97 GTS

[REDSLED]

What is the difference between the "cast" rim and "forged" rim that you'd find on a Blue/White 96 GTS and Blue/White 97 GTS respectively? Are the rims "polished" out or are they "chromed"? Is there a difference in quality and appearance? I've tried to research these questions in the archives but to no avail. There's a Blue/White 97 GTS w/2.5K miles in Colorado that I'm very interested in but the rims are not polished or chromed. I want to have them done prior to purchasing the car. Thank you for your help in advance. If you know of any other tidbits of info regarding this year please don't hesitate to let me know. Knowledge is a great bargaining tool!
JOnathan

 

[2charmed]

Red,

The stock wheels for a 96 or 97 should be Clear coated polished
aluminum. Some were painted white or yellow (not many)
From the factory the wheels have a slightly dull finish and will most likely have fine scratched in the clear coat - they came that way it seems?

If the car doesnt have the wheels you want, you can certainly get them - check with Jon B. at the parts rack or Chuck Tator at
Tator's Dodge.

Good luck,

2Charmed

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Viper rims have never been chromed. Later years (98) have higher polish than early. They are clear coated. Unless you are tracking the car rim strength is not an issue. I believe the strength was increased mid 97.

 

[99 R/T 10]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
Viper rims have never been chromed.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I thought the 96 GTS came with chrome rims, am I wrong? I have chrome rims on my R/T, they had to come from somewhere, and yes I know the difference between chrome and polished look.

Mike

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>1996 GTS wheels - Were cast and polished aluminum. Look nice until you see a 1998 rim, then they look milky.
<LI>Early 1997 wheels - Are identical to 1996 wheels. Both can be identified by a weld bead behind the spokes around the inside of the wheel. Both could crack / break where the spokes meet the center hub "IF" tracking the car with higher than stock adhesion tires or possibly in street use if they were chromed. For some reason some chroming processes seem to weaken these cast wheels.
<LI>Late 1997 wheels - Forged, no weld bead, stronger and much less milky.
<LI>1998 wheels - The last of the 5 spoke 17"ers. The shiniest of the bunch, still forged (strong). The closest thing to chrome you can get without actual chrome.
[/list]

None of these wheels were chromed from the factory. Center caps for all years were always stamped then polished / cleared and any year cap looks fine on any year wheel (96 ~ 98)</FONT f>

 

[REDSLED]

Alex, thanks for doing this for me. I really appreciate it. Also if there's any people out there in the Roanoke, Illinois area who could check out a 99 Black GTS for me I would be eternally grateful. It's located at Roanoke Motor Co. The dealer won't budge on the $59.9K price as he says the car is too perfect and only has 1906 miles on it. I don;t know if that is too much for a 99 or not. Prices are all over the place these days.
-JOnathan

 

[dancojax]

I firmly believe there is a substantial structural difference between the two wheels.
In fact, a normal rule of ViperDays is :
***ALL WELDED 96 & 97 RIMS MUST RUN ON MICHELIN DOT TIRES! NO HOOSIERS!! ***
I know this has nothing to do with 'pretty', but neither does a cracked/broken wheel.

 

[Kurt 97 GTS]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by REDSLED:
Alex, thanks for doing this for me. I really appreciate it. Also if there's any people out there in the Roanoke, Illinois area who could check out a 99 Black GTS for me I would be eternally grateful. It's located at Roanoke Motor Co. The dealer won't budge on the $59.9K price as he says the car is too perfect and only has 1906 miles on it. I don;t know if that is too much for a 99 or not. Prices are all over the place these days.
-JOnathan

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If the 99 is stock this is WAY high IMO!!! Listen to Ron regarding the wheels, as he has covered it all in his post. Good luck and take your time, the right car is out there, all you have to do is find it!!

Also, my 97 has forged wheels that have been chromed. They look very nice!....Kurt

 

[Jay Lopez]

Pictures of cracked 96 wheels:
http://www.texastriathlon.com/year2001pics.htm

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Some of 96 and 97's had a non-polished finish , so there is nothing wrong with the rim, it is just rarer to find one like that, as most were highly polished aluminum ( hence the thought that they were chromed ).