What all to do.

sharkbait · Post by **sharkbait** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:38 pm

I bought a 03 r/t with a broken timing belt. The car has 220k miles, I'm not worried about it being fast just cheap on gas what all would be recommended? Would you rebuild entire motor, replace bent valves and do a timing kit(water pump ect) also would you get a non r/t head and swap them to save trouble? I know the car was driven hard by po

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:51 pm

I wouldn't put a non magnum head on an r/t it will just ruin the car. Have new valves installed to replace the bent ones do the timing belt, water pump and tensioner and keep driving it.

NyNeon0813 · Post by **NyNeon0813** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 9:41 am

Mind as well do the head gasket while the head is off too

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 9:56 am

A non magnum head would work, just be down on power a bit. But probably still make more than a regular '03 - '05 engine. You still have the better compression, (provided the rings are still sealing), the PCM and the gearing.

Fuel mileage? You still will suffer from the gearing. Swapping to an '02 - '06 N/A PT criuser 5 speed will get you better highway mileage. You will keep the "R/T" gearing for 1st through 4th gears.

But it is a gamble with the mileage on the bottom end. R/T's have a lot more revolutions on the engine than the regular 2gn neons at that mileage.

Unfortunately, you cannot assess the condition of the ring seal, until you install a good head.

Unless you bolt a piece of 1/4" plexi glass sealed with silicone, and tapped for each cylinder, to do a leakdown test....