Proud new owner of a 1992 Gen 1!

[Staplerformilton]

I can hardly believe it myself, but sitting in the garage next to me is a like - new generation one Dodge Viper SRT 10. The car only has 4000 miles on it because I bought it from the dealership that took delivery of the car in 1992. Therefore I am the first registered owner! I couldn't be more proud of this Viper. I plan on keeping it forever. And because I want to keep it forever, I really would like some advice from you guys on the best way to preserve this car in the place where I live. I live in a very harsh climate that has extreme swings in temperature. I'm afraid that the tremendous amount of plastic on the car may begin to crack if I can't find a way to keep it in a climate-controlled garage. Is that true? Is a standard garage with no climate control OK? The place I am keeping it can get as cold as -5 Fahrenheit and is hot is 110 Fahrenheit inside. Also, what leather care products are best? Leather products always say to test in an inconspicuous spot. Well naturally I'm not going to do that with my prized Viper, so I would rather know from your experience which one works best to keep the leather soft and clean. Lastly, when storing this car for the winter, what is the best procedure? I would hate to replace 10 fuel injectors, or have a cracked block from incorrect coolant mixture. Thank for your help!

[Fatboy 18]

How about one of these?

http://www.carcoon.com/

Congratulations on your new Toy. Now we need pics and Welcome to the VOA

[Slithr]

Congrats on the '92 .... unfortunately, w/o pictures it didn't happen.

I don't believe anything special other that a battery tender is needed for extended storage, but then again we don't experience those temperature swings in Texas. Maybe some Great White North members will chime in.

[ICPREY]

Where are you located? Congrats on the new ride!

[Stretch]

Congrats on your RT/10 purchase!!

[Bugman Jeff]

Congratulations on your purchase SRT wasn't a thing in '92, it's just called an RT/10. I like Lexol on my leather and Mothers VLR on everything else, but there are a thousand opinions on what the "best" products are. The temperature swings won't have nearly as much effect of the interior plastic as UV exposure will. The interior plastic on these things seems to be pretty hardy, I don't know if I've ever seen anyone post about age related cracking. You can buy a cheap antifreeze tester at any auto parts store to determine if you're coolant is mixed well enough to keep it from freezing. To "winterize" mine, all I do is disconnect the battery, put mothballs in the interior, stuff dryer sheets in all the external openings, and put many D-con wedges around the car. But, I live on a grain farm and my garage is more "two stall shack" than "garage", so I go through some extra steps to keep the mice out.

How much do you plan to drive it? If more than very occasionally, you'll want new tires, and do a search for "Gen I headgaskets" as the original style had a habit of going bad.

[Peter K.]

Welcome and congrats. I bought my 92 last month. My brother was going to buy a 4000 mile 92 from the upper mid west. Maybe same car.

It is imperative that you bring the soft top into the home. The frames are made of plastic and will snap in cold temps. Even will snap in warm temps if stressed enough. These tops are the weak links of these car. They are extremely delicate. If you break the frame, there is no replacing unless you get a later top.....or unless you have many of thousands of dollars. Protect and preserve the top, windows, and tonneau.

Use a battery tender which you can connect in the drivers side hood cubby. Use fuel stabilizer for the winter. That is all you should need to do.

[FLATOUT]

Love my 92 as much as my 15. Awesome cars and a real piece of history.

[BlknBlu]

congrats, I would put down a rubber mat under the car to park during the winter when condensation lifts off the concrete.

You have an incredible piece of hissstory


Bruce

[gfviperman]

What VIN#?

[Track Pack]

Awesome, congrats! I think I've seen that one online. Sounds like your first Viper... Are you planning to drive it or just store and collect?

[ViperRT98]

Congrats.. These cars are very nice to have.... Like others said there are so many different opinionated answers to your questions.... Enjoy the Viper....

[Staplerformilton]

I had it stored in a metal building in West Texas for a few months right after I got it. the dry climate and lack of insulation causes the drastic differences in temperature inside. I have a thermometer/hygrometer which records peak highs and lows of temp and humidity. I keep this on the car cover over the viper. In July it registered up to 110 degrees. The next time I checked on it, there were tiny little bits of seat foam on the floorboards right under the seats. These bits were brittle to the touch. The only explanation I could find was brittleness from extreme heat, since there was no evidence of rodents. Also, water puddles on the concrete under the car when it rains. So recently I got worried and moved it to the garage at my house, but this isn't a practical solution because I need my garage for other vehicles. The car has to go back to the metal building. One of my friends heard my dilemma and he said, "sounds like you're about to have a viper for sale!" To which I sternly replied, "it's not for sale." And it's not. I've always wanted a 92 RT 10 so now I've just gotta figure out how to preserve it where I'm stuck keeping it.

[Staplerformilton]

Congrats on the '92 .... unfortunately, w/o pictures it didn't happen.

I don't believe anything special other that a battery tender is needed for extended storage, but then again we don't experience those temperature swings in Texas. Maybe some Great White North members will chime in.

