So I have a Viper What to do first

[VenomSnake]

So I got a Viper with 3100 miles on the clock. What do you do first? I had all the service done. What do guys start modding first? Here are some pics of my new rocket so you can see what I'm starting with.

http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r483/RedSnakeCobra/IMG_5310_zpscb8oyxtx.jpg (http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/RedSnakeCobra/media/IMG_5310_zpscb8oyxtx.jpg.html)

http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r483/RedSnakeCobra/IMG_5309_zpsm9beczsh.jpg (http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/RedSnakeCobra/media/IMG_5309_zpsm9beczsh.jpg.html)

http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r483/RedSnakeCobra/IMG_1929_zpsaxlgsyl0.jpg (http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/RedSnakeCobra/media/IMG_1929_zpsaxlgsyl0.jpg.html)

[BJG32]

Extend the warranty and do nothing for 7 years........


On a serious note...any performance upgrades will put your warranty at risk. Personally on your car I would do matte black vinylstripes...would look great.

If warranty doesn't not matter to you, Upgrade headers, Exhaust and an arrow PCM.

[2doorrocket]

I recommend an Arrow Controller, American Racing Headers, High Flow Cats, and Tractiv DSC Coilovers, and maybe if you're feeling frisky a KN CAI

[VenomSnake]

Cool. I extended the warranty. As far as non-performance what do you guys suggest?

[ACRSNK]

Congrats! That thing looks sinister. As far as upgrades, you can search those on here pretty easily. I would also search "warranty" or lack thereof just so you know what your getting involved with as far as mods are concerned. Good luck!

[VenomSnake]

I recommend an Arrow Controller, American Racing Headers, High Flow Cats, and Tractiv DSC Coilovers, and maybe if you're feeling frisky a KN CAI


Extend the warranty and do nothing for 7 years


On a serious note...any performance upgrades will put your warranty at risk. Personally on your car I would do matte black vinylstripes...would look great.




If warranty doesn't not matter to you, Upgrade headers, Exhaust and an arrow PCM.



Will a K&N cold air void the warranty?

[VenomSnake]

Thanks for the heads up. I keep reading how Dodge is very strict on warranty on these cars.

[BJG32]

Will a K&N cold air void the warranty?

The only thing 100% confirmed to ruin you warranty is an Arrow PCM. However the clause FCA is using to void your warranty would go for ANY performance upgrades. While many of us do not feel it is legal, nobody to date has challenged them in court over it . 3 owners affected so far.

Additionally the K&N CAI has been dyno'd and loses HP from heat soak.


You have all the aero I would do already. Check out xtreme's engine covers and cross brace.....dress up that engine bay.

[V10powerr]

paint protection film, radar, extended warranty, exhaust, calendar with some hotties

[Ninjakris]

- Upgrade to 18 speaker stereo unless you already have it
- lowering caps?
- carbon fiber / paint engine compartment pieces (x-brace, engine covers)
- vinyl stripes?
- radar detector (there's a +/- pigtail in the mirror for easy installation)

Unless your willing to give up your warranty, your pretty limited. The good thing is you have a GTS, so its loaded. Get some miles on that thing and enjoy it.

[XXX BLK]

Will a K&N cold air void the warranty?

No, I just ordered the complete K&N Air filter set up from The Viper Store. Doing American Racing Headers "Side Exhaust Only" next and Jan. 2, 2025 ARH Headers :-)

http://theviperstore.com/Viper5_Products_Performance_Air_Intake.htm

[FLATOUT]

DSC Controlled, Tractive active damper setup. Best thing you can do to your car for street or track that won't cause any "concerns" with big brother.

There are a few other things as well. Send me an email awheeler@viperexchange.com

Andy

[Steve-Indy]

Upgrade driver with a weeks worth of HPDE at a reputable school that uses Vipers.

[Dman]

You paid for an extended warranty, so I take that to mean you care about the warranty. My advice is - don't buy anything from anyone to put on your car that's performance or mechanical in any way unless they give you, in writing, that it's guaranteed to not void your warranty. We were told Arrow controllers were Dodge friendly and many of us chose Arrow specifically for this reason, and Dodge is voiding warranties immediately for an Arrow PCM, if it was ever installed even for a mile, and looking for any mods, having dealers take pics, read instrument stat, etc., for warranty denial opportunities. So, unless you want to risk the $ you spent on the extended warranty, and the cost of a potential bottom end rebuild if you're a lucky debris winner, I would not even change to an aftermarket filter. Unless of course you get that written guarantee I mention above.

Warranty save mods IMO are, paint protection, a wrap if you want to go custom, and maybe, I hope, upgrading your speakers/radio to 18, vinyl stripes, etc.

