1997 GTS project "War Venom"

[MaxHarvard]

Like the name? Meh, it's ok, willing to take suggestions but that's the best I could come up with. Mongoose was taken, "Snake bitten" is lame. you get the idea, names are hard.

So, here's the background of the car:
Requiem for an SLC – “Grifter” gets a new home | Gearhead Daily (http://gearheaddaily.com/requiem-for-an-slc-grifter-gets-a-new-home/)

I got the car with a full cage and that's just not me speed anymore. I want a street car that I can drive fast and occassionally go to the track. I'm kinda done right now in my life with track cars.

Seriously though, the cage was obtrusive to the point where I couldn't see out of the windshield.

Here's the 'before' picture:
http://i.imgur.com/UkzPaJk.jpg

After I got a hold of a sawzall and some Diablo blades:
http://i.imgur.com/xHdZQIc.jpg

THERE's SO MUCH ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES NOW!
http://i.imgur.com/h9hnfin.jpg

Pile 'o parts that will be removed, sold or scrapped.
http://i.imgur.com/VzT8sIH.jpg


Sanding the one piece lift off hood to remove the flash lines, this car used to be mustard yellow and red... Hells to the no bruh!
http://i.imgur.com/n21q9E1.jpg



Plan is to wrap the body in some war paint and make a dirty nasty stupid fast street car. :)

[Juggernaut]

THERE's SO MUCH ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES NOW!
:lol:

Can't wait to see the change to the car.

[Sonar Chief]

Nice GTS in so many ways ... nice writeup on the Porsche too!

I did a floor pan, rear quarter mods, and some misc work for a guy that owned a '69 912 and when all was said and done he put it for sale, wished I could have afforded that car! I know that smell too!

Michael

[Sonar Chief]

Just thought of a project name .... "Hemotoxic". Cuz it'll get your heart pumping when you hit the go-pedal!!!

Hemotoxic venoms act on the heart and cardiovascular system.


Just a thought!

[MaxHarvard]

Just thought of a project name .... "Hemotoxic". Cuz it'll get your heart pumping when you hit the go-pedal!!!

Hemotoxic venoms act on the heart and cardiovascular system.


Just a thought!

Ohhhhhh I like it!! Medical reference!

[lilcraigford]

I'll be watching this one with interest! I had a burning passion for these cars growing up. The gen 1-2 GTS' are hands down my favorite Viper body style and remain on my personal list of most attractive cars. :D

[SuperB70]

Cool looking cars.

If you want that Viper to live long, make sure that crankshaft needs to be modified. Viper is notorius about spunning rod bearings.

Viper has that thing, because its more or less a rich guys toy, those who knows what to do they cash with that knowledge.

[MaxHarvard]

I'll be watching this one with interest! I had a burning passion for these cars growing up. The gen 1-2 GTS' are hands down my favorite Viper body style and remain on my personal list of most attractive cars. :D

Oh you have NO idea how much I've wanted a Viper, especially the Gen II version. sooooo awesome.

Cool looking cars.

If you want that Viper to live long, make sure that crankshaft needs to be modified. Viper is notorius about spunning rod bearings.

Viper has that thing, because its more or less a rich guys toy, those who knows what to do they cash with that knowledge.

Hmm. Hadn't heard that. Thankfully this motor potentially has 10k miles on it, and from the story, probably even less. Hopefully I wont' have to rebuild it for a while LOL

Got a chance to get some time in the garage over the weekend and started the wrap on the car.

let me say... this is WAY harder than it looks. Took me close to 6-7 hours just to wrap this stupid hood. It's literally 1/4 of the car the size of Montana.

It's not perfect I'll be the first to admit, there's a couple creases that snuck past me but nothing major. From 5ft away you can't see it, but still...

http://i.imgur.com/H69DCKEl.jpg

[Ketzer]

Cool project! Like others have said, by far the sexiest Viper body style.

We call all the snakes we see around the house "boots".:lol:

[SuperB70]

Hmm. Hadn't heard that. Thankfully this motor potentially has 10k miles on it, and from the story, probably even less. Hopefully I wont' have to rebuild it for a while LOL

Do a google search, Im not kidding. Its not about how many miles driven its oiling problem.

I've rebuild couple Viper engines and can tell that they are not cheap to do. Cant even get all gen 1 parts anymore.
New crank is over 5k$
He who knows what to do, can do the mods engine in the car.

Same problem in gen 1,2 and 3. I have gen3 engine myself.

[LS7 Z/28]

Eric, the small photos in this thread are not up to your standards, what's up with that? JK.
If I need to sell a car I'm contacting you, you are great at it. This project will be sweet. Good luck.

