How to tell whether a gen 2 has forged internals or not

[murksyou]

Does anyone know of a way to tell whether a gen 2 engine has forged internals besides the model year? I'm asking because I have seen a few MY2000 gen 2's with 1999 build dates.

[Fatboy 18]

My car was Built Dec 1999 but does not have forged internals. 2000 Creampuff

[plumcrazy]

jonB might be able to shed some light on this

[Boosted Motorsports]

That would be pretty cool if this was the case! Should be an engine code stamped that would indicate. I have a 1999 build date with the Koni shocks ACR but doubt I have a forged motor. I'll go buy a s/c right now if i do

[Bill Pemberton]

There are plenty of 2000s with 99 build dates. They have hypereutectic pistons -----------------------and remember, the fastest bone stock Gen II run was at Englishtown with a 11.7 pass ( 2000 Red RT-10 )

[Stealth78]

Bill, but in all seriousness do you really think that it is a clear divided line? It would seem surprising if somewhere in the model year change that either engine production was low and a creampuff landed in a 1999, or there were possibly a few forged engines that landed in a 2000 model year car. As the OP has indicated it would be really interesting to know if anyone has maybe a late summer build date in 1999 with a 2000 model that could potentially have a forged motor. Without tearing into the engine what would indicate signs of one or the other?

[plumcrazy]

There are plenty of 2000s with 99 build dates. They have hypereutectic pistons -----------------------and remember, the fastest bone stock Gen II run was at Englishtown with a 11.7 pass ( 2000 Red RT-10 )

wasnt that paul in a black rt ?

[ViperTony]

There are plenty of 2000s with 99 build dates. They have hypereutectic pistons -----------------------and remember, the fastest bone stock Gen II run was at Englishtown with a 11.7 pass ( 2000 Red RT-10 )

Bill, it's common knowledge to those of us who have been following Vipers for a long time. But someone that's new to this world how would they be able to tell on the '95 below that it has forged pistons? Without coming to the forums? https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/6052660555.html Build sheet if it exists?

[LATAMUD]

Couldn't you just pull the oil pan and inspect the pistins from under neath?

[Camfab]

Bottom line is that you can't tell. Just because a car was built in '99 doesn't mean it has '99 spec pieces. The engines were redesigned for MY 2000. One note that most people don't know about the 2000 model year is that there was an engine block update which occurred somewhere if my memory serves me correctly in Nov of '99. The early blocks (2000 MY prior to Nov) had a special sleeve material that was absolutely bullet proof if I recall. The problem was most individuals couldn't/didn't break them in properly. These motors when broken in right were ringers for sure. Apparently so many people had issues burning oil that Dodge reverted back to the old sleeves. The 2000 engine incorporated a longer rod, much shorter lighter piston which certainly was a tighter engine, when coupled with those sleeves it made great power. That's, my friends why the 2000 MY kicked butt.
So the real question is........... do you have one of those original blocks? Was your car one of the ones sent back to Arrow Racing to be converted to the old sleeves? Remember that '99 and earlier forged pistons were larger, heavier, and would require the earlier shorter rods as well as a complete engine rebalance. You have to realize that your talking about a seventeen year old car, and I'm guessing your not the original owner. 2000 model year Vipers also have a ten QT oil pan. Hope this helps......

Yes LATAMUD is correct, if you knew what your looking at, one could tell by dropping the pan.

[slitherv10]

There are plenty of 2000s with 99 build dates. They have hypereutectic pistons -----------------------and remember, the fastest bone stock Gen II run was at Englishtown with a 11.7 pass ( 2000 Red RT-10 )

Nor sure he cares how fast it may be if it has forged. I think he wants to know in general. Besides, 1 car going .2 seconds faster than another could have so many factors it would make your head spin. I know a 2000 RT-10 that did a 13.2 pass.

[Bill Pemberton]

Pretty sure this did not happen, because if you went to the Plant in 99 for a 2000 ( which I did ) the Employees all wanted to tell you about the new motor in all 2000s. They were not shy about telling you the advantages and the increase in horsepower , though not shown on paper. Only a month or two later there was a complete cease and desist order at the Plant and the motor was no longer discussed since there was a strong battle raging in SCCA with Corvette and they did not want the information out there. Viper Days had over $50,000 held back by Dodge as the Class Matrix placed points on the 2000 models over earlier models. Money was released after the Matrix changed the points and reverted back, making all Gen IIs equal. Dodge did not want GM to know anything about this car and engine. Time and perception has changed fact and reality , but don't really want to repeat this full story all over again.

[Ripper]

Great info as always Bill !!

I saw some of your posts in the "other" thread trying to explain it.. picked up some good info there.

[Matt M, Pa]

Thanks for setting the record straight...again...Bill. I too was "there when it happened" and remember it all very well. I get so sick of hearing the "creampuff" nonsense...

I"m willing to bet that an engine assembled to be installed in a 2000MY year Viper has the cast pistons. The model year starts in the previous year, so it's not uncommon to have a 2000 car with an engine built in '99. (Or a 2002 with an engine made in 2001, etc)

I don;t recall how much of the VIN is stamped on the Viper engines...but that could also be an indicator as to what MY car the engine was destined for.

[Boosted Motorsports]

Pretty sure this did not happen, because if you went to the Plant in 99 for a 2000 ( which I did ) the Employees all wanted to tell you about the new motor in all 2000s. They were not shy about telling you the advantages and the increase in horsepower , though not shown on paper. Only a month or two later there was a complete cease and desist order at the Plant and the motor was no longer discussed since there was a strong battle raging in SCCA with Corvette and they did not want the information out there. Viper Days had over $50,000 held back by Dodge as the Class Matrix placed points on the 2000 models over earlier models. Money was released after the Matrix changed the points and reverted back, making all Gen IIs equal. Dodge did not want GM to know anything about this car and engine. Time and perception has changed fact and reality , but don't really want to repeat this full story all over again.

