1996 Grand Voyager Engine Swap Project
1996 Grand Voyager Engine Swap Project
Hello everyone! I'm new here 
I have this 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager that I picked up for a song. $130 + Tax and Title.
It was in poorly running condition when I got it. The P.O. overheated it, big time. Bells dinging and lights flashing, and after that it misfired and smoked like all get out. He thought he'd blown the head gasket, and just wanted it gone.
Edit: Previous image links are dead now, so I removed them. Without the images, most of the post was irrelevant so I trimmed it out. Discussion below references using a 2000 3.3L motor in a 1996 3.3L van.
All indications should say that yes, it will. There's a bunch of tossups though. For one, the 2000 was a flexfuel and the 1996 is regular ol' fuel injection. I guess that would mean, use the injector rail from the 96! But the intake manifold was changed somewhere along the lines and added some horsepower. I guess that means, intake manifold from the 2000?
I'm trying to figure out if it will work at all, and if so, what parts from what year I should use. I had the 2000 engine ripped apart before I ever saw the 1996 so I can't figure out if the alternator/power steering/belt junk is different, but it looks all the same!
This is also the first engine rebuild I've attempted, but my goals are to get this van to be an extremely reliable vehicle that I can feel good about taking out of state, with people along, without the fear of breaking down. I am of course going to be replacing all the usual wear parts, getting a new water pump, probably a new radiator, etc. I know about the numerous problems associated with the 41TE transmission, but is there anything else I should look out for or replace while I have the van torn apart?
Also, has anybody done this before? I know minivans typically aren't the vehicles people attempt to do engine work on just based off of who typically drives them :-P
If anyone has experience with major deconstruction/reconstruction of this van, I'm sure you'll be an invaluable resource. My concerns aren't really getting the engine put together, it's getting the engine in the van and all of the stuff bolted back on to it :-P
Thanks for any input and suggestions!
-Ryan
Edit: The engine swap was completed using a salvage yard motor from a 1996 as I got tired of waiting for myself to finish the rebuild and didn't want to mess with potential part incompatibility between the 1996 and 2000 year model.
I have this 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager that I picked up for a song. $130 + Tax and Title.
It was in poorly running condition when I got it. The P.O. overheated it, big time. Bells dinging and lights flashing, and after that it misfired and smoked like all get out. He thought he'd blown the head gasket, and just wanted it gone.
Edit: Previous image links are dead now, so I removed them. Without the images, most of the post was irrelevant so I trimmed it out. Discussion below references using a 2000 3.3L motor in a 1996 3.3L van.
All indications should say that yes, it will. There's a bunch of tossups though. For one, the 2000 was a flexfuel and the 1996 is regular ol' fuel injection. I guess that would mean, use the injector rail from the 96! But the intake manifold was changed somewhere along the lines and added some horsepower. I guess that means, intake manifold from the 2000?
I'm trying to figure out if it will work at all, and if so, what parts from what year I should use. I had the 2000 engine ripped apart before I ever saw the 1996 so I can't figure out if the alternator/power steering/belt junk is different, but it looks all the same!
This is also the first engine rebuild I've attempted, but my goals are to get this van to be an extremely reliable vehicle that I can feel good about taking out of state, with people along, without the fear of breaking down. I am of course going to be replacing all the usual wear parts, getting a new water pump, probably a new radiator, etc. I know about the numerous problems associated with the 41TE transmission, but is there anything else I should look out for or replace while I have the van torn apart?
Also, has anybody done this before? I know minivans typically aren't the vehicles people attempt to do engine work on just based off of who typically drives them :-P
If anyone has experience with major deconstruction/reconstruction of this van, I'm sure you'll be an invaluable resource. My concerns aren't really getting the engine put together, it's getting the engine in the van and all of the stuff bolted back on to it :-P
Thanks for any input and suggestions!
-Ryan
Edit: The engine swap was completed using a salvage yard motor from a 1996 as I got tired of waiting for myself to finish the rebuild and didn't want to mess with potential part incompatibility between the 1996 and 2000 year model.
Last edited by ryan42; Nov 22, 2012 at 02:53 PM. Reason: Cleanup old image URLs, add conclusion without resurrecting a long-dead thread.
Ah yes, but hopefully in a few weeks it will have another chance at life!
The Plymouth has really had a pretty good life. I have all of the service records for it leading up to the 6 months that it's previous owner had it. I'm owner #3. It has 247k on the clock. It's in quite good condition except for a few dents, many of which should pop out, and the interior is pretty good too except it'll probably need a new headliner when I start driving it. The conversion top should be very helpful for what I'm mainly going to use it for (the transportation of equipment). Financially, I should end up pretty good, as the last Dodge minivan converted like mine that I saw sold a few months ago for $3700. That's given me a figure for the max I'd like to spend on making it move under its own power.
With a rebuilt engine, and replacement of suspension wear parts, etc. the only thing I should have to look out for is the transmission, and I'm fully prepared to pay a ridiculous amount of money for a rebuilt 41TE (or maybe a 41AE? Or whatever the AWD transmission is? Lol.)
Then I can paint it metallic black with yellow trim and get a custom door decal that says Midnite Express Van. It would work I'm telling you! The conversion company filled the inside with wood grain accents.
Probably save that aspect of the project for later though :-P
The Plymouth has really had a pretty good life. I have all of the service records for it leading up to the 6 months that it's previous owner had it. I'm owner #3. It has 247k on the clock. It's in quite good condition except for a few dents, many of which should pop out, and the interior is pretty good too except it'll probably need a new headliner when I start driving it. The conversion top should be very helpful for what I'm mainly going to use it for (the transportation of equipment). Financially, I should end up pretty good, as the last Dodge minivan converted like mine that I saw sold a few months ago for $3700. That's given me a figure for the max I'd like to spend on making it move under its own power.
With a rebuilt engine, and replacement of suspension wear parts, etc. the only thing I should have to look out for is the transmission, and I'm fully prepared to pay a ridiculous amount of money for a rebuilt 41TE (or maybe a 41AE? Or whatever the AWD transmission is? Lol.)
Then I can paint it metallic black with yellow trim and get a custom door decal that says Midnite Express Van. It would work I'm telling you! The conversion company filled the inside with wood grain accents.
Probably save that aspect of the project for later though :-P
