Jump To - Build Dates¶

June 1992 |

Edit

1992 Viper¶

The first Viper concept debuted at the 1989 Detroit Auto Show, followed by prototypes in the late-1989 VM01 was powered by the 360 V8, but an 8-liter V10, already planned, showed up in the 1990 VM02.

The original V10 was reportedly built with the involvement of Lambourghini, which was partly owned by Chrysler at the time; it was based on Chrysler’s venerable 360, but Lambourghini worked on the cooling system, crankshaft balance, weight reduction, and fine tuning. The Italian automaker’s expertise in aluminum was also tapped, since the Viper had an aluminum block to save roughly 150 pounds of weight. Legendary Chrysler engine designer Willem Weertman, who had designed the LA V8 the Viper was based on, was called in to help out. In the end, the Viper pushed out 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft on mid-grade (89 octane) fuel, with massive low-end torque for instant thrust.

Unique features of the Viper version of the V-10 is the low-profile cross-ram intake with dual throttle bodies, the manifolds, oil pan, heads, and accessory drive; the compression ratio was raised, the pistons lightened, the maximum engine speed increased, the valves enlarged, the rods and crank strengthened. In the end, few components were shared with the truck engine. The car weighed a mere 3,399 pounds, despite the massive engine and sturdy transmission.

Styling by Tom Gale

In its first calendar year, 155 Vipers were made (both 1992 and early 1993s), with the $50,000 sales price.

For 1993, the price rose somewhat, to $50,700, and the weight rose by 77 pounds. 895 Vipers were made.

Initial introduction in mid-1992 model year Limited production two-seat roadster (RT/10)
Exterior color: Red (3 were repainted at the factory)
Interior color: Gray
Fuel filler door has notch in body for access.
Battery center mounted and accessible only through the trunk.
Driver-side rear fender radio antenna.
Right side mirror did not say "Objects are closer than they appear".
Front brake caliper lettering reads "VIPER".
Soft Top material is Vinyl.
Soft top latch holes on windshield frame have metal plate with 2 rivets & hole for latch.
Plastic stanchion cover on both doors has one hold down screw with 4 clips underneath to hold in place.
Removable rear window has 3 solid plastic brackets that are supposed to snap onto the lower snap points along the ledge behind the seats.
Cooling system has standard "radiator cap" and an over flow bottle tucked into the inner fender area below the passenger side headlight.
Rear valance has solid black area below bumper with four ~ 3/8" long vent holes in the corners.
Coolant Temperature gage has "Yellow Zone"
Michelin XGTZ Tires.

1992 Viper Specifications
1992 Viper Engine

The Viper's initial performance impression can be summed up in one word: T-O-R-Q-U-E. At just 1,200 rpm, the big V-10 has 400 pounds/feet of it on tap. Nail it and the car catapults ahead from most any speed and in most any gear. There's uncanny flexibility here. Sixth gear at 55 mph shows just 1,000 rpm, but you'll not notice any strain cruising at 65 in fifth. Shifting can become an afterthought. Anchor it in third to carve up mountain roads. Plant it in fourth to slice through freeway traffic.

There's no tangible gain from revving the V-10 within more than 1,000 rpm of its 5,600-rpm redline. Do so, however, and you unleash an alliance of exhaust moan and engine hiss almost frightening in tone and intensity. Troll in town, and Viper envelops you in a warm baritone burble. Accelerate at a moderate cruising pace, however, and it bleats. If a Ferrari V-12's song is "ripping canvas," then a Viper at part-throttle is "ripping cardboard."

"That's one thing that I wish were different on the car," explained Chrysler President Bob Lutz, citing federal noise limits. "When you slide behind the wheel and twist the key, you're expecting race-car sounds. And when you stomp on it and take it up to the redline, you wish for that full throaty cry of unbridled power. What you've got now is the unbridled power, but you really don't hear the exhaust; you just hear a rush of air. Having said that, you get used to it very quickly. Once you're accelerating in that thing, everything is forgotten."

Indeed, unleashing even a good portion of Viper's power when the front wheels aren't pointed straight will kick the tail out. And hard acceleration on rutted or broken surfaces requires extra attention because the enormously wide front tires tend to seek out and follow pavement grooves or channels that otherwise go unnoticed.