If you didn't care about the warranty, then this would be a much more fun thread. I'd skip the Arrow, HPTuners is shown to make more power and you can tweak it at will, and change it with future mods. I've done headers and tune and it's great. Beyond that, the suspension upgrade referenced previously is awesome as well.

[Stealth]

1. Paint Protection Film in as many places as you can afford.

2. Some type of vinyl stripes--can take them off later if you change your mind.

3. Black Exhaust Port Surrounds. (The Carbon Model comes with these).

4. Corsa Exhaust.

5. Castrol SRF Brake and Clutch Fluid.

6. Xtreme Carbon Fiber Engine Valve Covers and Door Sill Covers.

7. OEM Exterior Carbon Fiber bits (this is different that Carbon Fiber Aero which you appear to have).

8. Radar/Laser Detector of your choice.

9. Llyods Viper Floor Mats--Black with Silver Logo.

10. MGW Shifter.

11. Driving Lessons at a Road Course.

12. Extra Tires--Corsas.

13. TA Sway Bars.

[swexlin]

Nice looking car, congrats! Do nothing, these cars are amazing stock. As others said, get some miles on it, to shake things out that may need looked at:

diff, oil cooler lines, window regulators, and any electronic bugs as well. Good luck and enjoy! I did Xpel on my front fascia, wheelwells, rockers, and rear quarters. Well worth it.

[darbgnik]

Unless you're partial to those 5 spokes, the Sidewinder 2 lightweight wheels free up some unsprung weight. So does the Stoptech 2 piece rotors, even more weight than the wheels, IIRC.
Both are available from Jon B at Partsrack, a site sponsor, at the best prices I know of.
Both are warranty friendly.

I really like the Tractive Suspension I have on my car, better handling on a road course, better hole shot too. But if you don't mind the GTS suspension, and don't need the absolute in handling performance, they might seem pricey. I guess now would be a good time to ask what kind of mods you're looking at? Appearance, handling, more authoritative skinny pedal??

[swexlin]

I was going to suggest StopTechs as well. I'm always surprised that they weren't standard on the full-toot GTS cars.

[Vegaskid]

Front windshield tint
Dash cam
Swap fluids in the rear diff

[Shooter]

Upgrade driver with a weeks worth of HPDE at a reputable school that uses Vipers.

This is the best advice right here. There are a ton of people with go faster mods that can't even handle a stock Viper. Even though the gen V's have all the safety crap now, it's a 640+ HP, 2 wheel drive car that will still bite you if you don't pay attention. Learn the car

[7TH_SIGN]

Cool. I extended the warranty. As far as non-performance what do you guys suggest?

Nothing other than appearance mods. Fortunate for you the GEN V needs nothing when it comes to looks. FCA will use any performance modification to void your warranty. Especially the Arrow PCM.

Enjoy her!

[LifeIsGood]

So I have a Viper What to do first

Drive it and then drive it some more.

[Simms]

Upgrade driver with a weeks worth of HPDE at a reputable school that uses Vipers.

I second.

[dmann]

congrats!
After getting a windshield rock chip in the Z06 this week I might would consider getting the windshield wrapped. Not a cool mod but could save you some deductible down the road.

[VenomSnake]

Thanks for all the replies. You guys give me a lot to think about and that's what's the most fun about owning a new car. From reading the post I'm going to give Viper Exchange a call about some suspension mods. I would like to lower it and add rear diffuser fins. I had them on my Challenger and I was amazed at how clean it kept the rear end of my car. Thanks again for everything.

[VenomSnake]

I second.

I've actually held a Nascar and Grand Am Cup license about 8 years ago. Went to the Bondurant school several years ago too but you should never underestimate the power of these cars. I'm really not looking to put this one on the track. I have a little fiat abarth track day car for that when I get the itch to go drive around VIR.

[BJG32]

Thanks for all the replies. You guys give me a lot to think about and that's what's the most fun about owning a new car. From reading the post I'm going to give Viper Exchange a call about some suspension mods. I would like to lower it and add rear diffuser fins. I had them on my Challenger and I was amazed at how clean it kept the rear end of my car. Thanks again for everything.

I did a write up on adding diffuser fins on here....additionally your suspension options are limited. Lowering caps for $450.....or the VE DSC suspension upgrade aforementioned which is ~$5k.

[Topplayer]

clear bra ASAP, Rims and tires!


DRIVE THE SNOT OUT OF IT!!!!

looks real mean! I like it alot!

