That's a good way to put it "stomping the gas and hoping for the best" ... that pretty much sounds like my drag racing experience.

The vipers do make a ton of power, but then again it's a 500+ ci motor so it damn well better LOL.

Thanks for the compliment, the car on the outside is totally stock aside from lowering kit and the 9th set of wheels. Only exterior stuff I might do is the SLP CME and valance but that's like 1000 bucks just for an exhaust tip, which is about the same amount as a fast 92/92 set up which will actually add power so I'm torn.

I won't give you too much shit about the 911, but the engine IS in the wrong place. . . just so you know LOL.

This is my third Camaro, 2nd SS. First one was an 01 Sunset Orange Metallic SS I got at 17 with 15k miles on it, did a little street racer suspension set up (removed sway bar, dumped the ass end and pulled the right rear strut so it would squat) sprayed a buck fifty on it and would drag peoples asses up and down the road. My first big race in that car was with a single turbo Supra (67mm I think) and I yanked him out of the hole and kept out a couple cars on him through the 1/4, all with a stock A4 SS with a little spray. Then I raced a 383 stroked older pontiac on bigs and littles and blew his doors off too, after that it was a little tricky getting a race because I couldn't just say "It was the other copper orange SS on chrome wheels running around west phoenix."

Then I sold that, went through a couple of Mustangs and ended up with some shit box SOM/Black two tone V6 Camaro that I ended up blowing up 2 motors with due to nitrous and ended up with this current car that had a stock LS1 + Spray until about 6k miles ago when it got the huge cammed LS2, built automatic and decent sized stall converter and a slightly different kit. You have to pay attention to it but it still drives docile when you don't have your foot in it. I absolutely love these cars and have been wanting to get something more practical as a driver but couldn't stand the thought of selling it. It's too much fucking fun :)

I get bored with these cars too, but I found that changing the wheels every 6 months helps a little bit.


Wouldn't mind having a Viper as a DD though.

I did the Mustang thing, too ... a GT (California Special, convertible) followed by a GT500. came running and screaming back from those mistakes, LOL. Talk about a car that can't take corners ... why have a sportscar without an independent rear suspension? It makes no sense.

I've always loved the F-Bodies, and oddly, I tend to take better care of them (having them detailed, waxed, etc) than I do of the "higher end" cars.

If you're ever out toward Raleigh or Richmond, I'll take you for a ride in the Viper and show you how it handles the corners, LOL.

Sure thing. E-mail sent.

LOL you don't know anything about non-handling piles of shit until you've driven the foxbody platform cars on bigs and littles. I daily drive an 89 LX on convo pros, doing 100+ on the freeway with that thing was a suicide mission. Stopping was even worse. I won't buy a car with drum brakes anymore.

I know why they didn't put the IRS in the GT500. It was SUPER expensive to make work and not blow up and most people have been putting the Mach 1 straight axle in the 03/04 Cobras anyway because the IRS sucks in those cars unless you leave it stock. Ford probably looked at the aftermarket community and said fuck it, save them some trouble.

I'll take you up on that, but I don't leave AZ much and if I do it's either LA or Hawaii. I'll make it out there eventually.

Makes sense, re: the IRS, but without it, the car performs like ass on the slalom, etc. Watch the videos .. it doesn't even COMPARE to cars like the Viper, Z06, etc.

I don't think there has ever been a Mustang produced by Ford themselves that actually handles well.

That's where companies like Roush and Saleen come into play. Shelby is a lot about power and handles better than stock, Roush is all about cornering and the cars don't make much more power over stock (minus the Roush 360R and 380Rs of days past) and the Saleens are kind of going in both directions but aren't really doing anything well.

BUT, companies like MMR, Steeda, and others are making a lot of bad ass suspension components that make those cars handle pretty well as long as you have the money for it. You'll end up spending more on the suspension than you paid for the car though.

Lucky f-body owners have Sam Strano who creates all of his own suspension components and doesn't sacrifice quality for mass production. He orders his springs in runs and you can only get them like once every three months.

