Hi,

a friend of mine has a 95 Viper where the con rods let go. everything is toast now including the block.
Anyone an idea where to get a NEW engine? I see 2003 and up crates on Ebay, but do they interchange, particularly all the electronical gismos?

I see Comp Cam lists 1992 to 2002 as the same cams being the same? Does the whole long block change over from 1992 to 2002?

If no new ones are available, who offers reliable rebuilt Viepr engines?

Greets
Flo

He needs to look for a Gen 1 Viper engine.

The 1992 through 1996 Viper R/T-10 used the Gen 1 engine.
It's a wet sleeve block design and prone to head gasket problems.
It's an OBD 1 engine.

The 1996 through 2003 Viper GTS Coupe used what's call the Gen 2 engine which is a dry sleeve block design and is OBD2 compliant.

The electronics are completely different between the two and the reason why it's not a direct swap.

The online Viper forums would be a good place to look for an engine.
viperclub.org viperclub.org or He needs to look for a Gen 1 Viper engine.

The 1992 through 1996 Viper R/T-10 used the Gen 1 engine.
It's a wet sleeve block design and prone to head gasket problems.
It's an OBD 1 engine.

The 1996 through 2003 Viper GTS Coupe used what's call the Gen 2 engine which is a dry sleeve block design and is OBD2 compliant.

The electronics are completely different between the two and the reason why it's not a direct swap.

The online Viper forums would be a good place to look for an engine.
viperclub.org or viperalley.com

I have a new wet sleeve alum Viper block I had intended to build a coffee table out of, but its way down on my list of projects. I would assume there are others out there if a rebuild is the plan.

https://rochester.craigslist.org/pts/5200279616.html

I am thinking your friend is in Europe but this one is local to me.

Looks to be expensive but what do I know?

Red

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/pts/5201555541.html

Another new one out here too...must be a few floating around from the looks of it. (way cheaper than the NY one too)

The one in Ca sounds like a really god deal!

I could arrange the whole shipping to Europe- I have a US address.

Does anyone know if the con rods on those were a weak spot? The motor only ahd around 20k mls on it and a rod lets go? Had the stock ECU with rev limiter (being a 1995 it has one, right?)

The one out here my way has been for sale on and off for a while now. You might be able to get it a little cheaper even perhaps. (I don't know for sure, but just know I have seen it advertised for a while).

In the historical book "Chrysler Engines" the author, retired chief engineer of Chrysler Willem Weertman discusses the birth of the aluminum Viper V10 and iron block pickup V10.

I am 99% certain he writes that as a cost saving move the V10s used the same hyper eutectic aluminum alloy piston as the already in production 1993+ Magnum 5.9 V8.
I am not more than 50% certain if this meant only the iron block V10.

If they used the piston they may have also used the con rod.

Another book by an ex Chrysler employee
Jim Szilagyi entitled
"How to Build Big Inch Chrysler Small Block Engines"
he writes that 2000-2001 year Viper connecting rod
PN P5007504
is approximately 0.098 inch longer (total length 6.221)
but has a small pin bore (0.9425 to 0.9440 inches)
and can be used to help zero deck SB Magnum V8s.

The Magnum connecting rod is lightened by 14 grams on the small end
compared to the LA 360
but is still considered a relatively stout design.

I believe the first gen Viper rods were Magnum rods, so any performance upgrade should include aftermarket rods, if only for the weight savings.

No Mopar smallblock rod was known to fail. They were all forgings and were on the heavy side. They have been used in LA/Mag 4" stroker motors and thousands have seen life on the dragstrip to at least 6800rpm in the 3.58 stroke 360. That failure of your friend's was either a fluke or something else went wrong.

Aluminum blocks can be welded, too.

R.

I think piecing this block back together and remachining it might cost more than a crate off of Craigslist.... + would have unpredictable results...

At one point in time roughly 50% of Vipers built were totaled. Should be no shortage of low-mile complete engines in the Viper-specific wrecking yards.

I remember seeing tons of them in the insurance auctions when I was going alot and buying trucks years back.

Here's another place to check with, he has wrecked Vipers and parts.
He owns a large auto body shop in the St.Louis area (mostly dealer ship work) and he got into dealing with Viper rebuilders almost 20 years ago.
http://x2collision5.reachlocal.net/

This link is for Viper engines on his website.
http://x2collision5.reachlocal.net/gallery.asp?catid=Engines

He sells on ebay also.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/x2scott/m.html?i...=p2047675.l2562

Is there any reason he can't buy a newer block and use the older heads/intake to use the original electronics? I know that between an OBD-1 95 5.9 and a OBD-2 96 5.9, the block, heads, etc are all the same.

It will need someone more familiar with the differences are to say what will interchange.

Maybe a Viper Tech can answer those.

There's a local guy Joe Donovan that runs a performance shop http://www.performancebyjoe.com .

He was a Viper Tech at a Dodge Dealership 10 years ago.
He may have some idea.

Try Don Scharf automotive, they have a huge selection of viper parts, ask for Ryan Hagen, he's the Viper specialist there, Toll Free: 800-338-4002, my son and myself have bought parts through him and he's excellent to deal with, just have to be patient as he can get real busy at times as he's the only one that deals directly with the Viper parts.