New member, first time viper owner Aurora, IL

[QuikHD]

Hey Guys/Gals,

My name is Chad, I just officially joined VOA. I've had my car about 2 months now, its my first viper.

I have to admit, when I sold my 03 Cobra and bought the viper I was very excited. Then I got my viper home and I drove it for the first time......I was disappointed. It was misfiring bad, the exhaust had a few leaks, and I didn't feel very comfortable in it.

I didn't give up on the car, I've dreamed of owning one since 1997. The headers had melted the wires pretty bad, I replaced those. The exhaust was put together pretty bad, I installed a new Corsa cat back and replaced the piping up to the headers. I sold the mesh wheels and threw away the 14 year old tires that came on the car. I got new CCW SP600 wheels and new Nitto Invo's. I also bleed the brakes, the clutch, changed the oil, changed the trans and rear end fluid, and flushed the coolant and had an alignment done. I installed a SCT tuner with a tune from AC Performance (Still need to do a remote dyno session with them)

After all that was done, the car now runs and drives like new! I have put about 1k miles on it and I must say, I love it more than I did the first time I ever saw one!! Nothing I have ever driven has made me this excited. IMO its perfect!

Here are some specs on it.

1997 GTS with 23k miles

Gen 3 brembo calipers front and rear with proportioning valves and 2pc drilled rotors

SVS headers

Corsa cat back

1.7 roller rockers

SCT tuner from AC performance

Power steering cooler

Aftermarket Aluminum radiator with fan relay mod

Cold air with smooth tubes

3.45 rear end (has a calibration box that says 3.45)

Pretty sure this car has seen track time, it has cut outs behind the seat and anchors for harnesses on the drivers side.


Here are some pictures of it just before I got the new wheels.











Last weekend my wife and I went out for lunch and as we were walking out if the restaurant we saw a 14 drive by. We thought it was cool to see a new B/W. A few min later he drove by again, looking for my dinosaur. We couldn't help but park them next to each other for a quick photo.

[Jack's GTS]

Welcome Chad, from another 97 B&W GTS owner.

[The_Greg]

Nice car, looks beautiful. Welcome to the IL VOA!

[gerch85]

Great looking car, welcome!

[Loud]

Beautiful. Congrats and enjoy!

[MI Viper]

Congrats, beautiful car! and welcome

[viperr]

Beautiful Viper! It sounds like it has some nice mods and should be a strong runner.

[Boba Fett]

welcome

[Leslie]

OMG what a great story! I love how dedicated you were to getting that Viper to where it should be.

Great pic of the 2 b/w's together.

[Mopar Boy]

Great photo shoot with the gen 5!! That's awesome!!

Welcome to the Viper Nation btw!