learn me turbo dodge 2.4L engines

Found a turbo PT Cruiser at the junk yard today. How different are the motors from the SRT-4? I know there is a low output and a high output version of it but how can I tell the difference? I don't know much about PT Cruisers and this one had been debadged plus I failed to find out what year it was. What I can tell you is thats its Copper in color and has copper paint inside. Seats were also 2 colors and it had an automatic transmission if i remember correctly.

Would it be worth picking up this engine if the price it right? What else can you tell me about these engines?

BTW it's at Everetts Auto Parts in Brocton, MA. Also there is also a 2.2L Dakota in the junk yard next door with a 5 speed manual.

Maybe it's just me, but it is hard to tell what you are asking and what the vehicle is that you are trying to end up with.

Are you trying to make a PT Cruiser with a SRT-4 drivetrain? I always assumed that one of the drawbacks to building a SRT 4 Cruiser is the very tight underhood room. It's probably been done, just isn't a simple bolt-in.

As far as a Cruiser being "de-badged", they don't have a lot of badging on them to begin with, one of the nice things about them. Most models also had a body-colored dashboard, so a copper car with a copper interior isn't all that unusual.

Actually I don't own any vehicle this engine would currently fit in . I was thinking about picking it up and hanging onto it to use in a future challenge project. I'd like to know what makes the PT engine different then the SRT-4 Neon other then the intake. Also how can I spot the lower output version of this engine and does the low output one have weaker internals?

I think the low output ones were the autos and the higher output ones were 5 speed. IIRC the difference was only in the ECU tuning and the engines between the PTs and SRTs are the same mechanically.

moparman76_69 wrote: I think the low output ones were the autos and the higher output ones were 5 speed. IIRC the difference was only in the ECU tuning and the engines between the PTs and SRTs are the same mechanically.

gonna agree from what I know, too.
friend of mine kind of specializes in srt-4's; did a full rebuilt engine install into a customer's car and got a pt engine because it was cheaper and easier to find, said it was identical mechanically.
rescue that engine from that weird van-car-thing!

I really like the PT GT. I think it's a decent enough car with a pretty good motor. Take that pretty good motor and put it in a better chassis and win. I don't know why we don't really use that motor for more swaps.

Yes, the engine is the same as srt-4, other than intake manifold and possibly injectors, from what i know.

The most i have personally heard of out of a stock PT 2.4 turbo motor was 600whp (yes, on a STOCK longblock). But, i dont go out of my way researching the 2.4 so there may be more ridiculous examples i dont know about.

Basically it's one of the toughest and most capable turbo 4 cylinder motors ever produced, and if you can get it for J-yard prices it would be hard to lose on it.

Buy engine. Buy early 80s K car. Put engine in car with a 5 spd. Have fun with your new sleeper.

Or you can just live with a NA 2.4 and put in the Turbo rods and pistons for less then a complete motor.......

The low and high output engines are the same, I believe. Different ECUs.
Great motor. Stuff one into a 1st gen Neon (use an SRT 4 or Neon DOHC intake manifold). Easy low 13, high 12 second car.

http://www.turbododge.com/forums/f7/f30/368478-1987-chrysler-town-country-street-racing.html

I know you can do that.....

From what I've gathered on a Neon forum was that the difference between this & the SRT4 were mainly the manifold & the ECU tune. IIRC the PTGT was detuned due to the automatic transmission.

And I fully agree with AquaHusky, Get engine, get 80s Dodge, profit. Well in the fun car aspect at least.

So enough said, let's go get this thing this weekend. Found an 84 Daytona with a stick that could be a good candidate?

The trans in an 84 daytona will bolt to the 2.4 but is highly likely to break once it's running. Swaps to bulletproof trans are very easy and fairly cheap, though.

You know you're Grassroots when you buy a motor and then have to think about what to put it in. ;)

I want to try it. We can find a chassis later! I'm free Saturday. Are you going to get it?

Isnt it obvious, guys?

CHEROKEE!

DUH!

Went by the yard today and it's still there. They want $150 for a motor if I pull it myself. Hopefully I can talk some friends into going will me to lift it out on Saturday.

Few questions for when I pull the motor. I was reading that it will come out the top. Do I need to get under the car to disconnect anything? Right now its on the ground. I was also hoping that I can unbolt the exhaust manifold/turbo from the head and deal with the exhaust once the engine is out. Can the transmission stay in place?

I have two words for you: BATTERY SAWZALL. Take it out sideways if you want

I'm just going to leave this here for inspiration:

It will come out the top, but it's actually a little easier to drop it out the bottom, from what I understand.

PseudoSport wrote: BTW it's at Everetts Auto Parts in Brocton, MA. Also there is also a 2.2L Dakota in the junk yard next door with a 5 speed manual.

There was a bell housing available on the 2.2 Dakota that would bolt to a Toyota R-154 transmission. The bell housings between the 2.2 and the 2.4 are very close from what I understand.

Just sayin....

Well we decided to pass on the motor. Went this morning to start removing it & in typical GRM fashion we chose to ignore a couple warning signs that the motor may have been junk. First thing noticed was that 2 of the rockers were missing, but couldn't have gone anywhere. Second was lack of compression on cylinder #2. Once the head was off, this was discovered.

2 valves stuck open & some damage in between. The piston also looked like it had hit something. The turbo & timing belt looked new so we came to the conclusion that some shop was replacing this & that when this was what the problem was, in turn the owner junked it?

Wow, you got most of the hard work over... Keep at it!!! Even factory replacement parts are stupid cheap and even cheaper when they are "5 fingered discounted" from the JY.

Just replace the broken/missing/bent stuff and polish the edges off the piston and run it. You will like the results from being cheap.

turboswede wrote:

PseudoSport wrote: BTW it's at Everetts Auto Parts in Brocton, MA. Also there is also a 2.2L Dakota in the junk yard next door with a 5 speed manual.

There was a bell housing available on the 2.2 Dakota that would bolt to a Toyota R-154 transmission. The bell housings between the 2.2 and the 2.4 are very close from what I understand. Just sayin....

Wait a minute.... SRT4 2.4T-powered.... Toyota Truck?

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:

No, SRT4 power '85 Celica.

See what I did there?