I have a 2000 Dodge Caravan 3.8L with only 340,000 km on it and want to do some preventative maintenance.
I've found a water pump for 3.3 on eBay and I'm sure it's interchangable with the 3.8, but figured I'd post the question just to make sure.
dodges 3
09-29-2005, 03:10 AM
From what I understand, the 3.3 and 3.8 are identical blocks. The 3.8 is just been bored out. So it should fit, assuming the block didn't change during years of production. A water pump isn't expensive new, like $55.00 canadian.
gas28man
09-29-2005, 12:11 PM
It's my understanding that the 3.3 and 3.8 pumps are interchangeable as well. But before you go buying a water pump off Ebay, where exercising your warranty rights is more difficult, I'd get on the phone and get a price quote from a couple of your local auto parts stores, then compare that to the purchase price (don't forget to include shipping) for the one on Ebay. Dodges3 is right, these things are dirt cheap now. I just replaced the water pump on my 96 with a 3.8, and at Auto Zone, I think I only spent $35 US, and if memory serves, that included a gallon of antifreeze. And the warranty terms (lifetime) were printed on the receipt.
I tell everybody who will listen, exploit these warranties. I have done eight front brake jobs on my van (it has 302,000 miles on it), and only paid for one set of pads and rotors because the parts all come with lifetime warranties. They hate me, I'm sure, but they have always honored the warranty, no questions asked.
Research before you buy, and consider the possibility that this won't be the last water pump you buy.
Good luck.
Rick
shelbydodgeimp
09-29-2005, 12:16 PM
The vast majority of parts between the 3.3 and 3.8 of any given year (i.e. 2000 3.3 and 2000 3.8, 1994 3.3 and 3.8, etc) are identical- even when (like in the case of heads) the part numbers are different.
The 3.8 is a bored-out, stroked-out 3.3 so basically the only differences (outside of the computer) are:
1) pistons
2) way the block has been machined (to bore it out)
3) crank (to stroke it out)
As far as I know, the intake systems, fuel systems, exhaust systems (valves, manifold, etc), lifters, cam, coolant system, oiling system, are all interchangiable... which explains why the 3.8 in the early years is pretty much the same as the 3.3 from a performance perspective- with abt 20 ft-lbs more in torque (same HP specs). Thats fairly typical as I have gathered, when it comes to bored-out stroked-out rebuilds that use the same valves/cam/etc as the original engine.
