My GTS is getting old!

[Viper Craig]

Hello everybody!

Firstly I hope you are all keeping well and lockdown hasn't taken too much of a toll!

So my 1997 GTS has gone into a garage to be looked at for a bit of much needed TLC. I've been sent a list of parts it needs which I'm now trying to source but thought I'd come here and ask some advice first. So here is what I'm in need of and the questions I've got.

New suspension - I've seen that BC Racing are quite popular and for a reasonable price, however I've also looked at KW which are significantly more expensive, but I want something that's for road use, not racing as it's never been on a track in the time I've owned it. Has anybody got any experience either either set of coil overs and which rides the road better?

Wishbones (front and rear) - I've got three cracked wishbones, one left front lower wishbone and both upper and lower on the rear right. Any idea if these are still produced anywhere so I can get new parts instead of used?

I also need a new fuel filter, anti-roll bar bushes and links and two new rear hubs as these have also cracked!

The car has had new plugs, high performance HT leads and new steering bushes so hopefully all the work done should make it feel like a different car when it's done, here's hoping anyway!

Any advice you can offer is always highly appreciated and will be put to good use!

Thanks everybody and have a great day!

Best wishes to you all,
Craig

[Viper]

That’s a mighty expensive list, I brought a wishbone back in 2008 and it was about $700 some say they can be repaired but it’s not a route I’d want to go down

First port of call for most on here is Chuck in NY, he might be able to get you most most things on your list. [e-mail]
He provides a great part service for all things Mopar, not just viper stuff

Good luck

[Viper Craig]

That's fantastic news. I wasn't sure Chuck was still in the business but now I know that he is, I'll be sure to drop him an email tomorrow and see how much of the list we can get ticked off!

Thanks for the help!

[Viper10]

By chance…. I’m in the process of upgrading my Gen 3 Viper from some very low mileage BC Racing coil overs to a Motion Control Suspension setup. Having checked on the BC website it appears that these will fit 1996 to 2008 Vipers (but I’d recommend that you check and verify this yourself)

Note that BC list a 97.5mm and 85.5mm version which relates to the measurement of the rear lower fork of the shock, The Gen 3 Vipers use the 97.5mm which is part number Z-03-BR.

For track and street its generally recommended to go for 10kg (564 lb) front springs and 12kg (674 lb) rear springs, which is what I ordered when purchasing these from new.

Ride height and damping is adjustable. In terms of performance on the road, I’d set them fairly stiff and could easily live with that, but I guess its all down to personal preference. They’re plenty good enough for fast street use, very predictable under hard cornering and braking.

I don’t know how they’ll compare to the MCS yet, but I should be back out on the road within a week or so. I’m not expecting any real noticeable difference on the street but hopefully the extra investment will make a difference on track.

The BC’s are just going to end up sitting around in my garage so if you or any of the other guys on here are interested, I’d be happy to let them go for a reasonable offer.

Good luck with the overhaul project. The control arms and hubs aren't going to come cheap, but at least you'll have peace of mind when they're sorted.

[fatboy18]

I have 2 lower wishbones (Used) Not cracked.

You can also look on the Rock Auto website for parts.

Also Partsrack run by JonB

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-OEM-NOS-1996-Dodge-...


This ebay seller has a lot of new stuff.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/nosoemparts

Edited by fatboy18 on Wednesday 26th August 14:22

Edited by fatboy18 on Wednesday 26th August 14:28

[Viper Craig]

Added to the list I need an oil cooler too after a little more investigating on the car! And it could do with a full new A/C system as it's never worked as long as I've owned the car (about 12 years) so I might invest in finally getting that sorted too. Bill is getting bigger and BIGGER!

Let's see what Chuck says!

[fatboy18]

https://www.viperpartsrackamerica.com/index.php/pr...
They have Knuckles too.

[fatboy18]

Viper Craig said:

Added to the list I need an oil cooler too after a little more investigating on the car! And it could do with a full new A/C system as it's never worked as long as I've owned the car (about 12 years) so I might invest in finally getting that sorted too. Bill is getting bigger and BIGGER!

Let's see what Chuck says!

AC is probably just worn O rings,

If you run the engine and watch the front of the compressor motor you should see it engage the clutch when someone turns on the Ac inside the car.

