I really like the way you show the difference between the Jeep rods and the minivan rods. Amazing that Chrysler designed the Jeep rods that way. Kudos!
So the takeaway is, make sure you JK's cooling and oil systems are maintained. If the 3.8 overheats or runs too low on oil, it will result in spun bearings.
So you're saying my 3.8 might not be a boat ancor after all... might give the minivan rods a shot. cracked cap bearing failure @136k, also on it's third ECU
I saw you commented after a year that it was running good. Do you have a 2 year update? I am seriously considering doing this. I don't want to put another JK engine since they have known problems and having spun bearings in a year. Thank you for your informational videos.
325,000 miles and running like new. If you watch the series I did end up using the jeep block with the caravan internals and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I feel the rods are way better in the caravan. The Jeep block is fine. Just make sure to do the slight clearance on the aluminum oil baffle to clear the caravan rods. I may post up a vid soon on the 2 year update. Doesn't burn virtually any oil and runs like new which is awesome considering I didn't have any machining done to the block etc. All stock size rings and bearings.
johnbrakingground I could not see what year minivan parts you used? I was searching and it looked like the 2007 wrangler and 2008 minivan parts had more part numbers in common than the 2007 years of both vehicles.
John, Can you tell me exactly the year and model of the engine you found the old (pre cracked rods) in. I'm finding the same rod part numbers in both the Jeep and Grand Caravan 3.8 engines. Id really like to do this to my Jeep.
@@johnbrakingground I'm currently building a Jeep 3.8 engine. I plan to use Caravan rods. What clearance issue did you have with the aluminum upper oil pan?
@@user-Killer76 I didnt get an answer when I replied to him. I didn’t see the clearance issue so got to pull my engine twice! The # 6 rod bolts grind into the pad on the top side of the aluminum skirt. It wasted my #6 bearing and rod. It rubs hard.
Thank you for the info. I have what I believe is a spun rod bearing. Just happened about s hour ago. I will look in to doing this. As the motor I have now has 168k miles on it.
Still runs great. In order to use the caravan rods there is a very small area that has to be cleranced from the upper alloy oil pan. I show it in another vid. Nothing i would change
@@johnbrakingground I watched all your videos I was just wondering if there was anything that you would do different like aftermarket cam rods rocker arms anything in that nature and if it was still doing good with the new Caravan pistons and arms can't really ask so JK Jeep forms cuz all they keep saying is to do with ls swap I dont got that kind of money
That's funny because I'm doing an ls swap series on this same jeep over the next 4 months or so. The 3.8 is a great engine but the auto trans behind it is the weak link. Im putting in a 5.3 with a 700r4 and a hybrid between the 241c and 241j tcase. Rebuilding the trans and engine and the entire swap with everything included will be less than 2k. Project will be called ls swap jk under 2k.
@@johnbrakingground I will definitely be following that because everything I find online I have to buy a whole bunch of adapters and wire harnesses and everything like that I can get a full truck with with an LS motor in it for almost nothing I work for a wrecker service so getting a wreck is not hard problem I see is finding all of the hard Parts I got to go with it and I would love to keep my manual transmission
Man, I am glad to have seen this. I think you solved the whole issue on the spun bearing curse.
This is 5 years back, I'll look for an update.
Thanks
I really like the way you show the difference between the Jeep rods and the minivan rods. Amazing that Chrysler designed the Jeep rods that way. Kudos!
Change front from the jeep engine to caravan engines. One blockoff where the van filter goes. And you can use the van engine in the jk,
So the takeaway is, make sure you JK's cooling and oil systems are maintained. If the 3.8 overheats or runs too low on oil, it will result in spun bearings.
What torque is needed to wrench the rod bearing clamps?
Also the metal valve covers off earlier mini van v6 fit have to slightly modify PCV hose connector
Just installed a 2010 caravan 3.8 in my wrangler 08-10 motors fit minor changes needed.
What minor changes??
