New 1998 RT/10 Owner in Naples, FL — Need a Good Mechanic

[DeadpoolViper]

Hey everyone,

Just picked up my first Viper — a ’98 RT/10 with 50k miles — and I’m still grinning like a kid.
I’m looking for a solid, Viper-experienced mechanic around Naples, FL, someone who actually knows these cars inside and out. Also wouldn’t mind finding a local Viper club or meetup crew in SWFL to connect with.

Since the car’s pushing 27 years old, I’d love some input on what seals, hoses, or other common items should be replaced before I learn the hard way. I’m totally new to the Viper world, so any advice or “wish I knew this sooner” tips are more than welcome.

Appreciate the help!

– Fred B
1998 Dodge Viper RT/10

 

[Dan Cragin]

I think Doug Levin is still in Florida

 

[DickDavis]

You will find Viper mechanics but you will not find any full car mechanics. You'll find guys trying to sell ECMs, guys who can do great motor wirk, and some that will do general maintenance, but there are none who do full car maintenance well. Mostly, Viper mechanics deal with the drive train and treat the rest like unnecessary attachments. Good luck. The Viper community doesn't have any passionate bumper to bumper shops. Good luck.

Gen 1, Fort Myers.

 

[Viper Specialty]

You will find Viper mechanics but you will not find any full car mechanics. You'll find guys trying to sell ECMs, guys who can do great motor wirk, and some that will do general maintenance, but there are none who do full car maintenance well. Mostly, Viper mechanics deal with the drive train and treat the rest like unnecessary attachments. Good luck. The Viper community doesn't have any passionate bumper to bumper shops. Good luck.

Gen 1, Fort Myers.

I debated about whether to post or not. Because the fact is, you are both right... and wrong, for multiple reasons.

What you describe is just reality. Do you really want the same guy who is painting your car and sanding bondo all day, building your engine? Do you really want the guy who is swapping shocks and brakes doing SMD electronics work in your control modules? For that matter... do you want the guy who bills out at hundreds of dollars an hour doing minimum wage work too...? Does not compute. If someone is doing that, he is either working way above his pay-grade on one side, or waaay under on the other for some reason, and both are equally as troubling.

For example, short of paint and body work, there isnt a damn thing I *cannot* do on any of these cars... and I am sure I could learn even that end if I had any desire. However, its more a matter of what I *prefer* to deal with these days, what equipment I have room for and/or what the ROI on that equipment would actually be... and I would imagine the same applies to literally every shop, builder, or tech out there.

I would certainly prefer to deal with people who are really, really good at certain things, than people who are "fair" at a laundry list of things... but thats just me. At the end of the day, having a few specialists is better than having a single shade-tree.

I dont think you will find any different of a situation in any other market, with the rare exception of some very large shops that have under-one-roof divisions to handle different fields.

 

[Dan Cragin]

I agree with Dan, I sent out my transmission and differential rebuilds as I had two shops that specialized in that, did them everyday, had the parts,
turned them around, had a warranty and allowed me a decent profit and fair price the client.

As far as there are no "bumper to bumper" Viper shops out there. I disagree. I ran two of them for 30 years and still help out. We have Dan Lesser, Eddie Martin,
Doug Levin, Bobby Archer, Todd Gomez, Todd Abrams, Havik, Calvo and few more that offer that service. There may not be one in you state, but many of these
shops will help out for free or for a small fee to work with your local shop, providing a checkout sheet, advice and parts. Things to consider.

 

[DickDavis]

I have yet to see a full car Viper service shop. And yes, other makes of cars have shops that know the whole car. These are people who love the cars, not just the motors or beating up on the cars. If anything, the best shops for valued cars service the entire car and often have a shop they send the motor to. But, shops that really know or care about the whole car? Nada. They will do one thing or another and those are always engines, trans, and sometimes suspensions, with anything else treated as an afterthought.

 

[Dan Cragin]

Dick, it really depends on where you live. Yes bumper to bumper Viper shops are far and few, but what I am saying there is a network out here that is willing to
help you and work with you remotely. Gosh, I cant tell you how many times I have been able to be put things in perspective for a good service shop to get a Viper right.
Heck, they know how to do good work, but just don't have any background with Viper's. Its funny, I've had cars sit at the dealer for months, get transported to me and they
where corrected in a few days.

Tap in and support those who work on this stuff. Its a legacy thing and money well spent once you find "the guy". Support those vendors on this forum. You might just get
at best friend.

