Another New Guy possibly insane question about Gen1 purchase

[Ross L]

Thanks! sent the central Florida VOA a FB message.

[Ross L]

I have to say the owner(Royal Auto) has been extremely helpful so far! He's text and answered any questions I've had. They have great reviews too!

[MoparBoyy]

Ed got me over to this post. are you in the VOA facebook group? i think a local orlando guy just posted a picture of this car (and of course hes not on here) I dont recognize the car.

I'm a Viper tech here in Orlando and I also own my own shop where i do a lot of Viper and other exotic work.

[Ross L]

I'm trying to join now. Thanks for the heads up!

[Ross L]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-dodge-viper-5/

Well, looks like its about to happen. Fly out to San Fran Wednesday. Taking Route 1 south then route 66 east. Apprehensive but very excited! packing light of course. Will have the original wheels shipped home and maybe the soft top. Any input on "must do" or "see" ? The owners been extremely helpful with any questions. I actually suggested shipping it, but wife insisted on driving. Hope she enjoys it as much as she's hoping. Lol.

[99RT10]

I didn't see, but were the head gaskets done? One of those "mus-dos", sooner or later. Take your time on the drive. It is a loooong trip back to FL. I have done ti multiple times. Take your time thru Texas, feels like it will never end

[RedTanRT/10]

Ross, that Viper looks real nice and I do like that style of wheels.

That's a looooong drive in a G1 with no A/C and the plastic windows!!! (I went to NVE3 in mine, 5 hours each way, with working A/C and 3/4 Plexiglas windows and hardtop, in about 10 years maybe I'll do that long a drive again!!).

Going down the coast will be fun and a weekday is far better than a weekend. The first 75 mines can be bumper to bumper if you time it wrong. Plan on leaving SF at say 11 am to miss the traffic, or, head south at 9-10 pm and find hotel near the coast and start the next day.

Let your wife know, the seat has about 10 degree's of seat back adjustment and at speed there is no radio and you'll need to speak loud with the windows out at speed. Also the sills get hot after a few hours of driving, get out easy or she (you) will burn your calves.

For you, get used to the angled pedals and obviously no cruise control.

Have fun, take a lot of pictures of the car and the scenery. Enjoy the conversations from folks at the gas stations. Everyone loves a G1 Viper!

Have fun, Red/Tan RT/10's are the best!!! Mike

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[BrianACR]

Enjoy your drive in your new toy!!

[Ross L]

Thanks for input guys. It technically "has" Ac, but isn't holding a charge.... so basically no ac, Lol. Not sure on the head gaskets. Its had several owners but seems to have been maintained(at least cosmetically) very well. Hopefully, the head gaskets have been done. The only mod(besides the head gaskets) I want to do is probably cat delete. The owner called me about an hour ago and said the gas gauge just stopped working on the drive to service shop( for oil change, system check) but he intends to try to have it corrected tomorrow. Weather radar shows mid 90's in Arizona this week, but lower humidity. Should be fun!

would it be worth trying one of those AC recharge kits from parts store?

[Steve-Indy]

Yes to the recharge can...with dye. You may find leak...O rings and Schrader valves often head the list.

[Ross L]

Follow up( I posted on the facebook page). Trip went perfect. Arrived Wednesday later than planned. Met the owner and his wife who picked us up at the airport in San Francisco(him in the Viper, her in her Volvo). We took the car to a parking lot for a quick once over. It was EXACTLY as described and as the pics and videos showed. Exchanged money for title and bill of sale and we were off, driving down Route 1 just as we had imagined! Made multiple stops along the coast (overcast and cold!) but we loved it! Had the hard top on and heater on high because we only packed short sleeve shirts and shorts :0. We actually ran into two bikers on one of the overlooks, from our state( actually within about 30 miles from us). They were in the middle of a ten day trip on their bikes. Our first night was in Carmel Mission Inn(sp). Beautiful town and we had a few cold drinks and a nice meal at Flanagan's to wind down. Next day, we continued on to Big Sir, still overcast but a surreal drive none-the-less. The car was running great. Apparently the road had been washed out for a year or so, we had to U-turn and drive about 3o miles back up to Carmel. From there we made our way down to Santa Maria for the Pre'squille Winery (owned by the Murphys from our home town). Had a great tour actually given by the owners. Leaving there we headed east on Route 66/I40 through the desert to Laughlin Nevada for night two. We stayed at Harrahs Casino, a little fatigued from being windblown, but not freezing. Every day ended with the car being wiped down with Mothers waterless wash and began the same way. Next, we drove east across Arizona to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forrest. The Viper got a best of 26mph, I was driving like a saint out of fear of breaking down, lol. We stopped at Route 66 Railway Café for some home cooking and to re-hydrate. On to Albuquerque NM. The weather was nice, upper 80's and we were treated to a beautiful sunset in our rearview. We stayed at Route 66 Casino and Hotel. A local Indian owned Casino. More re-hydrating and I believe we skipped supper due to the big lunch. We switched out driving duties multiple time as we progressed along the route. Fluid checks every day, no surprises. It was fun seeing some of the remnants of the historic Route 66. The wife took lots of pics of the scenery as we traveled. Our next stop was "the Blue Hole" in Santa Rosa NM followed by crossing over into Texas for a quick stop at the Cadillac Ranch. The heat was starting to set in once we hit Texas but a big meal and lots of tea at the Big Texan Steak Ranch helped. Continuing on to Dallas to pick up my wife's car at the airport and rest for the night. The car was still running great. Temp seemed to stay about 180 when cruising, gas gauge non functional so we stopped about every 200 miles for fuel. Heat and wind was starting to take its toll on us, not the car, lol. That night the Valet put the Dodge front and center at the Hotel, on display at the main entrance. Final five hour drive brought us home the next morning. Overall, we covered about 2200 miles over five days... has to be some kind of record right. Ha. It was a trip the two of us will never forget!!!

[Steve-Indy]

Great trip...congrats on getting this whole deal together !!

[Ross L]

Since getting home I had to replace thermostat/crossover gaskets... developed a nice leak, coolant on manifold, etc. I'm pretty scratched up from wrists to elbows but got it done, Lol. Also, added one can of r-134 to the AC system about two weeks ago and its still holding a charge. I'm looking at a cd/radio out of a 1997 GTS on ebay to replace the Sony xplod that doesn't work and to look more factory. Plan on cat delete for a little more sound and less heat. That's it! Enjoying this car more than I would have imagined. Thanks again for all the input!

[BrianACR]

Sounds like a great trip! Got pics of the journey to share?

[99RT10]

Since getting home I had to replace thermostat/crossover gaskets... developed a nice leak, coolant on manifold, etc. I'm pretty scratched up from wrists to elbows but got it done, Lol. Also, added one can of r-134 to the AC system about two weeks ago and its still holding a charge. I'm looking at a cd/radio out of a 1997 GTS on ebay to replace the Sony xplod that doesn't work and to look more factory. Plan on cat delete for a little more sound and less heat. That's it! Enjoying this car more than I would have imagined. Thanks again for all the input!

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