To ABS, or to not ABS.... That is the Question.

[Goggles Pizano]

2000 known as the bastard year.

 

[PhoenixGTS]

Given that he is not going to mess with power adders, he should get the ABS for sure. On my 1997 GTS I had pretty new tires on and when I went out to test the brake bias after yanking the seal in the brake bias block to get more rear braking and with pretty light pedal pressure locked the front and flat spotted those new tires in literally one second. Lesson learned.

 

[Hyder124]

I went through this same thought process. Was thinking about an 01 but then I thought about the car I fell in love with as a kid and i knew i wouldnt be happy in any other year.

 

[StreetGrime]

I went through this same thought process. Was thinking about an 01 but then I thought about the car I fell in love with as a kid and i knew i wouldnt be happy in any other year.

Yeah, I am sorta married to the idea of Blue with white stripes.... or Black with white or silver stripes. I think whats going to happen is just whichever car shows up first I get. ALTHOUGH... the final edition Red with White stripes would be hard to pass up also. I am a sucker for stripes, and the added history of it being the final edition is pretty cool. Same with the ACR, just the fact that it has a little something extra gets me.

 

[BoondocSaint]

Yeah, I am sorta married to the idea of Blue with white stripes.... or Black with white or silver stripes. I think whats going to happen is just whichever car shows up first I get. ALTHOUGH... the final edition Red with White stripes would be hard to pass up also. I am a sucker for stripes, and the added history of it being the final edition is pretty cool. Same with the ACR, just the fact that it has a little something extra gets me.

If you stumble on a final addition car, know that the serial number doesn't correspond to the actual production number of the car. Of the many things dealerships get wrong with Vipers, final edition cars were slapped with "a badge", not the car number as it came off the production line. Final Edition are great cars, just not represented correct when sold more often than not.

 

[redtanrt10]

Good luck to you. A $90k budget will get you a great G2 coupe! Find one with good service records The newest G2’s are now 22 years old and rubber dries out and other items can wear out

ABS or not, G2 brakes are very mediocre compared to modern brakes. Viper braking became vastly improved with G3’s. Make sure the tires are 4-5 years old or newer, if not budget for them.

Drive a regular coupe then drive an ACR. ACR’s are stiff and the ride ***** on the roads here unless your on the 73 toll road

Lots of Viper support here in SoCal, good luck!!

 

[StreetGrime]

Good luck to you. A $90k budget will get you a great G2 coupe! Find one with good service records The newest G2’s are now 22 years old and rubber dries out and other items can wear out

ABS or not, G2 brakes are very mediocre compared to modern brakes. Viper braking became vastly improved with G3’s. Make sure the tires are 4-5 years old or newer, if not budget for them.

Drive a regular coupe then drive an ACR. ACR’s are stiff and the ride ***** on the roads here unless your on the 73 toll road

Lots of Viper support here in SoCal, good luck!!

Hey Thanks for the info! Yeah first order of business is to take it to A&C Performance over in Murietta and just change everything that isnt metal, Lol. Belts, hoses, fluids, whatever. I already have the costs for that and its fine. Tires I still have to research what to get.. but I am sure price is fine. Halfway through the process of getting a Gallardo I decided to go Viper... which means every cost I have heard so far with the Viper has been music to my ears.

THAT SAID, I have not driven a Viper at all yet... I am contemplating trying to find someone in my area (Orange County, Ca) to let me drive theirs... but.. that seems idiotic to even ask. I am afraid I might give someone a heart attack from uncontrollable laughter after asking this question.

 

[redtanrt10]

Todd will do a good job for you! Most of the guys I know have G3-5’s. I’d offer you a drive but have a G1 but not the same as a G2 coupe. I have a comp coupe too but the front splitter won’t last a 1/4 mile around here. Reach out to Todd. He might be able to get you a test ride, and/or know a nice one for sale

 

[luc]

Hey Thanks for the info! Yeah first order of business is to take it to A&C Performance over in Murietta and just change everything that isnt metal, Lol. Belts, hoses, fluids, whatever. I already have the costs for that and its fine. Tires I still have to research what to get.. but I am sure price is fine. Halfway through the process of getting a Gallardo I decided to go Viper... which means every cost I have heard so far with the Viper has been music to my ears.