@@jeeperadventures2818 You need to take every accesory off your old motor including intake and timingcover/oil pump Use old motor mounts ect
So you're saying my 3.8 might not be a boat ancor after all... might give the minivan rods a shot. cracked cap bearing failure @136k, also on it's third ECU
R the motors anything like a gm 3800?
I saw you commented after a year that it was running good. Do you have a 2 year update? I am seriously considering doing this. I don't want to put another JK engine since they have known problems and having spun bearings in a year. Thank you for your informational videos.
325,000 miles and running like new. If you watch the series I did end up using the jeep block with the caravan internals and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I feel the rods are way better in the caravan. The Jeep block is fine. Just make sure to do the slight clearance on the aluminum oil baffle to clear the caravan rods. I may post up a vid soon on the 2 year update. Doesn't burn virtually any oil and runs like new which is awesome considering I didn't have any machining done to the block etc. All stock size rings and bearings.
johnbrakingground I could not see what year minivan parts you used? I was searching and it looked like the 2007 wrangler and 2008 minivan parts had more part numbers in common than the 2007 years of both vehicles.
John, Can you tell me exactly the year and model of the engine you found the old (pre cracked rods) in. I'm finding the same rod part numbers in both the Jeep and Grand Caravan 3.8 engines. Id really like to do this to my Jeep.
@@johnbrakingground I'm currently building a Jeep 3.8 engine. I plan to use Caravan rods. What clearance issue did you have with the aluminum upper oil pan?
@@user-Killer76 I didnt get an answer when I replied to him. I didn’t see the clearance issue so got to pull my engine twice! The # 6 rod bolts grind into the pad on the top side of the aluminum skirt. It wasted my #6 bearing and rod. It rubs hard.
Hi John! Do you know what year those rods where used in the Caravan? Cheers
These came out of a 1996 Caravan.
@@johnbrakingground Thanks, i found out that even 2007 Caravan has that type of rod. Did your caravan Rod bearings match the Wrangler bearings?
@@BlueBeemerBoy77 yeah same bearing
Thank you for the info. I have what I believe is a spun rod bearing. Just happened about s hour ago. I will look in to doing this. As the motor I have now has 168k miles on it.
You could also roll in some new bearings unless you were wanting to do a rebuild
@@johnbrakingground I going to pull the covers and drop the pan. See all that is wrong with it.
@@johnbrakingground also looking at a stroker kit from 505
@@youngsjoshua not sure how handy you are or budget but I'm in the process of putting an ls 5.3 in mine. Keep an eye out for vid series on that swap
being that you did the motor a year ago how's it running? Is there any that you would do diffrent rods rockers any upgrades for power or fuel?
Still runs great. In order to use the caravan rods there is a very small area that has to be cleranced from the upper alloy oil pan. I show it in another vid. Nothing i would change
@@johnbrakingground I watched all your videos I was just wondering if there was anything that you would do different like aftermarket cam rods rocker arms anything in that nature and if it was still doing good with the new Caravan pistons and arms can't really ask so JK Jeep forms cuz all they keep saying is to do with ls swap I dont got that kind of money
That's funny because I'm doing an ls swap series on this same jeep over the next 4 months or so. The 3.8 is a great engine but the auto trans behind it is the weak link. Im putting in a 5.3 with a 700r4 and a hybrid between the 241c and 241j tcase. Rebuilding the trans and engine and the entire swap with everything included will be less than 2k. Project will be called ls swap jk under 2k.
@@johnbrakingground I will definitely be following that because everything I find online I have to buy a whole bunch of adapters and wire harnesses and everything like that I can get a full truck with with an LS motor in it for almost nothing I work for a wrecker service so getting a wreck is not hard problem I see is finding all of the hard Parts I got to go with it and I would love to keep my manual transmission
what oil do you run in this motor
Semi syn 5w20 from rural king
Yeah i know what your saying ,and evan regularly maintained n cooling f**#@ dame rite lost my 2011 sahara motor last month 74k onit).