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3.8L V6/41TE swap into 2002 Neon
4 Attachment(s)
Hey all, first time fooling around with a neon or any car really
for that matter, i usually stick to trucks but i got a goofy project on my hands, i bought a 2002 neon super cheap for a commuter car to save the kms on the truck and just drive back and forth to work, couple months later water pump started leaking, so was planning on doing the water pump/timing belt and possibly head gasket over winter, so the car was sitting beside the shop for a bit and i was feeling an itch for a hot rod project, so i decided to make lemonade with the lemon i had, started hitting google and the forums looking for a cool swap for the neon, found that caravan engines can be swapped in pretty easily, found myself a good used 2000 grand caravan 3.8L that had been rolled but still ran and drove, had about the same kms on it as the neon, picked it up for $100, ripped out everything i needed or thought i might need and got $50 back when i scrapped the van, so the project is well under way and i wanted to bring you guys with me along the way, cuz in my searching i didnt find alot of V6 2nds gens many 1st gens so i wanted to post the info as i went for anyone else to try it, more posts to come! Pics of where im at now |
Update
Finished final mock up, got 3 mounts holding it in so far, like my clearance and position, was able to swap over tranny mount from neon to caravan trans (direct bolt on) and i reused the front fender mount from the neon amd welded a mounting nut onto the 3.8L front bracket (will take a picture sometime), then i reused the upper front neon mount to the factory 3.8L front mount point, i have to do some minor modifacations to the intake manifold and throttle cable bracket and trans dipstick but i think i will be able to get the hood to closehttps://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...14680b32eb.jpghttps://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...3838bf630a.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...95998bc526.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...55c09e5174.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...f4991552be.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...8b8d2867b3.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...d8ff5df30c.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...0bafb2c49e.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...65f4e07068.jpg |
Interesting project! Looks good so far!
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Good god, that engine will rip in a Neon.
I just finished a 3.8L/4-spd swap in my old Voyager, with the older 3.8L (less power/torque) and my old van rips now. Can wait to see it in action. |
Update number 2
ya im hoping its gunna work really good, so now that i got my test fit and a couple mounts all figured out i ripped everything apart again for final clean up, replace a bunch of seals and what not on engine and get it all ready to go back together for the last time....hopefully....so i did oil pan gasket, intake gaskets, thermostat, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs etc...i also swapped over the right axle seal retainer plate/diff bearing race holder from the neon trans to caravan trans, now both neon axle shafts fit right in...more to comehttps://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...a3c5c41ad.jpeghttps://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...995472825.jpegHad to go threw a bunch of wiring in the neon too because they decided to hardwire most of the engine harness directly into the car with no connectors, also had to separate the front lights, horn, washer, rad fan wiring from the engine harness
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...41ce3a833.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...4223f000a.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...5b1c9165e.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...050c8cec7.jpeg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...df1467c66.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...8b1e28016.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...787b9353a.jpeg |
Good stuff... Hope you post a video when it's running!
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Finally running!!!
Hey guys, got the engine and trans and everything all resealed and back together, dropped it in for the last time, axle shafts both installed and started splicing all my wiring in, and as you can imagine i started it up as soon as i had enough hooked up to do so lol, as you can see in the video i still need to come up with another engine mount or 2 but as for now it starts with the key and will move under its own power!https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...e296101c0.jpeghttps://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...d577da829.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...2dd530f63.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...e88379990.jpeg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...87a616cd8.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...f2b4462ae.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...c5b1e272c.jpeg |
Heres link to video of neon running...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwi...zp1mme_OioSrJg
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Nice work!
Keep it going. Looks like you're missing the front mount yet? I would suggest doing a solid poly mount for the front, they help get the power to the wheels tremendously. |
Update #3 - Back at It!!
So been awhile since i worked on the car, life happens, gave up on the project a few times but after some chats with fellow V6 swap enthusiasts and a visit to moparfest, the fire is burning again and im back at it, i recently finished up the left over wiring, got my rad hoses and heater hoses plumbed and coolant system full, kinda figured out a belt and finally got everything spinning once more, found out my tensioner is shot and could use a slightly shorter belt, have a plan for a good solid engine mount to stop the torque twist, gunna use a newer van/patriot/compass idea with a fore-aft cross member and a bushing at the front of the engine by the rad, mounted and plumbed my tranny cooler (bypassing the rad to avoid the inevitable cocktail mix), and also wired my battery up in the truck as the real estate under the hood is pricey, made a new bracket to move my coil pack due to hood clearance, and commited to loosing both a/c and power steering because well...race car heres a couple picshttps://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...8e449aee2.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...6f9d66e0a.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...7ffd63f10.jpeg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...b8d3064df.jpeg |
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