87 Ram 50 EGH 'build thread'

[Salteen]

Well

I picked up the 3.3 yesterday, it looks like a runner.

I'm gonna rebuild it, do a little bit to pick up power, and find a jeep tranny!

[Salteen]

So there has been a big delimma. The calf strain hasn't been oiled properly the last bit of its running life. Rockers are gone, pushrods are pitted, and the rockers are eaten real bad.

I am considering building a carbuerator intake for it, putting a 3.8 cam in, and building an ecu so that I can tune the engine parameters.

May stay w fuel injection. Opinions on that?

[Salteen]

New delimma. The block bosses to mount the engine LH were machined off from the factory. So now I have to figure out how to build a bracket to bolt my engine mount to

[B-Line]

Sounds like things are not working in your favor.

[Salteen]

Well if thay isnt enough my crankshaft is cracked.

I now where a Plymouth pickup with a 3.8 swap is, but it never got completed because of the mounting issue. I am gonna take notes from that swap, build me some motor mount brackets to weld to the block, and swap a 3.8L in. The only reason I chose 3.3 was I thought it was more compact and would get better mpg than a 3.8 while providing more power than the factory I4. But I mean if I get my gearing correct, and install larger tires like i want, then itll be no issue going 1800-2000 down the road. If I get 20-25 with the 3.8 and manage a 0-60 around 8 seconds I'll be very pleased.

[Salteen]

Also the 3.3 was a free engine. I guess this is why

[geezer101]

Anyone would be lucky to get a 'free' engine if it was serviceable. Too bad it's junk

[Salteen]

I have a 3.8 with a thrown rod bearing out of a 2005, but it's just the engine. I need to find a caravan with a complete wiring harness so that I can have something to work from.

Also wouldnt mind a jeep ecu ������

[tortron]

you should go for a speeduino or megasquirt imo
does the 3.8 have the bosses intact?

[Salteen]

The factory machines the bosses off the 3.8 too. I picked one up for $200, it was a runner when it was junked (wrecked van) but 2 pistons ate seized in the cylinders, the crankshaft wont turn, one of the bearings was nonexistent, and there was a bunch of metal in the oil pan. Oh and the cam lobes were eaten away too.

But the crankshaft actually looks ok, I think I'll use the block as a foundation.

[tortron]

lol, these engines sound like they get a hard life

[geezer101]

Sounds like oil and coolant are optional...

[Salteen]

They are actually very reliable. This van was owned by a Mexican owned taxi company, the van made it 250,000 miles, I'd say it did ok.

The block is ok, heads are good, cam is trash. The rest? Well...

I cant upload pics. The spun bearing was number 4, it was glued to the rod. Crankshaft is pitiful and wont be reused.

Basically I have a pile of good parts with a bad foundation.

[Salteen]

Good news!

Found a junkyard that sells V6 engines for $200 and gives a $55 core charge.

Bad news...

Jeep transmissions and transafer cases are like $1,000 rebuilt, and the wrangler isnt all that common at all, atleast, with a 3.8 liter.

The ugly news?

I'll be turning 2100 rpm at 55 mph unless I get a 4 speed auto (yuck) or find some gearing to fit my stock axles. I dont want to swap axles, more $$$, which I'm trying to save now.

[Salteen]

A bit of fiddling yielded a result.

Flip the factory minivan Intake so the water neck is at the front. Remove the coil pack and relocate it. Flip the upper intake so the throttle body is at the front of the engine again, flip the injectors to the correct way, flip the wires to the correct injectors.

A mess, but it looks like itll work.

Also have to mount up my power steering reservoir. Looks like itll take place where the factree juan used to be.

[Salteen]

Oh, use the triple row radiatie from a chrysler big block, use the minivan water neck. The water pump has a neck on it that goes to the radiator, and that goes directly into the pump. Now that my I take is flipped, my water outlets will either be akward routed or flipped to run across the bay, it seems to me 2 straight pipes equals better flow.

[Salteen]

http://www.speedcooling.com/22-Mopar...0aAiKPEALw_wcB

It's a 2 row, I dunno the dimensions compared to the factory, but I think it's close enough that I can make it work

[Salteen]

Welp change that, that's a 22" and my rad is 24"

Try this? https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...IaAhbVEALw_wcB

[Salteen]

Everywhere I turn I find junk. Junk, junk, and more junk. I am really co sidering a pentestar V6 now, its alot bigger but the entire engine is die cast aluminum and probably weighs the same, makes twice the power it seems (283/260 on the egh's 215/245) plus the pentestar can take like 12 lbs boost

[85Ram50]

If you can't find one to rebuild there is always already rebuilt. I just keep this site book marked for if i win the lottery; https://precisionengine.com/mitsubishi-engines/

[Salteen]

Well, after 150k miles and a few years I managed to blow up the tired a$$ g54b that once sent my truck down the road. Well, sent is a very loose term. A little more like "puttered" but whatever works.

Geez last time I was really on this forum was like 4 years ago when I was 16 LOL! I've already built a house, I daily a diesel truck and have owned more pickups and cars then I can count.

Still have the ole ram 50 though. And yes, I still want to stick a fvcking minivan motor in it, with a jeep transmission.