DREAM CAR FOR MY BIRTHDAY!! 1997 GTS BLACK ON BLACK. 11k MILAGE NEED SERVICE LOCAL.

[viperboon]

this viper still smells new, wanted one with the top for a long time i am verry happy. i had a de lorean once so i kina know what i am getting in to as far as unusual cars, stock de lorean broke down every time i drove it, still loved it, hope this car treats me kinder,the viper is way faster ,




Well am a bit excited. read lots of stuff checked lots of things, car seams to be in very good condition, still flushing air from the coolant system (burping) replacing old hoses /w silicon ROE and bleeder valve,

has power steering bracket mount replaced with foraged part, foraged power steering pulley, foraged oil pump, new internal oil windage tray no leeks

however the serpentine belt seams to be dissolving (pitting and withering small pits and pockets) on the smooth/flat side. guessing it is just old and replacing it. however my hands seam to be way to large to be able to actually do this.


wanted to know if any one could recommend a good viper shop in southern California zip is 91340

[BlknBlu]

Welcome to the VOA, you have a very iconic car. Learn to drive the car first before any spritied driving.

bruce

[daytonprowler]

Congrats and welcome!

[Vprbite]

The Viper is infinitely more reliable than the Delorean. Don't abuse the drive train and these things are pretty bulletproof.

11k miles is nothing for these cars. Make sure the fluids are new/good. Otherwise there aren't any major "uh-ohs" to be aware of.

Be respectful of the torque, especially second gear whether up or down. Massage the go pedal, don't punch it.

Congratulations and welcome

[City]

wanted to know if any one could recommend a good viper shop in southern California zip is 91340

http://driveviper.com/forums/forums/74-Southern-California

[James430]

Congrats......Nice present!......get used to her slowly and always make sure the front wheels are straight before mashing on the excelerator....Enjoy and post a couple pics

[Viper Girl]

Hi Viperboon,

I'm in SoCal, none of the shops I have used are in the Valley...
Typical service stuff dealer warranty work I go to Motor Village Los Angeles. http://www.motorvillagela.com/index.htm


I'll forward this thread link to Glenn our trusty leader of SoCal Viper


EDIT
Call Chip in service and tell him Mike Bell the GM of MVLA said to call...877-849-0771, they do have a trained Viper Tech on staff.

[v10enomous]

Congratulations... Was it originally a Blue or Red car ?

[Leslie]

Congrats on your Viper!

[VoodooRob]

Congratulations... Was it originally a Blue or Red car ?
^^^^^^^ This. 97 was blue/white or red. Sure you have the year correct, if not do you know history? Seems like the car had a color change if a 97. 2000 was the year for black.

[mitchdob]

Go to SPT. Dan Cragin's shop is approx 15 miles from where you are.

http://specialtyperformanceteam.com/shop/pc/home.asp

Dan is the best there is, hands down. We're pretty f_ck'in lucky to have him in SoCal.

[viperboon]

Yes black is not the OG paint it has been painted viper black, it was a pannel off paint job, very nice a minor error in paint here and there, but only a few small imperfections,

as for the year the sticker in the door said 2-97 feb 1997 car with a/c will post a pic of the build sticker as soon as i get setup for that,

I honestly think i did good on the car, i wish it was a b/w blue with white stripes, black was my second choice or paint, but i was more interested in finding one with all the common viper fail points addressed . power steering pully and mounting bracket and stuff like that. and i wanted the gts over the rt10 becaus of the larger trunk space as well as i love the way it looks with the hard top and the x2 bubblesi could go on.........

the truth is i wanted a super-car american made my choices came in corvett, viper or ford GT. the three that i can think of any way, of thies three cars i liked the viper the best over the ford least the corvett,

thank you as well for the service contacts this will definitely help me as it seams i need the belt replaced pronto. hope it is just an old belt and not some problem shredding the belt, will soon find out.

[viperboon]

it was originally red sorry slipped my mind.

[VoodooRob]

No biggie on the color, as these cars get older there will be changes to them. Some new buyers sometimes do not know as in depth as you do about the cars. Sounds like a nice car, get a belt from NAPA and enjoy it!

