Its Holiday Time, So Just Daydreaming of Mods....

[Vipuronr]

Since its holiday time, I allow myself the indulgence of daydreaming of mods I would do to my RT "if money was no object":

- Aftermarket hard to with functional air scoop
- Factory style rear wing
- Corsa cat-back exhaust system (oval tips)
- Roe supercharger, with polished top
- White or silver stripes
- Clear side marker lights
- MGW short shifter
- Roller rockers
- High performance ignition wires
- New mats that don't bunch up (OMG! what a pain)

That's it...not too bad....probably $20k+

Like I said, just daydreaming!

 

[RTTTTed]

You could buy white or Silver tape for the stripes (should be cheap)

With thise mats try laying them flat and relaxing the backs with a Heat Gun.

You didn't write down smooth tubes and/or K&N (or "Greens) air filter - already have them? Once the factory style paper air filter has been replaced with treated cotton filters (like K&Ns) you could cut the top of the stock airbox off and replace that with a small sheet of amuminium for a few extra hp as well. Cutting the rain baffle out of the airbox allows the air to flow directly to the filters instead of being bounced around inside the airbox. Good for 2-4rwhp. As you can see in the pic - the air pathway from the opening is blocked and looking at the top of the airbox the front opening cannot be seen.

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Since a paperfilter plugs up when it gets wet, a filter upgrade to treated cotton is a must.

I also have a 3 pc set of Silicone RED smooth tubes in my cupboard 4 sale $20 + ship.

Ted

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Remove the headliner. It weighs 4.8lbs and removing it makes the top noticably easier to install and remove. Paint the inside with some matte or flat black spray paint if you want it to look pretty.

Punch a couple holes near the rear of the floormats and use black zip ties to secure it to the seat rails. That will keep the mat from bunching up.

Cut holes in the inner fender well in front of the side sills so heat can vent and keep the sills from discoloring.

Rear muffler delete.

Aluminum power steering pulley and bracket. New high pressure line.

Change all fluids. ALL fluids.

 

[dave6666]

Daydreaming? Of putting on the thousands of dollars worth of brand new parts I have already with no time to install them LOL.

 

[Vipuronr]

Whew.....yup Dave, know where you're coming from...I have a 3 and 5 year old...kind of limits "free" time.

Hey Ted, you know this was coming from the discussion we were having this morning...thought I'd just write some of it down. Thought about offering to trade someone with a clean car with mods, somewhat higher miles straight up...then thought, that could be a major pain if it even gets any interest.

Have to think about the air box, as I think there are some cool airbox alternatives. But, I do recall a post where the discussion around change said it would not help and could hurt if there were not engine mods.

Chuck/Ted, will look to doing some of those...not sure about muffler delete, as I really want a cat-back system, but will consider if I just can't come up with the $$$'s for it.

Will definitely do the floor mat thing...I like the mats, hate that they bunch up under the pedals....being dangerous as well as annoying.

Ted, no I didn't mention smooth tubes, as I already put them in a few months ago and S&B filters. Roe tubes in red silicone...certainly cost more than $20, wish I knew then.

Any other interesting ideas are certainly welcome, short of drilling holes in the frame for reducing weight

Thanks again...

And

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Rear brakes! Still have some red covers free with purchase, adds the equivalent of an average 100 HP (over 200 peak HP) to your deceleration capability. For the rug rats, can be done in about an hour. For the budget, it's less than 5% of your total. Tator can do it for you; keeps them in stock. Depending on where you are located, I'll deliver them and help install them!

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Rear brakes! Still have some red covers free with purchase, adds the equivalent of an average 100 HP (over 200 peak HP) to your deceleration capability. For the rug rats, can be done in about an hour. For the budget, it's less than 5% of your total. Tator can do it for you; keeps them in stock. Depending on where you are located, I'll deliver them and help install them!

I knew I forgot something. Yep, Tom's rear brake kit.

 

[eucharistos]

if i had a non abs car tom's brakes get 1st mod money

then filters, hi flows and muffler delete; then ....

 

[eucharistos]

I also have a 3 pc set of Silicone RED smooth tubes in my cupboard 4 sale $20 + ship.

Ted

3 pc set .... pic?

 

[Vipuronr]

Hmmmm, Ted, good question....is 3 piece set two red tubes and a set of clamps or are you talking about the 3 piece tubes - 2 red tubes with chrome metal pipe in the middle?

