Finally 

"Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness" (long-voyager-2nd-edition) 10/09/2018 at 07:14 • Filed to: wrenching, Mopar, Plymouth, Engine Swaps

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Finally got motivation and a break in weather to tear into the van last night. I figured I was just going to start tearing until I found the leak, as I suspected bad intake gasket was making it seem like the HGs were seeping.

So I set off at about 5:30 when I got home from work. By 6:00 I had the intake off:

Yes I was off-roading recently......

Found the upper had been leaking across on 2 cylinders, which explains my odd idle at times and general lack of power lately. The I continued on, got the lower off and found what I susp ected, the lower intake gasket was leaking pretty heavy on the outer corners. From there it was running down the head seam making it look like bad headgaskets.

Cleaned everything up, opened my gasket set, found the HG kit ( figured get the HG kit, then I’m covered if I have to tear farther ) does not include intake gaskets..........Break for supper, then run to the parts house to get the intake set. By this point it’s 8:30 and I’m ready to set back into it:

Did a little more cleanup, then started putting her all back together. Reassembly went off without a hitch and I had it back together by 9:30. I proceeded to change the oil, then fill/burp the cooling system, then took her on a road test. By 10:30 she was all sorted and ready to rock again.

Now that I’ve found motivation again I will likely set into rust repair yet this week too, along with adding a leaf to the rear springs.

??? Still trying to figure out what I want for exhaust as well, so I can get that sorted before winter. I was thinking 3" split into dual 2.5" at the rear, but I may just go 2.5" split at the rear to keep resonance out. ???

pip bip - choose Corrour > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 10/09/2018 at 07:42

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you have more motivation than me

nerd_racing > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 10/09/2018 at 07:46

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I’ve found that a 2.5" cherry bomb in a straight section makes one heck of a resonate eliminator and it adds some nice notes to the system.  I also put a muffler on the system too.  It was deep toned, but not loud.  Very little buzzing. 

sony1492 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 10/09/2018 at 08:32

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I think 3" will be overkill for the power output, may not flow aswell either

jimz > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 10/09/2018 at 08:51

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that’s the down side to the 60° pushrod engines; the valve cover gasket has to bridge the head and intake manifold, creating more opportunities for oil leaks.

edit: oh wait, I forgot the Chrysler ones weren’t made like that.  nevermind.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > sony1492 10/09/2018 at 10:09

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Flow is the biggest killer of power for Chryslers of this era. The 3.0/3.3/3.8s all suffered from poor exhaust flow due to the factory 2" piping. They make gobs of low end, but cannot flow enough to make top end power. Upgrading the intake and exhaust nets noticeable gains in the top end without much sacrifice down low.  

3" is the general upgrade, and seems to be the best match for them , but IMO it’s hard to eliminate the resonance on 3" systems , which is why I’m leaning towards a 2.5" system instead.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > pip bip - choose Corrour 10/09/2018 at 10:10

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If it helps, I’ve only been putting it off for about 2 months now. Adding a little antifr eeze every week was easier than fixing it.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > nerd_racing 10/09/2018 at 10:12

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I usually run something like a “turbo” muffler, with a cherry bomb downstream to kill resonance. I usually like the tone as it’s almost silent under normal driving with a deep/aggressive tone at WOT.

I’m leaning more toward the 2.5" setup, but the added flow from the 3" is hard to resist.

sony1492 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 10/09/2018 at 15:57

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I would do 2.5, the scavenging effect of exhaust pulses would potentially be lost at 3". After all 3" exhaust will work for over 500hp.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > sony1492 10/09/2018 at 16:09

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I get what you’re saying.

Although dyno tests on these motors show 3" net the best gain overall, so I’m inclined to disagree in this instance. I think it’s a different story to something like a V8 because in this instance both banks of cylinders are dumped into one before reaching the “exhaust”, so at the point they hit the exhaust, getting them out as quickly as possible aids in helping the manifolds scavenge.

At least that’s how it’s been explained to me as to why 3" is better than 2.5" on these motors?