Blainne, here's an old post of mine on the crank issue...HARD to find with "current search status":
Well, I cheated and searched my old posts!! ALL Vipers EXCEPT the 2004 and maybe some EARLY 2005's have a "big dog" of a crank damper bolt...that should be checked periodically, especially if running high HP. For whatever reason, 2004's and MAYBE some early 2005's have a "teeny weeney" sized crank damper bolt, which was torqued to MUCH lower specs...and, in my opinion (as well as that of several of the better known Viper Techs' opinion) was prone to getting loose with potentially disasterous results. There IS a fix...but I personally worry about the loose ones that were "owner-fixed" as well due to their potential propensity to "rear the ugly head" of delayed failure down the road as it is hard to estimate likelihood of damage from the harmonics that could have been unleashed. For bolt specifics, see my post below:
"Actually, the search key reveals a lot:
From this thread in which Dan lays out the problem: " Re: My Crankshaft
Damper Bolt was falling out. "
http://vca2.viperclub.org/forums/sho...mp;o=&vc=1
The Text in part that I posted says: "Earlier in this thread I posted:
" You decide..."the year MAY matter"...
03 Manual says "250 ft-lbs"
04 Manual says "130 ft-lbs"
05 Manual says "130 ft-lbs"
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Now (thanks to Tim in Parts at Indy's Champion Dodge) here more info taken straight from the Dodge computer (with a little extra effort).
Crankshaft
Damper Bolts:
2003 part number 6036207AA size 0.75x16x2.250 (inches)
2004 part number 6506340AA size M14x1.5x102.0 (metric)
2005 part number 6506340AA size M14x1.5x102.0 (metric)
2005 part number 6036207AA size 0.75x16x2.250 (inches)
2006 part number 6036207AA size 0.75x16x2.250 (inches)
LOOKS TO ME AS THOUGH THERE WAS A RUNNING CHANGE SOMETIME IN THE 2005 MODEL YEAR.
By the way, I have ordered one of each just to compare.
Hope this helps !!!"
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So I ordered BOTH varients of the bolts and posted: "Both sizes of bolts arrived this AM...the BIG difference in the two jumps right out at you when holding them side-by-side in one's own hand!!"
and, later in that thread I posted:
" JUST completed the "
bolt inspection" of a beautiful 2006 Coupe (blue/white)...#30 of 200...at Indy's Palmer Dodge North...Viper Tech Phil Honeycutt did the formal inspection and AFFIRMS that for 2006 the
crank damper bolt has the 1.25 inch( 1 1/4" ) hex head ("big
bolt"), with a small blue dot on center of this
bolt which, otherwise looks like the same
bolt as found on the 2003 Vipers....THANKS, Phil & Palmer !!!
While Kurt and I were at it, we visited the nice folks at Indy's Champion Dodge...and looked at the bolts on a red 2005 SRT-10 and on a 2005 Copperhead SRT-10....in BOTH cases, the
crank damper bolts were the same as on the 2006 Viper...with the same blue dot....THANKS, Champion !!!
So, the REAL QUESTION is...when did the running change occur ???(most likely in 05 by MY guess).
Bottom line:
Owners of 2004's and early 2005's SHOULD have this checked out (in MY opinion) at one's dealership to be safe and sure."
