LW VIPER
Enthusiast
If you recall, I asked for advice after a Saturday of spirited driving up a mountain, against a buddy's Porsche Boxster, lead to the Check Engine light coming on, and the needle buried in the red.
Today I went to Ted May, my local Viper Tech, and explained the situation. The first thing he did was plug in a portable computer to see if the car "threw any codes" which it didn't. He checked the "thermostat crossover" for leaks, and there weren't any. He checked for coolant leak from the head gaskets - there weren't any, and the original gaskets seem to be holding so far.
He did pull off a hose near the coolant resevoir, and put water into it to fill the overflow bottle at the front fascia. The explanation was that the system might have allowed a little air into it, and under "race" conditions that could be enough.
He also suggested that the electric fan on the 98 and newer Vipers was centered in the fan instead of offset, and somewhat larger. I'm going to have him install one for me next Tuesday.
I asked him about removing the 215% Thermostat and putting in a 185. He thought that would be a decent idea if ever there were a leak, and the price of replacing the thermostat could be included in an otherwise needed repair. Otherwise, he felt his cost to me would be too high for the value.
He also stated that a Fluidyne Radiator, with the newer fan would probably solve all heating problems, but that solution was fairly expensive, and we may have the problem cured by smaller steps along the way.
Actually, just filling up the overflow bottle seemed to drop the temperature in bumper to bumper (but not stressed) driving tonight.
I'm also considering a method to reduce the catalytic converter size in the sills, allow more exhaust to escape.
While I was in, I had the K & N filters installed to go with my smooth tubes.
It may just be my imagination, but it seems as though the throttle response is is quicker.
I take comfort in the findings that nothing is wrong, but that if I want to drive aggressively, that a more modern fan, a better flowing exhaust system, and the K & Ns may be enough to solve the overheating problem --- at least until the head gaskets decide to give up the day.
Still, all in all, the work we're going to do will be less than a grand, and even a head gasket replacement (without porting and polishing) could be under $2,000. Not such a bad price to turn a great car into a reliably great car at speed.
Next up........ replacing the tires which look pretty tired at 10, 400 miles.
Thanks for the help, guys and gals.
Larry
Today I went to Ted May, my local Viper Tech, and explained the situation. The first thing he did was plug in a portable computer to see if the car "threw any codes" which it didn't. He checked the "thermostat crossover" for leaks, and there weren't any. He checked for coolant leak from the head gaskets - there weren't any, and the original gaskets seem to be holding so far.
He did pull off a hose near the coolant resevoir, and put water into it to fill the overflow bottle at the front fascia. The explanation was that the system might have allowed a little air into it, and under "race" conditions that could be enough.
He also suggested that the electric fan on the 98 and newer Vipers was centered in the fan instead of offset, and somewhat larger. I'm going to have him install one for me next Tuesday.
I asked him about removing the 215% Thermostat and putting in a 185. He thought that would be a decent idea if ever there were a leak, and the price of replacing the thermostat could be included in an otherwise needed repair. Otherwise, he felt his cost to me would be too high for the value.
He also stated that a Fluidyne Radiator, with the newer fan would probably solve all heating problems, but that solution was fairly expensive, and we may have the problem cured by smaller steps along the way.
Actually, just filling up the overflow bottle seemed to drop the temperature in bumper to bumper (but not stressed) driving tonight.
I'm also considering a method to reduce the catalytic converter size in the sills, allow more exhaust to escape.
While I was in, I had the K & N filters installed to go with my smooth tubes.
It may just be my imagination, but it seems as though the throttle response is is quicker.
I take comfort in the findings that nothing is wrong, but that if I want to drive aggressively, that a more modern fan, a better flowing exhaust system, and the K & Ns may be enough to solve the overheating problem --- at least until the head gaskets decide to give up the day.
Still, all in all, the work we're going to do will be less than a grand, and even a head gasket replacement (without porting and polishing) could be under $2,000. Not such a bad price to turn a great car into a reliably great car at speed.
Next up........ replacing the tires which look pretty tired at 10, 400 miles.
Thanks for the help, guys and gals.
Larry
