Hybrid VS 2.4 transplant thoughts?

[Kid Doc]

AS most of you know, I have been working on my DOHC hybrid setup for quite some time now. I made the sticky above to help people out starting this project. But now I am starting to look at it, and wonder if it is a good idea. I would like opinions with justification on why you feel one vs the other would be better. Hindsight being 20/20 as it always is, I just get the feeling that I am throwing a LOT of money at soemthing for minimal rewards.

First of all, lets look at cost:

Hybrid Conversion

The thread here asking about what everyone has spent so far was enlightening. $2982 to $5690 plus a LOT of headaches matching pieces together that were never meant to go together. Don't get me wrong, I like the idea... that's why I started it. Plus a misconception that the 2.4 block was weak, and the 5 speed trannies couldn't hold up to the power.

2.4 conversion

Ebay has a 30K mile 2003 DOHC for $500, and a neon 3.55 tranny for $185.
Use 2.5 rods ($30?) and forged pistons from venolia $400(?) Use the stock intake manifold, and buy a exhaust manifold $350. A stage 2 spec modular clutch $750 Plus a decent turbo $700 =$2885

Second Look at ease of installation.

Hybrid. Custom pullies, custom intake manifold, custom exhaust manifold, Stock modified motor mounts. Ugh

2.4 conversion.
Modified motor mounts. Your choice of stock or aftermarket manifolds.

Is anybody else looking at this like me? I mean really, It is seriously making me think about ditching all my hybrid stuff and going with a 2.4 conversion. Or is it just me?~~Heath

[Andre Parker]

There are going to be electronics issues either way, I too would love to have a 2.4, but I am going one for my 87 Daytona and I would like to keep the distributor and stock electronics and just use a trim cal from FWD. I have never used megasquirt or SDS on a daily driven car, granted this is a playtoy I am building. But I want to be able to drive it daily if I so chose to do so. I'm shooting for somewhere between 300-400hp at the crank. As much as I love our motors, I think the 2.4 and 2.0 blocks are better.

[88-16V-Lebaron]

The distributor can be mounted on the camshaft. There have been threads discussing it.
Cindy could modify your turbo electronics to run the 2.4l. It should be close to the same for a 2.5l hybrid.
I thought there was clearance issues that requires a custom intake. if you have the distributor mounted on the camshaft and there is no clearance issues you could snag the intake and turbo from an srt4.

Cost:
2.4l motor $2-400
SRT4 turbo/exhaust $200
Srt4 Intake $200
Pistons/rods $ rings $350
Computer $200
Neon cable 5spd $200

Engine: $1150 (probably get an srt4 motor complete soon cheaper whole)
Man Trans $200 (heard stock D-shafts fit)
Computer $200

Total: Approx. $1500

[Millerman340]

I was going to do a hybrid in my Dakota and make a auto trans adapter to run a glide or a 904, But the money I'll sink into converting could go toward much better parts for the 2.4. I can pick-a-part a 2.4 for $199.00 complete,$250 for cam gears is half way home for a set of forged pistons! I'll just have to figure out how to make mounts for rwd or use the liberty mounts.Dave

[kedavis]

Quote:

Is anybody else looking at this like me?

Yep that was my reasoning for the 2.4 in the daytona also the block is a lot stronger.As far as daily driven sds is perfect you can run in closed loop and get great gas mileage etc.With the 2.2 in the daytona made a 1700 mile round trip to Michigan and got 36mpg that was with a maual.

[shelbyplaya]

i personley am going with the hybrid because it's still orignal, and the fact that almost everything about it is truley custom. when trying to discribe what you have done and what has been done and what needs to be done, it catches the intrest of more ppl then just saying 'i just droped in a 2.0/4 and bought a srt-4 exhaust/turbo.'
i my self like the challenge and the fact that it's truley made for you, you desinged it, and the onley one like it. we (and by we i mean everyone doing the hybrid swap) can truley say that they all had a hand in enginering somthing that could possabley make a ripple in the automotive industry and possabley get TD's on the map!!!!

but hey, if it was me, i'd do both. if i cant deside between 2 of somthing. they both get done

[Millerman340]

Soooo, What is the weak link in the 2.4? rods? Is the block as strong as the cb, crank?

[OmniGuy123]

I have been crunching the numbers myself, and a hybrid just does not add up if you are looking to go as fast as possible for as cheap as possible.

[kedavis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millerman340 Soooo, What is the weak link in the 2.4? rods? Is the block as strong as the cb, crank?

block is stronger by far the rods are weak you can get srt-4 rods and pistons fairly cheap I went with pauter rods and wiseco pistons,you can also use t2 rods same length center to center has already been done.

[shelbyplaya]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cordes I have been crunching the numbers myself, and a hybrid just does not add up if you are looking to go as fast as possible for as cheap as possible.

fast as possable for as cheap as possable. that kinda sounds strange to me. if you are gonna do a set up of any kind cheap is not the way to go, it's been proven time and time again... hence why alot of TD's blow up. hahahaha

[OmniGuy123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelbyplaya fast as possable for as cheap as possable. that kinda sounds strange to me. if you are gonna do a set up of any kind cheap is not the way to go, it's been proven time and time again... hence why alot of TD's blow up. hahahaha

Sorry, I should have added semi-reliably.

[jake]

Just a suggestion to anyone thinking about one of these projects, also consider a TIII head. They are much more rare, harder to find, and there for more expensive (though I have seen a few entire TIII cars go for around $500, so if you take your time and shop you might get lucky). But they have a few advantages too, factory forged piston (save 500+ if you don't have to over bore), the head bolts to any 2.2 block with no fabrication at all, will fit in a L-body with stock intake and exhaust manifolds (have to use a aftermarket radiator fan), and no mount fabrication too. Of course you would have to do the wiring and/or custom mounted distributor, but you would have that with the other options too. This is what I'm doing, TIII in a Charger, running a distributor off the exhaust cam. Pros, almost no fabrication = e-zer (if that’s what your into, I know to some the fabrication is the fun and totally custom is very cool), Cons, cost but I don't think by too much. Don't get me wrong I love what you guys have done with the hybrids, and if I had not gotten a deal on a TIII might have done a hybrid too, just wanted to bring up another option. Thanks.

There is always the Maserati head too but extremely rare/expensive and no after mart support at all.

[OmniGuy123]

I have been leary of the TIII heads due to their rep as not very reliable/durable. I know that there are many who are putting down some serious porwer these days with one, but how much have they has to lay out to get them running reliably?

[Kid Doc]

Wow, am I suprised by all the responses.

Yeah, I still think I am going to do the hybrid setup... I am in too deep already. But maybe I'll have to get a 2.4 and neon 5 speed and start pondering............

[WIDOWMAKER]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cordes I have been leary of the TIII heads due to their rep as not very reliable/durable. I know that there are many who are putting down some serious porwer these days with one, but how much have they has to lay out to get them running reliably?

When I bought my Spirit R/T in spring 2002, it had a cracked head--the same spot most of them crack. I got it welded, and seriously modded the motor. At the time I fixed the head, I also installed new lifters and a new timing belt. In the last 3-plus years, I've driven the car nearly every day(OFTEN times running the pi$$ out of it), and I've never had any problems with it. May sound strange, but I've owned at least a dozen TDs since 1988, and this car has, by far, been the most reliable of them all, and has never stranded me anywhere. I don't hesitate to take long trips in it. I'm aware of the stigma of unreliablility that's been attached to these motors, and that is why I never hesitate to mention that I own one that has been stone reliable.