Camshaft R&R

Complete removal and installation of intake and exhaust camshafts on the 2005 Dodge Viper 8.3L V10 engine, including timing chain removal, camshaft bearing cap removal, and timing verification.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Valve cover gaskets (left and right) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Timing cover gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Camshaft seals (front) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Oil filter × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Crush washer for oil drain plug × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Timing chain (if worn or damaged) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Timing chain guides (if worn) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Timing chain tensioner (if worn) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• RTV silicone sealant (Mopar gray) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Fluids

• 0W-40 full synthetic engine oil — 11 qt
• Zerex G-05 HOAT 50/50 coolant — 2 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake.
2. Disconnect negative battery cable and isolate terminal.
3. Allow engine to cool completely (minimum 2 hours after running).
4. Remove engine cover panels and any upper intake ducting.
5. Drain engine coolant into suitable container by opening radiator petcock and removing lower radiator hose.
6. Drain engine oil and remove oil filter. Install new crush washer on drain plug and reinstall drain plug to 35 Nm (26 lb-ft).
7. Install engine support fixture or attach engine hoist to lifting points. Take up slack to support engine weight.
8. Remove serpentine belt by releasing automatic tensioner.
9. Remove radiator upper hose and bypass hoses that interfere with valve cover access.
10. Label and photograph all electrical connectors, vacuum lines, and sensor locations before disconnection.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove Valve Covers
   Disconnect ignition coil connectors on both cylinder banks. Remove ignition coils (one per cylinder, 10 total). Remove valve cover bolts in reverse of tightening sequence (work from outside toward center). The V10 has 12 bolts per valve cover. Carefully lift valve covers off, breaking gasket seal with plastic pry bar if necessary. Remove and discard valve cover gaskets.
2. 2

   Remove Accessory Drive Components
   Remove crankshaft pulley/harmonic balancer bolt (driver's side front of engine). Use appropriate holding tool to prevent crankshaft rotation. Remove harmonic balancer using puller if required (do not pry or hammer). Remove power steering pump with lines attached and secure out of way. Remove alternator and mounting brackets. Remove A/C compressor with lines attached and secure out of way.
3. 3

   Remove Timing Cover
   Disconnect camshaft position sensors (one per bank) and crankshaft position sensor. Remove timing cover bolts - the V10 uses both 10mm and 8mm bolts in specific locations. Note locations as torque specs differ. Carefully remove timing cover, tapping gently with plastic mallet if gasket is adhered. Clean all gasket surfaces thoroughly with plastic scraper.
4. 4

   Verify TDC Position and Mark Timing
   Rotate crankshaft until cylinder #1 is at top dead center on compression stroke (both intake and exhaust valves closed). Verify timing marks on crankshaft sprocket and camshaft sprockets align with marks on engine block and heads. Mark chain-to-sprocket relationship with paint marker on all three sprockets (crankshaft and both camshaft sprockets) before removal. Photograph timing mark alignment for reference.
   ⚠️Incorrect timing mark documentation will result in engine damage. Triple-check all marks before proceeding.
5. 5

   Remove Timing Chain Tensioners and Guides
   Remove timing chain tensioner bolts (one tensioner per bank). Extract tensioners carefully - they are spring-loaded. Remove timing chain guide bolts and remove guides. The V10 has primary and secondary chain guides on each bank. Inspect guides for wear; replace if grooved or cracked.
6. 6

   Remove Timing Chain and Camshaft Sprockets
   Hold camshaft with wrench on hex section (located between journals). Remove camshaft sprocket bolts from both intake and exhaust camshafts. Remove timing chain by lifting off crankshaft sprocket and both camshaft sprockets simultaneously. Keep chain engaged with sprockets if reusing for reinstallation reference. Remove crankshaft sprocket if required.
7. 7

   Remove Rocker Arm Assemblies
   Remove rocker arm shaft bolts in reverse order of tightening sequence (from ends toward center, evenly). The V10 has 10 bolts per rocker shaft assembly. Lift rocker shaft assemblies off as complete units. Keep left and right bank assemblies separate and labeled. Place assemblies on clean workspace. Inspect rocker arms, shafts, and valve tips for wear.
8. 8

   Remove Camshaft Bearing Caps
   Note that camshaft bearing caps are numbered and directionally marked. Photograph cap positions and orientation marks. Loosen camshaft bearing cap bolts in reverse sequence (from ends toward center) in multiple passes to avoid bending camshafts. Remove bolts completely and lift caps off. Keep caps in order with identifying marks visible. The V10 has 5 bearing caps per camshaft (10 total per bank, 20 for both banks).
   ⚠Bearing caps MUST be reinstalled in exact original positions and orientations. Mixing caps will cause bearing failure.
9. 9

   Remove Camshafts
   Carefully lift camshafts straight up and out of cylinder heads. The V10 is a cam-in-block (OHV) engine with a single camshaft located in the engine valley, driven by the timing chain from the crankshaft. Keep camshafts labeled by position (left/right bank, intake/exhaust). Place camshafts on padded surface to prevent damage to lobes. Inspect camshaft lobes and journals for scoring, pitting, or excessive wear. Measure camshaft runout and lobe lift if installing used camshafts.
   ℹ️Camshafts are heavy and awkward. Support full length when removing to prevent dropping or bending.
10. 10

    Inspect Camshaft Journals and Bearings
    Inspect camshaft bearing surfaces in cylinder heads for scoring or discoloration. Check bearing oil passages are clear using compressed air. Inspect camshaft journals with micrometer if precision measurement is required. Check camshaft endplay specification using dial indicator (typical specification is 0.05-0.15mm). Clean all bearing surfaces thoroughly with lint-free cloth and solvent.
    ℹ️If bearings show wear, cylinder head removal and bearing replacement is required. This is beyond scope of this procedure.
11. 11

