Goofy reveiw dude

[DSessom]

I would like to add that these 8.3L V 10's are built to make serious power. Forged internals will allow them to make well over 1000 hp with no problem. I have personally seen two of them making 1,200 and 1,400 hp respectively (one in a 2008 Viper, and one was a 2004 SRT-10 Ram). Both were twin turbo setups.

 

[VIPR PWR]

As far as I am aware, the crank, pistons and rods are stock. The cam is a "Rattlesnake" Venomous 1 Racing custom grind, and lifters are Johnson link bar roller lifters. The heads have been ported. The throttle body is V1R's "Bigmouth" throttle body, and finally, the headers are Gibson shorty headers (not the best, but they work) and exit the side exhaust.
All that together is what Scott calls his "V1R650" package because it boosts the crank horsepower to around 650.
From what I understand, forged internals are not needed until you exceed 800 crank horsepower, which can only be done using turbos. If you do N/A cam/heads or a supercharger, you won't exceed 700 crank horsepower.

I can tell you from experience that unless you intend on using your SRT-10 as a serious race vehicle, anything over 600hp is really just a waste. It's nearly impossible to launch correctly without breaking traction and sliding everywhere on a public street. (Prepped track is WAY different - very sticky)
But yeah, in general, on the streets, 600hp is plenty honestly.

Are you following @Kiwi SRT10 build and the info on his N/A build using Striker heads ?

 

[VIPR PWR]

I would like to add that these 8.3L V 10's are built to make serious power. Forged internals will allow them to make well over 1000 hp with no problem. I have personally seen two of them making 1,200 and 1,400 hp respectively (one in a 2008 Viper, and one was a 2004 SRT-10 Ram). Both were twin turbo setups.

Im sure your talking about Doms truck that was built with Justin at JMB Perfomance ..

 

[DSessom]

Are you following @Kiwi SRT10 build and the info on his N/A build using Striker heads ?

I have looked at a few of the posts in that thread but have not read through it all in it's entirety.

Striker heads are very nice, but I can't justify the cost for the gains. My ported heads flow 325cc and Strikers flow 340cc. In my case, the HP gain would be 15-20hp with my cam and exhaust. And honestly, I am not looking for any more power. I can't launch without losing traction as it is. I would personally stick with stock heads unless you planned on going with a turbo setup. In that case, the HP gains would be more in the 40-50hp range (maybe more depending on boost), and would more closely justify the cost.

 

[Kiwi SRT10]

I agree. I think more people would have bought a "sport truck" rather than a 4x4 offroad type truck. I'm sure a few have been converted, and I have certainly seen a few Hellcat swapped Ram pickups around. The downside of it all would be modern pricing. A "modern SRT Ram" would likely be in the $100K range if not more, which is prohibitively expensive for most people. I certainly could not afford a $2,000/month payment. That's house mortgage money for me. So, I am thrilled that I could buy a very nice, relatively low mileage, already built (cam/heads/exhaust), SRT-10 for $23K cash.

Just remember the OEM pistons are very weak. If the thin ring lands break out then you will throw the engine in the scrap bin. My truck is now going on to it's 3rd engine. It was only 600hp. The new build has forged pistons with a standard sized ring land so it won't happen again. The rest of the OEM engine is fine up to 700hp. I have recently seen 2 or 3 trucks for sale in the US with similar mileage 65-75k with brand new engines. Don't have to be a rocket scientist to see what happened there. What I am going through I wouldn't wish on anyone. By the time I am back on the road it will cost me $55k NZ I was about to retire early, now I won't be. This has set me back 3 years. I am just an old truck driver and would have enjoyed those 3 years at the Pleasant Point Railway volunteering my spare time.
But on a brighter note with the new Striker heads and cam it will go mental.
It took a month of discussions and planning of all scenarios before the wife and I said "bugger it, lets make this truck great again".
Should be up and running in a month or two.



Also mine is not a race truck or anything like that. It is a daily driver that lives in the garage and comes out on fine weekends and for car shows. It gets a good hard burst about once a month or two, ususally a 2nd or 3rd gear wind up. Nowhere near redline and no burnouts. So be careful.

