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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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8/02/2007
15:19:59
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 Subject: Viper Rocker Arms
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I replaced my rocker arms with Viper parts. When you compare them side by side, the differance is pretty obvious. Not only is the ratio greater, but they are cut for more valve lift. Other than that, they are the same materials and same design.
Getting the valve covers off takes some time. There's lots of junk over the top of them, getting in the way. And there are some wire harness and ignition cable hold downs that use the rocker arm bolts. After a lot of miles, they don't want to come off. I had to break a couple of them. And there's a ground strap on passenger rear that I had to cut off.
I didn't need new gaskets. The factory gasket is a plastic material that stayed attached to the head. I simply remove the cover, then bolted it back on. So far, it appears to be leak free. But I just finished the job this morning, so we'll see how that goes over time.
Changing the rocker arms is a simple matter of unbolting one and bolting in the new one. Easy as cake, piece of pie.
You Can NOT use Viper fulcrums and bolts. They are a differant size.
Does it work? Yes, I believe it does! Just in a short drive, the Butt-O-Meter tells me it has more power. But that's hard to judge in a short drive. I'll have to see how it goes over the next couple of weeks. I have a 16 hour drive with a trailer in a few weeks, that will tell the tale.
Cost is less than $100. Time is about 2 hours. You'll have a tough getting better bang for the buck on any other mod. I think the only thing better is a computer reprogram.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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8/12/2007
13:29:34
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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Update
OK, so it's been a couple weeks, and a couple of hundred miles. As time and miles go by, it gets better. Computer learning the new parameters? I don't know. I do use the Hyperchips programmer, so I don't know what else the computer needs to learn.
The differance is obvious. It clearly has more power. Lots more get up and go from a stop light, and merging on the freeway.
Fuel mileage went up. I was getting a steady 11mpg around town commuting. Now getting 12.5. But I also changed a leaky plenum gasket at the same time; so that may have an impact also.
Havn't towed anything yet, or taken a long highway trip. I'm towing my track car to Hastings, NE (from Colorado Springs) in a couple of weeks. So we'll see how it does. I was getting 9mpg. And onramps were somewhat of a struggle.
So far, it's the best $100 bux I've spent on this truck (power wise). Lots of bang for buck here.
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dakownr
Dodge Dakota
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8/12/2007
17:10:02
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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about this mod...I put the viper rocker arms on the pass. side, and after I torqued them to 21 ft-lbs, they were still a little loose and wobbly. I was a little concerned and after I put the valve cover back on and started it up, the rocker arms were clicking VERY loudly. I let it run for a few minutes, and the clicking sound subsided a bit, but I still don't know if I should drive it like that. So, will the clicking go away, or should I take them back off? Maybe I did something wrong or skipped some small detail? and will it hurt my engine to drive with the viper rocker arms on only one side of the engine (temporarily-about 50 mi.?) thanks
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N56629
Dodge Dakota
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8/12/2007
18:21:37
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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Would you want to run any engine with cylinders on one side getting more or less mixture than the other side? Will it hurt? Probably not but why risk it?
It's not unusual to have lifters clattering for a short time after dis- and re- assembling rockers. It may even occur after a vehicle sits for a couple of day.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2007
12:59:35
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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Yes, a little lifter noise after re-assembly is common. But that shouldn't last more than a minute or two.
Properly adjusted rocker arms should have zero lash, and just a little bit of pre-load. It sounds like you have just a little too much slack in the valve train.
Did you also replace the fulcrums? Or the bolts? You didn't remove the sheet metal guide plate, did you? New push rods?
It won't really hurt to drive it with only 1/2 the arms installed for such a short distance.
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dakownr
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2007
23:27:52
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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I did not replace the fulcrums, bolts, or pushrods; do i need to? Yes, i did remove the guideplates, but put them back on...did I screw myself by doing so? Also, after a short time of the engine running, the clicking did go away. N56629-no I do not WANT to drive it like that, but I do not have two (street legal) vehicles right now, so I do not have much of a choice!
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Wadak
GenIII
8/14/2007
08:23:22
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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.bob,
Thans for the update cheaper alternatives to the other rocker arms.
92 and 97 Daks both with many mods.
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Josh
Dodge Dakota
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8/14/2007
14:17:57
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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OK. Did I miss something? What engine are we talking about here?
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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8/14/2007
15:31:19
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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Josh, they're talking about using the stock Viper V-10 1.7 ratio rocker arms on any Mag 3.9/5.2/5.9.
