1999 2.7L w/Broken Timing Chain

well, it has been a while since i have had to post here...so here i go

the timing chain on my intrepid broke last night, and i have known for sometime that the engine would eventually blow because of oiling issues.
Is this a sign that the engine has blown? or just a failed timing chain?

i was wondering if it is worth fixing the broken timing chain or just dropping in another engine...or just getting rid of the car completely.

if i took the route of fixing the timing chain...i would also have to replace the heads, correct? which would get quite expensive. i would then have the worry of the engine going next.

Oh, and i still owe $830 on this car....sad sad sad

any guidence on this topic would help greatly, and would be much appreciated.

What are projected costs or repairing and replacing the engine?

thanks

The engine is probably a total loss. If the chain breaks, the pistons will hit the opens valve and bend them, that is why you would have to replace the head(s). Most of the time, the piston that hit now has a hole in it, which is expensive to fix. Depending on the supply in your area, you may end up paying $1000-$1600 for a used engine that will do the same thing in time. There are some companies on the internet that supply a kit to install a 3.2l or 3.5l engine into the Intrepid. It ends up costing about the same b/c the 3.2/3.5's are easier to come by than the 2.7's. The 3.2/3.5 engines do not have the dependability problem that the POS 2.7's do. Take a look around on the internet before you make a desicion. It is not worth fixing if you are going to put another 2.7 in it.
http://www.2-7-fix.com/4436.html

you can also visit www.dodgeintrepid.net (http://www.dodgeintrepid.net) and go to the second generation forums, they have the parts that are necessary for a 3.2/3.5 liter conversion. Be glad you owe only $830, you can pay that off in a few months, most stories I've heard people owe $5,000 and more and are stuck with a car w/ a blown motor.

Go with a donor car that has been wrecked instead of the kit to convert to the 3.2.The advantage is you have the parts on hand instead of going to an auto salvage yard for every part.

this is my original post and now we plan to get the car fixed...will a 3.5 from a 97 dodge intrepid fit in this car? i will have the entire donor car for all the needed parts, only thing is the donor cars transmission is no good.

The 1997 3.5 will not fit.It has to be a 1998 and up.You will have more power with the 3.5 and you will notice the differance.

On the timing parts I stopped counting at 500 between primary and secondary and that don't have nothing to do with labor, you got full coverage insurance???

if you like ur current trep..... who knows some SEs are nice it might be better to stick with the suggested engine swap to the 3.5 / 3.5HO.

Althought for under 9k you could get a 2nd gen with a 3.5HO.

Good luck