How much to fix these problems

[vucker]

93' w/24,500 miles...The repair prices given in the add below seem to be a little on the low side...I need some help from you experts. What causes these conditions that need attention?? Valve seals from sitting too long between drives?? Do the heads have to come off to replace them? Bent shift fork from being jammed/forced into gear or what? Does the tranny have to be rebuilt?

Love it or hate it silver vinyl stripes and dash painted red. I could love it. How hard to remove stripes?


"I am asking $28,500 or the highest offer. Car comes with hard & soft top, custom car cover, windows, original 3 spoke OEM wheels, 97 GTS wheels, Custom painted red dash, smooth tubes, CD palyer, custom car cover and 90% tires. Vinyl removeable strips. Car needs a valve seals replaced. To do all ten cyl's, cost for parts: $90, cost for labor: three hours around $300. Bent shift forks or bad synchronizers. The trans can be re-built $800-$1000. The car won't go into 4th or 5th very easy. Runs great and is drveable now. 24,*** highway driven miles 2nd owner. Best Offer"

 

[costanZo]

Call up Chuck Tator, he is the Viper Wizard...

914-763-3136

 

[kcobean]

Based on the information given, I wouldn't touch it. You'll find similar cars in much better condition for around the same price. Why buy a headache for almost $30K and have to put money into it, when for low 30's, you can buy a pristine car that's ready to go wit a less questionable history.

 

[plumcrazy]

vinyl stripes come off easily. need a heatgun or wifes blow dryer. id like to see a pic of the dash but cant be too hard to paint it black.

and maybe you can get it for less, then it'd be worth it to me...

 

[MTGTS]

Spend a little extra on a good car.

 

[dave6666]

Have the head gaskets been replaced yet?

 

[vucker]

The smart thing to do is p/u a car w/o issues for the same price. If I can find one. I thought that I might be able to offer less and have it fixed for the orig. asking price. I've seen cars with a red dash and kinda like the look and I also like silver stripes on a red car. I know stripes belong on gts cars but....I'm worried that the vinyl will have peeling issues on down the road. The car has a lot of non power accessories like 2 tops, wheels, windows etc and is a very nice looking car but i'm worried that the repairs will cost more than the seller says.....Also worried about the tranny isuue, has it been abused...24,500 is kinda low to have tranny issues right? It doesn't mention head gasket replacement but that would be a good quest. to ask...thx

 

[plumcrazy]

a new set of vinyl stripes dont cost much anyways if ya wanan replace them. you can do it yourself even. but vinyl DOES peel at some point usually.

an abused trans can go with a lot less miles than that. but they're pretty tough.

 

[ViperTony]

Find a better one out there. Given the number of Vipers for sale and low prices you should be able to find a better Viper without the issues and headaches that follow. Do you want to spend your time and hard earned money fixing/driving to/from repair shops OR simply driving and enjoying your Viper. You can also jot down the VIN and Chuck Tator at Tator's Dodge. He can look up the vehicle history for you.

 

[RTTTTed]

The valve seals shouldn't need replacing. I'd suspect a lot more miles than reported and woner if the valve guides were worn out. Bent shift fork? I'd think the car was abused.

If you like the red dash - why fix it?

If the stripes are fine and you like them - again, why fix it?

Ted

 

[Asp Man]

There seems to be plenty of reasons not to buy this particular car.
Save some more $$$ and find a nice one.

 

[treed]

I agree. Spend a little more money and get a better car. There are plenty out there.

 

[vucker]

The reason I asked the questions about the silver vinyl stripes and red dash is because I wanted feedback from this forum on whether or not altering a viper with the above mentioned mods is accepted in the viper world. Do these changes make it less desirable therefore affecting resale value? So I should offer less because of them? Will I be shunned by other owners? The car looks nice w/the mods. I just don't want to make a big mistake with my 1st viper purchase. Like everyone else I want the car to retain as much of its value of purchase price as possible.

I've read threads where someone has found/indentified an altered car and after the flames died down there was nothing left but smoke and ashes. I don't want to be the subject of ridecule. I hope to be a long time member of this community. I have learned a lot from you people and really enjoy reading what is discussed here. Some people just don't care what they do to their cars and don't care what others think...Good for them.

I will take the advice of the majority here and let this car go. I've waited this long. What's a few more months/years??? Good things come to those who wait.....thanks all

 

[plumcrazy]

vinyl stripes are temporary and so is a painted dash. but either way, if YOU like it, YOU buy it and enjoy it.

dont worry about resale.

 

[kcobean]

The reason I asked the questions about the silver vinyl stripes and red dash is because I wanted feedback from this forum on whether or not altering a viper with the above mentioned mods is accepted in the viper world. Do these changes make it less desirable therefore affecting resale value? So I should offer less because of them? Will I be shunned by other owners? The car looks nice w/the mods. I just don't want to make a big mistake with my 1st viper purchase. Like everyone else I want the car to retain as much of its value of purchase price as possible.

I've read threads where someone has found/indentified an altered car and after the flames died down there was nothing left but smoke and ashes. I don't want to be the subject of ridecule. I hope to be a long time member of this community. I have learned a lot from you people and really enjoy reading what is discussed here. Some people just don't care what they do to their cars and don't care what others think...Good for them.

I will take the advice of the majority here and let this car go. I've waited this long. What's a few more months/years??? Good things come to those who wait.....thanks all

Vinyl = easy to remove, but you *should* think of it as "temporary paint"...i.e. it won't last forever. If you're ok with having it replaced every year or two, that's certainly an option and won't affect resale value one bit. As told recently by a body shop that does LOTS of paintwork on Vipers...fading is not so much of an issue with todays paints, so you probably don't need to worry about pulling the vinyl off and having a multi-colored car.

As for the dash...painting it red will affect resale value if the buyer doesn't like it, it's that simple. If they like it just like you do, it won't.

For what it's worth, my car is an 'altered' car...my stripes are aftermarket paint. Personally, I don't care what it does to resale value, and I'll be upfront with the seller if I ever do sell it. Being caught not being honest about the car is far more damaging to resale value than being honest about your mods.

My $0.02.