vr-4 engine swap in 89 3.0 liter caravan??

mystizo916 · #1 10-22-2004, 04:57 AM

i've been pondering this for a long while. i have an 89 dodge grand caravan with the 3.0 liter mitsubishi engine. i was wondering if i could swap the dohc 3.0 twin turbo engine from a 3000gt vr-4 into my caravan while retaining the stock tranny. shouldn't this work? both engines have the same engine code which should mean its the same basic block. i have done a little research and found that, aside from a full computer and wiring harness swap, the 3000gt engine would have to be turned around to bolt up to the stock stranny, the passenger side motor mount would have to be modified either on the body or the block to line up right, and the oil filter would have to be relocated since it is in a different location and if left alone, would hit the half shafts. just by measuring the length and width of the van's engine bay, the twin turbo setup would definitely fit. could this be done? has anyone done it? would i have to swap the tranny too? has anyone tried and given up? i always wondered why there was never any info on this seemingly basic swap. ALL and ANY help is appreciated.

xXxRocker5150 · #2 10-22-2004, 10:03 AM

Lol, I'm just curious, why'se there a mitsu engine in ur caravan, cuz I think I have the same one, it's a 89 dodge caravan LE rite? Yea, I'm just curious as to why you'd wanna do it...

Musashi3000GT · #3 10-22-2004, 11:09 AM

Sleeper Caravan! lol, yeah anythings possible dude, some fabricating and you can put down 320 on that caravan, or just write to "monster Garage" and tell em your idea.

This week on monster garage, Jessie turns a 89 Caravan into a street racer using a VR-4 motor. Tune in Monday nights at 9:00 p.m. !

Igovert500 · #4 10-22-2004, 11:18 AM

I honestly think I heard of someone doing this...not sure if it was an 89 dodge minivan, but I think they dropped a vr4 motor into one...and I honestly have no freaking clue where I read it...it was over a year ago. It required alot of fabrication if I remember correctly, but I swear I heard something similar. Let me do some searching.

Igovert500 · #5 10-22-2004, 11:58 AM

Nevermind, this is what I was talking about...he discusses what would be involved in putting a 6G72 motor into a chrysler minivan, and alot of other good stuff, that may very well help you, but he hasn't put in a vr4 motor in there. At least check it out:
http://www.sonataspeed.com/6g72info.html

Technical_Automan · #6 10-22-2004, 12:42 PM

lol you better better be rich if you want to throw money away like that, cuz it won't bump up the value of the car any, like it would in a sports car.

Boosted1 · #7 10-22-2004, 01:45 PM

Lol, make sure to do a turbo upgrade too. Might surpize a few V8's.

mystizo916 · #8 10-22-2004, 02:22 PM

i was trying to figure out whether this swap would require little fabrication. sure, a spot on monster garage would be great but i dont think that kind of fabrication is needed. yes, there is a 3.0 mitsubishi built v6 in my caravan. for all those who dont know, that mitsu engine is found in MANY other chrysler products. and yes, it has the same 6g72 engine code found in your stealths and 3000gts. my goal is not to "dump" money into this project since the swap seems relatively simple. i was just wondering if anybody had any information on this swap or if anybody has attempted it before.

88mini · #9 09-28-2005, 03:47 PM

@ mystizo916

I have an '88 Voyager SE and I have been wondering the same thing about an engine swap.

I wasn't looking at the VR-4 engine but the non-turbo DOHC for a nice upgrade.

The 3.0 SOHC doesn't seem to have much aftermarket support and this my project vehicle.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2093940

However because the Stealth/3000GT 3.0's are flipped 180 degrees it is not going to be a drop-in swap.

Here is a link of an Acclaim with a 3.0 DOHC swapped in, http://www.cardomain.com/ride/473368/4

Another option could be to turbo charge the 3.0 SOHC. A user on turbododge.com by the name of Ondoti has a successful 3.0 turbo setup.

Check him out.

xXxRocker5150 · #10 09-28-2005, 07:16 PM

this is a pretty old thread dude........, but if u want a sleeper minivan go to www.turbominivan.com ... it's a dodge minivan that came turbo'd from the factory and you can pick one up for pretty cheap I think.

AutostradaVR4 · #11 09-28-2005, 07:56 PM

lol...i can just see the guys face in the 'stang or camaro when he gets his doors blown in by a caravan lol. or, even better, the little bitches in their fart-can civics haha (no dis. on the civic guys intended)

seriously though, i hope that the engine isnt being raped from a perfectly good 3/s....right?

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