    Install Camshafts
    Lubricate all camshaft journals and lobes liberally with assembly lube or fresh engine oil. Carefully slide the camshaft into position in the block, supporting its full length to avoid damaging bearing journals and lobes as it enters the cam bore. Rotate camshafts so lobes are positioned away from valves (prevents binding during cap installation). Apply light oil to camshaft bearing cap surfaces.
12. 12

    Install Camshaft Bearing Caps
    Install camshaft bearing caps in exact original positions matching numbered and directional marks. Hand-start all bearing cap bolts. Tighten bearing cap bolts in sequence from center outward in three progressive passes: first pass to 5 Nm (3.5 lb-ft), second pass to 10 Nm (7 lb-ft), final pass to 14 Nm (10 lb-ft). Ensure camshafts rotate freely by hand after torquing. If binding occurs, remove caps and verify lobe positions and cap alignment.
    ⚠Uneven tightening or single-pass torquing will distort caps and damage bearings. Three-pass sequence is mandatory.
    Torque spec

    Camshaft Bearing Cap Bolts14 Nm (10 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Install Rocker Arm Assemblies
    Verify rocker arm assemblies are correctly oriented for their respective banks. Lubricate rocker shaft contact surfaces and valve tips with assembly lube. Position rocker assemblies onto cylinder heads, ensuring rocker tips engage valve stems. Install rocker shaft bolts and tighten evenly in sequence from center outward to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft). Verify all rocker arms move freely.
    Torque spec

    Rocker Arm Shaft Bolts25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Install Timing Chain and Sprockets
    Install crankshaft sprocket if removed, ensuring keyway is aligned. Position camshafts using holding tool so timing marks will align when sprockets are installed. Drape timing chain over crankshaft sprocket and route up to both camshaft positions. Install camshaft sprockets onto camshafts while engaging timing chain. Verify all timing marks align exactly with reference marks on block and heads per factory specification. Hold each camshaft with wrench on hex and install sprocket bolts, torquing to 80 Nm (59 lb-ft).
    ⚠️Verify timing marks three times before proceeding. One tooth off will cause engine damage.
    Torque spec

    Camshaft Sprocket Bolts80 Nm (59 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Install Timing Chain Guides and Tensioners
    Install timing chain guides and torque guide bolts to 12 Nm (9 lb-ft). Compress timing chain tensioners and install locking pins to hold in compressed position. Install tensioners and torque tensioner bolts to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft). Remove locking pins to allow tensioners to apply tension to chain. Verify chain has no slack and tensioners are functioning. Manually rotate crankshaft two complete revolutions and recheck timing mark alignment.
    ⚠Tensioners must be locked during installation. Premature deployment will prevent proper installation.
    Torque spec

    Timing Chain Guide Bolts12 Nm (9 lb-ft)

    Timing Chain Tensioner Bolt25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
16. 16

    Install Timing Cover
    Clean timing cover and engine block mating surfaces thoroughly. Apply thin bead of RTV silicone to timing cover per factory pattern (typically at block-to-oil pan junction). Install new timing cover gasket. Position timing cover onto engine and install bolts hand-tight. Tighten 10mm timing cover bolts to 45 Nm (33 lb-ft) and 8mm bolts to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft) in sequence from center outward. Allow RTV to cure per manufacturer specification before adding oil.
    Torque spec

    Timing Cover Bolts - 10mm45 Nm (33 lb-ft)

    Timing Cover Bolts - 8mm25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
17. 17

    Install Accessory Drive Components and Sensors
    Reinstall camshaft position sensors and torque to 10 Nm (7 lb-ft). Reinstall crankshaft position sensor and torque to 10 Nm (7 lb-ft). Install harmonic balancer onto crankshaft, ensuring keyway alignment. Install and torque harmonic balancer bolt to 180 Nm (133 lb-ft). Reinstall A/C compressor, power steering pump, alternator, and mounting brackets with hardware torqued to specifications. Install serpentine belt.
    Torque spec

    Camshaft Position Sensor10 Nm (7 lb-ft)

    Crankshaft Position Sensor10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
18. 18

    Install Valve Covers
    Install new valve cover gaskets onto valve covers or into cylinder head grooves per design. Position valve covers onto heads and install bolts hand-tight. Torque valve cover bolts in sequence from center outward to 10 Nm (7 lb-ft). Reinstall ignition coils and torque mounting bolts. Reconnect ignition coil electrical connectors.
    Torque spec

    Valve Cover Bolts10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
19. 19

    Reinstall Cooling System Components and Fill Fluids
    Reconnect all coolant hoses removed during disassembly. Install new oil filter. Fill engine with 11 quarts of 0W-40 full synthetic oil. Fill cooling system with Zerex G-05 HOAT 50/50 coolant to proper level. Remove engine support fixture or hoist. Reconnect negative battery cable.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall any remaining components removed for access (engine covers, intake ducting).
2. Double-check all electrical connectors are properly seated and locked.
3. Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification and no tools or parts are left in engine bay.

Verification

• Turn ignition key to ON position (do not start) and verify no warning lights beyond normal pre-start conditions.
• Start engine and verify immediate oil pressure on gauge (should rise within 2-3 seconds).
• Listen for abnormal valvetrain noise - properly timed engine should run smoothly without ticking or rattling.
• Allow engine to reach operating temperature and verify cooling system operation.
• Check for oil and coolant leaks around valve covers, timing cover, and all connection points.
• Verify idle quality and throttle response are normal.
• Perform test drive and verify engine power and acceleration are normal with no hesitation or misfires.
• Recheck fluid levels after test drive and top off as needed.
• Monitor for any warning lights or abnormal noises over first 50-100 miles of operation.

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