performance Vehicle
Operations (PVO). “We took the best parts available, a Viper V-10, a
Dodge Ram 1500 chassis and body, Hurst shift linkage, and a Dana 60 rear
axle. Pirelli tires, Bilstein shocks, a custom designed power hop damper
and the braking system from the Ram Heavy Duty ensure that we can get
the Ram SRT-10 slowed down for the corners.”
More than just a big engine, Ram SRT-10 adds the largest standard
wheels, tires and brakes offered on a production pickup. Unique in a
world of look-alike trucks, the Ram SRT-10 is a radical, custom-built
performance truck, straight from a manufacturer. The Dodge Ram SRT-10
blends performance cues direct from the Dodge Viper SRT-10, the ultimate
sports car and the baddest pickup on the market, the Dodge Ram.
The Power and the Glory
From the beginning, the
engineers at PVO knew that this monster truck was a snake. The 8.3-liter
Viper V-10 delivers 500 horsepower and 525 lb.-ft. of torque.
Resting on unique engine mounts; the V-10 engine delivers 90 percent of
its whopping 525 lb.-ft. of torque from 1500 to 5600 rpm. The cast
aluminum cylinder block has interference-fit cast-iron liners and
cross-bolted main caps.
The Ram SRT-10 also features a unique oil pan, throttle linkage, new
“Hi-Flow” exhaust manifolds, new transmission mounts and a modified Ram
Heavy Duty radiator tailored to fit the between the NASCAR inspired
grille baffles.
The rest of the V-10 is straight from the Viper, with a six main bearing
crankshaft with cross-bolted main bearing caps. Despite larger diameter
aluminum alloy pistons than the previous generation’s 8.0-liter Viper
engine, the pistons weigh less and are included along with all-new,
lighter and stronger cracked-steel connecting rods.
Cylinder heads on the Viper V-10 are semi-permanent mold (SPM) 356 T6
aluminum alloy. Low-profile die-cast magnesium cylinder head covers
feature steel internal baffles and anti-slosh foam.
The Viper V-10 boasts a single-piece, central dual-plenum, cast aluminum
intake
manifold and a single, non-staged two-barrel throttle body for higher
peak horsepower RPM. The intake manifold is an all-inclusive Integrated
Air and Fuel Module (IAFM) with tubular fuel rails, injectors, sensors,
wiring and throttle body. A Ram Heavy Duty
cooling system is modified to handle the needs of the new Viper engine.
A custom dual exhaust system is mounted to new exhaust manifolds.
The 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10 focuses its power through a new, purpose built
Hurst shifter and a modified version of the Viper SRT-10’s Tremec T56
six-speed manual transmission. The T56 is fully synchronized with
electronic reverse lockout. A new 4.5-inch aluminium driveshaft runs
from the Viper-sourced transmission to a Dana 60 rear axle with a 4.11
ratio to deliver the massive torque to the road.
Asphalt-Searing
Performance
Despite rocket-like straight
line acceleration, the Ram SRT-10 was also designed to carve corners and
challenge the laws of physics. The engineers at PVO modified the rack
and pinion steering system from a Dodge Ram Heavy Duty and custom tuned
the independent front suspension.
Working with the hydroformed Dodge Ram 1500 frame, one of the stiffest
in the industry, PVO dropped the Ram SRT-10 one-inch in the front and
2.5-inches in the rear. New front and rear strut assemblies and a rear
sway bar were added to handle the increased cornering loads and
virtually eliminate body-roll.
“The Dodge Ram SRT-10 delivers simply phenomenal handling,” said Knott.
“But without sacrificing ride quality. This is a truck that you can run
to the store in, and then start tackling apexes on your favorite set of
twisties. And, depending on your right foot, the V-10 can make the
straightaways really short.”
To make the most of the excellent handling characteristics of the Dodge
Ram 1500, the PVO engineers added Bilstein mono-tube shock absorbers, a
new front knuckle design and shorter and stiffer performance tuned
springs. Next came unique aerodynamic aids to keep the Ram SRT-10
planted at high speeds and 22-inch custom “Viper-style” wheels fitted
with 305/40 R22 Pirelli Scorpion tires for extra adhesion. The rear leaf
springs were modified and leaf spring snubbers were added for smoother
power launches.
Drag Ready
To ensure that the Ram
SRT-10 makes the most of its 525 lb.-ft. of torque, PVO designed a
unique power hop damper to stop axle hop under full acceleration runs. A
Bilstein shock absorber was fitted between the frame and axle, and now
clean launches, even on slicks, are just a right foot away.
“The power goes down smooth, even as all hell is braking loose under the
hood,” added Knott. “This set-up will wrinkle slicks on an ET run just
as easily as it ruins the competitions day.”
Big brakes, another Dodge Ram staple, are also modified for the 2004 Ram
SRT-10. The standard ABS-equipped brakes are fitted with new 15-inch
rotors on the front brakes. Rear brakes are modified Ram Heavy Duty with
14-inch rotors. Front and rear brakes feature unique red calipers. The
new front fascia features NASCAR-inspired brake cooling ducts to provide
plenty of cooling for track sessions.