Bill do you have a link to more info on this? So how much hp increase or overall hp were the employees at the plant saying the 2000 motors made? If my ACR on paper said 460 what did it really make leaving CAP?

[71firebird400]

Funny. Guess all those dynos showing the 96-99 cars make more power than the 00-02 are in on the conspiracy!!

[Bill Pemberton]

Dear Mr. Firebird,

Please provide your so called proof they made more HP. Please go buy a Viper, come to one of the future VOA National get togethers and go ask some of the older or even retired Engineers if the car didn't have more HP. It was never a huge amount , but it was part of the reason Porsche and Corvette went to lighter hypereutectic pistons also. There is no link on this , as noted it was not supposed to even be announced since they did not want the competition to know. Estimates were 10-15hp , which may not sound like much , but when competing in SCCA that was a nice jump in their competitive races.

[71firebird400]

Bill, nothing I do or say is going to convince you otherwise but there is plenty of evidence that the 00-02 cars dyno slightly lower than the 96-99.

That's an interesting argument about hypereutectic pistons making more power than forged pistons. I'm sure it had nothing to do with less expansion, tighter bore clearances, decreased cold-start emissions and the EPA Transitional NLEV standards that took effect for MY 2000.

[Bill Pemberton]

Were you at the Plant 18 years ago, were you assisting with the Matrix for Viper Days, were you hanging out with Bobby Archer who was running World Challenge that year, were you aware that there were very few 1999s sold and the rumor was the PCM was changed( to help get rid of the cam shake) and it was the heaviest Viper ever built and the slowest ( again perception , but folks back then took it as truth ). Lighter mass, more hp, same reason other Manufacturers went that direction, but the reason I bring all this up is myth and innuendo become a basis of fact in many folks minds , yet they were not there , and it is easier to believe some things they read. I am getting cranky, sorry, in my old age , but I find it interesting so few really want to know the history as it occurred, not how they want it to appear.

Dyno's vary so much depending on brand , that we can all make an argument for one over another. Just know at Mid Ohio Bobby Archer was whipping it on and going faster in his new motored Viper than in previous ones , and many of the guys on the track back then saw it as an advancement and bought 2000s on up. All of them are solid machines , but everyone stops the discussion at 2002, what did we have till 2010?

[71firebird400]

It makes perfect sense that the folks discussing the Viper circa 1999/2000 would advertise the new motor as an improvement. Admitting it was down on power due to tighter emissions regulations (necessitating the revised camshaft and hypereutectic pistons) would be an embarrassment even if there was nothing that could be done within the development costs to offset it.

[Bill Pemberton]

Oh for God's sake ---------shows how something spun years ago becomes truth to those later. Funny how trying to tell folks what happened years ago , when all us old farts are getting older and older , can be turned around to something else. Wasn't real hard to meet emissions back then , and from 1999 on they even met California's standards. I am trying to figure out what to tell the guy that bought my 2000 , that was faster than my 1998 through the quarter - must have been a faulty timer at the track?

By the way the revised cam and pistons were due primarily to the poseurs and whiners of the day , who didn't like the car shaking ( when many of us loved it). But they were the same group that whined and moaned about the Koni shocks rattling ( they did on BMWs too, but they did not complain), so we went to a completely different set of shocks that folks hated as they were impossible to get adjusted for the track --- whoops , I learned my lesson , better not tell you that whole story either.

Time for Grandpa to take a nap and not tell any stories of the early days of the Snake ,as appears everyone already knows the end of each chapter.

[mitchdob]

Dear Bill - thank you for your commitment and support to the Viper and this forum.

You are a cornerstone of this community. Your input, experience and insight into the heritage of the Viper is invaluable. THANK YOU!!

I for one am appreciative.

... and @ 71firebird400: I never bought a Viper from Bill, so no kissing up here.

[Boosted Motorsports]

Oh for God's sake ---------shows how something spun years ago becomes truth to those later. Funny how trying to tell folks what happened years ago , when all us old farts are getting older and older , can be turned around to something else. Wasn't real hard to meet emissions back then , and from 1999 on they even met California's standards. I am trying to figure out what to tell the guy that bought my 2000 , that was faster than my 1998 through the quarter - must have been a faulty timer at the track?

By the way the revised cam and pistons were due primarily to the poseurs and whiners of the day , who didn't like the car shaking ( when many of us loved it). But they were the same group that whined and moaned about the Koni shocks rattling ( they did on BMWs too, but they did not complain), so we went to a completely different set of shocks that folks hated as they were impossible to get adjusted for the track --- whoops , I learned my lesson , better not tell you that whole story either.

Time for Grandpa to take a nap and not tell any stories of the early days of the Snake ,as appears everyone already knows the end of each chapter.

Thank you for the info Bill and you should know that your info and intel from the higher ups are much appreciated. Many of us are thankful for this info and I'm sure everyone knows that you are not giving biased info here based on a personal preference but rather passing along info from being in the community and around people "in the know" during that time. I enjoy reading any behind the scenes info you have and there are not many others that deliver this so keep it coming!!!

[SnakeWatching]

So would my 1997 GTS have the forged pistons?

I cant seem to find the history link that explained the changes year to year.

I remember seeing an article that says some of the early cars could take boost without many issues (but I could be wrong).

[Fatboy 18]

So would my 1997 GTS have the forged pistons?

I cant seem to find the history link that explained the changes year to year.

I remember seeing an article that says some of the early cars could take boost without many issues (but I could be wrong).

Yes your car had Forged Pistons.