[Jack's GTS]

Welcome to the Club!

[viperboon]

I am so thankfull for all of you and your posts, to be honest my drivers licence is suspended until Feb5, so i just sit in my garage going over my viper with a fine tooth comb, i am so tempted to drive it, kina glad the belt is bad or i would be out being bad. never the less i can not wait. kinda interested in long cruses up the pasific coast hw., i would like to do the viper gatherings not to interested in tracking the car but interested in having fun, perhaps a drivers corse. i have some new silicon hoses on the way should be here tomorrow. i hope silicon is the way to go not sure my self just read it was alright, any one recomend siclicon hoses over rubber?

viper in grage and no drivers licence so bumed but soon so soon, how long will i keep my licence this time?

spelling was never my strong point.....sorry

[Viper Girl]

Don't drive it Viperboon,

Its not worth it, wait until after Feb 5th, and the car has been checked out.

Like Mitchdob said, Dan Cragin is really great too, his new shop is in Alhambra. Check with him to see if he can trailer your car to his shop, I believe he used to offer that service.
Dan has been a Viper Tech since the beginning of Viper! Hard to find anyone with that much knowledge

[Scott Mannny]

Welcome and be careful!!!!! We have lost two Vipers in Oklahoma due to inexperience in the last two months. Take it easy and wait until you get everything checked out, before you get it on the road. Call Dan he has a lot of knowledge, trust him!!

[viperboon]

thank you for having this place to vent my viper nonsense. as the woman who inhabits the house in witch i dwell has decided to move out if she hears another word about the car. so i come to here to post my thoughts questions concerns and plans for my car.

i want to join the voa, wonder if i could just show up and pay in person at my first meet when the car is ready, i under stand if this is not how it works just wondering.

also i am tempted to drive the car but fear belt will break, so i have contacted Dan Cragin via e-mail and am calling him Monday to skedual my car for necessary things primarily to get it out of my hands till i get my drivers licence back. kina driving me crazy just having it siting there, looks just like it wants to go for a drive just tempts me to see the keys,

and also i have looked at the 2015 events/meets and know of at least 2 that i will be attending. i will be the guy in the red 97 gts that's painted black.

also i am going to try to get my signature set up in my next post think it will give me something to do.

oh and happy superbowl partys and such!!!

[viperboon]

ok here is the signature test.. will edit it when i am not such a new viper owner . less of a noob. took about 10 min to figure it out...

[Vprbite]

I don't think we are too hard on people for being a "noob" around here. Everyone has to start somewhere. You will find that some people here are well versed in these cars or particularly well versed in certain areas of them. There are wheel gurus around here, transmission gurus, oil and gas gurus, forced induction gurus, all areas of specialty knowledge that they are glad to share with interested parties.

I don't think you can pay for your membership "locally" because the membership is to the national club of which the local is an offshoot. Things trickle down, not up. We pay nationally and the national entity divies money out to local clubs. Now for your local events, you may be able to pay for those the day of depending on how your club is run. Here in AZ we sometimes need to have people pre-pay and other times we can just do a pay as you show up system. It depends on the event. But it is the national club that runs the site (and all of the stiff associated with that, and here is a ton) which is why you pay to the national office. As soon as you do, your regional president will get a notification and then reach out to you letting you know you are on the email list, about events and all that jazz.

If I can offer a piece of advice it is to be more active at the beginning. Go out of your way to participate in more activities at first, that way you can get to know your club and they can get to know you. Then if you can't make it to a few that's ok but you will feel like you have a presence in the club and that makes ownershio more fun. That's how it seems to me at least.

Get that belt taken care of. And if you can't drive till the 5th that's only a few days away so maybe take that time to detail it. Look up posts by a guy named "Junkman" on here. He is the detail guru and you can learn a lot from his videos.

Best Regards

[viperboon]

ok i am now an official voa member dues paid.

the car is out of my hands in in the hands of Dan Cragin, thank you for you recommendations. hope to see you all soon,

i am no longer tempted to drive it cuz it's not here, by the time i get it back my licence will be all sorted out...and i will be very easy on the car as we learn to trust one another, avoid scrumming to pilot error..i will let you know when i get it back...probly just be out driving it for a wile thow..

