94 Spirit/K-Body Longevity

First off, it's not a "K-Body". The '89-'95 Spirit, '89-'95 Acclaim and '90-'94 LeBaron sedan are the AA-body cars. Derived from the original K-car, yes, but not a "K-body".

The AA-bodies are extremely durable and are widely considered to be latter-day Darts and Valiants.

Generally about as durable as the 2.5 litre Chrysler 4-cylinder, but it will have more problems along the way. The top-end oiling and crankcase ventillation systems aren't engineered as well as they should have been, so they tend to be problem areas. The most infamous of the 3.0 problems (valve guides dropping causing oil burning) was fixed from the factory in early '93-model production with the addition of circlips to hold the guides where they belong, and most 3.0s have been field-retrofitted by now. However, the crankcase ventillation system *must* be maintained fastidiously -- it contains hoses and passages that are more than ordinarily clog-prone. Also, the valve stem seals tend to harden up and stop sealing after awhile. Both of these can cause oil burning.

Other than that, no real problem areas.

Wait, you have a '94 Spirit with a 41TE? That's weird. Most '93-'95 AA-bodies with the 3.0 engine got the 31TH (A670). The 41TE (A604) was used exclusively with the 3.0 in AA-bodies from '89-'92, and some '93s got it.

Your particular 3.0 is good until it's bad. There's no reason to think it's about to grenade just because it has "x" hundred thousand miles on it.

DS

Thank you very much for your response. It does indeed have a 41TE transaxle. No doubt about it, I've taken it out and rebuilt it twice, with help. And since I owned the car since new, there's no chance of a swap. I ordered the car, I checked the 4speed automatic option, the other option I specifically wanted, which appently is very odd, which I have had a hard time finding parts for, is the rear disc brakes. (I've had to order pads, no one around here carried them in stock, not even the dealer, and when I ordered them it took 5 weeks because the warehouse didn't stock them either..) and according to my research, for that year, all 4speed autos were the infamous 41TE. I know technically they are not K-bodies, but then again, they are the evolution of the k-body, as you mention. I have maintained all the crankcase ventilation pieces at, what I would call, decent intervals for those pieces, (40,000mi, but from waht you say that may not have been enough), but I've never replaced any of the external hoses for that system. I'll have to check on that when the wife gets back today...could it be the source of the sudden oil burning. The oil burning thing came on kinda of suddenly, one week, nothing, all of a sudden, it was noticable (There's a slight blue tinge to the exhaust when you rev it in park)

Thanks aga> >

Arrrgh! You coulda had the much more robust 3-speed...

If they're the large brakes that require the 15" wheels because the 14" wheels don't fit over them, they're quite good brakes. I had them on my '91 Spirit R/T. You shouldn't have problems getting pads for them -- these brakes were also used on many other Chrysler products, primarily minivans. Check your local NAPA. If no listing for '94 Spirit rear disc brakes, use '92 Spirit.

Nope, see previous post.

DS