THAT SAID, I have not driven a Viper at all yet... I am contemplating trying to find someone in my area (Orange County, Ca) to let me drive theirs... but.. that seems idiotic to even ask. I am afraid I might give someone a heart attack from uncontrollable laughter after asking this question.

Keep in mind that gen 2 parts, save for most drivetrain and brake/ suspension parts, are basically unavailable or crazy pricy
$5k for an used headlight for example
As for hoses, radiator rubber hoses have been nla for years. Only choice is aftermarket silicone hoses.
Doesn’t fit that well nor do it look original
Need a radiator? Tough luck
Find a Viper that doesn’t need anything. They exist
You should have no problem with your budget

 

[efnfast]

Keep in mind that gen 2 parts, save for most drivetrain and brake/ suspension parts, are basically unavailable or crazy pricy
$5k for an used headlight for example
As for hoses, radiator rubber hoses have been nla for years. Only choice is aftermarket silicone hoses.
Doesn’t fit that well nor do it look original
Need a radiator? Tough luck
Find a Viper that doesn’t need anything. They exist
You should have no problem with your budget

Didn't 2 or 3 people just recently make headlight molds and you can buy new headlights for a few hundred bucks now?

Radiator hoses can be replaced with stainless steel hard pipes - the ones RSI carries are direct fit.

Radiators are easy to source - Viper Store carries them, as does RSI. Can't speak for other brands, but the radiator I bought from RSI dropped right in.

 

[StreetGrime]

Didn't 2 or 3 people just recently make headlight molds and you can buy new headlights for a few hundred bucks now?

Radiator hoses can be replaced with stainless steel hard pipes - the ones RSI carries are direct fit.

Radiators are easy to source - Viper Store carries them, as does RSI. Can't speak for other brands, but the radiator I bought from RSI dropped right in.

Yeah I already talked to AC Performance and they told me everything thats going to be hard to get and not.... and honestly it doesnt seem like a big deal. And I can say this for any of my current cars.. they all have parts that if they break its a big friggin deal... in fact every car I have owned has had parts like that... but so far so good. Anyhow, I researched all that already, its fine. But thanks for the input.

 

[luc]

Didn't 2 or 3 people just recently make headlight molds and you can buy new headlights for a few hundred bucks now?

Radiator hoses can be replaced with stainless steel hard pipes - the ones RSI carries are direct fit.

Radiators are easy to source - Viper Store carries them, as does RSI. Can't speak for other brands, but the radiator I bought from RSI dropped right in.

Not really the headlights is just the lense/plastic cover. Need to separate the old one from your headlamp and glue the new one on. Not a simple affair
Hard pipe hoses connecting a moving part, the engine, to a stationary one, the radiator, is an interesting idea… in any case you’re saying goodbye to originality
Aftermarket radiators have a long history of being a nightmare developing cracks and leaks
Just do a search on the forums

 

[Goggles Pizano]

@efnfast just the lens. Mikey's buddy was looking at doing it many years ago. We talked about it over lunch

 

[PhoenixGTS]

THAT SAID, I have not driven a Viper at all yet... I am contemplating trying to find someone in my area (Orange County, Ca) to let me drive theirs... but.. that seems idiotic to even ask. I am afraid I might give someone a heart attack from uncontrollable laughter after asking this question.

Just follow the golden rule: "Though shalt not floor the throttle unless one is going in a straight line." Even then be careful.

 

[yzf1999]

The stripes on the gen 2 viper are vinyl from the factory….so adding them after the fact is no big deal IMO.

 

[GTS Dean]

That's so wrong. You should edit your post asap so you don't get tied to that foolishness forever.

 

[luc]

The stripes on the gen 2 viper are vinyl from the factory….so adding them after the fact is no big deal IMO.

???? No they are not
Btw, they were a $3k option

 

[99RT10GTS]

I have most of the ABS parts off a 2001 if you want to try.

 

[Matewoosh3d]

@efnfast just the lens. Mikey's buddy was looking at doing it many years ago. We talked about it over lunch

I’m trying to make interior lenses for my friend. But I have weak original parts to copy. It’s not great yet, but i’m still trying to improve it. You think it’s worth to make more of it? Original part is on the top of the photo.

