Quality Control

[safireviper]

I am seriously considering buying a Viper. However, as stated in previous posts, does the Viper really have rusted bolts and such and leaking windshields? I realize all car lines will have a lemon or two. Yet, to spend 70 to 80K + for a car that leaks and rusts make no sense no matter how cool the car is. Please, Viper owners, restore my faith. Anybody out there that hasn't had problems with their Viper?

 

[luc]

Alan,

You are correct when you said that owners with no problems doesn't post to say that they have no problems but,I am not sure what you mean by "a couple of internet whiners".

In the same post you state:"I'have read numerous times over the years about the top center of the windshied leaking on a GTS. That is nothing new or isolated case"

So,on 1 hand you said that it's only a couple of whiners (I am one of those), and on the other hand you said that it is a common problem with the GTS (numerous times,not new,not isolated case).
May be what you mean to say was that a lot of owners have this problem but only a few complain about it?

Will you put the yellowing sills in the category of " very rare,the others 1965 vipers are fine"?

Regarding rusty fasteners.
May be it will come at a surprise to you, but manufacturers have developped through the years various coating,depending of the bolt exposure to moisture/temperature to solve this problem.
Some of them are: black oxide
Zinc plating
cadmium plating
So it is certaily possible to have a car that have bolts/screws/nuts that doesn't rust.

Luc.internet whiner.00 GTS

 

[SapphireGTS]

Thats why I didnt buy a used one because the 4 I looked at had rusted bolts all over the place. I bought a new one 5 monts ago. 6,000 miles later. Rusted bolts. Im not whining. I dont care that the car leaks and rattles and squeaks. I bought the thing to drive the heck out of and put it away wet. I just think its funny that a car that is 99% plastic still has a problem with rust. I WOULD NEVER LET IT DETER ME FROM BUYING another ONE. Its a muscle car. THATS IT! plain and sinple. If I wanted cushy, quality, noise free driving pleasure I would have bought another BMW. But I wouldnt have gotten 488 Cubic Inches 450 HP and 460 LB ft of torque from a stock motor for a measley 70 grand. Whats another car that can do that for under 100K.

If you say your viper doesnt have rust on most of the visable bolts that you either arent looking for them or you never drive it in the rain.

As I said before. Viper is an Exotic on a budget.

I comment on the trouble free-ness of the car. Some of my friends have Lambos and freearis and I will never buy one because they fall apart. If the only thing I can complain about on my car is a couple of rusty bolts and a few sqeuaks, Id say Im a happy camper.

- The Whiner

 

[Tomer]

THANKS for bringing up the Rusty Bolts, I have recently noticed this on my 1996, but I am in the camp that yes that shouldn't happen (especially since I know the previous owner never drove in the rain) but I am not too worried about it...Each time I drive my Viper (a measly 415 hp for 1996) its SUCH a kick in the pants I can't stand it...I get out with an ear to ear grin every time, people probably think I am a freak seeing me 30 minutes after driving the Viper, I am still smiling like I won a lottery....

Anyway, yes, to be more critical, my front Facia is yellowing a bit, which *****...And most noticable are the two bolts on each side on top of the sills, visible when the hood is up...They are close to the negative post which is welded to the body...

I did notice a 2001 RT/10 same bolts were coated with something, they were silver coloured...Maybe we can develop an aftermarket "kit" of coated factory bolts that we can buy cheap, or try to force Ma Mopar into producing something similar????

Any thoughts appreciated!!! I was at my company car show and was
a little embarrassed while the car sat with the Hood up and the rusty bolts were visible (at least I saw them...)

TomR
96 RT/10, Northern Californai

 

[luc]

Tomer,

no,I don't work at a dealership but Ihave a microfiche reader and parts microfiches/computer disks/parts book for all my cars/trucks/bikes/tractors.
Make life a lot easier than trying to describe a part to a dealer.
Also since you save work and time to the part guys and you look to be "in the car business" you usualy get better price.
So if you need any parts #, just aske me.(97/00 viper)

Spray painting bolts/screws doesn't last because the paint is to fragile.
Once you put a wrench on it it's scratched.
I like to keep my car "factory original".
Eastwood sell 2 nice kits for black oxide and cadmium plating parts yourself.
(www.eastwoodcompany.com)
Luc.

 

[SapphireGTS]

SPRAY PAINT!!!!!! These cars are going to be worthless in 8 years. If you take a bolt off and put it back on SPRAY PAINT IT!!!!

How often do you take off your door hinge bolts?

 

[RickV2K]

i've had a couple problems with mine...but i'd do it all over again. i don't care if they hand pick each viper assembler and rigorously train em...and i don't care if they only build 1,500 a year or 1,500 each decade... their idea of quality control seriously needs to be revamped. i do think there's someone collecting a pay check every week with a little qc sticker on his shirt...but i'll guarantee ya...he knows his baseball and he can't wait to buy a few squares in the football pool. and you've gotta be a little naive to think he leaves all his problems outside the door at work. now...as far as buying a new viper.......do it, you won't be diappointed..even with any minor flaws.

 

[luc]

Tomer,
Those bolts/screws are also silver colored on my 00GTS.
Usually silver mean cadmium plated.
You can get them at your local dealer,part # 65 04 580.
Luc.00GTS

 

[Tomer]

Luc

Thanks! How did you happen to know the part number??? Do you work at a dealer??

I will call my local "parts buddy" and check price...Anyone know of the next most likely to rust bolts I might replace??

Its great that this is the only work I have to do, other than that just find time to drive!!! AND watch for cops...

TomR..

 

[SapphireGTS]

TOMER. Before I went replacing my bolts I just spray painted them black. If they rust again. Just get out the spray paint and BINGO!