 

[Wifey]

Just remember the OEM pistons are very weak. If the thin ring lands break out then you will throw the engine in the scrap bin. My truck is now going on to it's 3rd engine. It was only 600hp. The new build has forged pistons with a standard sized ring land so it won't happen again. The rest of the OEM engine is fine up to 700hp. I have recently seen 2 or 3 trucks for sale in the US with similar mileage 65-75k with brand new engines. Don't have to be a rocket scientist to see what happened there. What I am going through I wouldn't wish on anyone. By the time I am back on the road it will cost me $55k NZ I was about to retire early, now I won't be. This has set me back 3 years. I am just an old truck driver and would have enjoyed those 3 years at the Pleasant Point Railway volunteering my spare time.
But on a brighter note with the new Striker heads and cam it will go mental.
It took a month of discussions and planning of all scenarios before the wife and I said "bugger it, lets make this truck great again".
Should be up and running in a month or two.

View attachment 68272View attachment 68273

Also mine is not a race truck or anything like that. It is a daily driver that lives in the garage and comes out on fine weekends and for car shows. It gets a good hard burst about once a month or two, ususally a 2nd or 3rd gear wind up. Nowhere near redline and no burnouts. So be careful.

You have a wonderful wife

 

[DSessom]

Wow! Thanks for the info and I concur that your wife is awesome!

Scott Forman at Venomous 1 Racing built my engine, and he is one of the best Viper mechanics on the planet. Yes, he is somewhat brash and cocky, but the man knows what he is doing when it comes to our trucks. Also, when I purchased the truck, my insurance company (Geico) let me insure my engine separately from the truck itself, for $10,000USD. So, if something does go wrong with it, I can take the truck back to Scott (who lives about 4 hours away from me) and get it repaired/replaced. $10k might not cover the entire rebuild, but would definitely take the sting out of it.

If I ever have the engine rebuilt, I will definitely take your advice and put forged pistons and rods into it. I honestly have no idea if the pistons/rods are stock or not at this point, but Scott said he only swapped the cam and lifters, and added the throttle body and exhaust, so I would guess the pistons and rods are probably still factory.

 

[Kiwi SRT10]

Wow! Thanks for the info and I concur that your wife is awesome!

Scott Forman at Venomous 1 Racing built my engine, and he is one of the best Viper mechanics on the planet. Yes, he is somewhat brash and cocky, but the man knows what he is doing when it comes to our trucks. Also, when I purchased the truck, my insurance company (Geico) let me insure my engine separately from the truck itself, for $10,000USD. So, if something does go wrong with it, I can take the truck back to Scott (who lives about 4 hours away from me) and get it repaired/replaced. $10k might not cover the entire rebuild, but would definitely take the sting out of it.

If I ever have the engine rebuilt, I will definitely take your advice and put forged pistons and rods into it. I honestly have no idea if the pistons/rods are stock or not at this point, but Scott said he only swapped the cam and lifters, and added the throttle body and exhaust, so I would guess the pistons and rods are probably still factory.

It is really only the pistons that are the problem. But the mess they make when they fail can be catastrophic. The only other thing I have found out and only in racing areas is valve spring breakages and valve seats falling out. Mainly in Vipers. High revs for valve springs. The valve seats are maybe the victim of cost cutting using a cheaper process to install. I haven't heard of a truck having issues but definitely Vipers. I wonder if it is because the engine goes from cold to high temp too fast and the head expands faster than the seat. A drag racing problem.
These are suposed to be tough trucks for doing burnouts, drag racing etc unfortunately the reality is they are a weak engine. That is the cost of meeting emissions regs.

 

[VIPR PWR]

It is really only the pistons that are the problem. But the mess they make when they fail can be catastrophic. The only other thing I have found out and only in racing areas is valve spring breakages and valve seats falling out. Mainly in Vipers. High revs for valve springs. The valve seats are maybe the victim of cost cutting using a cheaper process to install. I haven't heard of a truck having issues but definitely Vipers. I wonder if it is because the engine goes from cold to high temp too fast and the head expands faster than the seat. A drag racing problem.
These are suposed to be tough trucks for doing burnouts, drag racing etc unfortunately the reality is they are a weak engine. That is the cost of meeting emissions regs.

That appears to be the jist of it from what ive heard also ..
no idea why those things tend to happen .
But i will say you got me on the worry thinking train about the pistons with what happened to your engine

 

[Wifey]

That appears to be the jist of it from what ive heard also ..
no idea why those things tend to happen .
Bit i will say you got me on the worry thinking train about the pistons with what happened to your engine

Yah me too! I'll go easy on the Queen for sure if she ever gets out!

 

[Kiwi SRT10]

Yah me too! I'll go easy on the Queen for sure if she ever gets out!

