![]() 07/30/2020 at 16:04 • Filed to: Engine Swaps, rallyvan | ![]() | ![]() |
Got my 3.8 tore down to the bare block, finished inspecting, and pressure washed the years of gunk off it.
Now it awaits a coat of paint and the rebuild kit.
![]() 07/30/2020 at 06:08 |
|
you’ll have it running by Sunday night the way you go.
add don’t for get to add the stroker kit and turbo too
:P
![]() 07/30/2020 at 06:34 |
|
Everytime you mention this engine, my mind automatically goes to the L36 3.8 engine that we find under most Commodore hoods...
![]() 07/30/2020 at 06:48 |
|
Depends when the parts show up ;)
No big build in this motor’s future. It’s already a 30hp/65-ftlb improvement over my current engine, it’ll be plenty.
![]() 07/30/2020 at 09:32 |
|
It’s amazing how fast you progress.
![]() 07/30/2020 at 10:13 |
|
You've got mad skills, tearing down and rebuilding something like that. And here I've been dreading changing the oil pan on the Civic...
![]() 07/30/2020 at 10:22 |
|
The pushrod design is way outside of what I’m used to, but otherwise it’s pretty straightforward.
I’ve rebuilt a few engines over the years.
![]() 07/30/2020 at 10:29 |
|
Nice, its good to know there are other people out there that when faced with the task of rebuilding a motor, always start with let me clean and paint it before i put the new parts in. I don’t know how everyone doesn’t realize i freshly painted rebuilt motor will always work better than a non-painted motor. What color is it going to be?
![]() 07/30/2020 at 11:41 |
|
Is that one also a turd?
![]() 07/30/2020 at 12:00 |
|
Come on, the Chrysler 3.8 may not be fast, but it’s a torquey/reliable motor.
Wouldn’t call it a turd by any means.
![]() 07/30/2020 at 12:01 |
|
I’m leaning on Chrysler Blue for the block and pan, but I’m not for sure yet.
![]() 07/30/2020 at 12:20 |
|
It’s universally regarded as a turd in the Jeep world. Pretty bad track record reliability wise, and 230 or so torques isn’t a lot by modern standards, especially when they’re high up in the rev range. Better suited for a minivan, I guess.
https://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/engine/1508-3-8l-jeep-wrangler-jk-engine-problems/
![]() 07/30/2020 at 13:59 |
|
Thats what i settled on for my 85 diplomat, factory was black, looks fantastic in blue
![]() 07/30/2020 at 15:58 |
|
That’s where I’ll probably end up as it was my first thought.
![]() 07/30/2020 at 16:04 |
|
By modern standards it’s not, but 215hp/245ft-lbs (
what the early 2000s van engines were making
)
from a 3.8 in the early 2000s was damn respectable, GM’s 3800 was only pushing 205
hp/
230ft-lbs at that time, most Honda 6s were just breaking 200hp, with around 200ft-lbs
.
I don’t know what they did with the 3.8s that went in the Jeeps, but they all seem to be piles, no argument there.
![]() 07/30/2020 at 16:15 |
|
Hemi orange or GTFO.
![]() 07/30/2020 at 16:24 |
|
I don’t know why anyone would want black. Colour makes finding leaks so much easier, AND it looks great!
![]() 07/30/2020 at 16:25 |
|
I wouldn’t feel bad, oil pan on a modern FWD car can’t be easy
![]() 07/30/2020 at 16:34 |
|
you’re not the only one who thinks of the 3800 lol
![]() 07/30/2020 at 16:35 |
|
cool
![]() 07/30/2020 at 16:57 |
|
I think the issue was weight. Once you add the automatic, 4wd and other stuff, the Wrangler could weigh as much as 4300lbs.
By comparison, a late 1990s Grand Caravan topped out at around 3700lbs
It could also just a Jeep Thing we don’t understand.
![]() 07/30/2020 at 17:26 |
|
I have to remove a linkage between the gear selector and the transmission and disconnect the exhaust. In theory, it shouldn’t be too bad, but whatever automotive things I end up doing always take 2-3 times longer than I expect. :(
![]() 07/30/2020 at 18:23 |
|
BUBBLEGUM PINK OR... ummm Hemi orange if you have some lying around.
![]() 07/30/2020 at 18:29 |
|
No subframe to remove? That’s not terrible. I always hate dealing with fluids, I always make a mess. I fully get how ‘just a few bolts’ takes hours.
![]() 07/30/2020 at 19:00 |
|
Thankfully no subframe, just the gear selector and exhaust.
![]() 07/31/2020 at 06:44 |
|
People are boring?