Hope this helps.

 

[Viper Specialty]

I have yet to see a full car Viper service shop. And yes, other makes of cars have shops that know the whole car. These are people who love the cars, not just the motors or beating up on the cars. If anything, the best shops for valued cars service the entire car and often have a shop they send the motor to. But, shops that really know or care about the whole car? Nada. They will do one thing or another and those are always engines, trans, and sometimes suspensions, with anything else treated as an afterthought.

You have to appreciate the irony of your post... and yet you haven't responded to my comments, nor noticed where I was located. I could probably hit you in the head with a rock from here!

If you have an actual problem you need solved, post it up! Just because I may choose to not do certain types of work anymore does not mean that I don't know how, or can't point you in the right direction. I *used* to deal with the whole damn car... from engines, to transmissions, to differentials, suspension, electronics, brakes, interior... even collision repair, and not just as a "mechanic"... as an engineer, calibrator, and manufacturer, and always in the Viper market.

As I said, the only thing I never did is paint work.

 

[Dan Cragin]

You can’t go wrong with Dan. Forgot he was there.

 

[viperkim]

Hey everyone,

Just picked up my first Viper — a ’98 RT/10 with 50k miles — and I’m still grinning like a kid.
I’m looking for a solid, Viper-experienced mechanic around Naples, FL, someone who actually knows these cars inside and out. Also wouldn’t mind finding a local Viper club or meetup crew in SWFL to connect with.

Since the car’s pushing 27 years old, I’d love some input on what seals, hoses, or other common items should be replaced before I learn the hard way. I’m totally new to the Viper world, so any advice or “wish I knew this sooner” tips are more than welcome.

Appreciate the help!

– Fred B
1998 Dodge Viper RT/10

Ck w P1 in Sanford fl

 

[DickDavis]

I agree with Dan, I sent out my transmission and differential rebuilds as I had two shops that specialized in that, did them everyday, had the parts,
turned them around, had a warranty and allowed me a decent profit and fair price the client.

As far as there are no "bumper to bumper" Viper shops out there. I disagree. I ran two of them for 30 years and still help out. We have Dan Lesser, Eddie Martin,
Doug Levin, Bobby Archer, Todd Gomez, Todd Abrams, Havik, Calvo and few more that offer that service. There may not be one in you state, but many of these
shops will help out for free or for a small fee to work with your local shop, providing a checkout sheet, advice and parts. Things to consider.

Yeah, no. Despite what you may have done. All product shops are, bu nature, entire product shops. Thsoe shops, in the process of doing your (insert, car, plane, motorcycle, boat, RV, whatever, send your components too shops they determine with or without your input. That is a shop.
You are an enthusiast who self- contracted your car work the way a person self-contracts a house. When you do that, you are not a "shop."

This guy seemed to be looking for a shop. So, I tried helping him.

 

[DickDavis]

You have to appreciate the irony of your post... and yet you haven't responded to my comments, nor noticed where I was located. I could probably hit you in the head with a rock from here!

If you have an actual problem you need solved, post it up! Just because I may choose to not do certain types of work anymore does not mean that I don't know how, or can't point you in the right direction. I *used* to deal with the whole damn car... from engines, to transmissions, to differentials, suspension, electronics, brakes, interior... even collision repair, and not just as a "mechanic"... as an engineer, calibrator, and manufacturer, and always in the Viper market.

As I said, the only thing I never did is paint work.

 

[DickDavis]

I have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe I asked something ages ago that you are referring to.

I am curious about the immediate attitude. What's that? Is that New Jersey?

 

[Viper Specialty]

Attitude? Where did you come up with that?

Start by reading your own posts, and the comments directed at you. You started off by claiming something doesnt exist, which clearly does in some form and/or for particular reasons, all of which were articulated on this post... by some of the most knowledgeable and oldest Viper related shop owners in the country.

The irony was that I *literally* have the ability to do exactly what you are talking about, and less than 10 miles from you. THAT was my point. You are arguing with two guys who actually know the entire car front to back, inside and out... while claiming guys like us dont exist.

The *market* dictated that it makes no sense to operate that way any longer, but that doesnt mean we cannot, and did not.

And you calling Dan Cragin an "enthusiast". LOLOLOLOLOL

You are the one who is all over the place, not us.

 

[Goggles Pizano]

@Viper Specialty look at the first 4 letters of his username. Your crown has been passed to him