0-60 starts vs. clutch wear?

[yellow02]

I recently had to have the clutch replaced on my viper, after only doing fifteen racing starts. I don't understand how so many people can afford to take their vipers to the drag strip, if the clutch becomes ruined so quickley. I would like to know if other viper owners have had the same experience with their clutches, and if so how long did it take you to wear yours out?

 

[Steve Miehe]

What year is your snake and how many miles are on it?

 

[SteveBCloud9]

I'm curious.... which clutch did you put in to replace it? How much did it cost? What it a high performance clutch? Thanks.
How many miles did your original last?

 

[yellow02]

I have a 1999 viper with 2800 miles on it, but the only aggressive starts that I did were the fifteen just prior to the clutch problem. I brought it to the dealership to get checked out because it took 3000 rpms before it would start moving and the rev-limiter changed from 6000 rpms to 5500. When I called to see what the problem was they said it needed a new clutch and that it was covered by the warranty. I asked if there were any better parts that I could put in but they they said that they wouldn't make that much of a difference. I have had the car back from the shop since thursday and it is much more responsive than I remember it previously being. Are there aftermarket clutches for the viper that would allow me to drag race it on a normal basis and not have to take it in to have a new clutch put in every week?

 

[SteveBCloud9]

2,800 miles! Yikes. The factory must have goofed when they put the clutch in. Did you notice a small buring smell when you got out of your snake? This sounds like an extreme case.

 

[yellow02]

When I got out fo the car I had noticed the burning smell, and my friend who had been driving behind me said that he could smell it while he was driving behind me. I had asked the service guy at the dealership if it was defective put he said it wasn't.