Dodge: '94 Grand Voyager: Engine swap???

i dont get involved in swapping for a few reasons, first of all it could be
considered tampering, if you fail an emissions test and they se that it is
not the right engine they wouldnt pass it nor give you a waiver, thats
assuming you are in a state that requires it, second, i would suspect the
engine harness is the same but im sure there is a difference in the engine
controll module. If it were me, i would swap 3.3 for a 3.3......my opinion
only
Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech
"HachiRoku" <GTS> wrote in message
news:MUwtd.4286$.. 

I agree with Mr. Beasley, I wouldn't even consider a 3.8, since the
3.3's aren't exactly bad motors in the first place.
I've seen plenty with 200k+ miles and still running perfectly.
Not to mention the various incompatibilities you can expect to
encounter, plus the ones you don't expect none of which are fun or easy
to deal with:-(
Not that it can't be done, and if you like a challenge...

On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 12:35:43 -0600, James Goforth wrote:
 

Well, not particularly!

What I was wondering was about the harness, the bell housing, (I know the
computer will probably have to be swapped...), the exhaust, etc. Unless
there is a GOOD, easy, cheap fix for the rapping niose coming from the
back bank of the engine, and the fact that the oil press. guage drops to
ZERO at stop lights, I'm going to have to change the engine anyway, and a
friend of mine who's a mechanic (Jags, BMW's, Mercedes, Ferrari and other
equally rare/exotics) told me the 3.8 was a better engine and he wouldn't
buy a van with a 3.3. BTW, the rapping is from the top of the engine;
sticky/collapsed lifter, or broken 'tower'?

About 8 months ago, someone gave me the exact same van, minus the AWD,
with 229,000 on it. I know the tranny was a rebuild, but the engine looked
original, and ran like a swiss watch. He also gave me a '94 LHS, so when
he asked for the van back, I let him have it. Oh, well...

It would be interesting to put a bona fide oil pressure gauge on it to
determine the actual oil pressure--if it's that low I'm surprised you
don't have noise from more than just an isolated spot on the rear bank.
Plus there'd be no point in just addressing that isolated noise if the
oiling system is that deficient.
I've never been inside one of those engines so I can't speak to what I
think that noise is, exactly--most OHC engines have cam followers which
actuate the valves; they basically do the same thing as a hydraulic
lifter but MIGHT not be as sensitive to oil pressure, nor would it
result in a loss of it (I'm kind of speculating here, anyone else want
to jump in?)
I'd probably check oil pressure for sure, and maybe remove that rear
valve cover and see what I could see (shouldn't be that much work,
certainly easier than changing the engine).
Get any filings when you change the oil? Maybe cut the filter open
too...in other words, you might just have to spend a couple of hours
dinking around with it (just for curiousity's sake, if nothing else.

I digress...after reading the post by Gene and clicking on the link I
see that the 3.3 and 3.8 engines are PUSHROD engines.
I posted just before reading that and thought it was an OHC (as I
said, I've never been inside one of those, nor have even owned one until
a few days ago).
My bad.

On Thu, 09 Dec 2004 19:17:42 -0600, James Goforth wrote:
 


LOL! Change the oil? What's that?

Actually, I just got the thing. One of my customers gave me one back at
the beginning of the summer, and I liked it. We actually bought a '92 in
'94 and I was quite impressed by it. This is a beater I want to use to
move band stuff around with (loud, obnoxious Rock And Roll).

Anyway, around August, the customer asked me to sell hm the van back (I
had sold it to him 2 years ago...). I hesitated, since we were using it
every 3-4 weeks, but, since he buys a lot of cars from me, and since he
gave me not only the van, but an LHS in great shape, I gave it back. Had
229K and ran great, so I figured one with 122K should run even better,
right? Oops...

So, now I need some cheap fix, since I have 2 Toyotas that are becoming
collector's items and would rather put the heavy dollars into those. If I
have to replace the engine, I thought I'd 'upgrade' if possible...

If you have to replace the engine, putting in a 3.8 wouldn't be an
upgrade, in my opinion.
It wouldn't be worse, of course, but all it would add is risk, cost,
and hassle.
Why borrow trouble? Just get another 3.3, no doubt about it.
Plus I'm not anywhere near convinced that the motor you currently have
needs replaced. The low oil pressure is likely causing the noise, and
you said it runs ok at higher speeds.
These motors aren't known for shucking their cookies at 120k.
You need to take it to a pro for a diagnosis, I think. Your friend
who works on the exotics is misinformed or otherwise off base to tell
you that 3.3's are undesireable in favor of 3.8's.
If he is a decent/reputable mechanic I'm surprised he'd even say
something like that. They're the same engine, basically.
If you put a 3.8 in there instead, all that's going to add is cost.

On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 09:35:57 -0600, James Goforth wrote:
 


Hmmm...interesting response!

I'm not sure about the 3.8, I was looking for some extra power.

And the noise, I'm told, is related to either a collapsed lifter, a stuck
lifter, or a broken tower. People have told me to try replacing the oil
and running it 500 miles; what I have done so far is put in a quart of
Marvel Mystery oil and another of 10W-30. So far, no good. I have been
using Marvel for years in Toyotas, and all the ones I did use it in have
gone well over 200K.

But, upon your consideration, if the oil changes don't stop the ticking,
I'll stick with a 3.3. I had another van just like it with a 3.3, and it
had 229,000 on it! Good enough for me!