[BJG32]

btw........ I don't think any suspension mods are absolutely "safe" 2doorrocket had his hellcat warranty completely voided from some suspension mods he did to it. So FCA is already using that against their customers.

[Fatboy 18]

Learn to read the Oil Dipstick!

[ViperPete]

Headers!!!! What a huge difference they made.

Congrats on the beast!

[Topplayer]

btw........ I don't think any suspension mods are absolutely "safe" 2doorrocket had his hellcat warranty completely voided from some suspension mods he did to it. So FCA is already using that against their customers.

what did he need warranty work on that the suspension affected it?

[City]

Drive it and then drive it some more.

If this is your first Viper then without a doubt, LIG is absolutely correct.

Live with it a while BEFORE you decide on mods. Your priorities may change with some seat time.

[BJG32]

what did he need warranty work on that the suspension affected it?

His car was lowered. His car developed instability on highway. They didn't know what was wrong after several attempts to diagnose. They replaced the entire suspension under "Goodwill" not warranty, but informed him is warranty is now voided in its entirety. They blamed it on the lowering springs.

[2doorrocket]

His car was lowered. His car developed instability on highway. They didn't know what was wrong after several attempts to diagnose. They replaced the entire suspension under "Goodwill" not warranty, but informed him is warranty is now voided in its entirety. They blamed it on the lowering springs.

You're correct, it was what seemed to be a torn bushing somewhere, either way they replaced every single control arm, cradle bushings, and the springs and active damping shocks. Then the warranty is voided for the vehicle. I currently have a brake booster concern and they haven't fixed it yet because they do not want to undo the warranty restriction.

[Dman]

btw........ I don't think any suspension mods are absolutely "safe" 2doorrocket had his hellcat warranty completely voided from some suspension mods he did to it. So FCA is already using that against their customers.

Yea, my advice stands, if someone tells you 'it should be warranty friendly', get it in writing or assume FCA will find out by having the dealer Sherlock the snot outta the car, and void your entire warranty and flush that extension, which, would suck. The Viper is awesome, and SRT support historically has been 2nd to none. Now, everyone who cared has left or moved on, so enjoy the car and make sure you don't get frustrated by a bad event the car can't control, FCA, lol, nothing should diminish the joy of viper ownership, welcome to the snake pit.

[Jprince]

Doug Shelby Engineering heat shield for factory air box and be sure to insulate it. Makes a huge difference on intake temps.

[VenomSnake]

Cool. I've been looking at Doug Shelby stuff for a heat shield and diffuser fins.

[Herrsss]

You need to join VOA!

[Vegaskid]

Drive it as much as possible before any engine mods..

[BJG32]

Yea, my advice stands, if someone tells you 'it should be warranty friendly', get it in writing or assume FCA will find out by having the dealer Sherlock the snot outta the car, and void your entire warranty and flush that extension, which, would suck. The Viper is awesome, and SRT support historically has been 2nd to none. Now, everyone who cared has left or moved on, so enjoy the car and make sure you don't get frustrated by a bad event the car can't control, FCA, lol, nothing should diminish the joy of viper ownership, welcome to the snake pit.

I have an email from a dealer saying arrow PCM will not void my warranty. Hoping i never have to bust it out.

[SharpMan]

I second.

Third.

[SilveRT8]

A change of rear end gears from 3.55 to 3.73 or 3.91 would feel like an added 50 to 75 hp.
I would love to do this change, but my .63 ratio 6th gear would rev to high on the highway. 2015 and up models with .50 overdrive ratio are fine.
I dont think this would void the warranty as it would be unnoticable at inspection time.

[ChevyChad]

Be sure to push the rear window defrost before you do anything that may alter warranty. Make sure the back glass doesnt explode..

[BlknBlu]

The Drive Mod is the most important one should do first. Learn the car and how it responds. Depending on you usage of the car is where the performance mods come into play.

Bruce

[VenomSnake]

Be sure to push the rear window defrost before you do anything that may alter warranty. Make sure the back glass doesnt explode..

Really?? Is there a known problem with the rear window defrost?

[AZTVR]

Be sure to push the rear window defrost before you do anything that may alter warranty. Make sure the back glass doesnt explode..
I DEFINITELY would NOT suggest doing this without looking at the gap around the glass first ! Replacements might not be readily available !


Really?? Is there a known problem with the rear window defrost?

There are various threads for an early build issue. http://driveviper.com/forums/threads/10545-WARNING-2013-Vipers-Built-Before-08-12-13-Defroster-Issue
Someone has also reported an issue on a newer build also. It sounds like the design relies on the glass installer insuring an adequate gap.

[pitdad]

Your car is perfect! Drive it and enjoy it.