Well that's true, down in friendswood you've got humidity but stable temps. But way out here in west Texas the air is dry and we get strong ice storms in January through March and many days of 110+ in August

[Staplerformilton]

Welcome and congrats. I bought my 92 last month. My brother was going to buy a 4000 mile 92 from the upper mid west. Maybe same car.

It is imperative that you bring the soft top into the home. The frames are made of plastic and will snap in cold temps. Even will snap in warm temps if stressed enough. These tops are the weak links of these car. They are extremely delicate. If you break the frame, there is no replacing unless you get a later top.....or unless you have many of thousands of dollars. Protect and preserve the top, windows, and tonneau.

Use a battery tender which you can connect in the drivers side hood cubby. Use fuel stabilizer for the winter. That is all you should need to do.

Thanks for the advice!
I don't think it's the same car. Mine came from Georgia. Found it in February. I stored it for several months and just recently brought it to the house.

[Staplerformilton]

Congratulations on your purchase SRT wasn't a thing in '92, it's just called an RT/10. I like Lexol on my leather and Mothers VLR on everything else, but there are a thousand opinions on what the "best" products are. The temperature swings won't have nearly as much effect of the interior plastic as UV exposure will. The interior plastic on these things seems to be pretty hardy, I don't know if I've ever seen anyone post about age related cracking. You can buy a cheap antifreeze tester at any auto parts store to determine if you're coolant is mixed well enough to keep it from freezing. To "winterize" mine, all I do is disconnect the battery, put mothballs in the interior, stuff dryer sheets in all the external openings, and put many D-con wedges around the car. But, I live on a grain farm and my garage is more "two stall shack" than "garage", so I go through some extra steps to keep the mice out.

How much do you plan to drive it? If more than very occasionally, you'll want new tires, and do a search for "Gen I headgaskets" as the original style had a habit of going bad.

Thanks I'll look into those products.
I plan to drive it occasionally, many be 100 mile a year. The rest of the time I'll just occasionally pull up a chair and stare at it ��

[ViperRT98]

Thanks I'll look into those products.
I plan to drive it occasionally, many be 100 mile a year. The rest of the time I'll just occasionally pull up a chair and stare at it ��

Sounds to me that you are really trying to look at this car has a future investment. If you're only going to drive it 100 miles a year, then I would spend the money and put it in a climate controlled environment. Otherwise you will see major problems occurring over a period of time... It may not be weather related, you could get moisture somehow in your car not realize it and start growing mold, or a local family of rats could you the wires in your car and have a nice home in the engine bay... since this car is not going to be located at your house inside your own garage you're risking the cars over well Conditions... I would spend the extra money and get it in a good climate controlled facility... you can still take your chair sit there and look at the car and drive it when you want it...

[Vprbite]

google "car capsule"

I think that's what you are looking for. Or you can spend more and get the one that you can drive in and out of. I used to store my 02 in one but I drove it all the time so it wasnt practacle for me but for you it would be perfect. Though I would spring for the one that actually inflates a frame for itself too, so you can drive in and out of it. But they are easy to move if needed and will protect your car. And you can put a humidifier in one too if you are really worried about stuff drying out.

I also like Lexol. It's been around for a long time and proven it's worth.

[Granger73]

This^^^^^^^

[ViperRT98]

Correct me if I'm wrong...... the car Capsules are air inflated plastic See through Shelters that does not help & cooling or heating.. It will protect from UV damages but wouldn't a climate control storage be a smarter idea?

[duffman04]

Congrats! I would find a proper garage to store it in though. Ask around, I'd probably be surprised if a friend can't help you out with storage.

[Canuck]

I can hardly believe it myself, but sitting in the garage next to me is a like - new generation one Dodge Viper SRT 10.

Congratulations! Hope you have lots of fun with it.

The only machine that has a sexier side profile than a 1999 red Swingline stapler is a 1992 red Dodge Viper!



--Canuck
1992 Viper #119

[Darth Menace]

How about one of these?

http://www.carcoon.com/

Congratulations on your new Toy. Now we need pics and Welcome to the VOA

I second this notion. Don't do carcoon as they are a fortune, but do car capsule which is the same but a fraction of the price. I park my 98 in one over the winter with the optional battery tender.

[Staplerformilton]

Congratulations! Hope you have lots of fun with it.

The only machine that has a sexier side profile than a 1999 red Swingline stapler is a 1992 red Dodge Viper!



--Canuck
1992 Viper #119

Haha that's very true! And both are best enjoyed when the boss doesn't know you have them!

[Staplerformilton]

Correct me if I'm wrong...... the car Capsules are air inflated plastic See through Shelters that does not help & cooling or heating.. It will protect from UV damages but wouldn't a climate control storage be a smarter idea?

Yeah I'm a little confused about this too. Sounds like it would cut down on moisture and maybe cool the car a little because of the CPU fan that inflates the contraption, but from what I can tell, a car capsule is made out of clear PVC plastic: the kind of plastic that could melt into paint in 110 degree summer heat if the fan quits while I'm not looking....

By the way, I really appreciate everyone's advice to put the car in a climate-controlled garage. My car friends have all said no. Out here in Green Acres, Mr Haney doesn't have any climate-controlled storage units available for rent either.