My ACR Build

[Boosted Motorsports]

Figured I would start documenting and updating the journey and the stuff I've been doing to my 00 ACR as it has come quite a long way in the last few months since I purchased it.

I'll also post all of my mod and install videos in here also! :icon_devil:

[Boosted Motorsports]

Some pictures on the drive from Kentucky where I purchased the car all the way to California. Car was bone stock no mods other than resonator delete.
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/IMG_2551.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/IMG_2548.jpg

[Boosted Motorsports]

Driving through Texas
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/9E58963D-DA36-4D41-B428-D8CA2DD62C92.jpeg

Driving through New Mexico
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/F855FE03-83B4-4C0E-BAFE-ECB5799EE276.jpeg

Coming into California
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/FC1DEEC9-8090-41CA-91F4-05F995F98680.jpeg

[ACRucrazy]

Love it!!! I wish to have one someday!

[viperr]

Great story! What better way to get to know your car than a nice long road trip. Last January I bought my used Gen V at Roanoke Motors in Illinois and drove it back to the Seattle area. What a nice way to bond with a car. I hope you had as much fun as I did.

[Boosted Motorsports]

Love it!!! I wish to have one someday!
Thanks! I'm going the opposite direction and plan on getting a newer ACR in a few years! Picked up the one that I have wanted since a kid first :D


Great story! What better way to get to know your car than a nice long road trip. Last January I bought my used Gen V at Roanoke Motors in Illinois and drove it back to the Seattle area. What a nice way to bond with a car. I hope you had as much fun as I did.

I agree! It was a bit of a gamble with my car being a bit older and such a long drive (2000+ miles in 2 days) but it made it without a hitch! Congrats on the Gen V purchase! That is my next addition is to snap up a GEN V. Love the similarities between the two!

[BrianACR]

That must have been an awesome drive!! I had hoped to drive mine home from where I purchased it. Would have been about 600km(375mi). But it was March. In Alberta. That means cold and icy and snowy. i ended up hauling home instead.
I've been enjoying your how to posts. Keep it up!! you're sharing some great info!

[ACR08]

Sweet ride and great pics of the drive home.

[GTSgreg]

Beauty car. Would be a fun drive in a viper. Much more fun than getting it delivered!

[capevettes]

Great looking Viper. What a drive. Reminds me of my Route 66 drive across country back in 2000. Road trips in a great car are hard to beat. Enjoy the Viper.

[RedTanRT/10]

Great looking ACR, wish I still had my solid red '99

Hope to catch up with you at one of the local SoCal events. best wishes! Mike

[Lemay88]

I've own my Viper since 2014, me too, like most of us on here, a dream that became reality.
There are 2 things that make me feel like a kid again, a good hockey game with friends and driving my Viper with a loved one beside me.
Thanks O'Malley and everyone else that posts on this and other Viper site, it shows how owning a Viper is more than just realizing a dream but an experience by itself.

Long live the Viper

Ben

[Boosted Motorsports]

That must have been an awesome drive!! I had hoped to drive mine home from where I purchased it. Would have been about 600km(375mi). But it was March. In Alberta. That means cold and icy and snowy. i ended up hauling home instead.
I've been enjoying your how to posts. Keep it up!! you're sharing some great info!

Thanks!! I know all about Canadian winters, I'm from Toronto originally lol.


Sweet ride and great pics of the drive home.

Thanks!


Beauty car. Would be a fun drive in a viper. Much more fun than getting it delivered!

Yeah believe it or not the previous owner actually got pissed off and hung up on me when I said I wanted to drive it. He said I must be a scam artist if I am crazy enough to drive such a car across the country. Had to call him back and calm him down and here we are today lol.


Great looking Viper. What a drive. Reminds me of my Route 66 drive across country back in 2000. Road trips in a great car are hard to beat. Enjoy the Viper.

Thank you! Yeah I've driven the drive a few times and it is definitely something everyone should experience. Such an amazing drive through the south.