Major controls steering, clutch, brakes, shifter demand firm, decisive inputs, but they're not tiring even in the constant use of city/suburban grinding. The clutch, in particular, proves surprisingly manageable, much mo re so than in the typical Corvette. And shift action is quick and direct. The second-gear lockout isn't so bothersome as the linkage's narrow gate, which requires extra concentration to slide the lever into the correct gear. Most troubling is that there is no reverse-gear lockout, so it is possible to inadvertently shift into reverse even while accelerating forward.

Steering is simply terrific: very responsive on initial tip-in, properly assisted for high-speed work, and always communicative. The brakes initially feel dead to the toes ~~heavy and with scant pedal travel~~ but they're discernibly powerful and fully up to the task of scrubbing off lots of speed quickly, consistently, and safely despite lacking ABS.

Edit

Colors¶

Red - 282
Black - 1
Green - 1
Yellow - 1
All were originally Red, 3 were changed 1 Black, 1 Green and 1 Yellow

Interior Color was Gray, 1 was converted to Black

Edit

Production Totals¶

285 Total

US - 236
CANADA - 14
OTHER - 35

Edit

VINS¶

First VIN: 1B3BR65E5NV100001
Last VIN: 1B3BR65E1NV100285

1992 VIN's Last 8

Edit

Unique Details¶

1992 Models have an external radio antenna mounted on the drivers-side rear fender. These early cars also have their batteries mounted in the center of the trunk between the frame rails. The battery is only accessible through the trunk. Early 1993 model year Vipers also have these features. * Exterior color changed (from red), interior color changed (from gray) by factory as development/trial.

Edit

TSB's¶

Looking for more information on these TSB's¶

? ATRATB8748 AUG 87 A/T - Slipping or No-Shift/Metal Sealing Rings
? ATRATB8754 SEP 87 A/T - Front Bushing Wear
? ATRATB8923 AUG 89 A/T - Math Formulas Part I
? ATRATB8927 SEP 89 A/T - Twenty Steps To Successful Repairs
? ATRATB8930 OCT 89 A/T - Math Part II
? ATRATB9002006 FEB 90 A/T - Choosing the Right ATF
? ATRATB028 OCT 90 A/T - Engine Vacuum Testing
? 260391 AUG 91 TSB - Body Code Used to Identify Vehicles
? 265291 AUG 91 Body Code Identification
? ATRATB078 NOV 91 A/T - How To Use A Pressure Gauge
? 241192 AUG 92 A/C Refrigerant - Substitutes and Compatibility
? ATRATB132 SEP 92 A/T - Intermittent Electrical Problems
? ATRATB191 OCT 93 A/T - Failsafe Modes
? 085493 OCT 93 Head Lamp - Aim Procedure
? 092093 DEC 93 Engine - Service Procedures
? 081194 FEB 94 Electrical Connectors - Cleaning Precautions
? ATRATB294 JAN 95 A/T - Drive Axle and Wheel Lug Nut Torque Specifications
? 082295 MAY 95 Radio Transmitters - Installation
? 030495 JUN 95 Drive Line - Clunk on Acceleration/Deceleration
? 181896 MAY 96 Throttle Cable - Lurching/Idle Undershoot/Noise
? 23-03-97 FEB 97 Black Plastic Body Components - Chalky Residue
? 090397 APR 97 Dipstick & Tube - Service Applications
? 07-03-97 MAY 97 Engine - Coolant Recommendations
? 08-14-97A JUN 97 Battery - Premature Failure - Looking for information
? 23-41-97 JUL 97 Convertible Top/Side Curtains - Water Leaks
? 23-59-97 NOV 97 Rocker Panel - Corrosion
? 08-23-99 JUL 99 Radio Communication Equipment - Recommendations

	Name	Size
	08-36-98.pdf	7.14 KB
	09-04-00.pdf	13.30 KB
	23-014-06.pdf	109.47 KB
	24-003-03.pdf	10.71 KB

Quick Navigation¶

Welcome Guest, you are in: • Login

Viper Registry Wiki

ScrewTurn Wiki version 3.0.5.600. Some of the icons created by FamFamFam.

The Viper Registry is in no way affiliated with Chrysler. Dodge, Viper, SRT-10, the Viper logo and likeness are registered trademarks of Chrysler. The contents of this site are owned by the Viper Registry and may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the Viper Registry.
Copyright © 2008-2011 All rights reserved.
Site maintained by: ViperJeff