After getting the Bender modded head off my Viper i noticed the Opti-Cool gasket is junk. What is the best head to get for my 04 Viper with DCS? After seeing the quality of the Opti-Cool gasket i think i'd rather get a better head. Maybe with O rings instead of a gasket. But it has to be DCS compatable. What would you suggest? I also noticed the factory gasket has much bigger holes for coolant to pass through than the opticool. Is the design of the opticool gasket supposed to slow the flow? I'm installing an SRX base gasket that i think has bigger holes than the Viper gasket for more flow? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the opticool head gasket? I don't know if i should get a better head, get another opticool gasket, or use the factory head gasket. 
ExpertXViper
New member
The point of running a SRX b-gasket(smaller holes than a Viper b-gasket) on a Viper is to slow the coolant flow so the coolant takes more heat with it as it flows. From what Ive been told by Mrviper that the coolant flow design of the Viper head wasnt desgined very well.
Options of heads for a DCS Viper:
Megas with use of a Mega Viper waterail which youd have to weld a bung fitting to make your DCS work or see if you can get your hands on the new style Peak Perf. waterrail which will have the bung already in it.
Machined SRX heads with use of a "^^^^^^^^"
Then theres a Peak Perf. heads thats compatible with DCS.
Your head gasket option would be up to you, I personally would op to have the cylinders cut for o-rings and get rid of that steel head gasket all together. This helps cool a little better due to alum. to alum contact vs. alum./steel/alum. contact.
Options of heads for a DCS Viper:
Megas with use of a Mega Viper waterail which youd have to weld a bung fitting to make your DCS work or see if you can get your hands on the new style Peak Perf. waterrail which will have the bung already in it.
Machined SRX heads with use of a "^^^^^^^^"
Then theres a Peak Perf. heads thats compatible with DCS.
Your head gasket option would be up to you, I personally would op to have the cylinders cut for o-rings and get rid of that steel head gasket all together. This helps cool a little better due to alum. to alum contact vs. alum./steel/alum. contact.
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If i have the cylinders O ringed i would have to use a thicker base gasket to bring the compression down. Also there would be no restriction for the coolant to flow through the head. I think for now i'll use the SRX base gasket and use the stock head gasket. Probably the same as running stock base gasket and opti-cool head gasket. I checked into the Peak head and its 400.00. Thats probably the way to go but a bit pricy right now. If this doesn't work i'll get the Peak head. 
A thicker base gasket will not only lower your compression but it will change your port timing. When you talk about getting your cylinders grooved for o-rings, I take it you are wanting to put on SRX heads. I dont think stock SRX heads will really affect your compression that much if at all.
mopar1rules
Active member
you should be able to just drop the srx heads right on your viper cylinders, if your cylinders get grooved for orings.
I'm not familiar with SRX heads. I've heard some will use them on the viper but i don't know whats involved or if they are DCS compatable. I was thinking that O ringing the viper head wouldn't work unless the base gasket is thicker. But like you said the port timing would change. If the SRX heads will work its probably cheeper than the Peak head if i can find a used set. Is the SRX head O ringed or are the cylinders O ringed? If the cylinders are O ringed i may aswell get the Peak head. Then i wouldn't have to O ring the cylinders.
mopar1rules
Active member
srx cylinders are grooved for the o-rings. you could o-ring the viper head, but you would have to have the squish clearance recut on the viper stock head. it would still be non-beneficial, cause the stock viper head is junk for removing heat, due to the design. you are going to want to get srx heads, or the peak head. my buddy has the speedwerx head, and has had great luck w/it.
ExpertXViper
New member
The SRX set-up will be your cheapest way of keeping it cool, unless you find a used Speedwerx or old style Peak head(same design as the Viper head basically). 00-02 Heads range from $125-$250(Ive found 2 set so far for under a $150) for a set of 3, Mega water rail runs around $80(source has very little stock left if any at all). Then with the waterail to make it comp. with your DCS youd have to weld a bung to the rail. Like I said before your head gasket set up would be up to you, if you didnt want to groove your cylinders you can still use the steel gasket with SRX heads. But the heads would have to be machined, which you would bolt the heads on with say 1 layer of the steel gasket. Then youd measure you squish clearence of each cylinder, so the machinest knows how much to take off. This is something youd want to discuss with MrViper. Ill be running SRX heads on my Viper Powered Mini-Buggy, but havent decided on what Im going to do about the gasket yet.
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I would do the SRX heads and get them powder coated gloss black. You can pick up a set of 00-02 SRX heads on here pretty cheap. Its not going to bother your DCS.
Ask mrviper where you can send out your cylinders to get grooved.
Ask mrviper where you can send out your cylinders to get grooved.
mopar1rules
Active member
i have a set of '00-'02 srx heads that i think i would be willing to part with. i also can machine your cylinder tops for the o-rings.
I appreciate all the help guy's. I picked up an SRX base gasket and stock head gasket at the dealer. I'm going to try that first. If the DCS keeps coming on i'll get the peak head and be done with it.