So, now a few posts have mentioned muffler delete. Not to ressurect the exhaust postings (many), my understanding of muffler delete is that it sounds more like a car without a muffler (dah) then the cat-back system which has a deeper tone to it, but still is loud.

Am I wrong about that?

Thanks.

Peter

 

[RTTTTed]

I also forgot to mention Tom's rear brake caliper upgrade for pre 01s.

Instead of trading down in mileage, trade across and look for the same mileage? Maybe you'll get more miles but free mods?

Everything's relative ... you know?

3 pc smooth tubes is 2 air hoses and a red BREATHER hose that matches.

As far as price goes, the shipping (with fuel taxes, surcharges, etc.) might might have made the cost a lot higher than what it should be. Since there's not massive taxes and surcharges in China freight from the opposite side of the world is usually cheaper than freight from 1,000mi. away.

Keeping in mind that too low of miles means that seals dry out and the moving parts don't get moved for long periods at a time. Sooo

Anyway, I just suggest "putting it out there" with people that can make the change over happen, and see if it does happen. This is when good Karma pays.

Ted

 

[dave6666]

I have high flow cats and mufflers with my Belanger headers and side exhaust. Good enough to pass on date night if you act responsible, but peels paint when you feel like it.

I think it's the ultimate multi-purpose exhaust.

 

[viper067]

I've already got my list
Tom's 40mm Brakes ... got them yesterday, thanks Tom
3 piece trunktop ... have it, need to install it
door poppers ... pain to open doors when "windows are on"
would like to have
Roe supercharger
some kind of exhaust upgrade ... perhaps roe as well
already done
smooth tubes
K & N filters

the would like to haves are probably 1+ years out

 

[Vipuronr]

So, still trying to get an idea of muffler delete sound quality versus a cat-back system. I heard that you can get backfiring with muffler delete when letting off the gas....true?

I would do muffler delete if I clearly understood the sound versus a regular factory system with muffler and versus a cat-back system.

Sorry, not trying to stretch out this post, just trying to get a clear answer on this subject since it was brought up.

Thanks.

Peter

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Peter, I have a Gen 1 with a stock Gen 2 exhaust on it - except no muffler in back. That means tubular exhaust manifolds, factory pipe to factory catalyst, stock muffler on the sides, up over the differential, and pipes heading rearwards; no 2 in - 2 out pipe muffler. The engine is close to stock except for 1.7 rockers (making it sort of like the lumpy 708 cam?) It is fairly quiet, mild rumble, but not school bus-like.

Buy some brakes and I'll deliver and you can hear it... j/k, but if you're anywhere near the NY/CT border, let me know.

I bought my car long ago and it came with 3" inlet/outlet cats and straight through mufflers and of course, side exit. I had three significantly different combinations and could not simultaneously eliminate the drone, buzz, or excess volume (shouting to speak to passenger.) Rear exit is bound to be different, but you are wise to ask and it would be best in any case to go listen.

Revisit the decel backfire: as it is now, I rarely hear anything and if I do it is "within" the sound of the normal exhaust if that makes sense. The 3" sidepipe decel sound was very snarly and noticeable above and beyond the engine exhaust and ... I miss that.

 

[Vipuronr]

Hi Tom and thanks.

I live very close to the CT/NY border, where New Fairfield meets with Brewster...5 minutes from where 684 changes to rte 22.

Is that anywhere near you?

At this point, with the way the economy is, I am lucky to still have my Viper. With me recently retiring, going from 2 incomes to 1 income, things like upgrades to the Viper will be difficult to come by. Anything I do end up doing, will have to be carefully thought out, since I will probably not be able to do it over. With two young kids, the days of pouring money into my cars has passed, so this is the reason for the kinds of questions I ask.

Let me know if you are around this area and I will go meet you. As for brakes, again same issue...comes down to what would be nice to do to the car vs what actually can and is needed to be done.

Appreciate everyone's comments.

Peter

 

[dave6666]

I've posted this pic a bunch of times, but again...

Like I said above, if I want to make it kinda tame, it's not too ******* the sound. You can easily carry on a conversation with the windows down, without shouting.

If you want loud, just mash the gas and it is there. Yes, I've been flipped off many times while using the Belanger/highflow cat/muffler/side exhaust horn. Toot toot LOL.

I can't imagine the noise with no cats or mufflers, and know of several people that have hit the rewind button after having had a system like that. Fun for a while...

