3/S generations

[Trogdor]

I gots a few questions about the 1st gen 3/S cars vs newer ones. are there any significant weight differences between the diff. gen cars ? how about speed differences ? i know the first gen only have 300 hp, as oposed to the 320, but can that be easily rectified? i mean its only 20 hourses... also, do the 97's and up have AWS as well, or did they stop that in 96? would a 1st gen be just as good to supe up as the later ones ? what are the big differences between the diff gens, bassicaly... im looking into the 1st gens because of recent cash flow problems... so any help would be much apreciated... thanx

[YogsVR4]

All the following are on the VR4 model. Outside of the fascia changes, I don’t know what mechanics were altered (if any) in the other models.

The biggest change between the first and second generation was a move to a six speed transmission. The engine did go to a four bolt main after 91. You can read up on it here http://www.allpar.com/mopar/3.html

The jump from 300 to 320 was because they raised teh stock boost from 10psi to 12psi. Put in a good boost gauge (a must since the stock ones are never accurate) and a boost controller and you can safely go to 14-15 psi with no changes to the fuel system. This will get you Closer to 340hp by itself.

AWS did go away but I am not sure exactly what year that was. 97 sounds right though. It was there at least through 95.

94 and 95 had 5 spoke chromies that I have on mine and 18s as options. Prior to 94 they were a different design and all 17s.

[Trogdor]

i see! so the only engine diff, is the stock amount of boost! good to know. but the weights didnt realy change much??? i thought i had heard something about the 1st gen's being slightly lighter... and about the AWS do u know why they killed it? was it just problematic or what? thanx again

[YogsVR4]

The AWS was removed to save a few pounds and cost to build it. It was never problematic. I think the weight of the different generations are within 1/10 of a percent of each other so its negligable.

[91VR-4boy]

Also worth noting is that 93 and above has significantly stronger transfer cases and newer (crappier) ECU's. The 91 and 92's are the only ones you can use TM Dataloggers on, otherwise you gotta replace it entirely for datalogging.

[ikOnone]

yea the 25 spline in late 92 (august if i remember correctly) vs the 18 in the previous years is a big difference. i thought the ecu changed between 93 and 94 and the 94 and 95's were basterd obd1 obd2 hybrids and then they were all obd2 but i could be wrong. a few other differences are the forged crank in the 2nd gens and the much better lifters in the 99's (some people call that 3rd gen but most consider it 2nd) active aero went bye bye at one point too but i forgot when. i would assume about the same time as the AWS and i know that the 90's and 98's came with a hoop spoiler not the low profile one so yogs guess of that changing in 97 is probably a good one. this helped drop some weight too. that is all that i can think of except for the changes in body style.