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Josh
Dodge Dakota
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8/14/2007
21:08:16
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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OK. Thanks.
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dakownr
Dodge Dakota
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8/14/2007
22:30:59
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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Well, I finally installed the rest of the rocker arms, and already I can feel a sustantial difference in the upper-rpm range. I have yet to really hammer it, but I think that it is a worthwhile improvement. BTW, ALL the clicking has gone away...thanks to all who gave advice on that; and .boB, thanks much for the info on the cheap upgrade!
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sd_hensley
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2007
15:06:42
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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What is the P/N and source of the rockers?
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dakownr
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2007
19:08:07
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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I'm not sure of the p/n, but if you go to wholesalemopar.com, and choose rocker arms for a dodge viper as your vehicle, then the rockers from the drop down menus, you should be able to find them pretty quickly...I think that mine cost about $88.00 w/o shipping.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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8/27/2007
20:45:15
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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OK, final update.
Towed the track car to Hastings, NE and back last week end. Open trailer, light weight car, probably only 4,000# total with all the gear and extra fuel. Just a few weeks back I towed the same load along the same highway, so I have a pretty decent referance point. Also, I'm not looking for street beast or track monster, I already have that.
Definatly a power improvement. Really noticable when climbing hills, and getting started from a stop light. Cruises on flat ground a lot easier. It didn't feel like such a struggle to make that long climb from Colby to Limon.
Gas mileage? About the same. I averaged about 9 the last time. This time almost 10. So close that it could be a test variable. So I'll say that mileage may not have improved, but didn't decrease.
Final summary:
1. Power definatly up. Noticable empty and loaded.
2. Mileage. Up around town, up on the highway, and about the same loaded.
3. Driving: Still as smooth as a baby's... well, you get the idea.
4. Cost. Less than $100! About the best performance dollar you're ever going to find.
5. Time. Less than 2 hours. Simple hand tools. Nothing complicated.
- Overall - a must do for the average driver/user. For those really looking to build a torque monster or track beast, this won't be enough.
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clint282cc
Dodge Dakota
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8/27/2007
22:20:51
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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anyone want to buy some 1.7 rockers? e-mail me clint282cc@yahoo.com
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Mikey
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2007
18:37:11
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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.Bob
What year of Viper did you get them from?
Also, why is it that when I went to my Dodge dealership, they told me $84.50 each? My thoughts are that that's a screw up and it should be for the whole set of 20. If I order them is that what they will send? The idiot at the dealership said that he didn't know and he couldn't find out until they were ordered (probably just a lazy ass dog fcuker).
No new valve covers right?
Thanx
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2007
23:42:52
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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92-02 Viper. They look exactly like the stock Magnum arms, just a little longer. Easily fits under the stock valve covers.
www.newdodgeparts.com
92-02 viper rocker arm, $5.20 each.
03-06 viper rocker arms, $41.96. Don't know what the differance is in the part.
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A. Noninito
Dodge Dakota
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9/16/2007
00:06:03
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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Please excuse my ignorance, but, what are rocker arms and how does replacing them with ones from a Viper increase performance? Sounds like something I'd be interested in.
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N56629
Dodge Dakota
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9/16/2007
09:43:29
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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Recently there seems to be a lot of debate on whether or not the so-called Viper rocker arms are really 1.7. At least one group has tested them and barely come up with 1.6.
To my knowlege no has ever verified a performance increase with anything other than a Butt Dyno.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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9/16/2007
13:34:37
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/howto/38620_rocker_arm_upgrade_install/index.html
This article is for an install of roller tips on a V6. a clear and dyno proven hp increase. There's another article somewhere demostrating the same increase with the viper arms. Didn't seem to be any power differance between the viper arms and the expensive roller arms.
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Mr.T
Dodge Dakota
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9/16/2007
14:00:36
| RE: Viper Rocker Arms
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I once installed a set of 1.6 ratio roller rocker arms in a freshly rebuilt 350 (1976 K5 Blazer), the only 'gain' I got was that the powerband had moved 300-400 RPM higher in the rev range.
Whatever was gained in the higher end was also lost in the low end. IMO trucks/big tires need all the low end torque they can get so I ended up removing them a week later.
using a 1.6 ratio in place of a 1.5 rocker not only increases valve lift but also affects the duration/overlap specs of the cam, but not always in a good way.
Bigger cams are machined properly to begin with, having the right duration/overlap specs to match their extra lift.
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