Bernd,
Theres just something to be said about viper brakes :)
Marty
http://members.cox.net/got-speed
""Bernd D. Ratsch"" <bernd@texas.net> wrote in message
news:000801c24bc0$1dc7c2b0$090aa8c0@homenet.com...
>
>
> Gary,
>
> On the brakes...why modify the factory braking system when there's
> aftermarket kits that utilize the factory equipment without any
> modifications.
>
> - Bernd
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
> [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net] On Behalf Of Christopher
> Blancher
> Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 9:27 AM
> To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
> Subject: DML: Gary Pinkley's 1997 Dakota Modifications
>
>
>
>
> DML'ers
>
> Gary Pinkley: Hotchkis Product Engineer provides info about his
> 1997 Dakota truck modifications in the Oct. 2002 issue of Truckin
> magazine.
>
> The article was 'Hotchkis Hot Lap Day' and it listed that
> you have now a 5.2 liter V-8 with all the performance goodies. The real
> eye opener was the Viper manual 6 speed gearbox, Viper brakes front &
> rear and Fikse 19 inch wheels.
>
> Please provide some insight on the engineering standpoint
> of the Viper manual 6 speed gearbox and front & rear brakes.
>
> The easy one to tell you about are the wheels. I originally bought them
> when I did not have the fender flares on the truck, so I have a 1"
> spacer on the truck to run them with the flares. They are a Fikse FM/10
> 19x9 w/ 7" backspacing in the front, and the rear is a 19x10.5 w/ 9.5"
> backspacing. Keep in mind, that I added a 1" spacer to get the wheels
> to look proper with the Flares.
>
> The front brakes: This is a tough design to do, You have to highly
> modify the Dakota spindle and build an adapter plate to mount the viper
> caliper in the proper spot. Basically, you chop off the factory cast
> brake caliper sliders and clearance for the large, 4-piston viper
> calipers. Then you need to design a mounting plate that ties into the
> dust sheild bolts (also, drill and tap them for larger 10mm hardware).
> Be forewarded, if you do this and use the stock 17" R/T wheels, they
> will require 0.68" thick wheel spacers to clear the Viper caliper. I
> have heard, that an early viper spindle (first or second year) can be
> adapted to the dakota with only a little work. I have not done this
> swap myself, and cannot say for sure that this works. Caveat Emptor.
>
> The rear brakes: These are not quite as bad. You have to fabricate a
> mount for the caliper back there that mounts to the original drum
> backing plate. You will have to pull the axles to do this. Also, you
> will have to turn down the OD of the wheel flange on the axle to fit
> inside of the Viper brake rotor.
>
> The 6-Speed: This is not for the faint of heart. This is a very
> involved process. Originally the trans was modified, at Chrysler's
> encouragement, for a 2000 Quad Cab 4.7L project truck that we did back
> in 99. It was built to simulate the exact packaging of a stock dakota
> 5-speed, and we jumped through a lot of hoops. We started with a Viper
> T56 transmission. The input shaft was sectioned and then welded
> together with a 5-speed one to give the truck style splines. The
> Bellhousing, from a V-6 AX-15, trans was machined down and a new trans
> mounting plate was made and welded to the bellhousing (we call this the
> FrankenBell). Chrylser also wanted us to move the shifter to the
> factory location hole, so the shifting mechanism was modified, and moved
> forward. Right now, I have the trans out to redo the
> modifications. I am planning to make the bellhousing work with the
> factory
> viper input shaft (I didn't trust the welded shaft for high horsepower
> and torque applications). I also, am planning to return the shifter to
> the viper location, as I want the shifter moved back towards the driver.
> That way, I can get a shorter throw on it. My truck is a 97, so I have
> the trans-mounted speedo gear, so I am having a box built to convert
> (and be able to re-calibrate) the speed sensor signal to the Dakota
> signal.
>
> Hope this helps all of you,
> -Gary Pinkley
>
>
>
>
>
>
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