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[Tom F&L GoR]

Hi Tom and thanks.

I live very close to the CT/NY border, where New Fairfield meets with Brewster...5 minutes from where 684 changes to rte 22.

Is that anywhere near you?

Howdy, neighbor. Check your ***, we can meet at the mall or Tators or someplace of your choosing!

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

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Looks like you spilled your beer or.... couldn't hold it?

 

[dave6666]

You're not the first one to comment on that. It was actually the tubular CrMo trailing arm on my buggy puking chem-strip after the powder coaters failed to bake it out. And a permanent stain on the floor from said puking. Needless to say I was pissed, and spent many years being disrespectful to them when discussing my car.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Needless to say I was pissed, and spent many years being disrespectful to them when discussing my car.

Yes.

Sorry, had to.

You could draw two eyes at the end and call it a snake...

 

[Vipuronr]

Okay, so I took a shot with the floor mat. Took it out and used a hair dryer to try to flatten out the rubber on the back where the mat bunches up - under the pedals. It didn't work, because...it has gotten "those folds" that don't go away....kind of like a good worn shoe.

So, I am going to use the black zip ties and tie to the rear corners to the seat rails. That will take care of the slipping forward. However, I also notice that the front part of the mat slips down, contributing to the bunching up. Not sure there is anything that can be done about that. I do find the factory mats to be a bit flimsy and would have expected a better quality mat for a car like this....but, at the end of the day, it is still a Chrysler product and never sure what to expect... unfortunately.(Sorry Chrysler guys, but my past experience contributes to my point of view).

Peter

 

[Vipuronr]

And, not to further irritate everybody, but I've had logo mats in my Vettes (factory and aftermarket) and none have bunched up like the one in my RT.

 

[Phun70]

And, not to further irritate everybody, but I've had logo mats in my Vettes (factory and aftermarket) and none have bunched up like the one in my RT.

Allow me to educate you a little bit. The reason that the mats in the Viper are bunching up is the fact that it is a far more powerful and brutally accelerating vehicle than the weak assed vette could ever dream to be. You weren't initially used to this newfound power and speed and in your moments of fear after a full power blast of the go pedal, you were flintstoning the mat instead of hitting the brakes. Since the Vette is an underpowered girlymans car you didn't have that problem, thus those mats stayed put. Hope this explanation helps.

 

[Vipuronr]

Thanks Phunman....very funny and a bit true. Made me laugh, which is a good thing since we've been dealing with two sick (whiney) kids for about a week now.

This explanation probably also holds true for my hair always being straight back when I get out of the car....and, my eyebrows, plastered to my forehead.....

 

[Vipuronr]

OKAY, HERE IT IS....MY BIG MOD FOR THE WEEK!

"Installed" the black zip ties at the back ends of my driver's side mat and attached to the seat rails. WHEW!!!! that was alot of work....blood, sweat and tears....but, I FINALLY completed my mission!

But, of course, there is still the bump right under the pedals...just enough to annoy me when driving. So, hoping something heavy will take care of that, I piled on two rolls of electrician wire...pretty heavy. Just going to leave it that way until I have to take the car out....maybe Monday, if the roads are dry.

Okay, onto the next big modification....hmmmm, maybe I'll rotate my lug nuts!!!!

 

[dave6666]

Allow me to educate you a little bit. The reason that the mats in the Viper are bunching up is the fact that it is a far more powerful and brutally accelerating vehicle than the weak assed vette could ever dream to be. You weren't initially used to this newfound power and speed and in your moments of fear after a full power blast of the go pedal, you were flintstoning the mat instead of hitting the brakes. Since the Vette is an underpowered girlymans car you didn't have that problem, thus those mats stayed put. Hope this explanation helps.

You could have saved about 100 words and just said the car is fast because it is RED and not yellow or blue.

 

[Vipuronr]

Oh, sorry you didn't see it, I wrote it in RED so may have been too fast for you to read!!!!

 

[RTTTTed]

Hair dryers won't work, ever. You need a Heat Gun.

The lightweight mats do bunch up, but the heavy ones certainly don't.

Ted

 

[Vipuronr]

Well, Ted, don't have a heat gun, so the zip ties will have to do for now. One day, I will get the heavy weight mats like the ones the CA VCA sells.

But thanks, I appreciate the assistance.

Now, do I rotate my lug nuts clockwise or counterclockwise.....