Re: Stock gears VS. 3.55\'s
Non-Viper owner here, but I had 4.10s in my 495hp 6-speed TA (and I live in CT and feel your pain).
In my case, I had a built V8 where the cam didn't smooth out until close to 3000rpm and made power to high 6000s. So that car had a greater need for the gears in order to make proper use of the powerband. I don't know the Viper T56 gear ratios off the top of my head, but they must be in a similar ballpark. Note that I was also running 335/17s Michelins and later 315/17 DRs, the 335s at least had the same diameter as the Viper (originally came off of one) though I'm not sure about the 315s.
In any case.... it sounds like you've never driven a car with steep gears. My driving taste ranges from gearhead racer to foliage cruiser and you ought to decide which one you prefer to do in your car before changing ratios. Fun though they may be, I found that while the 4.10s were perfectly streetable (heck, I even pulled about 2k rpm in 6th (ratio = .50)at 60mph) and plenty of fun on a lightning fast revving engine... I started to get annoyed with them before I sold the car because I don't go to the drags anymore and I really never race other people. To be blunt, the car scared most competition off as soon as they heard it. And I think the rpm/volume/deafness factor of the engine was what really put the kabosh on the 4.10s for me.
I've run a C5 with 3.45s, the TA with 4.10s, and a built Camaro with 3.73s..... My all-around favorite? The 3.45s. Granted, the engines all have different powerbands and torque curves, but I found in the few street romps I DID do with the 4.10s that you have to learn PRECISELY the Speed, Gear and RPM you want to be in to make proper use of the gearing before dropping the hammer.
Otherwise, one of several things is going to happen. You will either blip too quickly into redline and have to shift early on while he's still pulling, or you will choose the next higher gear and end up at a less optimal spot on your powerband. In successive testing against a friend with a virtually identical setup as mine, I found I had to really powershift my gear changes in order to not lose some crucial momentum. When he only has to shift once or twice and you have to shift two or three times, it leaves a large window for you to lose ground if you're not slamming it home pretty hard. The only saving factor here would be if you have a significantly better power to weight ratio than your competition. In most cases with your Viper you'll DEFINITELY have that. But take it with a grain of salt.
From a less geeky drag racing point of view, as a personal note I did LOVE the quicker revving when fooling around or when hitting local shows. If you love to hit some roads like Rt 7, Rt 158, Rt 77 or head out by Kent Falls... you will love listening to your engine more with the 4.10s (as long as you are not running a godlike cam through totally open exhaust!). The seat of the pants feel in the lower gears is a blast, too.
3.55s sound like a good ticket for your V10. When you get it done, hold on to your stock gears and keep them lubed and protected in case you decide against the new ones. But know that you probably will NOT be disappointed.
You wouldn't happen to have a friend with another red SRT-10 out by East Hampton, would you? I used to see a pair of them from time to time out that way when I'd go see my ex-gf.
