I did a leakdown test and it was obvious the valves were bent. Tore it down today sure enough.

I just bought a reman head off ebay a for $200.

I heard it would be a good idea to repalce the water pump and tensioner. Any thing else?
Plan on doing oil, coolant change, thermostat, belts, hoses, plugs. I will also need gaskets etc.

Is there a good/ cost effective source for these parts?

 

" It's most likely that the valves are bent. I'd be sure before I purchase it though. The car better be cheap. How much is it?"

I assumed the worse before I bought it. Paid a grand for it

 

For the tensioner, you might as well replace the stock hydraulic tensioner with a mechanical tensioner from the 03-05 models...cheaper, and much less likely to fail. As for places to buy the parts, you can try Autzone, DodgeParts.Com in their "OEM Cataloge", SummitRacing.Com also has good parts at descent prices...just to name a few.

 

For mine, I got a mls headgasket kit off ebay for about 50$ with head bolts, but right now they have a whole top end kit on there for about $60 give or take, then I went to advanceautoparts.com and bought a goodyear gatorback timing belt for $29, reman water pump for $27, (plus core charge, you get it back though.) And mileage maker belts for I think only $2 and $6 a piece.

 

Will the 03-05 tensioner fit the 2000 without any problems, its a major difference in price, I have to do a timing belt on mine soon. Thanks!!!!

 

I heard that there was a mopar technical bulletin on the old mechanical tensioner and the hydrolic tensioner needed to replace the mechanical tensioners. Thanks!!!!

 

The new mechanical tensioners are better then the old hydraulic tensioners, thats why most people choose to go with the mechanical tensioners when the hydraulic unit goes out, or when they do their timing belts. Plus, the mechanical tensioner is cheaper and easier to use/install.

 

I replaced the hydraulic with the mechanical tensioner. You must create a circular cutout in the block half of the plastic timing chain cover. Very easy, but a must.

 

Check out these links, there is great info here:

http://forums.neons.org/viewtopic.php?t=185472

http://chronoscender.freeservers.com...imingbelt.html