That's the issue: I feel that by the time you make the Mustang into a real car, you could have just BOUGHT a real car. The Viper is on the "lower" end of "exotic," but it's fine for a daily driver. I find it comfortable for trips up to one or two hours .. which is all I really drive.

My SS's came with all of the SLP components already done, so I had to take some of those out before I started putting in "real" parts. However, the SLP loudmouth with appropriate up-front work sounds like a BEAST.

I'm looking EVERYWHERE for a great exhaust kit for the Viper. People who complain about the V10 haven't heard the 8.4L and are thinking of the 1990's Vipers most likely, but I'd love for it to be LOUDER at idle.

By the way, Jon, I did a video a while back (on a rainy day, d'oh) .. got any vids of the Camaro? Here's mine of the Viper .. I need to do a new one. This was right after I took the Paxton supercharger off and went back to naturally aspirated. Also was the 8.3L engine before the 8.4L swap.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=T1sEgdnVLQM

Bump for a Camaro vid from Jon .. car looks amazing.

I don't think I have any other videos. I can never find anyone who can hold a camera steady when I go out and I really don't hang out with car people anymore. Plus the track is like 40 miles away and at 8mpg that's not a trip I feel like taking.

I'll look around though. I have like 25 minutes of video from the tuning at the dyno, I could probably put together more video from that.

From experience, I could not agree with you more. They are a real POS especially the first gens :disgust

If you ever do get one, I'd love to see it ... or if the car ever happens to make a trip to NC. ;)


Yeah. I wouldn't touch a first or second gen Viper. Some people truly love the looks, but too many of the buyers are broke-ass idiots who think they "own a Viper" when they buy an older one. Then they bitch about the $80 wiper blades and realize they bit off more than they can chew.

At least the newer ones come with warranties, of which mine has been amazing.

... you know that I e-mailed you, right? A while ago ... no response. :winkwink:

Skidpad is a function of tire... Post some slalom numbers :)

gotta get one of em soon

without reading this thread, I bet we have at least 10 owners here on gfy lol

I think it was a '94 model I drove for a short while in 95, the back used to get out whenever it felt like it. Sideways was always just a little bit too close for comfort, used to be able to lock the back up a lot, or it felt like it on hard downchanges into corners as well. Nice and fun however, lots of power, but not the most inspiring thing to push hard with, but I guess a Viper is supposed to be able to bite you. I cant remember this part fully, but I think the GF used to burn/scald her ankle a lot on the exhaust pipe as well. In some ways it always felt you were like trying to drive a dart backwards, and the soft top was a pain.
Although like many viper owners there always seemed to be some excuse for parking up and opening up all the doors and the bonnet :)

looks like a fuckin mazda miata

.... I don't think the early ones had side exhaust, did they? Maybe that's why you can't quite remember it? LOL. Mine has side exhaust, and it gets VERY VERY hot when you get out.

Who cares how much horse power you make per litre? Seriously? Horsepower is always a function of fuel and air. That is to say, to make X power you need Y amount of fuel and Z amount of air. Who cares if you do it at atmospheric pressure in a large cylinder or in a smaller cylinder with boost. It's not magic.

My basic thoughts as well ... but I'd imagine there's a certain segment of women who would much rather be in a Skyline than a Viper ... I just haven't run into them.

Speaking of Vipers, can anyone recommend a good exhaust kit for a 2004 Hennessey? I've heard very good things about Borla, but I'm not sure if I need to go headers + the street kit, or just the track kit, etc ... any experience is welcome.

PLEASE dont ask here lol, seriously just take a gander over to viperalley.com and make a quick username on that forum. You will get an answer to all your questions.

im on there, EtaB4u :winkwink:

Haha, I'll say hi over there -- I'm a member. The Alley has almost as many trolls as GFY, though, and I find it VERY hard to get useful advice.

its because you have a 3gen, you only get answers if you own a 2nd gen :1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh hehe

Haha! Many Viper owners would consider moving down to the 2nd gen an "upgrade" .. :1orglaugh ... but I like the newer ones better. I know I'm probably in the minority.

I sent you a message on Viper Alley ... I dunno if it'll surprise you or not to learn who I am, LOL. I have quite a few posts over there.