[MaxHarvard]

Eric, the small photos in this thread are not up to your standards, what's up with that? JK.
If I need to sell a car I'm contacting you, you are great at it. This project will be sweet. Good luck.

LOL, fair enough. I'm not taking this project to the same level as before, quick interior install and wrap job and then drive the hell out of it!

Expect top notch photos when it's done. I've got some sweeeeeet Forgelines coming that will really make this wrap job pop.

Just you wait!!

As far as selling things, I like to think I'm realistic about my prices and know my audience. I don't go after every last penny and in the end, would rather have a good reputation as being a honest seller than many other alternatives. :)

[MaxHarvard]

Got those stupid little rivets out. Needed to be drilled, then either chiseled or grinded out.

http://i.imgur.com/TF4lGGy.jpg

Worked some more on the vents for the wrap. SUcks that it took me 5 vents to get the technique down so that no red is showing. Oh well, a little red showing through won't kill anyone. It's my first wrap job!

http://i.imgur.com/sA1rgdG.jpg

[MaxHarvard]

More progress. tinkered with the interior some, took some extra bits out.

Picked up a set of original seats with good leather. Can't complain, the seem nice. and the price was right.
http://imgur.com/MgeOMS1.jpg

Finished the hood vents and moved it out of the way so I can do the rest of the car.
http://imgur.com/WmCJ1pt.jpg

Did some more wrapping.... This piece was a PITA.
http://imgur.com/vvV7YJu.jpg

Found some receipts that came with the car from Archer Racing... Almost seems a crime to take them off...
http://imgur.com/NHXx3Md.jpg

But, alas, the sticker came off...
http://imgur.com/daW9od2.jpg

I'm finally getting the hang of this!
http://imgur.com/PPcYRa2.jpg

http://imgur.com/pBOgnA4.jpg


Bummed I couldn't do the roof/spoiler in one piece, but there just isn't vinyl big enough to spread across the entire span to the natural body seams.
Going to have to make a seam but there's worse things in life I suppose.

Either way, this car is going to be nasty mean when it's done.
http://imgur.com/l6C8UVM.jpg

[MaxHarvard]

New rims are here!! BOOYAH!!
Forgeline rims GA3R-6
Matte black centers with Black Pearl outers.

Wrapped in 315/30/18 Falken 615's. This should help the old girl stick to the road!

http://imgur.com/7BGye9f.jpg

http://imgur.com/YRQqN4W.jpg

[MaxHarvard]

The wrap has come to a screeching halt as the temp has dropped below 60 so I can't wrap anything else on the car.

Bummer, just when i was starting to get good at this!

http://imgur.com/QlHYGlm.jpg

Gonna look pretty dope when it's all black :D

http://imgur.com/KMds8dV.jpg

In the mean time the interior can start going in.

Got the headliner in and wired up. Hells ya! Dome lights!

http://imgur.com/lbBnjvf.jpg

New/used carpets and side sills/interior pieces going in.

http://imgur.com/iywdbAQ.jpg

No more race doors for this guy! Windows and all.

http://imgur.com/LP7H41I.jpg

[MaxHarvard]

Seats and seat belts are in. Mother of sweet merciful crap these seats are TIGHT.

http://imgur.com/CQeJ5op.jpg

http://imgur.com/xdpTLkd.jpg

Trying the Moroso spiral mufflers here... We shall see if it's more bearable because it was ungodly loud.
http://imgur.com/kgNCfYj.jpg

[Neil B]

Cool project! The idea of a wrap is getting more and more appealing to me for a car that it going to see some use. How far are you prepping the panels prior to the wrap?

[MaxHarvard]

For most of them I'm just cleaning it and wiping it down with alcohol.

For others that have paint cracking, I'm sanding them down to be level.

It's a fiberglass car so paint cracks are expected.

[Penny]

Updates?

[MaxHarvard]

Updates?

Thanks for reminding me! :)

Read the full run down here:
http://gearheaddaily.com/project-war-venom-2016-update-interior-wheels-and-snow/

More pics for now

Old school racing back in the day
http://gearheaddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/attach04.jpg


"snow driven" lulz
http://gearheaddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/10295806_10156281860480702_3492025964911809570_n.j pg

Dem'Forgelines... Mmmhmm...
http://gearheaddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/attach0-1024x758.jpg

Interior pretty much done.
http://gearheaddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/12391393_10156277002155702_1401764615881629981_n.j pg

The way she sits for now until it warms up so I can finish the wrap :)

http://gearheaddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/1916534_10156318200625702_2192428364152535764_n.jp g

Sinister stripes....
http://gearheaddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/1-768x1024.jpg

[MaxHarvard]

FedEx guy shows up, "I got some brakes for you"

Ohhhh I bet you do!!

