I'm planning on porting my 02' Viper that has 3800 miles on it and was looking what you guys think about putting new rings and pistons in it while i have it apart, or maybe just rings.Is it time to rebuild or keep running the originals?It still ran strong last winter.Also would most suggest a SRX base gaket or stay with the viper base gasket? 
Does not seem like many miles. I wouldn't unless the compression was low.
x2. Inspect and if you see something replace, otherwise spend your money on something else.....
Nick
Nick
If it was mine and I had it apart for porting I'd do it all. Depending on who you have do the port job you are probably going to have to send the pistons along too. Might as well put it all back together with new parts and be good to go. My thoughts
bufalobob
Member
no reason to replace parts unless they are out of spec. check the ring end gap & piston skirt to wall clearance. if you change rings you must also hone cylinders.
bob
bob
Yes, just measure it carefully. Replace if out of spec.
bravo-guy
New member
I personally wouldn't touch the rings or pistons with only 3800 miles on them, Back in January or February there was a post where a member had 30000 kms, not sure what that is in miles. I'm not sure if he did the rings, but it was original pistons. Thats high miles. My sled has 12000 kms and I'm not worried about the motor yet, it was never touched, original rinds and pistons. You still have a lot of life left in that motor yet before you will need rebuilding, like Nicko said, save the money from engine components, and spend it on something else, to make it even faster
Yes, they will run a long time. However, rings are a wearable item and as they wear they allow the piston to rock more. This causes increased stress on the piston skirts which in turn wear. At some point they will likely break off. I have seen a number of high mileage motors with cracked piston skirts that were still running when torn down. Who knows how much longer they would have run. Many simply take the chance and get away with it.
If you had dyno info from the engine in a newer condition after break-in, and then again after the engine has high mileage, you would likely be surprised. As much as a 20% loss of power has been seen. Many don't realize the loss of speed because it occurs gradually. It is usually enough loss to make the clutching less than optimal, which brings up another area of maintenance. This seems to me like the easiest way to make it faster again.
If you had dyno info from the engine in a newer condition after break-in, and then again after the engine has high mileage, you would likely be surprised. As much as a 20% loss of power has been seen. Many don't realize the loss of speed because it occurs gradually. It is usually enough loss to make the clutching less than optimal, which brings up another area of maintenance. This seems to me like the easiest way to make it faster again.
Ding and buffalo bob hit the nail on the head.
Can some one tell me what the measurments and the tolerances are suppose to be.
daman
New member
What kind of oil has this unit seen? DO RINGS, pistons should be good but check skirts,tech section has all the specs there for you.