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 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!

[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!

[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!

[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!

[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

[Viper Craig]

So, I'm in the process of getting all the parts ordered that I need and I've decided to go with the BC Racing coil-overs. My current shocks are coming in with the 85.5mm measurement of the fork (not sure why the difference if anybody knows?) however the kit DO NOT come with the bushes for the rear (between the forks) and my OEM ones are shot! Anybody know where I can get replacements?

Thank you

[Viper Craig]

Ok, so Viper10 thank you for the help! Doug Shelby Engineering have done the job for me on the lower rear shock mounts and bushings! I'm so happy, finally getting all the parts ordered, the work can start moving forward!

Link to Doug Shelby Engineering on Facebook if anybody needs bushings etc for any Gen Viper. Can't speak highly enough of Doug, his knowledge and the service he provided, first class! I'm over the moon!

https://www.facebook.com/dougshelbyengineering/?re...

Go give them a like, unless everybody already does and I'm just way late to the party! Not surprising if that's the case! Haha

[Viper Craig]

So a quick update. New BC Coilovers are on, new drop links done, rear hub and knuckle sorted, new oil cooler and a/c radiator done. I'm now in need of the lower springs for the bonnet/hood. I've checked out ViperPartsofAmerica but they are out of stock, anybody any ideas where I could pick them up?

Mopar part numbers:
04709074 (right side)
https://www.viperpartsrackamerica.com/index.php/pr...

04709075 (left side)
https://www.viperpartsrackamerica.com/index.php/pr...

Thanks everybody, the help so far has been amazing!

[Viper Craig]

You want a set of BC coilovers? I got mine from a website called Tuning Developments, great guys to deal with and the best price I could find, £820 including shipping, give them a look!

https://www.tuningdevelopments.uk/advanced_search_...

Tell them that Craig with the Viper sent you

[Viper Craig]

No mate, got mine brand new and for the £820, they aren't much more in price than the second hand ones you saw. Worth the investment I'd say!