GTS Finally Finished

[w8liftn]

My '02 Bumblebee GTS is finally finished. I did a full, panel-off repaint (white basecoat, five coats of yellow, two coats of clear), side exhaust conversion, and rim upgrade. I think it turned out great.

I bought the car in early '04 with 6,900 miles on it and drive it enough to call it a DD. I did the repaint because the aftermarket exhaust had bubbled the paint on the rear bumper cover and I had several rock chips on the front bumper cover. While it was getting the oil changed a mechanic walked by and the loop on his carpenter jeans caught the point on the hood over the headlight and cracked it also, so I had to get that fixed also. I figured that I might as well do the entire car and make it 'better than new.' I intend to keep the car forever so resale isn't a concern.

Gen I side sills were used for the side exhaust conversion. Not everyone will like it but my first memory of the Viper as a kid was a very specific one that included the side exhaust and I've always felt that the car just didn't look right without it.

Five-spoke SRT rims have been my favorite so I went with those also. I am getting the logos for the side of the hood and rear bumper painted black and will be adding them soon. Window tint is next and then UGR (hopefully) in the future.

Hope everyone likes it, I do! The first two pics are of the finished car, the rest of the pictures have some from both before and after I had the paint work done. They were taken at Viper Club events, some by me and some by other members.

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[bmw2nv2000]

Looks nice I love yellow

 

[-FROG-]

Looks good!

 

[sniper1]

Panel off ? Which panels ? Approximately how long did it take and about how much was the cost ? Looks awesome by the way

 

[vipzilla]

verry nice looks awsome thats what i did too mine used to be red

 

[w8liftn]

Panel off ? Which panels ? Approximately how long did it take and about how much was the cost ? Looks awesome by the way

Everything came off but the roof section. I'm kicking myself for not taking pics during the process. It took three months (supposed to be five weeks) and $8,000. The guy REALLY took his time and did a phenomenal job. He just got into more work than what he anticipated. He went $1K over what he quoted me but I figured he lost money on the deal because it took so long. I actually pulled the car before he was through with it to be able to attend a rally. He totally sanded all old paint off so even though it was originally the same paint color, it didn't make a difference because of the sanding and the white basecoat that he put on. I'm VERY pleased with it though. The only negative was that he wasn't able to close the exhaust opening on the rear like I wanted it.

 

[plumcrazy]

dang, i like the side sills like that. i agree, my first and best memory of the gen1 was them too. i always love the side exhausts on a gen2 but this looks the best. dang i wish i didnt see that now...lol

 

[sniper1]

Everything came off but the roof section. I'm kicking myself for not taking pics during the process. It took three months (supposed to be five weeks) and $8,000. The guy REALLY took his time and did a phenomenal job. He just got into more work than what he anticipated. He went $1K over what he quoted me but I figured he lost money on the deal because it took so long. I actually pulled the car before he was through with it to be able to attend a rally. He totally sanded all old paint off so even though it was originally the same paint color, it didn't make a difference because of the sanding and the white basecoat that he put on. I'm VERY pleased with it though. The only negative was that he wasn't able to close the exhaust opening on the rear like I wanted it.

Hey thats not bad cept for the 3 months part May I suggest just having a fiberglass/carbon fiber piece made to fit that rear exhaust exit in color with color match zues fasteners? great looking car bud

 

[texas_venom]

You need to get a clear bra on there before that vinyl one starts scuffing the paint. Car looks beautiful... love the 5 spokes on it.

 

[musicncars]

time to black out the taillights. But that looks great.

 

[dave6666]

I know of a rear diffuser that covers that rear exhaust hole...



Sharp looking hot rod BTW.

 

[kcobean]

Looks great, and the price seems about right based on what I've been quoted. I really like the 5 spokes. I'm a fan of rear-exhaust on the GTS, but the side-exhaust looks nice.

 

[OKViper]

Black wheels would look good with that side exhaust...

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[carguy07]

Looks awesome, love the sidepipes!

 

[w8liftn]

Black wheels would look good with that side exhaust...

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That's the best looking Bee that I've ever seen in that picture, if it's yours you definately have something to be proud of. I definately like the black rims and had seriously contemplated doing black but I got a really good deal on the SRT rims so I went that way.

I spent just under $15K on the car and had no real performance added. I'd like to do a rear diffuser and some other 'cosmetic' stuff but I think the next money that I spend will be going for some UGR goodies under the hood.

 

[TAXIMAN1]

OkViper, you are a showoff

Agreed, that is the best looking Viper I've ever seen. Along with Matt from Speedwerks, Graphite GTS..

 

[Stretch]

That is one gorgeous car! I love the look of the side exhaust and the 5 spokes.

 

[Sellshomesdrivesviper]

Awesome job, your yellow rocks.

 

[97GTS]

Hard to beat a Bee. I'm converting my 97 GTS to side exhaust with an Autoform cover. Mine will be black and I am doing a total breakdown to paint it. To get a really nice paintjob on these cars you HAVE to do a panel off.
Looks great,
Ron

 

[JeffTheViperMan]

I have no complaints on the side exhaust. I think it looks fantastic. Watchin' you guys modify Vipers so drastically from stock gives me a lot of ambition. I had always thought my first Viper should stay original, but watching the things people have accomplished here give me the ambition to make my Viper the way I want it to be.

Congrats - looks fantastic. I'm not a big bee fan, to be honest, but I respect it. Nice job.

Jeff

 

[Mopar Boy]

Yellow!

Likin the wheels!

Robert

 

[w8liftn]

I have no complaints on the side exhaust. I think it looks fantastic. Watchin' you guys modify Vipers so drastically from stock gives me a lot of ambition. I had always thought my first Viper should stay original, but watching the things people have accomplished here give me the ambition to make my Viper the way I want it to be.

Congrats - looks fantastic. I'm not a big bee fan, to be honest, but I respect it. Nice job.

Jeff

I know what you mean, I've had MANY other performance cars and have never felt like I was completely finished modifying them. I bought a Viper in the color that I wanted thinking that I would not have to spend another penny on it because it was already so cool. To date I've spent far more on it than any other car that I've owned and after hanging out here and on the 'other' site I've not even scratched the surface of the things that I want to do to my car! Thanks for the compliments, I know that there is always someone that won't like the mods but I also know that I'm not the only one that thinks that this was a good idea.

 

[PowerKraus]

Cheers !

Looks great. The Gen I sidepipes look fine, and match your black stripes. More than likely, the 'local' car guys will think it is OEM.

I like what you said too. You're gonna keep it forever, and you built it to your standards and taste ! I still have my circa 1987 Grand National, which I will keep forever, with the same plans for my GTS. Funny how some cars you own end up being keepers, while others only stay on site for 2 or 3 years before you sell it and move on.

I bet your panel paint job was intense, but came out perfect.

So keep having fun and drive it every chance you get!

Neal - 2002 GTS
Vec II, Nitrox, and Bullets

 

[Dom426h]

The sidepipes look amazing matching the black stripes. Thats the first time ive seen a GTSbumblebeesidepipes i Love it.

You definitely have one to keep forever, enjoy it!!

 

[ShadowLight]

I love the side pipes! That's a great looking car. Enjoy it. Don't kill anything/one when you get your first chip though.

 

[Indiana]

Looks nice