[daytonprowler]

Saw your membership go through. :) Make sure the email address you used for the website and on your membership are the same. This lets the two programs sync together. Your avatar will change to VOA member. :)

[Viper Girl]

Make sure the email address you used for the website and on your membership are the same. This lets the two programs sync together.
That should happen by 2am if I remember the time web dude set up... So def by tomorrow morning. If not contact a Mod or Dayton Prowler..
Welcome to the best Viper Club ever!

[viperboon]

I have inserted an avatar image, this is not my car it looks like my car the year is off and the rims and different. but i had trubble getting the pictures i took to be displayed i will change it later but this look just like my 1997 but this one is 2000. i have some great picks of my car will get them here soon.

also i am full VOA member and membership has its advantages. my flag on my name has not changes but it should soon may have mixed up my email but don't think so..everything will sort its self out i am sure..

thank you for your suggestions on detailing the car and have looked up "Junkman" and stumbled across neat stuff like the flat black mat stripes, Since my car is already painted black i cant see the harm in adding decal stripes...

also i wanted to order some oem pars for the car a back body panel as i have a small crack in the rear taillight housing. who is our suggested oem part suppler?

[daytonprowler]

also i am full VOA member and membership has its advantages. my flag on my name has not changes but it should soon may have mixed up my email but don't think so..everything will sort its self out i am sure..


Fixed. :)

[LATAMUD]

Welcome! Your Viper sounds like mine, once red now black 97 GTS.

[viperboon]

thank for the fix daytonprowler

LATAMUD have you got any picks of your car in the gallery here i could look at. or link some here probably looks verry close it has jet black tinted windows matches the paint perfectly not sure if the tint is legal i will have to check seems show car dark,

[Vprbite]

I have inserted an avatar image, this is not my car it looks like my car the year is off and the rims and different. but i had trubble getting the pictures i took to be displayed i will change it later but this look just like my 1997 but this one is 2000. i have some great picks of my car will get them here soon.

also i am full VOA member and membership has its advantages. my flag on my name has not changes but it should soon may have mixed up my email but don't think so..everything will sort its self out i am sure..

thank you for your suggestions on detailing the car and have looked up "Junkman" and stumbled across neat stuff like the flat black mat stripes, Since my car is already painted black i cant see the harm in adding decal stripes...

also i wanted to order some oem pars for the car a back body panel as i have a small crack in the rear taillight housing. who is our suggested oem part suppler?

Call Jon B at partsrack. He is a sponsor here and has been in the Viper parts business since the birth of the car. He is always very good to me and likes to help new owners when possible. (Though as I said, we aren't really rough on people here for being new. We all had to start somewhere.)

Call him or email him.

http://www.viperpartsrack.com

Best of Luck

[viperboon]

8727 this is one pic just trying to figure out how to attach the file, this is my car as my avatar is not, but you will see the similarity
and i will attach one more to the next message depending on if this loads both picks or not,, will see

[viperboon]

8728ok i figured out how to add 1 pic at a time here is the back,

the car is getting fixed it had some problems the belt was dragging on a bound belt pulley causing it to where badly and a few leaks all sorted out and should be on the road in less than 2 weeks,

[LATAMUD]

thank for the fix daytonprowler

LATAMUD have you got any picks of your car in the gallery here i could look at. or link some here probably looks verry close it has jet black tinted windows matches the paint perfectly not sure if the tint is legal i will have to check seems show car dark,

http://driveviper.com/gallery/1997-gts/p764-22.html

GALLERY (http://driveviper.com/gallery/g520-1997-gts.html)

[viperboon]

Can I post a video of the car? Here is the link this is my car i got it from this guy..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYLv4JSrTqQ&list=LLW2pvR_TvoJWdxHLV48mQdQ&index=8

[viperboon]

I miss the car been in the shop for as long as i can remember, I am trying to wait but it is driving me nuts, the next time you see me ill have a steering wheel sticking out of my pants, driving me nuts..