 

[redtanrt10]

The stripes on the gen 2 viper are vinyl from the factory….so adding them after the fact is no big deal IMO.

Is that what you were told when you bought your Viper?

 

[Goggles Pizano]

I’m trying to make interior lenses for my friend. But I have weak original parts to copy. It’s not great yet, but i’m still trying to improve it. You think it’s worth to make more of it? Original part is on the top of the photo.

The problem was that with the Gen2 len (to copy it exactly) it has a lot of weird curves that required more work increasing the manufacturing cost making the sell cost too high. I never looked at it, but I would have adjusted the len just to fit and be fully functional without caring about exact copy as I would not be making 'restorations' 'concourse' parts. Then there is the cost to get them certified by the government.

You will have to do a cost analysis to see if it is worth it as a business.

Auto manufacturers are not thinking about nor are they in the business of restoration. Look at all the old Caddies, parts for them do not exist even in the aftermarket. Mercedes-Benz has the classics division where you can buy almost anything for any MB but you are paying 100x for it.

 

[GTS Dean]

All the panels were painted off-line. Panels for striping were set on fixtures and a set of laser beams were cast onto the compound curved bodywork parallel to the center line. Front/rear fascias, hood, roof and trunk panels. Workers carefully laid masking tapes along the laser lines so that everything was absolutely perfect and offset relative to the center line.

 

[yzf1999]

Is that what you were told when you bought your Viper?

No I knew the guy I bought it from added the stripes. In fact I almost had him remove them before I took delivery, but my wife talked me out of it and now I’m glad she did. Stripes are a must on this car.

 

[Siapattack]

StreetGrime, I'm in La Habra. I have the quintessential '96 blue/white. Nothing under the hood is normal tho. Currently going under a few upgrades, aiming for 900 hp. That being said, it was previously pushing 800hp. Ya it's wicked fast. BUT it's only dangerous if you drive like an idiot.

Message me if u wanna come for a drive....just need a little more time to finish my work first (smaller pulley on SC, new cam, bigger injectors, "more" ported heads).

 

[StreetGrime]

StreetGrime, I'm in La Habra. I have the quintessential '96 blue/white. Nothing under the hood is normal tho. Currently going under a few upgrades, aiming for 900 hp. That being said, it was previously pushing 800hp. Ya it's wicked fast. BUT it's only dangerous if you drive like an idiot.

Message me if u wanna come for a drive....just need a little more time to finish my work first (smaller pulley on SC, new cam, bigger injectors, "more" ported heads).

Thanks so much Siap!!

However, I don't think it would be a good representation of what I want to buy. Its like I want a pet lizard and you are friends with Godzilla, Lol!

But thats very cool of you! Thank you so much for the offer!

Cheers!

 

[BoondocSaint]

Thanks so much Siap!!

However, I don't think it would be a good representation of what I want to buy. Its like I want a pet lizard and you are friends with Godzilla, Lol!

But thats very cool of you! Thank you so much for the offer!

Cheers!

Don't be fooled, they are all Godzilla

 

[Matewoosh3d]

The problem was that with the Gen2 len (to copy it exactly) it has a lot of weird curves that required more work increasing the manufacturing cost making the sell cost too high. I never looked at it, but I would have adjusted the len just to fit and be fully functional without caring about exact copy as I would not be making 'restorations' 'concourse' parts. Then there is the cost to get them certified by the government.

You will have to do a cost analysis to see if it is worth it as a business.

Auto manufacturers are not thinking about nor are they in the business of restoration. Look at all the old Caddies, parts for them do not exist even in the aftermarket. Mercedes-Benz has the classics division where you can buy almost anything for any MB but you are paying 100x for it.

To clarify – I’m actually making these lenses just for a friend, using his original parts to reproduce a few copies. I’m not planning to sell these specific ones. But the whole process – from 3D scanning, 3D printing, mold making, and resin casting – really got me into it.





It started as a hobby, but I’m wondering if there’s actual interest in having similar parts reproduced for other cars – especially older or rare models where replacement parts simply don’t exist anymore.





Of course, I’m not talking about road-legal or certified components, but rather show car or restoration-grade parts that are functional and well-made – for enthusiasts who want their cars complete again.





So I’d love to know:


Do you (or others here) think there’s a demand for this kind of service in the Viper or classic car community?