Repair on a used car are still generally cheaper than a monthly car payment + full coverage insurance.

Does this count?:

Still depends on the driver.

Counterpoint:

I’d leave part of that $7500 set aside to replace the inevitable transmission that’s bound to fail.

Weak, my van pre-engine swap ran 3500 rpms at 70 mph. At 80 you were around 4k. Had no issue breaking 200k with that engine.

If it was maintained properly it will be fine.

Wanna do some on a hood and fender?

A world class neighbor wouldn’t be looking into my fenced in back yard.

If he was my neighbor I’d have been out there with him and enjoying every second of it.

Where?

Pretty much any Chrysler 4-speed from 1987- current and most of the 6-speeds (fwd) are all variants of the A604 trans.

Possibly.

The newer 3.8L makes the same amount of torque as mine, but it comes in higher in the rpm range.

The 08-10 3.8L’s torque also comes in much higher in the rpms (4000rpms) than the older 3.8

I’ve always wanted to mate a 6-speed to my 3.8L in my van. I think the torque of my 3.8 would destroy one in short order though.

Older engines like this make torque almost right at idle. Modern transmissions may not be able to put up with that kind of torque instantly.

I find it’s usually quite easy to beat EPA numbers with older vehicles.

Modern 6-8 speed with the modern highway geared rear end combined with the gobs of low end these old engines make, it would likely get great mileage, until it grenaded the trans all over the road.

Stock!