Valve Springs - All

Complete replacement of all valve springs on both cylinder banks, requiring removal of valve covers, camshafts, rocker assemblies, and spring compression to access and replace springs without removing cylinder heads.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Valve spring set (20 springs for all cylinders) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Valve cover gasket (left bank) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Valve cover gasket (right bank) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Camshaft cap seals/O-rings × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Valve stem seals (if replacing) × 20 — Use OEM specification
• RTV silicone sealant (OEM approved) × 1 — Mopar or equivalent
• Engine oil (for assembly lube) × 1 — 10W-30 conventional

Preparation

1. Disconnect negative battery cable and secure away from terminal
2. Allow engine to cool completely for minimum 4 hours if recently operated
3. Remove engine cover panels and decorative shrouds for access to valve covers
4. Relieve any residual fuel system pressure by removing fuel pump relay and cranking engine briefly
5. Position vehicle on level surface with parking brake engaged
6. Prepare clean workspace with organized parts trays for camshaft caps, rocker assemblies, and valve components
7. Have shop air supply available with rubber-tipped blow gun for valve retention during spring removal

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove Valve Covers - Both Banks
   Disconnect any electrical connectors, vacuum lines, and breather hoses attached to valve covers. Remove valve cover bolts in reverse of tightening sequence (work from ends toward center). Carefully lift valve covers away from cylinder heads. If covers are stuck, gently tap with rubber mallet - do not pry against gasket surfaces. Remove and discard old valve cover gaskets. Inspect valve cover mating surfaces for damage or warping.
2. 2

   Document Camshaft Timing Position
   Rotate crankshaft to bring cylinder 1 to TDC on compression stroke. Mark the relationship between camshaft sprockets and timing chain with paint marker or scribe. Photograph timing marks for reference. This is critical as camshafts will be removed and must be reinstalled in exact same position. Verify both intake and exhaust cam timing marks are documented for both banks.
3. 3

   Remove Rocker Arm Assemblies
   Remove rocker arm shaft bolts evenly in multiple passes, working from ends toward center to prevent shaft bending. IMPORTANT: The Gen I Viper 8.0L V10 is an overhead-cam (OHC) engine and does NOT use pushrod-style rocker shaft assemblies. Verify the specific valvetrain arrangement (hydraulic lash adjusters and cam followers) against factory service manual before proceeding, as this step's assumption of bolt-on rocker shafts may not apply. Lift rocker shaft assemblies straight up and away from cylinder head. Keep left and right bank assemblies separate and clearly labeled. Inspect rocker arms and shafts for wear - replace if excessive play or scoring is present.
4. 4

   Remove Camshaft Cap Bolts and Caps
   The camshaft is held by multiple bearing caps, each marked with position numbers/letters. Starting from the outermost caps and working toward center, loosen camshaft cap bolts evenly in multiple passes (1/4 turn each) to gradually release valve spring pressure on the camshaft. Remove bolts completely and lift caps straight up. Keep caps in exact order with their bolts - caps are machined matched sets and not interchangeable. Note that the Gen I 8.0L V10 uses a single overhead camshaft per bank (SOHC) — verify the exact camshaft configuration and number of camshafts against the factory service manual before disassembly.
5. 5

   Remove Camshafts
   Carefully lift camshafts straight up and out of the cylinder head. Support camshaft journals to prevent dropping or striking bearing surfaces. Place camshafts on clean padded surface where they will not roll. Keep the two camshafts (one per bank) separated and clearly labeled by bank (left/right). Inspect cam lobes and journals for scoring or excessive wear. Cover open camshaft bores with clean shop towels to prevent debris entry.
6. 6

   Prepare for Valve Spring Removal - Cylinder 1
   Remove spark plug from cylinder 1. Feed compressed air line (with adapter fitting) into spark plug hole to pressurize cylinder and hold valve against seat. Maintain approximately 90-100 PSI air pressure. This prevents valve from falling into cylinder during spring removal. Locate valve spring retainer and keepers for cylinder 1 intake valve.
7. 7

   Remove Valve Springs - Systematic Approach All Cylinders
   With air pressure holding valve in place, position OHC-type valve spring compressor over valve spring retainer. Compress spring carefully until keepers are unloaded. Use magnetic pickup tool to remove both valve keepers (small half-moon shaped locks). Place keepers immediately in labeled container. Slowly release spring compressor and remove valve spring retainer and valve spring. Inspect spring for cracks, corrosion, or distortion. If removing valve stem seals, carefully pry seal from valve guide using appropriate seal removal tool. Repeat process for exhaust valve of same cylinder, then proceed cylinder-by-cylinder through all 10 cylinders on both banks. Maintain air pressure in each cylinder as you work on its valves. For cylinders not at TDC, rotate crankshaft as needed to close valves (allowing removal without air pressure), or maintain pressure throughout.
8. 8

   Inspect Valve Components and Guides
   With springs removed, inspect valve stems for wear, scoring, or bend. Check valve guides for excessive wear by attempting to rock valve stem laterally - minimal movement should be present. Inspect valve faces and seats visually through spring access. If valve stem seals are being replaced, clean valve guide tops thoroughly and check guide height. Measure valve spring free length and compare old springs to new springs - new springs should match OEM specifications.
9. 9

   Install New Valve Stem Seals (If Applicable)
   If valve stem seals are being replaced, lightly oil new seals with engine oil. Use appropriate seal installation tool or deep socket to press new seals squarely onto valve guides until fully seated. Do not drive seals with excessive force. Install seals on all 20 valves (10 intake, 10 exhaust) across both banks. Ensure seals are not cocked or damaged during installation.
10. 10

