Modern chassis to put my 3.0/A543 into?

[87turbodance]

I've been hunting for a new chassis for my 3.0/A543 combo. My Spirit is pretty rotten and I would rather invest in a newer vehicle with a more modern interior with more safety features. Whatever I choose I will be running a 3.0/A543 combo with the option of the van AWD system. Megasquirt will be used for sure.

I have been looking extensively at the cloud cars as a replacement chassis but I'm having trouble figuring out how to handle the factory BCM and digital odometer. I have fairly easily install (in theory at this point) my A543 into a cloud car and wire up MS but I need a working speedometer and odometer.

I have also been looking at other platforms and abandoning Chrysler altogether but I don't want to to that unless I have to.

Anyone else have any suggestions for a sedan chassis I could use? Or how to figure out the cloud car BCM and digital odometer?

[bond_bbs]

If you're going through all that work, why not just use an aftermarket Speedo?

[87turbodance]

If you're going through all that work, why not just use an aftermarket Speedo?

I want a car that looks 100% stock but a turbocharged V6 under the hood. I don't want the riced out look or the race car look.

[RoadWarrior222]

IMO anything it is close to fitting without maaaajor work is gonna be in the '95 to 2000 timeframe. Then all else being equal, you've only got a 5 year headstart on rot, which with anything over 10 years old isn't really a big enough lead to waste money on. However, I don't know if it is equal, since Chryslers from that timeframe that I've seen have rotted worse/quicker than the 90-95ish ones in my observation. Forget hyundai platforms from the same era also, they only pulled their metaphorical socks up 7 or 8 years ago. Mitsu are rare here due to them only entering the market a few years back, and you could have BIG import troubles, not quite old enough to get a free pass, and they might need unobtanium equipment to bring them to Canadian standards.

So, best bet IMO is just looking around for that Grampa owned gem of an AA, P, H, G, J etc that's in phenomenal shape now and looking after it. Though the TBIs are more common there, and you would still have the swap to do.

Also, I'm not tooooo sure that that era was great for safety either, some of our bodies seem to hold up pretty good in the vids and pics that are on youtube, whereas in similar tests, the neons, clouds etc, were a bit marginal.

[Murphy]

I can say that a spirit will hold up pretty good in a crash. I've rear ended a car and blew the airbag, t-boned a car and blew the airbag and rolled it over, and I was able to drive away each time.

[c2xejk]

I want a car that looks 100% stock but a turbocharged V6 under the hood. I don't want the riced out look or the race car look.

.
You may want to get a 24v v6 and a piggy-back controller. All the gauges should work. Not sure if the ecu will set any codes.

[RoadWarrior222]

This one must be worth checking out...
http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ319267615

[Force Fed Mopar]

You could get an Avenger, they came w/ a 2.5 V6 that is basically a small 3.0. Mounts should be pretty close. Or you could get a late-model Stratus R/T, they came w/ 6G74 5-spds. Shouldn't be too hard to swap a 6G72 into either one, especially if you are using MS. And, I know awd setups have been swapped into the Avenger body before (DSM setups), so that will help you on that front.

[Sundance 6g72]

naw the stratus RT had a 6g72 but it was with the 4 valve heads and slightly weaker pistons. I think that be why hes staying with the 12valve?

the stratus 5spd should bolt up to the 12valve motor making it slightly easy to custom make a front mount and a passenger mount? not sure how ghetto it would be if you had solid front, passenger, and tranny mounts, leaving no rear mount?

[dodgeshadowchik]

I though those 24V heads will bolt onto the 12V engine? That might be a cool option.

I'd say stick with the older dodges, but look for a clean one... or the dsm-based avenger/sebring.

[Sundance 6g72]

or just get a 94 awd talon and be done with it


i believe the heads bolt on, but coolant and oil passages are different.. same deal with the dohc heads? or its the fact that routing the timing belt and other accessories is difficult?

[Shadow24]

timing belt setup and crank are different 12v vs 24v (sohc or dohc), not compatible without swapping cranks and such.

I second the clean dodge motion. The newer cars are all alot heavier. The avenger and sebring/eclipse people are now swapping 3.5s and 3.8s in instead of building the 3.0 as well

[87turbodance]

Decisions decisions... Maybe something like that 95 Acclaim is the best option.

[bond_bbs]

That 95 Acclaim has the goofiest CL ad I've ever read. "This lazy little car"... lol..

Also - to the Americans :P - we didn't get the 2nd Generation of the Stratus here in Canada, so no late model Stratus RT for us

---------- Post added at 11:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:33 AM ----------

Another thing to remember - if you engine swap into a newer car, you still legally require that all the CARS factory emissions control crap are in place. The "Hot Rod" work around doesn't really work anymore unless you prove the engine swap was done pre-2000. As well - swapping the V6 into a 4 banger car also means you have to get yours running under it's lower emissions requirements.

Unless you know a place that does *cough*hot*cough* etests...

[Sundance 6g72]

we dont have any of that bull in michigan... yet.


you could always run a second exhaust that is easily swappable along with keeping the stock ecu in place like i WAS doing (took like 5min to go from MS to sbec)

[RoadWarrior222]

Decisions decisions... Maybe something like that 95 Acclaim is the best option.

Might be a quick option too, looks like it has a V6 badge on the fender, so maybe you just need to switch out the Slips-Oh-Four, for the 543 to get mobile.

[Ondonti]

all 6g72 cranks are compatible in all 6g72 blocks, 6g73 also. 6g73 is just a 3.0 that has not been bored out enough.

2g dsm n/a body?

[jl93sundance]

Look for an 02' Chrysler Sebring Coupe, they were available with the 3.0l. They put 5-speeds in those too, not sure what trans they used though.

[87turbodance]

all 6g72 cranks are compatible in all 6g72 blocks, 6g73 also. 6g73 is just a 3.0 that has not been bored out enough.

I was wondering about this. I has assumed that the 2.5 crank would have lighter counter-weights making it not practical to us with 3.0 pistons. Can you confirm or deny if there is a difference between the 2.5 and 3.0 crankshafts? aside from the pin that sticks out from the crank snout in the 24V motors.

---------- Post added at 09:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:18 AM ----------

2g dsm n/a body?

I've considered the 2G DSM and starting with swapping the 3.0(12V or 24V?) / A543 in place of the 4G63 (blasphemy! I know.) Axles might be a pain in the --- but it would be awful cool to make it AWD using van parts. Intake manifold would need to very low profile.

---------- Post added at 09:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 AM ----------

MY biggest issue with the 24V motor is lack of inexpensive aftermarket cams. For under $500 I can have a couple crower regrinds in my hands for the 12V and solid rockers are available. I can't say the same for the 24V motors.

[87turbodance]