[Viper Craig]

Thank you for the links and advice so far! Fatboy18 had a good look through the Viper Parts of America link and that looks brilliant, lots of stuff I need, if not all of it apart from the BC or KW suspension, but I've found sellers for those here in the UK anyway so saves money on shipping and import!

Thanks so much!

[Viper Craig]

fatboy18 said:

C is probably just worn O rings,

If you run the engine and watch the front of the compressor motor you should see it engage the clutch when someone turns on the Ac inside the car.

Will give this a try!

[fatboy18]

If you can't find the Oil cooler, I upgraded to one of these
http://www.improvedracing.com/setrab-oil-coolers/s...
Had to fabricate up my own brackets and new oil lines but it came out well.

[Viper Craig]

fatboy18 said:

If you can't find the Oil cooler, I upgraded to one of these
http://www.improvedracing.com/setrab-oil-coolers/s...
Had to fabricate up my own brackets and new oil lines but it came out well.

That looks nice! I've found a couple of oil coolers so should be ok, but I've seen a few Viper owns have gone with this option, could be worth thinking about! Thanks again!

[fatboy18]

This is where I got the idea from but he did go well over the top on his bracket fabrication!
(No welding at all on my brackets)
It's all about keeping air flow to the maximum through the front nose.
https://youtu.be/w1mGISjwOmY

Just cut the bottom tabs off the new oil cooler

Edited by fatboy18 on Thursday 27th August 18:22

[Poopdog]

Is a cracked wishbone common?, admittedly they look like a terrible casting

[fatboy18]

Poopdog said:

Is a cracked wishbone common?, admittedly they look like a terrible casting

I would not say its Common in the grand scheme of things, but there have been a few over the years that I've been on the forums, It's one of the reasons I keep my car suspension clean and check them a few times a year.


The Wishbones are actually painted silver by the manufacturer to stop oxidisation

[Poopdog]

Looks great, what's with the extra long wheels studs?, wheel spacers?

[fatboy18]

Poopdog said:

Looks great, what's with the extra long wheels studs?, wheel spacers?

Car came with those fitted when I purchased it, the Original owner used to do track days and had Various sets of CCW Split rim wheels, (which I now have)
https://www.viperpartsusa.com/all-products/comp-co...




I need a bigger garage!

Edited by fatboy18 on Thursday 27th August 21:49

Edited by fatboy18 on Thursday 27th August 23:30

[Poopdog]

Nice!, im running the standard 18" 5 spokes but would like to get some 19s to fill out the arches a bit.

[fatboy18]

Poopdog said:

Nice!, im running the standard 18" 5 spokes but would like to get some 19s to fill out the arches a bit.

I lowered my car with spring lowering caps, but I scrape everything now, its a bit too low.

Old OEM caps


Replacement caps



Sorry for the thread hijack

[Viper Craig]

Viper10 said:

By chance…. I’m in the process of upgrading my Gen 3 Viper from some very low mileage BC Racing coil overs to a Motion Control Suspension setup. Having checked on the BC website it appears that these will fit 1996 to 2008 Vipers (but I’d recommend that you check and verify this yourself)

Note that BC list a 97.5mm and 85.5mm version which relates to the measurement of the rear lower fork of the shock, The Gen 3 Vipers use the 97.5mm which is part number Z-03-BR.

For track and street its generally recommended to go for 10kg (564 lb) front springs and 12kg (674 lb) rear springs, which is what I ordered when purchasing these from new.

Ride height and damping is adjustable. In terms of performance on the road, I’d set them fairly stiff and could easily live with that, but I guess its all down to personal preference. They’re plenty good enough for fast street use, very predictable under hard cornering and braking.

I don’t know how they’ll compare to the MCS yet, but I should be back out on the road within a week or so. I’m not expecting any real noticeable difference on the street but hopefully the extra investment will make a difference on track.

The BC’s are just going to end up sitting around in my garage so if you or any of the other guys on here are interested, I’d be happy to let them go for a reasonable offer.

Good luck with the overhaul project. The control arms and hubs aren't going to come cheap, but at least you'll have peace of mind when they're sorted.

When you say the measurements of the fork, is this the outer or inner measurement?

Thank you