Mopar news and classic cars and trucks (Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Plymouth, DeSoto, and such) via motalesdave, coming from motales.com and stellpower.com
RIP Ram. Out where I live, a major majority of fellow ranchers use reliable 5.7 V-8 powered Ram trucks. These work trucks see heavy use and trailer hauling every day. Other brand's "Eco" V6's look good on paper but in the real world out here, they don't cut it and aren't as reliable. That's why we buy 5.7 V8 Rams to get the job done. Equally sad is that STLA dropped both the Charger & Challenger so they can build EV's instead. Good luck with that as we know EV sales have plummeted and other car companies are scaling back their EV projects and production. It liooks like the end is near for Chrysler, Dodge & Ram, the new AMCs and Studebakers of the 21st Century.
No bailouts for the auto industry. Tell the auto industry and their supporters in Congress to not even think of asking for a bailout. Not again. Never again.
Most of the new charger listed locally are V6, whereas there were a lot more V8 last year. Meanwhile a hornet costs more, and comes with a turbo peanut-sized engine. I've seen these on dealer lots, but never out on the road. Maybe it's another failure like the chrysler 200.
The pentastar upgrade is pretty cool, the regular version seems like a good engine. I test drove a 2016 Chrysler 300 and it had really good acceleration when I floored it. I’d be thrilled if they brought back the LA or magnum style v8’s though. A modern 318 or 360 would be awesome.
Darn good engine ? That laughable. It's a cash cow to the repair shop I work at. Just did a PUG in a17 grand Cherokee. Well maintained spotlessly clean and still ate up a cam lobe and failed head gaskets.
The more complex a system is the more likelyhood of failure. The new technology is fascinating but Chrysler should never have discontinued the bullet proof, 4 liter inline six. That engine made the Cherokee a legend for reliability and longevity. If it ain't broke, don't "fix" it.
Our 2018 Pacifica 3.6 blew up with just 67,000 mi on it and I was told by the dealer 3 weeks ago that the engines are on indefinite back order and there is no telling when one will be available
Never liked this engine in rental chargers. My crown vic had 50 less hp and was more responsive. My vic got 20-24mpg so did chargers v6. That said its the one reliable engine in Chryslers engine lineup
As long as Stellantis is involved with any product made by the old Chrysler group, forget about quality. After what Stellantis has done at the Auburn Hills CTC, screw Stellantis. I will never buy another product made by them.
The key here is REGULARLY. The rest is overblown. I know a fleet owner (and mechanic) of 100 vehicles. He uses the cheapest oils that he can get his hands on. For the past 30 years or so, EVERY one of the vehicles has been going well over $200-300k in about 4 years (before replaced) with no engine issues.
The Pentastar is a great engine. I wish it was available in more 1500 applications. Even if the Hurricane is as good as Dodge says it is, I don't want to pay $10,000 every time one of the two turbos has to be replaced. I won't buy the Hurricane. I may have to buy a 3500 to get the 6.4 Hemi or switch back to GM to get a 5.3 or the 6.0.
Just crossed 197k miles on my 2016 JK Rubicon 6spd. Still runs like a top, if they got some they want to get rid of I’d love to get a crate one on sale for whenever this one needs to be retired. I love my Pentastar!
Let’s remember the negative tales of forums, according to which the Pentastar engine was supposedly no good. Yet anyone with some understanding and experience could tell that original Pentastar was indeed one of the best engines of the past decade.
My daughter's 2013 Dodge Challenger, 3.6 V6, now has 180,000 miles on it and runs as smooth as brand new. I did have to replace that crappy plastic oil housing. Mopar should have put aluminum one in from the factory.
These are reported to go into the electric generating hybrids.. though may not see the light of day given the potential fire sales and liquidation Tavares is doing
So, is there actually a vehicle available to put this light weight improved engine in that weighs around 3,000 to 3,00 pounds and doesn’t cost $50,000 to $100,000? I don’t see one offered by any of the Stellantis usage brands. The only thing I see available to order is a 2 door Jeep wrangler base and those start at $35,000 and weigh in at a starting weight of around 4,200 pounds.
@esteban1487 as a mechanic at a used car dealership that gets auction cars I've changed numerous oil coolers also cracked heads ,overheat failures. Best advice throw that plastic cover inthe trash
Carlos just gave himself a 60% pay raise. Most people are lucky to get 5%. CEO greed! Foreigners should not be allowed to run American companies! Ghost did the same thing. RAIDERS!
The dealership still exists, but it's a Toyota dealership now, called East Coast Toyota. The VIN gets the win: L for Dodge Dart, H for High price class, 41 for four door sedan, C for 225 CID Slant Six with one barrel, aka "Leaning Tower of Power", 3 for 1973 model year, R for Windsor Ontario Canada assembly and the rest is the production sequence. The Windsor plant opened in 1928 and still operates today. it says "Final Assembly Point, Detroit, MI" but that would have been code "B" for Hamtramck, MI assembly. The laws might have been looser back then, but this car was assembled in Canada. Exterior paint is code Y3 Light Gold exterior paint. Some items would match the fender tag. For instance the "51" is in the "H" group, so that's "H51" which is single air conditioner and heater (which the window sticker says the car has).
Thanks! Not very Mopar but I've been out sick for a week. Mollie was still fighting when she was 19 years old. Tom really deferred to her as the elder...
I have the salesman cad from my first car a 1967 Pontiac tempest that my dad's boss gave me in 1974 The salesman's name is herb c rath Rogers Pontiac Brooklyn NY
I also have the business card from 1980 for the Pontiac Trans Am that my parents bought (which I still have). It came from Park Pontiac in Jersey City, NJ. The sales manager's name was Ernest Viespoli. I connected with him again in 2014 and he remembered the car and my family. He passed a few years ago and his family did a tribute to him on YT.
