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Old 04-29-2001, 09:27 PM
rustytoolss rustytoolss is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Barberton, Ohio. USA
Age: 67
Posts: 59
Question

this is off the performance topic; but I`m looking to buy a 1991 caravan with 134,000 miles 3.3 v6. the tranny was replaced at 66,000. Does this engine have any things that normaly need replaced with age like ( head gaskets)...things like water pumps are normal to every engine..BUT I `am looking to find out about normal MAJOR repair items?.........2.2...cams/head gskts, 2.4 head gaskets/....3.0 head gaskets..................................3.3????
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Old 04-30-2001, 09:55 PM
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dschumers dschumers is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Brookfield,il
Posts: 1,061
Wink 3.3?

We have a '92 Chrysler T&C that has about 100K on it, and the only trouble we've had was a water pump and a set of motor mounts. I even raced it the first year we had it.
I also have a couple friends who have 3.3's in vans with over 160K on them with no problems. I believe the 3.3 is a pretty good motor.
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Old 05-05-2001, 01:28 AM
Karl43 Karl43 is offline
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: Detroit, MI
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The one problem that the 3.3 had in the early 90's if the rocker towers were sometimes breaking due to thin wall sections when the tolerances stacked up from casting to machining. Chrysler beefed up the towers when this problem was recognized and all replacement heads had the thicker towers. If they are not broke now, they should be okay. Just be careful not to overtorque if you ever remove and replace rocker shafts.

One alternative quick fix if you ever do this is to use a longer bolt if the tower breaks and use the tower as a shim. The small head bolt works perfect for this as it is the same thread as the rocker shaft bolt and is longer and threaded all the way. Chase the threads with a tap to make sure they are deep enough to match the bolt witout bottoming out and torque to the service manual recommendations.

The 3.3 is a good reliable engine and will give many years of service.
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Old 05-05-2001, 10:33 PM
PRO PRO is offline
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Location: Grand Junction,CO.USA
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On all 3.3Ls( and 3.8Ls) be sure to replace your timing chain when it gets some noticable slack in it,usually around 100-120k,heres the beef,its an interference engine,when it gets ALOT of chain slack the valves will hit the pistons,this doesnt hurt the pistons but will shove the hardened pushrods into the roller lifters so hard as too break them into many pieces and it will also cause the rocker shaft tower(aluminum) to snap off,usually requiring 2 new cylinder heads and a new roller cam and lifters,needless to say it gets very expensive.When you do the chain also do the water pump and belts.best part is the timing set is only $32.................PRO.............
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