How Much Are These Heads Worth? - 1999 Dodge Viper (brand new)

[dpmcghee]

OK, here's the deal... I have been given two brand new sets of Dodge Viper cylinder heads (I know, but don't hate me because I'm beautiful). Springs and valves are included.

The man who gave them to me attends my church and told me that he would like to donate all of the proceeds to the church, once they are sold, which we have agreed to do.

What's really cool is that this gentleman owns the shop that built that motorcycle-thing that had the Dodge Viper engine in it, a few years ago. I was at his business on Friday. He described for me how Chrysler dropped off a huge piece of raw aluminum about 7ft tall and 6ft. wide... from that piece his company completely machined every single part of that motorcycle. I thought it was fascinating listening to him describe the process.

BTW, he told me that they are seeing an upswinging in the manufacturing business here in Michigan! Alot of the companies that have been outsourcing jobs oversees to China and India are having MAJOR quality issues, so many of those job orders are coming back to companies like his and other American Companies! This is GREAT news for American Manufacturing, and for Michigan especially!

Anyway, so what do you think these things are actually worth?

Dan

 

[detroitfire23]

Take them to the scrap yard & they'll tell ya...:icon_bigg

 

[QUASAR]

BTW, he told me that they are seeing an upswinging in the manufacturing business here in Michigan! Alot of the companies that have been outsourcing jobs oversees to China and India are having MAJOR quality issues, so many of those job orders are coming back to companies like his and other American Companies! This is GREAT news for American Manufacturing, and for Michigan especially!

Anyway, so what do you think these things are actually worth?

Dan

Maybe someone registered on the viper forums could do a search or something for you to see what they go for. However I'm not sure how many viper owners trade and swap parts themselves like we do.

Very happy to hear the comments about manufacturing coming back. Hopefully it continues.

 

[QuickLX]

Dan,

Was the shop you were at called Future Tool? Did you meet Larry? The reason I ask is because I was in their facility when all of the body panels and such were being cut. The CNC ran non-stop for over 30+ hours to machine one piece.....talk about a crap-pile of scrap left over! And yeah the massive chunks of aluminum were pretty impressive.

 

[dpmcghee]

Dan,

Was the shop you were at called Future Tool? Did you meet Larry? The reason I ask is because I was in their facility when all of the body panels and such were being cut. The CNC ran non-stop for over 30+ hours to machine one piece.....talk about a crap-pile of scrap left over! And yeah the massive chunks of aluminum were pretty impressive.

You guessed it! Larry is a great guy...

Their company came right to the edge of bankruptcy earlier this year. He told me that he put every last penny he owned into the company just to keep it from going under. Then he prayed and asked God to help him keep it open. He really cares about his employees and didn't want to see them lose their jobs. Then, out of nowhere, business started coming in again, and now they are really starting to roll with some big military contracts as well as all the GM stuff they do.


Dan

 

[moneypit]

Prayed to god why didnt he sell some of his toys, lets see real cobra, GTS r several shelbys and FI early corvettes i used to work down the street, are the heads complete or bare

 

[dpmcghee]

Prayed to god why didnt he sell some of his toys, lets see real cobra, GTS r several shelbys and FI early corvettes i used to work down the street, are the heads complete or bare

I'm not sure what you're talking about... He doesn't own any of those things. And for your information, he did sell many things just to keep the business. Maybe he sold those, I don't know...

Either way, even if he did have those things, he has been running a successful business and shouldn't be begrudged to have anything he can afford. Additionally, he has been very generous over the years to many local charities and community organizations.

Stop being jealous.

It's amazing to me...Just the mention that someone actually PRAYED and you have to bash the man who has some faith?


Dan

 

[QuickLX]

You guessed it! Larry is a great guy...

Their company came right to the edge of bankruptcy earlier this year. He told me that he put every last penny he owned into the company just to keep it from going under. Then he prayed and asked God to help him keep it open. He really cares about his employees and didn't want to see them lose their jobs. Then, out of nowhere, business started coming in again, and now they are really starting to roll with some big military contracts as well as all the GM stuff they do.


Dan

I have been working with them on several projects over the past 6 years or so. Larry has a lot of great employees, but I was disappointed to see that he closed the lab. From what I have been told he did not want to get into the testing end of things anyway. They are a good company.

 

[dpmcghee]

I have been working with them on several projects over the past 6 years or so. Larry has a lot of great employees, but I was disappointed to see that he closed the lab. From what I have been told he did not want to get into the testing end of things anyway. They are a good company.

Yeah, he's got other business coming in that will be using that lab space. It just wasn't profitable for them.

Dan

 

[QuickLX]

I'm not sure what you're talking about... He doesn't own any of those things. And for your information, he did sell many things just to keep the business.

Furthermore, even if he did have those things, he has been running a successful business and shouldn't be begrudged to have anything he can afford.

Stop being jealous.

It's amazing to me...Just the mention that someone actually PRAYED and you have to bash the man who has some faith?


Dan

The owner of the company I work for has season tickets to every Detroit sports teams home games, a 4500 sqft cottage in Harbor Springs, a beautiful home at the base of Aspen, another home in Florida, A monster of a home in Milford, another cottage on Burt Lake, a 2007 Lincoln Navigator, a 2007 Lincoln MKZ, a 2007 Saleen Mustang, a 2003 Cobra vert, A Jaguar XKR, a 24 ft searay with all kinds of goodies, and God knows what else...

Over the last couple years we had some ups and downs and had to lay some people off. Did he make some adjustments in his income...sure. Did he sell off all of the things he worked his ass off for....NO. Does this make him a bad person....No. He grew up very poor, worked hard, started a company, and is now enjoying the luxeries of life...he's 80 years old and having fun. If I was him I would have handled things the same way. And the same goes for Larry. Hell to tell you the truth, with how "loyal" people are these days, I would have made my million and left everyone else to sink with the ship.

 

[QuickLX]

Yeah, he's got other business coming in that will be using that lab space. It just wasn't profitable for them.

Dan

Yeah, I know about the labs "financial issues". A couple of my friends worked in there and have since moved on to bigger and better things. The problem is they spent a ton of cash on equipment and then had to get work to run on it, rather than starting small, running some jobs, getting more work and then finally more equipment. It also, did not help that they (the lab) had no support from the sales staff. So without having someone out there pushing the lab services, the chances of getting "new" work rather than repeat business was slim to none. It was amazing they were able to stay operating for as long as they did. I believe there were other "political" issues as well that contributed to the closing of the lab.

 

[WhiteHawk]

There is a used set on ebay for $1000 with zero bids. That would probably be a good starting point, especially if they are new. It looks like you need to know they year they are from too.

-Geoff

 

[DrScience]

Well, about 3yrs ago I was at a place in Wixom around the bend from D. Walsh's place that I was told did a lot, if not most of, the work on the Tomahawk. Still have a video of one of the builders revving it up there during a Viper meet.

R&M Motors was it?

Anyway, I don't know what they're worth, but I can do a for sale thread on both major Viper forums for you. PM me with your contact info if interested.