Tom F&L GoR
Enthusiast
I am an advocate of driving Vipers as much as possible. Many of you have a performance target that reaches to fourple digit horsepower or *** MPH. I did some track events, some autocross, but now my target is a commuter car. To each their own, right?
My Gen 1 came with a 3" exhaust and after three more versions and not being able to make it quieter, I installed a nearly new Gen 2 OEM exhaust. Much better; I can hear the phone, hear the radio, all that good "commuter car" stuff.
I felt very dorky having sidepipe covers for side exhaust and the two pipes out the back, so I installed Autoform fiberglass no-hole covers. Looks nice, and to a large degree because they aren't beat up like the old ones were.
With a longer commute and having to be weather-proof, I had been looking for a hardtop. After 11 years of ownership I had used only the soft top, so going to a hardtop was more a luxury than a requirement. I stumbled across a 3-piece Trunktop locally - many thanks to Jeff Lemke for supplying the missing part FOC.
The top did not come with windows, but since I had my old yellow vinyl curtains, I cut off the canvas and vinyl and used the frame to make my own hard windows. It took some bending, cutting, welding, swearing... I welded tabs to the 3/8" rod frame, drilled and tapped for 6-32 button head cap screws, cut the Lexan sheet to fit and with a minimum of weatherstrip and silicone, am ready for the first rain.
You smart Gen 1 guys are probably thinking "how do you get in the car now? Those windows don't open!?" I have always had a door popper for the driver, and I added one for the passenger side. As a failsafe in case the battery dies, I also have a cable pull on the passenger side door (in a secret location, of course) to yank on and unlatch the door in emergencies.
It's a different look - all smooth. No hood vents, no sidepipe waviness, no side exhaust, no awkward softtop, no big side curtains. Originally I was only planning on a smooth one-piece Lemke top, but this one fell into my hands sooner.
So now I have to reach the second 100,000 miles. And to really make sure I don't get it stuck somewhere along the way, I added tow hooks.
Hey! Can only add 5 pictures per post, so more coming right up.
My Gen 1 came with a 3" exhaust and after three more versions and not being able to make it quieter, I installed a nearly new Gen 2 OEM exhaust. Much better; I can hear the phone, hear the radio, all that good "commuter car" stuff.
I felt very dorky having sidepipe covers for side exhaust and the two pipes out the back, so I installed Autoform fiberglass no-hole covers. Looks nice, and to a large degree because they aren't beat up like the old ones were.
With a longer commute and having to be weather-proof, I had been looking for a hardtop. After 11 years of ownership I had used only the soft top, so going to a hardtop was more a luxury than a requirement. I stumbled across a 3-piece Trunktop locally - many thanks to Jeff Lemke for supplying the missing part FOC.
The top did not come with windows, but since I had my old yellow vinyl curtains, I cut off the canvas and vinyl and used the frame to make my own hard windows. It took some bending, cutting, welding, swearing... I welded tabs to the 3/8" rod frame, drilled and tapped for 6-32 button head cap screws, cut the Lexan sheet to fit and with a minimum of weatherstrip and silicone, am ready for the first rain.
You smart Gen 1 guys are probably thinking "how do you get in the car now? Those windows don't open!?" I have always had a door popper for the driver, and I added one for the passenger side. As a failsafe in case the battery dies, I also have a cable pull on the passenger side door (in a secret location, of course) to yank on and unlatch the door in emergencies.
It's a different look - all smooth. No hood vents, no sidepipe waviness, no side exhaust, no awkward softtop, no big side curtains. Originally I was only planning on a smooth one-piece Lemke top, but this one fell into my hands sooner.
So now I have to reach the second 100,000 miles. And to really make sure I don't get it stuck somewhere along the way, I added tow hooks.
Hey! Can only add 5 pictures per post, so more coming right up.
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