So it looks like I spoke too soon about a great season with the 96 GTS.....

[dodgestang]

Just lost the head gasket on the way to a car show 60 miles or so away from the house

Temp gauge started acting crazy....it would spike to over heat zone (while driving highway speed) and then a few seconds later drop to normal. I pulled over and check the coolant level....topped off with a little water but it didn't need it so I started thinking maybe the fan relay was on the fritz.....drove it a few more miles keeping and eye on it....and then the temp level stopped going down....I pulled over and I started to see condensation on my oil breather....pulled the dip stick and sure enough....oil was starting to get wet. Lucky (I guess) it never really over heated, never got to full chocolate milk status, and the oil pressure never budged....so hoping I can get in and out with only a head gasket.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2clOE_18Luo

[plumcrazy]

easy for me to spend your cash but id get those heads worked on since they are coming off anyways. and then you "might as well" do the cam too....

and then you dont wanna do heads/cam without doing the RR's. and then might as well powdercoat the intake and VC's. and then.....and then....

[dodgestang]

Yeah.....I didn't buy this to hot rod it though.....just something to tool around to work in a few thousand miles a year
I was hoping to get it on a dyno before the winter started and see where it was though.....

[plumcrazy]

you are a much better man than me. id never get away without doing all that to it LOL

[dodgestang]

you are a much better man than me. id never get away without doing all that to it LOL

I have 'other' cars that I have already done all that too. Not this one.....no.....not this one.....

[VIPER BAZ UK]

May not be head gaskets. .

Had a 97 here doing something similar and it was timing chain cover gasket.. Speak to Chuck T ...

[dodgestang]

May not be head gaskets. .

Had a 97 here doing something similar and it was timing chain cover gasket.. Speak to Chuck T ...

Well that would be easier....

[VIPER BAZ UK]

Worth double checking before you pull the heads. .

It was only when i spoke to Chuck and he advised that the timing chain gaskets were prone to go and a common issue in early Gen-2's ..

Say hi to Chuck for me..

[Sybil TF]

How many miles does this car have?

[dodgestang]

It had 18.5 in March......now it has 22k ish

[Viper Specialty]

Ditto on the above. The early Gen-2's are notorious for timing cover gasket failures. Head gasket failures on low-power applications when an MLS gasket is being used is virtually unheard of.

However, if you are going to take this job, DO NOT use OEM gaskets! There are FAR better options available... use the opportunity to rid yourself of the paper gaskets in the area and permanently solve the issue.

[dodgestang]

I am definitely undecided if I want to do this job myself. At the same time.....I only have two viable options to sub it out.....

1. Is the semi-local dodge dealer (Country Chrysler) who claims to have a Viper Certified Tech on staff
2. A performance shop down in southern MD (Smyrna) who does a lot of work with SRT Trucks and other things http://www.highhorseperformance.com/

[plumcrazy]

ill take option 2 every time over a "viper certified dealer" every single day of the week

[SN95SNAKE]

ill take option 2 every time over a "viper certified dealer" every single day of the week

Agreed!

[ACRSNK]

Good luck and agreed as to taking option #2

[Sybil TF]

It had 18.5 in March......now it has 22k ish

I have 29,000. Wonder if I should replace it before this happens? Is it hard to do?

[swexlin]

High Horse has an excellent reputation in the LX community. Don't know about their experience with Vipers though.

[HPmopars]

My brother and I just did the timing chain gasket on a club members '97 GTS a couple months ago, his car only had about 18K miles on it and gave similar symptoms as yours did.

[BAD BOYZZ GARAGE]

Everything these guys said and just an FYI. The factory G2 OEM Mopar replacement head gasket is top notch, its actually the Gen 4 mls gasket with compression rings around cylinder bores.. Will hold its own against other high qualty mfg's. just make sure they don't send you the old style G2 head gaskets that someone had laying around in the parts bin, they're crap as others mentioned.. ASK for Mopar's newer technology

I'm installing a new set on a 2001' RT/10 on the lift now.

Good luck!!
Bad Boyzz
Toddy

[Viper Specialty]

Everything these guys said and just an FYI. The factory G2 OEM Mopar replacement head gasket is top notch, its actually the Gen 4 mls gasket with compression rings around cylinder bores.. Will hold its own against other high qualty mfg's. just make sure they don't send you the old style G2 head gaskets that someone had laying around in the parts bin, they're crap as others mentioned.. ASK for Mopar's newer technology

I'm installing a new set on a 2001' RT/10 on the lift now.

Good luck!!
Bad Boyzz
Toddy

I beg to differ on this one. I have seen more issues with the G4+ head gaskets than the Gen-2/3 style gaskets, especially on the race applications due to inconsistencies of the applied "sealant"... and its really nothing more than sealant, certainly not a true compression ring. Also on the topic, NO OE based gasket can compare to some of the aftermarket offerings in terms of high-power cylinder containment, and also no OE gasket will allow lifter and cam service with the cylinder heads in place. The aftermarket options have it all over Mopar OE gaskets in every situation short of the later O-ring type gaskets and the "reusable" applications like Oil Pan and Valve Cover.

[dodgestang]

So I am thinking this weekend I will run a quick compression test on all ten and see if any are showing signs of low compression to help me determine better the source of the failure. Anyone have any insight into what I should expect in terms of compression for a good cylinder in a stock setup?

[dodgestang]

Ugh to add insult to injury and pour salt in this still open wound.....I just had to get my 08 dually daily driver towed home with it leaking all of its oil out of the oil pan....*sigh*.


Never rains it pours in my life.

[dodgestang]

High Horse has an excellent reputation in the LX community. Don't know about their experience with Vipers though.

Well after a couple email chats it appears that this repair job isn't up their alley. So I am still looking for a shop recommendation in the SePA/DE/NeMD area

[Rocket]

Not sure if you did the compression test yet and I'm betting it's the timing cover gasket as well. Still a pain, and a lot less headaches than head gaskets. Hopefully no damage to bearings by the oil/water combination. I would think a radiator pressure tester would help to pinpoint to the timing cover gasket?

[VIPER BAZ UK]

Flushed the engine 3 times with engine flush to clean the system out before filling up with mobil 1..