Great looking ACR, wish I still had my solid red '99

Hope to catch up with you at one of the local SoCal events. best wishes! Mike

For sure! Shoot me a PM I'm not too far from you in HB. Looks like you might be into track days and thats my intention with this thing just been doing a thorough health check on it the last few months :D


I've own my Viper since 2014, me too, like most of us on here, a dream that became reality.
There are 2 things that make me feel like a kid again, a good hockey game with friends and driving my Viper with a loved one beside me.
Thanks O'Malley and everyone else that posts on this and other Viper site, it shows how owning a Viper is more than just realizing a dream but an experience by itself.

Long live the Viper

Ben

Thanks Ben! I'll keep the posts coming for sure! Hopefully I don't run out of things to do with the car soon lol.

[GTSgreg]

Haha seems some owners are touchy, I almost bought a car in Texas and the guy told me if I was going to drive it home, he wouldn't sell it to me! Where in Toronto are you from and how long you been living in cali?

[goodee]

...Last January I bought my used Gen V at Roanoke Motors in Illinois and drove it back to the Seattle area. What a nice way to bond with a car. I hope you had as much fun as I did.

I bought mine used at Roanoke as well but I only live 15 miles down the road. My wife and I have taken ours up to the Chicago area - it was a nicer drive than usual since merging in that traffic was much easier. Anyway - keep up the howto's omalley, you've got a beautiful car.

[Black Adder]

Hi Omalley
Last year I bought the identical car to yours, Gen 2 Red ACR/silver stipes etc etc. only 2001. I bought it in Pheonix at 10:00am Saturday morning and drove it back to San Jose, Cali the same day, arriving at 10:45PM, 745 miles. What a great day :-))

[RedTanRT/10]

Omalley, I'll send a PM later.

You need to meet up with Lance, he's in HB, great guy and previous club president

also, take a look at the SoCal site, all local events, social and track are listed

www.socalviper.com

[PrincetonTT]

Following all your stuff - started looking for lifts the other day and this one fell in my lap - you have the room I would look into it :)
http://i.imgur.com/vUbQhFUl.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/vUbQhFU)

[Boosted Motorsports]

Hi Omalley
Last year I bought the identical car to yours, Gen 2 Red ACR/silver stipes etc etc. only 2001. I bought it in Pheonix at 10:00am Saturday morning and drove it back to San Jose, Cali the same day, arriving at 10:45PM, 745 miles. What a great day :-))

Thats awesome! Let me know if you ever come across a number for how many of our red/silver ACRs there are. I was having a tough time trying to find a count but would be cool to know.


Haha seems some owners are touchy, I almost bought a car in Texas and the guy told me if I was going to drive it home, he wouldn't sell it to me! Where in Toronto are you from and how long you been living in cali?

I lived in Durham region most of my life, been down here for a couple years!


I bought mine used at Roanoke as well but I only live 15 miles down the road. My wife and I have taken ours up to the Chicago area - it was a nicer drive than usual since merging in that traffic was much easier. Anyway - keep up the howto's omalley, you've got a beautiful car.

Thank you! Definitely more to come!


Following all your stuff - started looking for lifts the other day and this one fell in my lap - you have the room I would look into it :)
http://i.imgur.com/vUbQhFUl.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/vUbQhFU)

That thing is awesome!!! I'm trying to live a bit light at the moment but once I get settled into my next place I am getting a 2 post for sure!

[Black Adder]

Best I can Find out for 1999-2002 Red ACR with ** stripes. All had black interior. Silver stripe was an option for all 4 years

1999 - 36
2000 - 60
2001 - 60
2002 - 79 (of which 34 were red/white FE's)

[Boosted Motorsports]

Last picture of the drive home before I move on to some of the mods/upgrades I began doing. I grabbed blue painters tape and masked over the entire front end and around the wheel wells. Over 2000 miles and not a single stone chip on the car. Looked ugly as hell and got weird looks but I didn't care :D

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/IMG_2557.jpg

[Boosted Motorsports]

Next I removed the drivers sill cause the clear coat had some serious hazing. Looks like the car obviously had some heat from cats in the past but previous owner had installed some "high flow" in there so no more heat related issues. Anyways was able to polish the side sill using a soft polish pad and some very light scratch removal compound and came back to a mirror shine. I plan on upgrading to some "sticky shield" type products in the future.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2948.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2964.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2979.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2980.jpg

[Boosted Motorsports]