[viperboon]

driving the car a lot lots of alots, probably most fun i have ever had driving... it sure seams to be way faster than it should be. it pulls harder than any thing i have ever driven, it pulls in 6th as well as up hill, not sure it is stock as i was led to belive,it if faster than outer viper i test drove. i think the rear end has been changed it don't seam to be geared very tall, DID I SAY IT PULLS IN 6TH GEAR UP HILL IS THAT NORMAL? I am shocked it is mine. i am very happy with the car,

[daytonprowler]

Your life will never be the same. :)

[viperboon]

ok in first gear i should be able to hit 60 at red line i think, but it seams to be geared down for acceleration. i can only hit about 50 in first gear at just under red line 6k but it gets there rilly fast, I have refrained from smoking the tires or the clutch. i have had one chirp out of the tires leaving a stop a bit fast just to see if it would. it is insane on the freeway, wow it just wants to go faster almost draws you in with its hypnotic theme of growling power fluctuation the engine is but like a sirens song drawing you in deeper...............

I would like to thank every one for reading this stuff i bet every one who has been a new viper owner remember the way it made you feal..


big huge thanks to Dan Cragin ( https://www.specialtyperformanceteam.com/shop/pc/home.asp) , now it is a true cold blooded reptile he did a great job on the car, I went over kill on the cooling system, trying to stay cool in Los Angles during summer beach traffic wile running the A/C...

[Rosie]

Welcome to the club best decision you made since buying your Viper you won`t regret it.Bought our`s two years ago and put 15,000 miles on it already`enjoy it.

[Dajerseyviper]

Congrats on the new car!!! Just curious what is a "Foraged" pulley and bracket?? BTW I put more miles on my Viper in the first 2 days than I did on my 67 Camaro in 2 years...Its a very drivable car, especially the later years..

[ACR_Matt]

Welcome to the club! Congrats on a beautiful car! That's a great year model. Enjoy the lumpy cam!


Congrats on the new car!!! Just curious what is a "Foraged" pulley and bracket?? BTW I put more miles on my Viper in the first 2 days than I did on my 67 Camaro in 2 years...Its a very drivable car, especially the later years..

I think he's talking about this: http://www.ipsco.org/Viper_files/Viper%20Power%20steering%20Pump%20Brackets.htm

[viperboon]

Congrats on the new car!!! Just curious what is a "Foraged" pulley and bracket?? BTW I put more miles on my Viper in the first 2 days than I did on my 67 Camaro in 2 years...Its a very drivable car, especially the later years..

bracket yes, pulley yes, replaced plastic pulley and cast Al mounting plate with CNC Billet aluminum, ok back to the car i need to go to the car wash fricken dirt magnet. looks like it was used to film a chocolate milk commercial.

[Dajerseyviper]

Do you mean forged? I thought it was a new company...LOL And actually they are CNC Billet aluminum..Not forged

[Vombomb]

I feel like English isn't his first language... Congrats on the car! Mines still with Todd, and I do believe I'm quite insane now due to waiting...

[viperboon]

internet is my second language, as for English i am a product of the "loss anglous unifide scholl districk"

no one will race me, Every one keeps revving there engines AND SAY GO FOR IT. so i do and then i look back and there like still pulling across the inter section and i am like half way down the street?

[viperboon]

I feel like English isn't his first language... Congrats on the car! Mines still with Todd, and I do believe I'm quite insane now due to waiting...

congrats to you as well, i had a bit a waiting session as well jan-17 march-1st was so insane i feel your pain , and now is has been replaced with pure driving lust for the road. find my self going a few extra miles wherever i can.when i close my eyes I see my car just balls out, pulling off the line... although i am dam sure this thing is not stock, i have yet to discover the source of its power, give me Todd's number i'll call him, and see if i can get him to put a rush on it for you sir,

[viperboon]

Go to SPT. Dan Cragin's shop is approx 15 miles from where you are.

http://specialtyperformanceteam.com/shop/pc/home.asp

Dan is the best there is, hands down. We're pretty f_ck'in lucky to have him in SoCal.

Miichdob the best advice i have received so far.... Dan is the best... car runs cold as ice, side-panels just get warm.

thank you all.

put more miles on it than my old De Lorean already.. the viper is such an incredible car...

