[jeffcoslacker]

Since you already did the intake gaskets, that's about the only major issue to contend with. I believe the 3.1 puts out 170 hp, not sure if I've ever seen torque figures, but I know by seat of the pants it is good for the displacement, especially at low to mid rpm. Highway pickup is a bit slow, unless you stretch the cable and get the double-downshift, at which point it goes like a rocket, but seems hard on the driveline.

I have 118,000 on my '97, it is still tight, no major leaks, uses about 1/2 qt oil between 5000 mile changes. I put a K+N panel filter in it and busted out three 1-1/2" holes in the airbox to let it inhale easier (and make some noise!)

The gaskets on the oil and trans pans are an integral-carrier type, with rubber molded around a metal core with torque limiters around the bolt holes, are very durable and re-useable. Usually if they leak, a retorquing will correct it.

A lot of comments are made about excessive noises at start-up with the 3.1's, especially in colder weather. They are prone to piston skirt slap and valve train noises until warmed up. Perfectly common and normal for these.

Your year still had the old style dogbone roll restrictor mounts on top front, they were breakage prone. But cheap and very easy to fix, so who cares? Crunch all you want, we'll make more.