Next out came the leaking oem Koni ACR shocks and in went BC racing coilovers. MUCH better ride and more adjust-ability. Plus was able to chop a bunch of fender gap out without sacrificing spring preload or ride quality which is a nice feature of the BC racing coilovers.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/IMG_2674.jpg

ACR Koni shocks have a smaller diameter upper bolt and associated collars. Here you can see the difference and will need to order OEM GTS/RT-10 bolts to have a correct fitment.
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/IMG_2902.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/IMG_2901.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/IMG_2897.jpg

First look with the car sitting on BC Racing coilovers but suspension wasn't settled yet (Drooping bumper to hood issue on this side has since been fixed :D)
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/IMG_2905.jpg

[ACR_Matt]

Nice to see another '00 Red/Silver ACR! For the 2000 year model it's 1 of 25 overall, 1 of 22 US Market and the other 3 went to Canada. I also work on mine myself and am about to tackle the rear bushings while upgrading suspension and brakes! 23664

[ACRSNK]

Damn that thing is pretty! I bought a 2014 Shelby GT500 in Kentucky and drove it home to Massachusetts. Fun thousand mile ride. Car was broken in by the time I got home.

Congrats on the ACR. That is a very special ride you have there.

[Boosted Motorsports]

Damn that thing is pretty! I bought a 2014 Shelby GT500 in Kentucky and drove it home to Massachusetts. Fun thousand mile ride. Car was broken in by the time I got home.

Congrats on the ACR. That is a very special ride you have there.

Thank you!

Definitely was a fun trip! Hopefully can do something similar with a GEN V ACR once I make some more room :D

[Boosted Motorsports]

Next up was to start taking care of common failure points on the GEN II. The radiator hoses are a known fail item and with aging rubber it was time to get those off! Ordered some Mishimoto black silicon hoses and was very happy with the product and finished result. Install was straightforward and no fitment issues.

How to video of the radiator hose install and coolant bleeding procedure here:

https://youtu.be/qdZXtjg21pE

[Boosted Motorsports]

Power steering pulley and bracket are a well known failure point on the GEN II. I went ahead and ordered the IPSCO billet aluminum pulley and bracket before it gave me any issues as preventative maintenance.

Here is the video showing how to install the new pulley and bracket and what special tool to use. I also show a side-by-side comparison of the old and new parts and why it is a good idea and an improvement!

https://youtu.be/zeXoK_JeTZg

[BrianACR]

I did my PS pulley and bracket too. I was surprised at how easy it was to do. Of course, having the right tools helped a lot :)

[SlowPoke McGee]

Haha seems some owners are touchy, I almost bought a car in Texas and the guy told me if I was going to drive it home, he wouldn't sell it to me! Where in Toronto are you from and how long you been living in cali?

More like OCD

[SlowPoke McGee]

Last picture of the drive home before I move on to some of the mods/upgrades I began doing. I grabbed blue painters tape and masked over the entire front end and around the wheel wells. Over 2000 miles and not a single stone chip on the car. Looked ugly as hell and got weird looks but I didn't care :D

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/IMG_2557.jpg

Speaking of OCD:smilielol:

[Boosted Motorsports]

Speaking of OCD:smilielol:

Hahah hey I like my paint :lol2:

[Boosted Motorsports]

Next up was the replacement of these items and why shown in the video :D

IPSCO Short Throw Shifter Install & Review
IPSCO Billet Aluminum Transmission Mount Install
IPSCO Shifter lowering kit Install
Energy Suspension Polyurethane Transmission Mount Install
Tremec shifter cup bushing replacement


https://youtu.be/Sy5fLNpwBwA

[ACRSNK]

Cool videos.

[Boosted Motorsports]

Cool videos.

Thanks!!! Lots more on my channel just trying not to flood my thread with them all at once. :D

[Boosted Motorsports]

Borla Exhaust Install

https://youtu.be/HeIvna12QD0

[ACRSNK]

Borla Exhaust Install

https://youtu.be/HeIvna12QD0

This should have been a Corsa Exhaust Install video. :)

[Boosted Motorsports]

This should have been a Corsa Exhaust Install video. :)

Video would have been half the length if it was corsa lol. Yeah I might try a corsa next just to switch it up. The Borla pretty much landed in my lap and was an improvement over the stock hack job stuff that was in there from before I got the car!

