Mopar Performance Parts - Muscle for your Motor Vehicle
23 April 1999
Mopar Performance Parts - Muscle for your Motor Vehicle LAS VEGAS, April 22 -- Whether you're a Viper owner looking
for a little extra venom for your snake, or a serious road racing or drag
racing competitor, DaimlerChrysler Corporation's Mopar Performance Parts has
something for you.
To demonstrate, DaimlerChrysler today gave journalists the
opportunity to drive a variety of Dodge vehicles equipped with street-legal
Mopar Performance Parts.
"Traditionally, Mopar has been at the forefront of providing performance
parts for its customers," said Lou Patane, Executive Director, Chrysler
Motorsports Operations. "Today's Mopar Performance Parts offering continues
-- and strengthens -- that commitment, both in CARB-certified (legal for on-
road use) and pure competition parts.
"Mopar has aggressively moved forward with parts for today's production
vehicles such as the Viper, Neon and Dodge trucks, while working to provide
non-model line specific parts such as crate motors to appeal to hot-rod
builders, historic vehicle restorers and club racers. For 1999 we have an
unrivaled range of performance parts available."
DaimlerChrysler's Mopar Performance Parts demonstrated today its recently
released Dodge Viper power and handling upgrade components and Dodge Magnum
engine performance kits.
California Air Resources Board (CARB) has granted DaimlerChrysler the
first exemption certificates of aftermarket performance parts to any automaker
for OBD II vehicles, allowing owners of select DaimlerChrysler vehicles to
purchase and fit these components for on-road use.
The exemptions, which apply to 1999-model year and earlier vehicles, make
these systems legal in all 50 U.S. states. Parts be fitted individually, in
combination or as a complete package to each engine.
CARB's standards were made significantly more stringent by the
introduction of stricter exhaust emission (Low Emission Vehicle or LEV) and
engine monitoring (On-Board Diagnostics stage 2 or OBDII) regulations.
"Mopar is committed to providing environmentally responsible parts that
meet customers' needs for enhanced performance," said Patane. "Moreover, we
had to satisfy DaimlerChrysler's own standards of durability and quality to
ensure that our owners' expectations are fully met."
The parts certified offer significantly enhanced performance for owners of
Dodge vehicles using 5.2 and 5.9 liter V-8 engines (1999 and earlier Dodge
Dakota, Durango and Ram trucks and Jeep(R) Grand Cherokee), 8.0 liter Magnum
V-10 engine (Dodge Ram), and Jeep(R) vehicles using the 4.0-liter in-line six
cylinder engines (Wrangler, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee).
DODGE VIPER
Since the introduction of the Dodge Viper GTS-R in 1996, Viper has become
one of the world's most successful racing cars.
The Viper GTS-R won two consecutive driver and manufacturer titles in the
FIA GT2 Championship, the world's premier venue for production-based racing
sports cars. Viper also achieved a 1998 class win at the world's most
prestigious endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
As a result of DaimlerChrysler's policy of using racing to improve its
regular production models, a large number of performance-enhancing parts for
Viper are now available including:
* Low-restriction air filters and air ducting
* High-performance oil pan
* GTS-R racing shocks
* Performance shocks
* Racing brake pads
* Race-calibrated engine controller
* Performance (Cat-Back) exhaust
* Street and race headers
* Ring-and-pinion sets
* Bell housing
* Transmission arms
* Street performance intake manifold and cylinder head
In addition to these parts for the Viper RT/10 and GTS Coupe, selected
parts for the GTS-R race car are now available for race teams or amateur club
racers, including:
* Aluminum block
* Roller rockers
* Main bearing sets
* Roller rockers
* Crankshaft
* Hex-A-Just timing chain set
* Rear cover dowel
* CNC ported cylinder head
* Dry sump oil pan
* Alternator
* Serpentine belt
* Race intake manifold assembly
* Spark plug wire set
In fact, an entire 8.0-liter V-10 Viper crate motor can be ordered as a
spare for racing or for other applications, such as a power boat competition.
DODGE DAKOTA, DURANGO, RAM
More than a million truck buyers have chosen a Dodge Ram, Dakota or
Durango in the last few years, and a new line of parts are now available for
these popular models. To increase the power of the already class-leading 5.2-
and 5.9-liter Magnum V-8 engines, customers can add a range of parts designed
specifically for their vehicle. In total, these enhancements can add up to 50
horsepower. Similar parts also are available for the Dodge Ram's 8.0-liter
Magnum V-10 engine.
