Best Engine to Build

[Moparmonster]

After the first of the year, I plan to rebuild an engine for my '87 2.2 turbo I Lebaron. I'd rather just build an engine and have it ready to install, rather than puling the old engine out and rebuilding it. That way, the car will still run under its own power until the moment I start working on it. There is a local boneyard that always has a ton of 2.2 powered cars passing though. I obviously want a factory turbocharged engine, a turbo II if one were to show up. What should I be looking for? Do I want a common block 2.2? Will it bolt up to my 520 tranny? I plan to use a "G" head and a turbo II intake on it if that makes a difference.

[turbovanman]

ALL Dodge 2.2's and 2.5's bolt up to the trans, all heads interchange as do manifolds. You want a later common block as there stronger and the 89 and up T1's have all the goodies inside. Externally, I don't know how you would tell, I have a CB and non-CB sitting here and they both look the same.

[Mario_Boost]

In my opinion the easiest way to tell the difference between a common block and a early block is the fuel pump block off plate in the lower left hand part of the block, near the oil filter. Early blocks have it, common blocks lack it.

[turbovanman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mario_Boost In my opinion the easiest way to tell the difference between a common block and a early block is the fuel pump block off plate in the lower left hand part of the block, near the oil filter. Early blocks have it, common blocks lack it.

Good point, the non-cb has a fuel pump, the CB doesn't, but didn't some non-cb's not have the fuel pump mount?

[sundancenut2000]

what about stamped casting dates on the blocks? both of mine have them.

[iangoround]

in my experience, CBs are also a bunch heavier than non CBs

[marcoze]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iangoround in my experience, CBs are also a bunch heavier than non CBs

27lbs heavier?

[Moparmonster]

So that's any 2.2 post 1989, right? Are the turbo engines the same as the N/As?

[mo' parts]

i do know the n/a motor will not have the hole for turbo oil drainback tube. easily drilled though.
any 2.2/2.5 89 and up. the t1 2.5 has the stronger rods like the t2.

[mo' parts]

as for best engine (2.2 or 2.5) to build, thats a tuffy. street use, track use? both?......

[moparzrule]

Any T2 engine is good. I'm using an 87' block, stock mahle pistons, T2 rods and cast T1 crank and pushing 250 WHP. Looking to get 300 WHP soon with a few more goodies stacked on.

[Mario_Boost]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moparzrule Any T2 engine is good. I'm using an 87' block, stock mahle pistons, T2 rods and cast T1 crank and pushing 250 WHP. Looking to get 300 WHP soon with a few more goodies stacked on.

What do you have done to your car? Was that on a Dynojet?

[moparzrule]

Oh, sorry no dyno's but that is based of 99 MPH passes with 3100 pound weight. Hoping to get into the 105 MPH area soon. I WILL break 100, and more determined than ever! So close!
87' Daytona pacifica (fully loaded and heavy!)
S70 compressor w/.48 turbine stock wheel
ported exhaust manifold
2.5'' exhaust no cat bullet muffler
stock swirl head
Dual core IC
TU 3 bar +40's cal at 22 PSI

New mods-
G head
.63 turbine
TBI header
3'' exhaust

[moparzrule]

Remember Joe O'conner had 374 WHP with the same block I have. T2 blocks are stronger than T1's, or maybe having the lighter cast crank puts less of a load on the main caps??? For some reason Non-CB T2 engines with T1 cast cranks can make some major HP without flexxing.
But I will agree the 89' T2 CB 2.2 engine is the ideal engine to build. But I found that having a non-CB is less of a pain. For example, I already had an underdrive pulley for a 4 bolt 84-87' crank, I didn't have to worry about the counter-rotating water pump, and I also could keep my sqaure tooth timing sprockets. Yeah these are minor things, but add the all the little things up and it gives a decent headache.

[Moparmonster]

I'm looking at a more or less stock rebuild. I don't want to spend a ton of money on the engine, but I do intend to have the reciprocating mass balanced. The "G" head will be port matched to the intake and exhaust manifolds. The car will be daily driver in the summer and will see some track duty, as I intend to take on the Solo I catagory. The car will be as stiff as I can possibly make it and I'm not in a hurry to make a ton of horsepower with it. Hell, I'd be happy with 200 horses. Since I don't think I'll find an affordable TII engine, I'll settle for the common block 2.2.