Harmonic Damper

[C.J]

I'm curious if there are any benefits from replacing the stock harmonic damper with an aftermarket one. My engine (2001 RT/10) seems fine, damper bolt is still tight from the factory, no odd vibrations in the car. The engine is still OEM...no mods.

Is there a way to test the stock damper to ensure it is still good?

ATI and Powerforce+Plus look to be the two that are readily available. ATI is close to double the price of the P+P damper, but hard to tell if it is worth the price differential. Thanks.

[Fatboy 18]

I think its down to a few things that can affect the OEM damper, Bottom line is its two pieces of steel held together by a piece of vulcanized rubber. Now if you have a supercharged or Turbo Viper that is going to make the engine spin up much faster and therefore put more strain on the OEM damper.

Atmospherics also play a part, rubber is affected by heat so that may take its toll on longevity? Nothing lasts forever.

As with most things that move, its something to be aware of an keep the odd eye on ;)

Stock Engine I would say the Powerforce Damper would be fine, Boosted, Go for the ATI

[Sybil TF]

I think its down to a few things that can affect the OEM damper, Bottom line is its two pieces of steel held together by a piece of vulcanized rubber. Now if you have a supercharged or Turbo Viper that is going to make the engine spin up much faster and therefore put more strain on the OEM damper.

Atmospherics also play a part, rubber is affected by heat so that may take its toll on longevity? Nothing lasts forever.

As with most things that move, its something to be aware of an keep the odd eye on ;)

Stock Engine I would say the Powerforce Damper would be fine, Boosted, Go for the ATIWho sells the ATI? And should the bolt be replaced? If so who has that?

[Fatboy 18]

JonB has most things including Crankshaft Bolt Kit

Roe Racing also sells Crankshaft pin kit.

http://www.viperpartsrack.com/viper-engine/viper-engine-gen1-gen2/viper-engine-parts-gen1-gen2/crankshaft-bolt-kit

Summit Racing has them
http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/ati-917932e/overview/make/dodge/model/viper

So does this place for an interesting price!
http://viperspecialtyperformance.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=157

http://www.acperformance.net/#!gen2-engine/ce2p

[Sybil TF]

Thanks Fatboy! I have the pin kit I bought off someone...AC performance has 2 listed. One for N/A and one for supercharged. I don't have a SC but I wonder if I can use the one for a SC just in case I get a SC in the future?

[Fatboy 18]

Thanks Fatboy! I have the pin kit I bought off someone...AC performance has 2 listed. One for N/A and one for supercharged. I don't have a SC but I wonder if I can use the one for a SC just in case I get a SC in the future?

Summit racing also have the 2 different ATI Balancers, If it was me I would contact ATI for more info on the best one for your application, then shop around with that part number for the best price, looks like some people are adding the usual Viper Tax ;)

[Sybil TF]

looks like some people are adding the usual Viper Tax ;)Yeah, I see...yikes!

[James430]

Make sure you have the heavy duty pin set if you are going to put a supercharger on.Put the Paxton on not long ago and spun off both pins last week.In the shop now getting the crank re drilled and bigger pins installed....Lots of torque on these things.

[C.J]

Thanks Mark...what damper are you using on your GTS?

Wow, quite a price difference too between some of these vendors.

Sybil, IPSCO.org also sells the crankshaft bolt and washer.

[Sybil TF]

Make sure you have the heavy duty pin set if you are going to put a supercharger on.Put the Paxton on not long ago and spun off both pins last week.In the shop now getting the crank re drilled and bigger pins installed....Lots of torque on these things.

Where do I get a heavy duty pin set?

[James430]

I will get you the info on the pins when I pick up the car Wednesday....All he told me was the Pins are to small that comes with the Paxton SC and he had to drill bigger holes and get bigger pins....

[Fatboy 18]

Thanks Mark...what damper are you using on your GTS? I am still using the OEM damper on my car at the moment, When I changed the front cover timing gasket a couple of yrs back I cleaned up and inspected the OEM damper and all was well, My creampuff engine is pretty much stock so at present not much need for anything better. :)

My stock damper cleaned up with a wire brush
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3684/13697076313_740cdc31c1.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/13697082943_6e7a04ae34.jpg

Couple of coats of spray paint from a rattle can, the finished result.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3761/13697592643_e1d00c3297.jpg

[C.J]

That OEM damper cleaned up nicely! Are you using IPSCO pulleys?

