OEM 2000 Dodge Viper Camshaft

2000 Dodge Viper Camshaft Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Remove and Install a Camshaft When the Engine Is Out on 2000 Dodge Viper?

  A: Before you can take out the camshaft with the engine out, first remove the intake manifold, cylinder head covers, cylinder heads, timing chain case cover and timing chain. After that, take off the rocker arm assemblies, push rods and tappets and label all of them so you can re-install them correctly. After that, remove the camshaft thrust plate. To make it easier to remove the camshaft, install a long bolt inside the front of the cam and then take out the camshaft, watching out for the lobes so they don't damage the bearing surface. Following your route for installation, use a long 7/16-14 bolt up front on the camshaft. Before adding the camshaft, lubricate the lobes and the bearing journals on the camshaft. Fit the camshaft thrust plate to the engine with two screws and tighten them to 24 Nm (210 in. lbs.). Place both sprockets on a bench with their timing marks lined up on a middle line drawn between their bores, then put the timing chain around both of them. Adjust both the crankshaft and camshaft so their keyways are positioned at the same spots as the sprockets. Raise the camshaft sprocket and chain and link them so they do not move apart and fit the timing chain around the crankshaft sprocket as you place the cam sprocket on the camshaft. Watch the timing marks using a straightedge to check that they are aligned well. Set the camshaft bolt and tighten it to 74.5 Nm (55 ft. lbs.) torque. Turn the engine's crankshaft two times to verify the timing marks; if they do not line up, take out the cam sprocket and line it up again. If the camshaft end play is above 0.381 mm (0.015 inch) or below 0.0127 mm (0.005 inch), as measured with a micrometer, put in a new thrust plate. When each hydraulic tappet goes back in, position it as you removed it, with the alignment dot facing up and replace them all if the camshaft is replaced.