Mopar * Engines: Antique to Next Year

Four, six, eight, and ten cylinder Mopar (Chrysler, Plymouth, and Dodge) engines. We have a separate page for transmissions and a separate page for Nash engines.

For future engines, click here (and see our Phoenix Engine pages)

• eight to ten cylinders -
• six cylinders -
• four cylinders -
• diesel and two-stroke -
• repairs -
• general engine information -
• links

Eight or Ten Cylinders

Also see our page on the Lean Burn System.

Hemi

• History of the Hemi - from research to racing, with details on the cars it was in - probably the most exhaustive and accurate original Hemi page!
• Original Hemi engines:
  • The first Hemis
  • 300C 392 "old Hemi"
  • A311 racing Hemi engine (331)
• The 426 Hemi - the famous Elephant Engine! Lots of info and factory dyno tests.
• The 5.7 Hemi Magnum - powerful, economical, cheap to build; power boost details
• 392 Hemi crate engine - how do Viper power levels sound? Yup, over 500 hp.
• The 6.1 Hemi (part of the SRT-8 page)

B and RB (large V8s)

• The Sonoramic Commando (1960-61) - an unusually detailed history of this powerful engine series that took the place of the early Hemi.
• The Max Wedge - lots of well-presented information and factory dyno tests.
• The 440 Six-Pack - ultimate street mill and near-match for the Hemi
• Selected B and RB series engines (383, 400, 426 Wedge, 440)
• The Red Ram, Super Red Ram, and D500 - the hottest engines of their time (315, 325, 350, 360)

A and LA ("small" V8s and derivative V6 and V10)

• A series V8 engines (277, 301, 303, 313, 318 poly, 326)
• LA and A engines (277, 318/5.2, 340, 360/5.9, 3.9 V-6, 8.0 V-10)
• Upgrading your LA series engine (273, 318, 340, 360)
• The amazing 340 V-8
• 318-powered Celica

Others

• AMC engines - a comprehensive history of Nash, Hudson, and AMC V8s
• Nash engines - a comprehensive history of all Nash engines, 1924-1966
• Poly Head V-8s - single rocker shaft and polyspherical heads (301, 331, 354)
• Straightening out the 1960s V8s
• Canadian engines
• 4.7 Liter V-8 (1990s-2000s)

Six Cylinders (in rough chronological order)

Vintage (carbureted)

• Flat-head engines (pre-1960s)
  • 1950s L6 (230 cid) specifications
• Slant Six (170/198/225) - legendary for its durability
  • Get more power | Adjust the valves | Hyper-Pak
• 3.9 V6 truck engine, derived from the 318/360
• Hemi Sixes - V-8 power in a straight-six package that set records for 20 years.
• Canadian engines

Modern (fuel injected)

• Phoenix Engine - coming soon!
• 2.7 and 3.2 V-6s - little sixes for the Cloud Cars, LH, and base 300
• The 3.0 liter V-6 - made by Mitsubishi, used through the 1980s and 1990s
• 2.5 liter V6 made by Mitsubishi, used in the 1990s
• 3.3, 3.5, and 3.8 liter Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge V6 engines; 1990-2011
• 3.8 and 4.0 V-6 - the big-engine standard for 2007 through 2012
• 3.7 liter V-6 - the 4.7-based V6 for trucks starting in 2002
• 3.9 V6 truck engine, derived from the 318/360 and replaced by the 3.7
• 4.0 liter I-6 - the Jeep engine, ancient but beloved

Four Cylinders

Out of production

• 2.2 and 2.5 liter engines, the standby for years, still made in China
  • AMC/Jeep 2.5 engine
  • Get (a little) more power
  • Turbo versions (also see turbocharger issues)
  • 2.5 liter specs
  • Repairs
• The Mitsubishi 2.6 used on many 1980s models; page includes key repairs
• Two-stroke engines

Current four cylinders

• 2.0, 2.4, and 1.8 liter World Engines (starting 2006)
  
• SOHC 2.0 (Neon) - a moderately extensive page.
• DOHC 2.0 (first-generation Neon, Avenger-Sebring, Breeze) - specifications and tech details. See the SOHC page for more information and a "better read."
• Performance modifications
• 2.4 liter (Cirrus/Stratus/Breeze, Caravan/Voyager, PT Cruiser)
• 1.8 liter (export Neon)
• 1.4 and 1.6 liter - Rover/ Chrysler joint venture; used in the Mini!
• The LA-based four cylinder racing engine!

Alternative engines and fuels

• Two-stroke engines
• The turbine engine program - a fascinating and comprehensive history
• Chrysler's diesel engines (Europe, late 1990s); diesel engine editorial; biodiesel fuel for the Cummins turbodiesel
• Levon Spradlin wrote that Chrysler sold single-cylinder engines after they bought Humber.
• The 30-cylinder tank engines

Repairs

• The full repair list is on our repairs page.
• Computer codes and how to get them without a mechanic
• Electronically controlled carbureted engines - troubleshooting and fixing
• Diagnosing electronic ignition systems
• Optical distributors - troubleshooting and repair
• Idling and stalling
• Driving vintage cars on unleaded gas
• Shift kits and manual valve bodies (transmissions)
• Other repairs: see the FAQ and the repairs page

General Engine Information

• Complete engine list (from 1966 on) with many details
• Plymouth engines, 1928-1966
• Biodiesel fuel - tested on the Cummins turbodiesel in Dodge pickups
• Explanations of emissions controls on classic and modern engines
• VIN decoder (works on 1982-2005 cars, trucks, minivans)
• Mopars in Australia
• Why you need a clutch shield for racing
• Cam choices: the tradeoffs of SOHC vs DOHC (and pushrods)
• Upgrading to a manual transmission (from an automatic - front wheel drive)
• Find out what kind of engine you have with this handy guide which lets you find your engine type from the VIN code (click here).
• More information is on our opinions/editorials page.

Helpful Links

• Transmissions
• Home page for Allpar
• Hemmings Motor News
• Mopar Muscle magazine

Books

• Ultimate Guide to American V8 Engines : 1949-1974 - Specifications and descriptions for US V-8 engines; good photos
• Mopar Parts Locating Guide, - many resources for hard-to-find parts. Excellent for restorations. Revised in 2003!
• The Haynes Chrysler Engine Overhaul Manual. This is also one of our most popular books.
• LA V-8 Engines
  • How to Hot Rod Small Block Mopar Engines (318, 273, 340, 360, 1965 - 1989)
  • How to Rebuild Your Small Block Mopar ~ $14.36
• B and RB V-8 Engines
  • How to Rebuild Big-Block Mopar Engines - covers all years Chrysler, Plymouth, and Dodge big-block (B and RB) engines
  • Big-Block Mopar Performance: Modifications for B/RB series for street and racing use - published 1999