[FrgMstr]

Replaced the OE on my 2008 this year. It was starting to delaminate.

[Fatboy 18]

That OEM damper cleaned up nicely! Are you using IPSCO pulleys?

Yes, All IPSCO :)

[C.J]

Replaced the OE on my 2008 this year. It was starting to delaminate.

What damper did you get to replace your OEM one?

Six years old, but IIRC, you track your Viper quite a bit, so that's probably good service from that OEM damper.

[C.J]

Yes, All IPSCO :)

Thanks...the pulleys look great! Do you remember if they were heavier than the OEM pulleys?

[FrgMstr]

What damper did you get to replace your OEM one?

Six years old, but IIRC, you track your Viper quite a bit, so that's probably good service from that OEM damper.

Covered under warranty. OE back on.

[C.J]

Thanks.

[Viper Specialty]

looks like some people are adding the usual Viper Tax ;)

Price corrected, that was outdated by almost two years... don't have time to keep on top of the website these days, that one slipped through.

That said, the pricing is what it is. Businesses like us simply cannot compete with the likes of a tens-of-millions of dollars a year online retailer like Summit, certainly not with the wholesale structure that a company like ATI has. Summit's cost is well over a hundred bucks less than mine, and for me to get that pricing structure, I would have to sell HUNDREDS of these a year. In the Viper market? Fahgeddaboudit.

Parts like that are in place for ideas and package additions, generally not designed to compete for straight retail customers. While I can understand the "Viper Tax" claim that everyone throws around, no one ever looks at the big picture. In order for guys like me to be in the Viper market to start with and cater to the likes of you guys, we have to GIVE UP the high-volume market strategy by default. Its a trade off... high volume, high discount, low dollar, low support... or low volume, low discount, high dollar, high support. The only place that had it "made" was RSI at one point, as they were coupled with a high-volume regular retail entity. Even then... how did that work out in the long run. You cannot do low volume technical stuff without high margins. Period.

I also get it that many people don't care, and are shopping on price, more so than ever before. The big thing is... when your balancer slips on your crank and causes damage, call Summit and ask them what to do. Then, the reason for Viper specific retailers will become apparent.

[Fatboy 18]

Thanks...the pulleys look great! Do you remember if they were heavier than the OEM pulleys?

Some are heavier, belt tensioner pulley is heavier, power steering pulley is heavier, idler pulley is also heavier AND make sure if you do replace the idler pulley to use a longer bolt than the original stock bolt or you will shear off the end of the cast shaft on the timing cover! I found out the hard way!
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2908/13697025343_ff42d3c8ee.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/mSmQrn)DSC02382 (https://flic.kr/p/mSmQrn) by Fatboy 18 (https://www.flickr.com/people/90582394@N02/), on Flickr

The other pulleys are Lighter, so I guess it balances itself out?

[Sybil TF]

The big thing is... when your balancer slips on your crank and causes damage, call Summit and ask them what to do. Then, the reason for Viper specific retailers will become apparent.Good point.

[C.J]

... idler pulley is also heavier AND make sure if you do replace the idler pulley to use a longer bolt than the original stock bolt or you will shear off the end of the cast shaft on the timing cover! I found out the hard way! ...

Yikes! Great info to have, Mark. Sorry you had to learn it the expensive way -- thanks for sharing.

[C.J]

My takeaway from all this is that the OEM damper is fine, and keep an eye on it for deterioration.

High HP setups would probably benefit from an aftermarket damper, but not sure there is much benefit from an aftermarket damper at factory HP levels. Thanks!

[Fatboy 18]

Yes,' keeping an eye on it' is the thing,

But, if any of you have had problems with loose Crankshaft bolts it may have affected the internal surface of the Harmonic Damper which might also cause it to slip and possibly damage the end of the crankshaft :) Just something to be aware of ;)