I posted this to rec.autos.makers.chrysler to get some ideas as to what might have let loose in this motor: "This is a church vehicle used to get the mail, deliver groceries, cart the nuns around, etc. Since it's life with us around 1995 or so it's not been beat on and has been taken care of. Monday we took it to the boss' house 10 miles away and back. Then it was driven another ten to my coworker's house and parked for the night. Tuesday morning he warmed it up (it's winter here) and left his house. Not 1/2 mile up the road it made a noise like a belt let loose and started smoking out the exhaust (white smoke - head gasket?). I told him to try to limp it in and watch for the temp and/or oil lights. He called me about 5 minutes later and said the oil light came on and he had parked it on the side of the road. When I got there there was oil on the ground and a hole a bit smaller than a tennis ball in the front side of the block. Needless to say, I towed it from there back to the church. I find it quite odd that the motor gave no warning whatsoever. I find it odd also that it only has 52k on it. I've looked around and all I can find for the most part is people having trouble with blown head gaskets on this motor. Anyone heard of this happening before or know what might cause the motor to blow like this? Could the head gasket have blown and the continued driving (about 1 mile) caused it? I checked the coolant and it was right up to the radiator neck. So it doesn't appear any leaked out. If it was a rod or bearing, why did it give no warning? The vehicle has never had any engine trouble to this point. Anybody have any ideas? At this point I'm just curious. The value of the van, both monetary and what we now need it for, doesn't justify dropping another motor in it. TIA"
Being taken care means oil changes, brakes, fluids, maintenance, etc. The next oil change was due in another 1k.