Parts available for each engine include:
* Cold air intake/low resistance air cleaner
* Performance module (re-tuned engine control computer)
* Performance camshaft
* Exhaust headers
* Performance (Cat-Back) exhaust
DODGE & PLYMOUTH NEON
Neon has been one of DaimlerChrysler's best-selling cars of the 1990s. In
addition, the Neon American Club Racing (ACR) version has become the Sports
Car Club of America's (SCCA) most popular club racer ever. Since 1995,
DaimlerChrysler has sold more than 6,000 Neons equipped with the factory-
installed ACR package. More than 20 national championships have been won with
Neons in SCCA competition.
In a move to extend the options list for the club racer and street
enthusiast alike, Mopar Performance has added the following performance-
enhancing powertrain parts for the Neon for 1999:
* 2.0L SOHC and DOHC camshafts
* High-performance SOHC and DOHC valve spring assemblies
* SOHC and DOHC engine controllers (computers)
* Cold-air intake and air filter
* SOHC and DOHC exhaust header kits
* DOHC exhaust header for race applications
* Cat-back exhaust kit
* Spark plug wires
* Engine mount
* Bobble strut (engine damper)
On the handling front, a number of suspension parts are now available,
including:
* Front and rear spring upgrades for autocross and road racing
competition
* Bushing kits for strut rods and control arms
* Front and rear sway bar kits
* Tie-rod end dust boot
* Spherical bushing kit
* Camber plate kit
* Adjustable struts
"Neon owners get a double bonus," said Cindy Hess, Vice President - Small
Car Platform. "We've engineered for them a car with tremendous performance
potential. Neon has served as a popular model for club racers with its tight
handling and standard performance features. But we've also developed a
complete line of DaimlerChrysler-designed Mopar Performance Parts specifically
for the Neon. These parts, when installed on the new Neon, create one of the
most formidable competitors in American grassroots motorsports."
CRATE ENGINES
Mopar Performance Parts has also expanded its current line up of large-
displacement crate motors for 1999.
A 'crate motor' is the name commonly given to fully assembled engine
packages that are literally shipped to the customer in a crate, ready to
install. Applications include professional race cars, street rods,
restoration projects and power boats. All Mopar Performance Parts crate
engines include the complete engine except for a carburetor, exhaust system
and accessory drives.
With these engines, Mopar Performance will offer a variety of V-8 and V-10
engines with sizes ranging from 360 to 528 cubic inches -- engines powerful
enough to satisfy the most ardent fans of that big-motor rumble.
Mopar Performance has four new crate motors joining the line up, making
for a total of three Hemi(R) crate motors, two 440 Wedge engines, two Magnum
small-blocks and the much-anticipated, all-aluminum Viper V-10.
The current crop of crate motors are designed and built with leading-edge
technology, ensuring a level of quality and durability no "original" engine
can match.
"We have further developed our small-block V-8 offerings," added Patane.
We now have small-block V-8 race engines developed for NASCAR, for NHRA Pro
Stock Truck, for World of Outlaws and for World Sportscar/FIA Prototype sports
car racing. From these race applications have come a host of CARB-certified
parts for the enthusiast."
MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS PHILOSOPHY
The benefits accrued from motorsports are far-reaching. DaimlerChrysler's
integrated approach to the design, development and manufacturing of its
products extends to Mopar Performance Parts. In fact, just about every part
sold to the consumer is directly linked to motorsports.
"Either the same product is directly developed from race experience, such
as the Viper crate motor, or the same people design the performance part that
developed the race part such as the Neon suspension," said Patane. "The third
link is if the same process is used to design a part such as the Magnum
cylinder head. Or we apply a combination of all three."
Mopar Parts, a division of DaimlerChrysler Corp., partners with
independent repair technicians and distributors worldwide to offer more than
250,000 original equipment parts to enhance Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth and
Jeep(R) production vehicles. In addition, Mopar offers high-performance
enthusiasts and racers factory-engineered and factory-developed performance
parts to provide them with a competitive edge.
Mopar Performance Parts are available through a network of Mopar
Performance Parts dealers, many of whom are DaimlerChrysler Corporation retail
dealers. Further information can be obtained by calling the Mopar Performance
Tech Line on 248-853-7290.