[viperboon]

ok in first gear i should be able to hit 60 at red line i think, but it seams to be geared down for acceleration. i can only hit about 50 in first gear at just under red line 6k but it gets there rilly fast, I have refrained from smoking the tires or the clutch. i have had one chirp out of the tires leaving a stop a bit fast just to see if it would. it is insane on the freeway, wow it just wants to go faster almost draws you in with its hypnotic theme of growling power fluctuation the engine is but like a sirens song drawing you in deeper...............

I would like to thank every one for reading this stuff i bet every one who has been a new viper owner remember the way it made you feal..


big huge thanks to Dan Cragin ( https://www.specialtyperformanceteam.com/shop/pc/home.asp) , now it is a true cold blooded reptile he did a great job on the car, I went over kill on the cooling system, trying to stay cool in Los Angles during summer beach traffic wile running the A/C...

195 mph Viper is now reduced to a 165 mph top speed.....but you will get there 15% faster! In stock trim you can stretch 1st gear to 62 mph at redline.......with a 3:55, you shift at 52. - See more at: http://www.viperpartsrack.com/gears-differential-dana-quaife#sthash.jnphncgQ.dpuf

i think this is why it only hits 52 in first....... it sure is quick i had no idea wonder what els is upgraded?

[smhog]

Nice choice. Those wheels appear to be the same Speedline wheels that were on the 96 Carroll Shelby Vipers from Fitzgerald Motorsports.

[viperboon]

I think so this car is turning out to be quite interesting apparently almost all vipers have there " tail " to tell. any one know where to start the research on past history of a viper

and they are Speedline wheels apparently they are not so common.

I love the car i feel like the guy in that Stefen king movie with red 57 chevy Christine. yep always in the garage just enjoying the car, this car is alive it call me to drive it nowhere, "just drive me" it matters not where,

you know just drive

[viperboon]

things that I already did to the car

updated oil winded tray "2006" improved oil draining
oil pan baffle kit. oil sump slosh restriction

Al power steering pump mount
Al power steering pulley
Al rack/pinion steering solid mounts
stainless steel break lines
front breaks new pads and resurface
clear front bra
K/N AIRFILTER


new sway bar links
side sill panel vents
new cat converter drivers front cat "plugged/overheating"
fire extinguisher installation
Hurst short shift. stick mod.
door buzzer removed
front license plate mount
torqued front wheel barrings,
4 wheel alignment still pulls to the right a bit aggressively
fog lenses installed
rear trany seal
fluid changes (oil, trany, differential, break fluid, clutch fluid, coolant flush/change)
belt tenshioner
serpentine belt
passenger interior door handle plastic door molding replaced.
Water/Coolant

Super Cool 546
Radiator- Aluminum Racing new
water pump
Module - Radiator Fan
Thermostat 170 Deg
Gasket - Intake Manifold
Gasket - Thermostat
Belt tensioner
Sway Bar Link package
Gasket- Oil Pan, oil pan gasket replaced
Link kit/ rear
Seal- Transmission tail shaft
Wiper Blade
Fluid - Brake
Fluid - Clutch

Service cooling system/ remove block plugs
(included in radiator replacement.)
Upgrade cooling fan to larger 2000 model
type



Replace leaky oil pan gasket

Replace front and rear sway bar links

Replace leaky transmission rear seal

Steam clean undercarriage and suspension
Replace wiper blades

Torque front wheel bearings

Lube hood hinges and latches

Bleed Brake System

Bleed Clutch


harmonic balancer


thats all so far.

some things got listed 2 times my bad edit it later i guess when i get it all sorted...

[viperboon]

10487

One fair picture of the car it is hard to catch it right, You can see the window blends, to doorpost, rear quarter panel. to back window, with the light just right at night it is just one black shadow..I like it a lot.....

[viper_eddie]

Congrats and happy birthday, too! What part of SoCal are you in? I use Dan Cragin who's in Alhambra but there's also Todd (I forgot the shop name) who's closer to San Diego I believe.

[viperboon]

10741

10742

10743

10744

10745
Just trying to add more than per post cuz i had a long road trip..