    Install New Valve Springs - All Cylinders
    Lightly oil valve stems with clean engine oil. For each valve position, place new valve spring over valve stem (verify correct orientation if springs have specific top/bottom design - typically closer-wound coils face cylinder head). Position valve spring retainer over spring. Apply air pressure to cylinder to hold valve seated. Using valve spring compressor, compress new spring until retainer is low enough to accept keepers. Install both valve keepers into valve stem groove - ensure they seat fully in the groove and are held by retainer. Slowly release spring compressor while watching keepers to ensure they remain seated. Once released, gently tap valve stem tip with plastic tool to verify keepers are locked in place. Repeat for all 20 valve positions (10 intake, 10 exhaust) across both cylinder banks.
11. 11

    Verify Valve Spring Installation
    After all springs are installed, perform keeper retention check on every valve by gently pulling up on valve spring retainer - it should not move. Measure valve spring installed height at several positions with feeler gauge or caliper to verify uniformity and compare against OEM specifications. Check that no keepers have fallen out or are partially seated. Remove air pressure fittings and reinstall all spark plugs hand-tight only at this stage (final torque after camshaft installation).
12. 12

    Clean Camshaft Bearing Surfaces and Journals
    Thoroughly clean all camshaft bearing surfaces in cylinder head using lint-free cloths and appropriate solvent. Clean camshaft journals and lobes. Inspect bearing surfaces for scoring or damage. Apply clean engine oil liberally to all camshaft journals and bearing surfaces. Apply assembly lube or engine oil to cam lobes.
13. 13

    Reinstall Camshafts
    Carefully lower camshafts back into their bearing journals, ensuring correct intake/exhaust positioning and correct bank. Align camshaft sprocket timing marks with previously documented positions. Support camshaft to prevent it from rotating. Verify camshaft is seated fully in all bearing journals before installing caps.
14. 14

    Install Camshaft Caps and Torque
    Install camshaft bearing caps in exact original positions and orientation (numbered markings face same direction). Install cap bolts finger-tight initially. Torque camshaft cap bolts in sequence from center caps outward toward ends, making multiple passes to gradually load bearings evenly. Torque camshaft cap bolts in multiple graduated passes to the factory-specified value (verify exact torque spec and pass sequence in the OEM service manual before assembly). This prevents camshaft binding and bearing damage. Rotate camshaft by hand after torquing to verify free rotation without binding.
15. 15

    Reinstall Rocker Arm Assemblies
    Lubricate rocker arm shaft assemblies with engine oil. Reinstall the valvetrain follower/lash-adjuster components per the factory service manual for this OHC engine. Do NOT assume pushrod-style rocker shaft assemblies — verify the correct valvetrain arrangement and reinstallation procedure against OEM documentation. Install rocker arm shaft bolts and tighten evenly in multiple passes from center outward. Torque to specification. Verify rocker arms contact valve stems squarely and rotate camshaft to check for interference through full rotation.
16. 16

    Verify Valve Lash and Timing
    With camshafts and rocker assemblies installed, verify valve timing marks still align correctly with reference marks made during disassembly. This engine uses hydraulic lash adjusters, so no manual valve lash adjustment is required. Verify the lash adjuster type and any bleed-down/priming procedure against the OEM service manual for your specific model year. Rotate engine through two complete revolutions by hand and verify smooth rotation with no valve-to-piston interference.
17. 17

    Torque Spark Plugs
    Apply small amount of anti-seize compound to spark plug threads (avoid getting any on electrodes). Install all 10 spark plugs and torque to specification for aluminum cylinder heads. Do not overtighten as this can damage aluminum threads.
18. 18

    Prepare Valve Cover Mating Surfaces
    Thoroughly clean valve cover mating surfaces on cylinder heads using plastic gasket scraper. Remove all old gasket material and oil residue. Clean surfaces with brake cleaner and lint-free cloth. Inspect for any damage or warping. Apply thin bead of RTV silicone to corners where camshaft caps meet cylinder head (if specified by OEM procedure). Position new valve cover gaskets in valve cover grooves or on cylinder head (depending on gasket design).
19. 19

    Install Valve Covers
    Carefully position valve covers onto cylinder heads, ensuring gaskets remain properly seated. Install valve cover bolts and tighten in sequence from center outward in multiple passes to ensure even gasket compression. Reconnect all electrical connectors, vacuum lines, and breather hoses to valve covers. Verify all connections are secure.
20. 20

    Final Assembly and Preparation for Start
    Reinstall any engine covers, shrouds, or decorative panels removed during disassembly. Reconnect negative battery cable. Check engine oil level and top off if necessary as some oil was lost during valve cover removal. Do not start engine yet - proceed to verification steps first.

Reassembly

1. Valve covers must be torqued in sequence from center outward to prevent gasket leaks
2. Ensure all electrical connections and vacuum lines are reinstalled to original positions
3. Double-check that no tools or rags were left in engine valley or near moving components
4. Verify timing marks remain aligned after full engine rotation test

Verification

• Perform leak-down test or compression test on all cylinders to verify valve sealing with new springs
• Start engine and verify no valve cover oil leaks - allow to reach operating temperature and inspect
• Listen for any abnormal valve train noise - ticking or tapping may indicate incorrect rocker assembly or improperly seated keepers
• Verify smooth idle and proper engine operation through full RPM range
• Monitor oil pressure - should be normal and stable
• After initial 20-minute run cycle, shut down, allow to cool, and re-torque valve cover bolts to specification
• Road test vehicle under varying loads and check for proper power delivery and no valve float at higher RPM

More procedures for this vehicle