What are my options after a rod bearing failure

[ViperSRT]

Don't forget to replace the oil cooler and lines. They may contain a lot of debris to foul the rebuild.

[Mikey]

Don't forget to replace the oil cooler and lines. They may contain a lot of debris to foul the rebuild.

Noted, we still haven't pulled the engine so I'm trying to make a list of everything to knock out during the build. Anyone recommend Belander headers?
I'm curious as to why he's doing a 5 cut valve job rather than porting, maybe to keep the low end Torque?

[SRT_BluByU]

why all the modification and replacement of parts on a 10k mile motor..especially if the bearing halve didn't spin and the rod checks out? These were very well built engines from the factory with great parts..

[Mikey]

why all the modification and replacement of parts on a 10k mile motor..especially if the bearing halve didn't spin and the rod checks out? These were very well built engines from the factory with great parts..

I was wanting to go ahead and make more power if I'm going to rebuild, he said it'll be good for about 750-800hp depending on the cam size

[Viper98]

Mikey, dude, may I ask?: what are your plans for the car?: road race, time attack, mild street?

I’m a little confused: first, you’re not sure what to do without spending a lot of money and now this. Kinda opposite there, ay? Like BluByu said, these are good engines. You don’t have to go to THAT extent if just street and spirited is mostly in your future. I mean, it’s your car buddy, do as you wish. I think we are just trying to save you some money. Again, my friend, your car…just don’t let someone talk you into stuff you really don’t need.

Maybe ask some of the racers here. Get their input.

Think about it, ay!

[Mikey]

Mikey, dude, may I ask?: what are your plans for the car?: road race, time attack, mild street?

I’m a little confused: first, you’re not sure what to do without spending a lot of money and now this. Kinda opposite there, ay? Like BluByu said, these are good engines. You don’t have to go to THAT extent if just street and spirited is mostly in your future. I mean, it’s your car buddy, do as you wish. I think we are just trying to save you some money. Again, my friend, your car…just don’t let someone talk you into stuff you really don’t need.

Maybe ask some of the racers here. Get their input.

Think about it, ay?

Just spirited driving, so basically when I was getting pricing 20k out the door was just going to get me back to square one if everything was toast. Then I started factoring if I just had this current shop to disassemble and replace what's needed, I'm still paying a decent coin. So I got to calling around and got a quote for heads and cam build, after paying for engine pull and install, it'll be roughly the same.

So I figured, if I'm already going to be spending money to get a rebuild, it would chap my ass a little less if my car makes "brap brap brap" sounds as opposed to being back to where I started

[StrokerAce]

I don't get the need for all that was quoted. Sound alike they are preying on your fears and the potential unknown. I'm doubting it needs all that work. All that work for an engine that hasn't been checked out? No thanks. I'd like to see it torn down, measurements taken and parts verified as needing replaced or reworked.

[Mikey]

I don't get the need for all that was quoted. Sound alike they are preying on your fears and the potential unknown. I'm doubting it needs all that work. All that work for an engine that hasn't been checked out? No thanks. I'd like to see it torn down, measurements taken and parts verified as needing replaced or reworked.

I was asking for an upgrade rather than rebuilding back to square one. They say this will be 750-800 at the crank. I'm all ears though, we still haven't touched the car yet

[AZTVR]

I have to chuckle when I see posts that say that you don't need to upgrade your Viper's performance. I never saw posts like that before. Most posts are "how to get more power" or "time for the modifications to start." Well, at least in threads where the major subject isn't about investment value.

[StrokerAce]

Nobody is saying he doesn't need to. But adding more cost to a rebuild for more power goes a complete 180 from being upset about paying anything in excess to the already spent $15k just to drive the car.

To get the car running well he "doesn't need" to upgrade anything. But if he wants more power now is the time to do it as it's already down. Don't replace things twice. Save time and money and headaches.

[Lawineer]

Noted, we still haven't pulled the engine so I'm trying to make a list of everything to knock out during the build. Anyone recommend Belander headers?
I'm curious as to why he's doing a 5 cut valve job rather than porting, maybe to keep the low end Torque?

porting heads won't cause loss of low end torque. A valve job is a lot cheaper (though it wont make as much power).

I think you need to figure out what you want and do that. No sense in doing things like getting forged pistons unless you're really going crank some power out of it. It's not like forged pistons will add to the life of the engine or something.
Also, if you're trying to make 800hp NA with stock displacement, it's probably going to be pretty choppy. If you're going to add boost, you'll want lower compression.

Make a plan and then do it. Don't just haphazardly upgrade random parts.

[Mikey]

Nobody is saying he doesn't need to. But adding more cost to a rebuild for more power goes a complete 180 from being upset about paying anything in excess to the already spent $15k just to drive the car.

