Anyone actually done this swap? What are the wiring, PCM, and trans differences if any? I've seen people selling 4th gens with the swap done.

I've personally done 3.3l to 3.3l inside a week, but anyone can do that who has the tools and time because you just hook it back up. I dropped the front-end instead of taking the front-body off like I've seen done before..

I'm going to soon do a swap on a 2008 too but that's another thread..

 

What is the point of this swap?
20hp?
That can easily be gained with bolt ons.
Seems it would be more sensible to do a 4.0 swap.

Not trying to be a dick, just wondering the reason.

 

Because it was what I could buy. You ever actually tried to buy one of these engines(3.3 or 3.8)? Usually you have to buy a van with a bad trans for 800 just to get one and then hope the engine is actually good or spend a year selling parts to recover..

I'm thinking there are transmission and wiring differences at least, but nobody here seems to know. I see 3.3 to 3.8 and vice verse swapped vans for sale all the time.

HP? It's a minivan..

 

I've seen and heard people doing it for more power. Nothing better then waxing performance cars with a van.
Anyway,
The 3.3 ran a 4-speed auto in that year, the 3.8 ran the 6-speed, but the 3.3s and 3.8s were both mounted to the same trans in the previous body, so the bolt pattern is the same. It will mount to the trans. Block is the same so mounting is also the same.
From there it's just the wiring and sensors, which being they are the same motor other then bore/stroke shouldn't be an issue.

 

Yeah I've pulled 1800lb campers with both engines on the 4spd trans. No difference with handling or power..

The only things I do as far as tuning are heavy duty suspension, power filter on battery, 2nd magnet in trans pan, and oil and trans coolers if they don't have them already. They are so heavy and tall trying to increase handling or torque is kind of retarded..

 

It's a direct swap, but you'll need the ecu from the 3.8l. Otherwise sounds like everything else is plug and play.

The new ones are pigs (4500lbs+), the older ones (pre95) were pretty light (3200lbs) and decently balanced.
"Tuning" the newer ones is retarded. The older ones, however can be very good handling and made quick without much work.

 

Yeah I've confirmed everything using a 2003 Sport 3.3 to 3.8 today. Just working on PCM now.

The old 3.3 and the donor 3.8 PCM had SKIM. I know how to write the new SKIS using tools, but I don't have any flash kits so I'll go to a dealer and have it done for $80.00. Everything else was direct swap.

One thing that would be cool to find new are OEM oil and trans coolers. There are good aftermarket but they cost hundreds.

 

For under $100 you can get Flex-A-Lite trans coolers or for under $50 Hayden makes some decent options. These are universals, so you'll have to mount them, but that's not difficult. Oil coolers can also be had for around $100.

Posted this on another forum to make sure I had my facts right before I tried to help you out.
Check this out,
"Those late 3.8's have oil burning issues. I think Chrysler made the piston rings fit looser to reduce friction and make the EPA happy.

Check this out.
01-07 3.8=215HP
08-11 3.8=197HP

I wonder if the drop in power is related. Just some food for thought.


Anyway like Vigo said, its basically just a R&R and a controller swap."

This response came from a fellow on there. I found it interesting that they made more power, more reliably in the previous model.

 

There were actually a lot of different castings for all the mechanical parts. Here is probably the best if not only writeup on the internet by people who analyzed every component for every generation the 3.3 and 3.8 engines were used: http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2010...3l3-8l-engine/

I don't think any of the stuff is made anymore except as part of expensive core crate engines. Pulling from used engines is a big gamble because almost everyone lies about mileage on pulled engines. You go do compression test it's very low on all, or you get a lot of acoustics from bad bearings or valves, or even warped heads or blocks.. I'm actually scared to own <08 anymore because of this.. It's extremely easy to lose thousands..

 

A lot of guys on my other forum are doing a lot with 3.3s and 3.8s just by interchanging parts between the years and motors.

Getting 200hp from an old 3.3 is quite easy with some simple parts swaps.

Around here there are tons of vans in JYs, so pulling parts to do so is super easy.