What should I expect with my Viper?

[got one]

Okay, for us higher mileage guys. When did you start having problems and what kind. I am at 40k and curious to know what to watch out for, what to prevent and anything else anyone wants to throw in about what to expect.
Thanks in advance all!

 

[Casey]

Keep up the maint. and you should be good to go?

Are you having problems? If not, I would only expect to have a great time when you take her out for a drive!

 

[RT66_Viper]

Okay, for us higher mileage guys. When did you start having problems and what kind. I am at 40k and curious to know what to watch out for, what to prevent and anything else anyone wants to throw in about what to expect.
Thanks in advance all!

I have the same year, color, model and mileage as you. I have had the car
for 4 years now. The only problems that I mitigated before they became problems was putting in a new thermostat from Roe Racing and silicone hoses for all water lines. Car runs a few degrees cooler, but I'm going to update to a fluidyne radiator next month with better sucker fans.

I also went with silcone hoses for the intake with K&N's to help out with the breathing a little. Keeps the low end stumble out. Currently running Borlas.

When I bought the car it had T&D rockers 1.7 versus the stock 1.6 ratio.
I popped a valve cover to see if the rockers were shaft mounted or stud mounted. When I saw that they were stud mounted I got concerned! I pulled all the pushrods (rolled em on a sheet of glass) and every one of them were bent.

I [******] canned the T&D's, bought the stock rockers and new set of pushrods and
life is wonderful agian.

The only problem I have now is "I hate the Alarm" shutdown the injection fuel pump feature. I'm going to disconnect it altogether.

Other than that - I love it.

I'm currently restoring a 71' Pantera #1597.
I know it will start! They Just ****, pop blow and go.

Good Luck - It's just fun to cruise ******* in 6Th at 100 and still get
over 20 mpg

I was cruising to Lake Havasu a couple of weeks ago and caught a Z06 "Plastic Fantastic" we rolled the last 40 mile in together. (I won't state the speed).

Life is GOOD!

 

[Supercharged Vipermad]

RT66....did someone change the rockers but NOT the pushrods, possibly?

 

[RT66_Viper]

RT66....did someone change the rockers but NOT the pushrods, possibly?

Vipermad.

No, the pushrods were changed when the previous owner put in the T&D's he claims.

In my opinion (For whats it's worth)

Without the Rocker Shaft to hold the alignment the rockers from floating
during the cam ramp up and through the duration. It causes extreme stress
on the pushrods. The pushrods were at the point of total failure when i pulled them.

I was lucky to catch it in time. I'm sure in another 1000 miles or so, I would have had a mess.

 

[IEATVETS]

40,000 is high mileage?? Why would a Viper motor be any different than any other motor out there? As long as you maintain it, as in change the fluids on a regular basis, you should have no problems for years to come.

 

[HOdbleFman]

T&D's are shaft mounted. Unless they are different for GEN I, they must have been another brand.

 

[got one]

okay...so no one has had problems due to older age and things slipping past them? The thermastat will be my next upgrade along with the new hoses I suppose.

 

[RT66_Viper]

I believe

Late model T&D's are shaft mounted - but the early model T&D's were not.

That was the problem.

 

[Randy]

Hmmm... According to my detailed records on my old '95:

Multiple problems with coolant leaks around thermostat housing-to-block joints (29k, 30k, 31k, 59k)
Spark plug wires failed (caused misfiring, etc) at 31k
Battery died 33k
Clutch pedal linkage failed 38k
Thermostat failed 42k
Headlight switch failed 42k
Spark plug wires failed again 53k
Power steering pump failed 54k
Power steering hoses failed 55k
Replaced half-shafts (clunking) 56k
Replaced rear transmission seal 56k
Replaced dipstick 56k
Replaced clutch 58k
Replaced thermostat housing gasket (again) 59k
Shifter failed (separated at isolation bushing) 60k
Replaced spark plug wires 67k

Had until 70k miles - most work done under 70k/7year warranty.

 

[rcdice]

40,000 is high mileage?? Why would a Viper motor be any different than any other motor out there? As long as you maintain it, as in change the fluids on a regular basis, you should have no problems for years to come.

Because most cars are driven more than just a 1/4 mile at a time.

 

[Anaconda]

40,000 is high mileage?? Why would a Viper motor be any different than any other motor out there? As long as you maintain it, as in change the fluids on a regular basis, you should have no problems for years to come.

