Okay this one has been going on for some time and I finally decided to start a project log so I could keep track of it.
It all started during the magical summer of 2008 (flash back waves and harp music). I found myself board at work and a bright young engineering intern and I were looking at Craigslist and he being a U of M student was looking at Ann Arbor Craigslist. He told me to come over and take a look at this ugly wagon and wouldn't that be fun. Of course I think Ann Arbor and turbo wagon and a Volvo comes to mind. But to my surprise it was a Chrysler Town & Country turbo.
The car was listed for $500 with a blown head gasket I quickly emailed the seller and asked for more info and pictures. Turned out it was an original owner car with 63,000 miles that they inherited when his mother in law passed away. A few emails, a promise not to scrap it but try to fix it and a tow dolly rental brought the car home for $250.
I quickly decided to turn the car into a daily driver if I could get it running. It was the most optioned out car I had ever owned and everything worked (except the power plant of course). I was ready to cruise in style with my power bench seat, power locks, power windows, rear defrost and wiper, am/fm radio, A/C, and self leveling rear suspension. 2008 was also the year my son was born and the car sat for the rest of the summer but when fall rolled around I pulled the head off and went to work.
The first time through I simply replaced all the gaskets put it back together and fired it up and it ran great. I drove the car for two years making a few upgrades including a MP TI LM upgrade, 2.5" exhaust with Magnaflow muffler, K&N drop in, and an under drive pulley. I was able to run a 15.45 @ 86mph on this set up.
After two years of dutiful daily driver work I decided it was time to put some more work into it and go TII. I found a used 89 turbo with a 2.5" SV, sourced an intake set up off of an 89 2.5 turbo, bought an older Relentless performance LM, and an IC/radiator setup from Daytona Shelby with a S60 intercooler and went to work. Using the instructions from thedodgegarage.com I put together an overlay harness and got her up and running. Wow what a difference the TII made.
Shortly after converting to TII I found a set of PT Cruiser 17" rims with tires on craigslist and bought those for $300, yes that is right my tires and rims cost more than my car, that is something I enjoy bragging about (I could easily put a little over 250 into the stereo and have that going for it also). After purchasing the rims I decided it was time to upgrade the suspension so new struts, with Daytona Shelby springs cut to lower the front a few inches, and Daytona springs and KYB shocks in the rear (yes I removed the air ride set up). I also installed PB motor mounts at this time. The car was significantly quicker and made a fun daily driver it ran a best of 14.2 @ 98.
I then spun the #4 rod bearing ruining the crank and bending the #4 rod (hindsight says I should have changed the bearings when I went to TII) So in the winter of ’11 I tore the motor down sourced a new crank and rod and sent it all to the local machine shop and put it all back together.
I currently have the motor back apart because I was getting some blow by and found that the #1 cylinder had compression around 60psi. I found some carnage on the #1 piston it was cracked in multiple places on the ring gland. All the other pistons look good and the rings look great.
I no longer use the woody as a daily driver so now I have more time to work on it but it also becomes easier to procrastinate. I am going to re-ring it and put a new number one piston in and may go forged someday but a trip to Disney World this winter was deemed more important.
Future plans are to get it put back together, upgrade to an 87 LM that Boost Button can cal, 3 bar map, +20 or 40 injectors, 255lph fuel pump, port work, front mount intercooler, fix the rust on the rockers, and who knows what else will pop up.
The goal with this car has always been a budget minded fun ride hence any non wear part has been purchased use off of the forums, junk yards, and craigslist.
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Originally Posted by bigbarneycars