To get the car running well he "doesn't need" to upgrade anything. But if he wants more power now is the time to do it as it's already down. Don't replace things twice. Save time and money and headaches.

When looking at upgrades, i was seeing 30+ at prefix and I wasn't willing. After seeing that I can have a 750hp viper for the same price as if the motor was completely toast. I'm a little less upset, actually excited

[Mikey]

porting heads won't cause loss of low end torque. A valve job is a lot cheaper (though it wont make as much power).

I think you need to figure out what you want and do that. No sense in doing things like getting forged pistons unless you're really going crank some power out of it. It's not like forged pistons will add to the life of the engine or something.
Also, if you're trying to make 800hp NA with stock displacement, it's probably going to be pretty choppy. If you're going to add boost, you'll want lower compression.

Make a plan and then do it. Don't just haphazardly upgrade random parts.

I'm going to give him a call, I told him it's going to be an NA car that's not tracked so I'll see what he recommends. I suspect it's to fit my budget, I'd like to stay under 20 out the door. (Pulling the engine, the build, installation, tune, etc)

Frankly, if he gives me a 750hp motor, I'm not too concerned on how he does it.

[Gen5snake]

This is the route I would go. $18k plus shipping. Send them your core back. It's not a tough job to do if you have the garage space.


Screenshot 2022-09-25 171425.jpg

[StrokerAce]

I build 750hp for about $20k, soup to nuts, with an LS. You BETTER get 750hp out of a Viper when supplying the complete engine.

[Lawineer]

If you’re trying to get more power, I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t be porting the heads. I am not super familiar with this engine but you’d think that would be a must- do for a street car. It increases power without affecting driveability.


It seems like you’re only a crankshaft away from a 9L stroker. Why not do that?

When you say 750-800, are you talking rwhp or crank?

[Mikey]

If you’re trying to get more power, I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t be porting the heads. I am not super familiar with this engine but you’d think that would be a must- do for a street car. It increases power without affecting driveability.


It seems like you’re only a crankshaft away from a 9L stroker. Why not do that?

When you say 750-800, are you talking rwhp or crank?

Crank, I'm visiting the new shop Monday and I'll see if I can get a better idea of what we're doing. He's the engine builder for a lot of the viper race teams and does some work with Calvo, so I'm sure some items are due to my limited budget

[Mikey]

I build 750hp for about $20k, soup to nuts, with an LS. You BETTER get 750hp out of a Viper when supplying the complete engine.

When looking at the other options, this was a bargain. Viper wise that is. 16.6 for the build then factor 2-3 to pull and install then need headers and a tune

[Lawineer]

If the heads are off the car, port them, imo. Really not a good place to save money on a performance build.

[SRT_BluByU]

Gen V are CNC ported from the factory... these are REALLY well built engines right out of the box. It seems like the oil pan can be dropped with the engine in the car.. any reason why the crank and rod bearings cant be done on the lift with the engine in if the bearing halves didnt spin and the crank only needs a light polish?

[Gen5snake]

The car is going to Prefix...you will do fine there. The heads are already nicely CNC ported...they can't take much more meat off of them before they start hitting the water jackets. I don't know how much benefit you'll see from porting on these...they will let you know if you're missing out on anything big by not giving them an additional massage....and who cares about peak HP....it's all about area under the curve.

[Lawineer]

The car is going to Prefix...you will do fine there. The heads are already nicely CNC ported...they can't take much more meat off of them before they start hitting the water jackets. I don't know how much benefit you'll see from porting on these...they will let you know if you're missing out on anything big by not giving them an additional massage....and who cares about peak HP....it's all about area under the curve.

Ahh. This makes more sense. Also explains why the cars respond so well to headers and exhaust.

Mikey: Keep in mind 750hp isn't much more than factory 645. As you can tell, I'm not intimately familiar with these cars, but it would seem very odd that you'd need to upgrade rods and pistons to make another 105hp- about 15% more power. I'm pretty sure guys run blowers on stock bottom ends without problems. I would just upgrade the rod bolts and call it good.

[ViperGeorge]

The Prefix 9 Liter Extreme motor makes 800HP at the crank. They put mine on an engine dyno and that is what it did, like exactly 800HP.

[Mikey]

I'm sending the motor to Kevin at Exotic Engine Development. After my conversation with him this afternoon, I have no doubt that he'll get me squared away

I'm trying to avoid the "while we're in there" syndrome, he's estimating 700whp, that should be plenty for what I use the car for

[Lawineer]

I'm sending the motor to Kevin at Exotic Engine Development. After my conversation with him this afternoon, I have no doubt that he'll get me squared away

I'm trying to avoid the "while we're in there" syndrome, he's estimating 700whp, that should be plenty for what I use the car for

Would be a very impressive NA build. Almost exactly 100hp/L out of a massive 8.4. Sounds awesome. I bet you'll love the extra 200 horses.