[My98RT10]

Next up was the replacement of these items and why shown in the video :D

IPSCO Short Throw Shifter Install & Review
IPSCO Billet Aluminum Transmission Mount Install
IPSCO Shifter lowering kit Install
Energy Suspension Polyurethane Transmission Mount Install
Tremec shifter cup bushing replacement


https://youtu.be/Sy5fLNpwBwA

Another great video! Thanks a lot for sharing, always enjoy these very much! I can imagine how much effort goes into cutting and editing....Very much appreciated!

[Boosted Motorsports]

Another great video! Thanks a lot for sharing, always enjoy these very much! I can imagine how much effort goes into cutting and editing....Very much appreciated!

Thank you! Plenty more to come! Have some more parts that just showed up this week too so some of that stuff should be getting installed/filmed this weekend :D

Parts that are going in:
IPSCO - Billet aluminum solid steering rack bushings
IPSCO - Billet sway bar mounts with polyurethane bushings
IPSCO - Underdrive pulley :icon_devil:

[Boosted Motorsports]

As many of you know I replaced the control arm bushings on all 4 corners of the car with polyurethane ones from energy suspension. My original ones were showing signs of dry rot from the age of the car. New bushings have the car feeling solid and planted in conjunction with the BC racing coilovers.

Lots of info in these videos and should help if you decide to tackle these

FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHING REPLACEMENT

https://youtu.be/GhPCB-zTUGA

REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHING REPLACEMENT

https://youtu.be/UMnHuaaL5Jc

[Boosted Motorsports]

Next up was the install of a Mopar Performance 3.73 Differential for the car.

Made a HUGE difference and is perfect for my Naturally Aspirated goals/plans for the car. This is one of my most favorite mods so far but they all have been pretty fun! :D


https://youtu.be/l4GzvLueOqs

[OneofOneViper]

Where were you 10 years ago when I was messing with my Gen2 and had to figure this crap out on my own. Good stuff man. Now get a Gen5 and teach me!

[Boosted Motorsports]

Where were you 10 years ago when I was messing with my Gen2 and had to figure this crap out on my own. Good stuff man. Now get a Gen5 and teach me!

Haha I was actually VERY tempted to snag that beat up Lemon GEN V in San Diego but I have no room right now and I like this car too much to replace. Need a bigger spot then I can fill the garage with more toys...and a hoist... :D

[Boosted Motorsports]

Just received the following parts so install and review videos are on the way and should be tackling some of these parts this weekend!

IPSCO - Billet Aluminum Underdrive Pulley
IPSCO - Billet Aluminum Power Steering Rack Solid Bushings
IPSCO - Billet Aluminum Sway Bar Mounts w/ Poly Urethane Bushings
MOOG - Sway Bar Endlinks

I'm trying to see if I can line up a before and after dyno pull for the UD pulley since there is such mixed reviews on all this stuff!

If anyone wants to sponsor me with mods I'll be the guinea pig and do the video :lol2:

[98RedGTS]

Where did you get your BC Coilovers? Thinking of picking some up and from the research I've done RSI was the main vendor. Based off some shadyness I'm seeing from their business with other Viper owners I don't want to send them any money.

[heath1225]

Just received the following parts so install and review videos are on the way and should be tackling some of these parts this weekend!

IPSCO - Billet Aluminum Underdrive Pulley
IPSCO - Billet Aluminum Power Steering Rack Solid Bushings
IPSCO - Billet Aluminum Sway Bar Mounts w/ Poly Urethane Bushings
MOOG - Sway Bar Endlinks

I'm trying to see if I can line up a before and after dyno pull for the UD pulley since there is such mixed reviews on all this stuff!

If anyone wants to sponsor me with mods I'll be the guinea pig and do the video :lol2:


I don't think I picked up anything with the UD pulley. In full disclosure though, I used different dynos and the one for the after pull, a Dynojet, read about 5% lower than the first one, a Dynomite Dyno. Typically it would be the other way around. But either way, I didn't "feel" any difference.

[Boosted Motorsports]

Where did you get your BC Coilovers? Thinking of picking some up and from the research I've done RSI was the main vendor. Based off some shadyness I'm seeing from their business with other Viper owners I don't want to send them any money.