Bog standard I would say ok.
The truck's extra weight maybe the problem because the Vipers seem to be ok until 650-700hp depending on what they are used for.
I want to be able to use it as intended. Race, burnouts, drag etc with no worries.
Reality I do none of those but I would like to think I do.
John at Southeast knows all the weaknesses and builds accordingly. When doing CNC heads with bigger valves the seats are replaced and new ones fitted as per best practice not the cheapest way. I was looking at getting him to do my heads until the Striker Heads came up. I just had to have because they are Striker's. I really don't care about the cost difference or the like. They are a one of a kind and near impossible find and to have here on a truck in NZ. John does the cylinder heads for a half dozen or so other online Viper parts shops.

 

[Wifey]

Bog standard I would say ok.
The truck's extra weight maybe the problem because the Vipers seem to be ok until 650-700hp depending on what they are used for.
I want to be able to use it as intended. Race, burnouts, drag etc with no worries.
Reality I do none of those but I would like to think I do.
John at Southeast knows all the weaknesses and builds accordingly. When doing CNC heads with bigger valves the seats are replaced and new ones fitted as per best practice not the cheapest way. I was looking at getting him to do my heads until the Striker Heads came up. I just had to have because they are Striker's. I really don't care about the cost difference or the like. They are a one of a kind and near impossible find and to have here on a truck in NZ. John does the cylinder heads for a half dozen or so other online Viper parts shops.

I have only done a couple of burnouts in the Queen and that was practicing with my X-Metal GenX shifter! No missed gears and she launched real smooth. She's never been raced or drag raced and mainly has freeway miles - i like the downshift on the freeway when the other guy gets up next to her and then watch them disappear into the blacktop. Of course she lets them get up there next to her again - just so they can appreciate her beauty -

 

[Wifey]

When she was new i was on the I-15 going through Vegas, got south of vegas and noticed a cop pull over up ahead and when i passed he got back on and made his way to to me. OMG! I'm getting a ticket!!! Oh crap I've never gotten a ticket on a freeway and my cruise control was set so i couldn't imagine why. He got next to me and i would not look over! I just kept on Truckin. He stayed there! WTF!?! Made me so nervous. This went on for a minute or so, then I finally looked over at him - he gave me a big ol thumbs up and hit the gas and off he went!

He was checking out the new 10!

I thought it was funny after my heart stopped pounding!

 

[Wifey]

Speaking of hearts!!!!

@Shaggy any chance I might get my heart beating this year????

Give Jeffey the buttons to make it happen! Please!

 

[VIPR PWR]

When she was new i was on the I-15 going through Vegas, got south of vegas and noticed a cop pull over up ahead and when i passed he got back on and made his way to to me. OMG! I'm getting a ticket!!! Oh crap I've never gotten a ticket on a freeway and my cruise control was set so i couldn't imagine why. He got next to me and i would not look over! I just kept on Truckin. He stayed there! WTF!?! Made me so nervous. This went on for a minute or so, then I finally looked over at him - he gave me a big ol thumbs up and hit the gas and off he went!

He was checking out the new 10!

I thought it was funny after my heart stopped pounding!

Cruise control and he hit the gas .. that was a challenge .. you should have given him the tailight view hahaha

 

[VIPR PWR]

Speaking of hearts!!!!

@Shaggy any chance I might get my heart beating this year????

Give Jeffey the buttons to make it happen! Please!

Yes , yes @Shaggy turn over the controls to Jeff hahaha

 

[VIPR PWR]

Speaking of hearts!!!!

@Shaggy any chance I might get my heart beating this year????

Give Jeffey the buttons to make it happen! Please!

@Shaggy ,, fix wifeys heart beat gumby damit

 

[VIPR PWR]

My cruise control is my right foot hahaha

 

[Kiwi SRT10]

When she was new i was on the I-15 going through Vegas, got south of vegas and noticed a cop pull over up ahead and when i passed he got back on and made his way to to me. OMG! I'm getting a ticket!!! Oh crap I've never gotten a ticket on a freeway and my cruise control was set so i couldn't imagine why. He got next to me and i would not look over! I just kept on Truckin. He stayed there! WTF!?! Made me so nervous. This went on for a minute or so, then I finally looked over at him - he gave me a big ol thumbs up and hit the gas and off he went!

He was checking out the new 10!

I thought it was funny after my heart stopped pounding!

Maybe he wasn't checking out the 10?

 

[Wifey]

Maybe he wasn't checking out the 10?

Back then that's a possibility! Lol