Baer Extreme 6S's. MUUAHHAHA!!

Pear can for reference.

http://imgur.com/OXl6EMa.jpg

http://imgur.com/5xdVK89.jpg

[sixnina]

Nice I can't wait to see this one unfold! I read pear can 3 times before I realized you typed it right. Thought it was gonna be beer can! Lol
Shane

[MaxHarvard]

LOL, it took me a couple minutes to find a can for reference, this was the closest one I had!

[MaxHarvard]

I have problem with tangents sometimes...

http://gearheaddaily.com/clamping-force-hands-on-with-baers-6s-extreme-big-brake-package-and-possible-ninja-attack/

[MaxHarvard]

Installing my new Baer brakes.
http://i.imgur.com/R2LYV01.jpg

Obligatory artsy fartsy pics;
http://i.imgur.com/3elOeC2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cLJuUHY.jpg

[JKnight]

Great writing on the blog post, very entertaining, I lol'd.

I think the artsy fartsy pics are damn cool too

[MaxHarvard]

Great writing on the blog post, very entertaining, I lol'd.

I think the artsy fartsy pics are damn cool too

Haha thanks, I get on tangents at times... I can't help myself :D

[KPC67]

I think these cars were my first car crush as a kid.
A friends dad has one that he bought new to collect... 94 I think, and to this day the car literally only has 18 kms on it:headscratch:
we weren't even allowed to sit in it as kids... oh well.

I am diggin this one!

[MaxHarvard]

LOL I know what you mean. I had a poster of the first Viper when I was a kid on my wall. The 2nd gen was such a major improvement.

Gen 2 > Gen V > Gen 3 > Gen 4 > Gen 1

[MaxHarvard]

Wife helped me bleed the brakes, she had to get on her "dirty cloths". I tried explaining that she had the "clean job" of working the brake pedal, but she was having none of that.

Oh well, didn't stop me from take a drive, with out the hood. Got some interesting looks, oh well. Don't care, drove Viper.


Viper in its natural pose, marking its territory.
http://imgur.com/8ppBzwc.jpg


I might be a bit down on power here....
http://imgur.com/IeV7uWD.jpg

[KPC67]

hood/no hood, its all good.

[sokoloka]

Just keeps getting sexier and sexier!

[MaxHarvard]

http://i.imgur.com/tQXU0Ba.jpg


Finished the wrap on Friday and went to the AutoX on Sunday. Ran CAM-S class which requires 200TW tires.

Did ZERO to the car, just drove it to get a feel for it. Felt very positive, flat and the grip was decent, not great but decent. Didn't mess with tire pressure or shock settings, decided I needed to learn the car first.

Won my class and fastest of the all the CAM (C, S & T) competitors. But still need a LOT of working learning to drive fast. Ended up 97th out of 151 cars... not bad considering there were a lot of go-karts, purpose built AutoX cars, fully prepped CRX's and a **** load of Miatas. I'll see if I can get in the top 1/2 next go round now that i know the car a little better.

http://i.imgur.com/XWMRQV5.jpg

Seemed to have sprung a little leak which looks to be coming from the oil filter. I tightened it up as it was a little loose and got home and it was still leaking. I have a pretty good view of it from the top and can't see where else the oil is coming from so I'll check that out and probably just change the filter and see if there's crap on the gasket surface. Maybe its shaking itself loose?

The new K&N filter kit really helps with throttle response at low RPM's, which if you've been to an AutoX, you know you need that.

The new Baer brakes worked well, but I could tell I could brake later than I was so I need to work on that. I noticed I was getting less rear brake than I liked and was glad to see the previous owner had installed a brake bias valve and opened the rears up, that seems to help my front locking up too quick. I have a few turns left in the rear, so I'll play with that a bit.

The car got quite a bit of attention as I heard the phrase, "I'm surprised to see a Viper here! No one ever brings one!" ... probably like 15 times throughout the day.

I had fun, learned about the car and learned; Yes, in fact you can get a sunburn when it's cold and mostly cloudy... my forehead hurts!

[SBDave]

lol, I thought you meant figuratively go karts (as in a race car) but then saw the actual kart on the trailer behind the mini.

[MaxHarvard]

lol, I thought you meant figuratively go karts (as in a race car) but then saw the actual kart on the trailer behind the mini.

LOL

There were several go-karts and a few FMOD (think little F1 gokart looking things).

That was EASILY the entire top 10+ times of the event.