I had the same fear as you did! I ended up just picking up the phone and calling BC Racing directly and ordering through them. It was a pleasant experience as I was able to actually talk to them, make sure they were in stock, and ask about different spring-rate options and I ended up getting them to build me a set with a different spring rate and shipping them out the same day. They also offer you a custom build if you want some sort of advanced or altered setup which is a cool offer.

Ordering through somewhere else would have obviously been an extra exchange of hands and taken longer. I had mine 3 days later at my door. I think it was $50 more to buy direct but for the service I got and piece of mind it was well worth it!


I don't think I picked up anything with the UD pulley. In full disclosure though, I used different dynos and the one for the after pull, a Dynojet, read about 5% lower than the first one, a Dynomite Dyno. Typically it would be the other way around. But either way, I didn't "feel" any difference.

Yeah I am debating trying to line up a local dyno for a couple pulls but have not been able to so far. Pretty curious to see how it does through actual dyno or butt dyno lol

[98RedGTS]

Appreciate it. Just ordered a set.

[Boosted Motorsports]

Appreciate it. Just ordered a set.

Awesome let me know how you like them!

I actually show how easy it is to adjust them on the car in my last video.

This video is just regular maintenance with oil change and adjusting the ride height in the front

https://youtu.be/55qark7csiA

[03evoIII]

Great vids man! I've watched a few of them!! What do you have your BCs (dampening) set at?

[98RedGTS]

Awesome let me know how you like them!

I actually show how easy it is to adjust them on the car in my last video.

This video is just regular maintenance with oil change and adjusting the ride height in the front


Will do. I've been debating caps, springs or something else for a while now. Decided just to do it right the first time and get the coil overs so that I can adjust as needed down the road. Not to mention I'm guessing the factory shocks could use some love anyways being 19 years old even though i only have 15K miles on the car.

I don't track nor plan to so went BC since I'm just looking for height adjustments and a better ride. Depending on how long it takes for them to come in I may do the bushings at the same time. was planning on holding off though as I just finished the bushings on my Cobra a month ago and I'd like to forget about that PITA first before starting it all over again ;-)

[Boosted Motorsports]

Will do. I've been debating caps, springs or something else for a while now. Decided just to do it right the first time and get the coil overs so that I can adjust as needed down the road. Not to mention I'm guessing the factory shocks could use some love anyways being 19 years old even though i only have 15K miles on the car.

I don't track nor plan to so went BC since I'm just looking for height adjustments and a better ride. Depending on how long it takes for them to come in I may do the bushings at the same time. was planning on holding off though as I just finished the bushings on my Cobra a month ago and I'd like to forget about that PITA first before starting it all over again ;-)

Yeah I completely agree! I went through the same dilemma with my blown KONI ACR shocks and went with the BC racing and so far couldn't be happier. I'll definitely be putting them through some track day torture tests but I don't have any doubts they will hold up!

I'm right with you on doing the bushings buddy! That was a complete PITA and I'm glad that is over with. I will say that I do feel pretty good knowing that all that old dry rotted rubber is now out of my car! I just finished replacing the steering rack bushings with solid billet aluminum ones and those were not in good shape either. Also did the billet aluminum sway bar mounts with poly bushings and the stock ones were crap compared to what I replaced it with. MUCH tighter now! New end-links went on too.

Currently editing those install videos but this car is going to be better than new! :D

[Boosted Motorsports]

More fun parts! Sway bar bushings and rack bushings are in!

UD Crank pulley should be going in this weekend! :)

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/omalley_808/1B0555CE-4C7F-45A3-9BB9-22D46E69A805.jpg

[Boosted Motorsports]

Great vids man! I've watched a few of them!! What do you have your BCs (dampening) set at?

Hey sorry missed this somehow. I have the dampeners set halfway between full hard and full soft and seems to be working great so far. I haven't played with it much yet but handles awesome!

[Boosted Motorsports]

Here is the IPSCO solid steering rack bushing install. Awesome mod and tightened up my steering!

OEM rubber bushings are pretty crappy and sloppy by design, add aged rubber into that equation and it is a must have!



https://youtu.be/p3Ekz6pK7d8