Yeah, really. He has a 1994 and a 1997. He didn't say which one has 40,000, but that less than 4,000 miles per year for the 94, and 5,000 miles per year for the 1997.

Not exactly my idea of "high mileage"

 

[99 R/T 10]

Hmmm... According to my detailed records on my old '95:

Multiple problems with coolant leaks around thermostat housing-to-block joints (29k, 30k, 31k, 59k)
Spark plug wires failed (caused misfiring, etc) at 31k
Battery died 33k
Clutch pedal linkage failed 38k
Thermostat failed 42k
Headlight switch failed 42k
Spark plug wires failed again 53k
Power steering pump failed 54k
Power steering hoses failed 55k
Replaced half-shafts (clunking) 56k
Replaced rear transmission seal 56k
Replaced dipstick 56k
Replaced clutch 58k
Replaced thermostat housing gasket (again) 59k
Shifter failed (separated at isolation bushing) 60k
Replaced spark plug wires 67k

Had until 70k miles - most work done under 70k/7year warranty.

Man Randy, great list! I highlighted in bold of the things that went wrong with my 96 RT. Although I do think the spark plug wires are a consumable, they need to be replace every 12-24K miles I bought my car as it turned 37K.

Multiple problems with coolant leaks around thermostat housing-to-block,37K
Spark plug wires failed (caused misfiring, etc) at 38k
Headlight switch failed 42k Replaced clutch 44k
Shifter failed (separated at isolation bushing) 50k

 

[got one]

great list...keep them coming. I want to put together a list of things, just so I can plan ahead, just in case.

 

[AG98RT10]

Bought my 98 in Jan 04 with 16K miles on it. It now has 21K and only failures were AC seals at compressor (replaced) and the clutch slave cylinder - replaced clutch while at it and a new lightweight flywheel (the one in there was aftermarket and warped). I've done a lot of other performance/reliability mods, but that's the only thing that's failed outright. I did notice engine was stronger after replacing plug wires at 20K, so they were probably ready.

 

[Steve Miehe]

Change your fluids on a routine basis; even ahead of the DC schedule. Brake and clutch fluid (don't want your slave cylinder to go out), coolant, transmission and differential fluid, not to mention engine oil and filter. Cheap maintenance that will go a long way toward trouble free driving.

 

[RCKTMN]

Well,

I have a 1994 RT/10 with 59K miles. I bought it 7 years ago with 30K on the odometer. I had the thermostat housing gasket let go on me at between 35-40K miles. Also, the switch on the clutch pedal that allows you to start the car (forgot the name) went bad. Otherwise, I upgraded my brakes when they needed replacement; and, got a set of new tires about two years ago. I added A.C. to the car and replaced the belt, plugs, and wires. And, of course, I've had to replace the battery twice. Unfortunately, New England off-season kills batteries.
I think, considering the type of car this is, that they are very reliable. I've had 'regular' cars with more headaches, and often larger repair bills. Just keep up the regular maintenance; never let a problem go too long without taking care of it; and, ENJOY IT!!!

Paul

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

40,000 is high mileage?? Why would a Viper motor be any different than any other motor out there? As long as you maintain it

I agree. I'll have almost 48,000 miles at the end of next week's trip to Gingerman. I must be lucky(knock on wood). We bought the car new and have had only 2 mechanical problem in a little over 5 years.

Throttle cable grommet pulled through the firewall at 34,000--new cable/under warranty--could have the heat from my unshielded headers.
Oil cooler line failed last year at 37,000--had both replaced under warranty--still a mystery.

Our car sees a track 1-2 times per year, an occassional dragstrip, 3-4 autocrosses a year, and several long trips of at least 1000 miles every season. I also set a goal every year to burn up a set of rear tires. I would say we run the car as intended.

I don't change lubrication fluids as often as most here due to the products I use. I use oil and lube analysis every time. I change the brake fluid twice a year(Motul 600). Coolant,PS, and clutch fluids every 2 years. I did put a new clutch in at 32,000 when I installed the Fidanza flywheel--didn't have to. I didn't change the plug wires till this past winter at 43,600. To be honest, I can't tell the difference in performance, but there must be. These original plug wires were next to the unshielded headers since May of 2001 (7,000 miles) .

2 other non-mechanical problems:
CHMSL failed the second year--covered under warranty
Passenger door panel had to be replaced--covered under warranty.


That's it. I'm shooting for many more years and many more miles. This has been as trouble free a car as I've ever owned.

Steve