Chrysler 300M

1129130132134135507

Comments

  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    lol! I agree. That citrus stuff sure smells nice. I was going to ask you to post pictures of the car without lettering, but hell, I'm sure it looks just like mine. :)) Hang onto those Cs just in case someone on here needs one. :)

    -M
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    I tried to figure out an interesting use for those 28 removed letters to justify trying to save them, but for the life of me I couldn't come up with anything I'd want on my car. Yours is the first good idea. :)
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    I love going into a dealer and have all the sales people look at my M. :) Anyway, found out two things...

    First, my 5* says he has very little information about the Special other than what he's heard. I shared some of what we know, and he said we know more than him by far. No spec sheet, no nothing yet. He says that Chrylser likes them to keep a "Sell What You See" approach to sales...sell what's on the lots not what's coming down the street. He says they're notorious for keeping dealers in the dark until the last minute. To their credit, they have more than a dozen '01 Ms on the lot plus a few 99 and 00 used models. Their strategy is to have a stockpile of Ms for when the other dealers have run out of them, as they're getting more and more scarce. He says there's a couple of months now when supplies are low and the 02s aren't on the lots yet that he can make good money on the car. Not a bad approach.

    Finally, I went to the parts department and asked about the 2.7 litre Intrepid gears vs. those on the 300M. The parts counter "kid" first told me that the transmissions are the same, and he seemed surprised when I corrected him. :) When he called up the transmission diagram most of the parts (including the tranny ID) were the same, but the main difference was the primary gear (as we know). The good news is that the gear has a retail price of only $56, and it may be the only thing that needs to change. The gear on the other side, the chain, and several other parts were the same for both transmissions and wouldn't require replacement. There might be some clip and spacer changes for the replacment gear, but I doubt the parts would total over $100. I explained what we're considering doing and he agreed that it should work with no problem. He did, however, suggest disconnecting the battery for an hour or so to let everything re-set and re-learn. Oh, the part number of the gear is 4659834.
  • 99_300m_ric_va99_300m_ric_va Member Posts: 377
    Mike,

    Are you suggesting we could do for $100 what Prowler Pro is selling for $1400? Do you have the ratio details and such?
  • avalanche165avalanche165 Member Posts: 558
    image


    its really not that bad, when i'm done, i'm gonna do the gas door conversion (swinging tailights and gas entrance behind it), and graft in new tailights, i like the Lexus RX300 tailights, but not sure yet, and of course, suicide doors on the back.....

  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    It's not the same. The prowler pro gears come with two gears, and heavy duty chain, and an electronic device that modifies your speedo readings. The prowler pro gears increase the final drive ratio by 27%, meaning that at a given gear and speed your RPMs will be 27% higher, and the car will shift at a 27% lower RPM. Because the M's power band is in the high RPM range, this will mean faster acceration. The Intrepid has a larger gear, but not nearly as big at the prowler pro set-up. Therefore the change won't be as significant...probably more like 5% I think. You also won't have the speedo adjuster and such, so your speedo will be off. I think aj_t knows more about the mechanical aspects of this, but nice thing is it looks like we improve performance a little more with an under $100 tranny mod.

    Mike
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    OUCH!
  • lonestarsledlonestarsled Member Posts: 226
    Did you happen to get a look at the gear(s) or chain. I wonder how they physically compare to the stout looking prowler pro gears. I wonder if these components are the so called weak link in the trans.

    I also recall reading that the So-Cal 300M had the Concorde (same as Intrepid?) gear set installed.
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    I didn't see the gears, but Prowler Pro had pictures of the stock versus prowler pro gears next to each other. The PP gears and especially chain were much beefier. However, PP is proud of the fact that the PP gears are machined at the same place the stock gears are. That mean the stock gears are good? Maybe.

    I also read that the so-cal M used the concorde gears. Both the concorde and the intrepid with the 2.7 litre engine uses the bigger gear, so that's probably what they had in the car.

    I had some information on gear ratios around here somewhere, I'll see if I can find it again.
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    300M 3.5 Litre

    1st 2.84
    2nd 1.57
    3rd 1.00
    4th 0.69
    Final Drive 3.66
    Overall Top Gear 2.52

    Intrepid/Concord 2.7 Litre

    1st 2.84
    2nd 1.57
    3rd 1.00
    4th 0.69
    Final Drive 3.89
    Overall Top Gear 2.68

    about a 6.3% difference. An M running at 80mph in 4th at 2400RPM would be at 2,550 RPM with the new gears. Not much of a difference, is it?
  • easyrider300measyrider300m Member Posts: 1,116
    Holey Moley--that's one big hole in your M---hope you can get those rear wheels back in perfect alignement ----what kind of estimate did you give the insurance company--must be $5000 or more---
  • 300michael300michael Member Posts: 1,815
    The chain would also have to be replaced. If the output sprocket is the same and the transfer sproket is a different size, then the chain will be a different lenght.
    The gearing should cut a .5 second off your times, and cut your gas mileage by 1.7 mpg. Where as the prowler pro will cut off about 2 seconds, cut your mpg by 7.
  • 300michael300michael Member Posts: 1,815
    That looks worse then I thought. Time to do you magic touch.
  • easyrider300measyrider300m Member Posts: 1,116
    make sure you take lots of before and after pics so you can display them in your waiting area---that way you can show your modded lights and then your supermodded lights---
  • stevenw300stevenw300 Member Posts: 90
    your pain. OUCH!
  • mikeyjohnmikeyjohn Member Posts: 365
    I just saw a new Ford Winstar with the signal lights incorporated into the side mirrors. It sure got my attention, as I have not seen that since cars in Europe in the 60's. I don't recall seeing any comments on it in this forum, but I think it is one heck of a good idea. Any comments?
  • clpurnellclpurnell Member Posts: 1,083
    Any one else have problems with the key fob when approaching your M from behind. I have to be within 5 feet if I'm behind the car but works from a good 30-40 if I'm in front. Any help would be appreciated.
  • easyrider300measyrider300m Member Posts: 1,116
    for the Nissan Sentra--what a hoot--two crash test dummies swinging at each other as the fight each other to get into the car--Nissan advertises it as very safe car you would fight to get into. good for a laugh---

    clpurnell: others here have had a similar problem within a year of purchase--try changing the batteries and see if it helps--it worked for others here--I dont notice any problem with my year old M
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    That's what I thought too, but I watched the guy look up the parts and that's the only chain for that transmission (the one used by the intrepid/concord/M). Conversely, it showed that two different gears are available. Good thing to discuss with the service department (not the parts department) before starting the project.

    ...like I need to shave another 2mpg off my already abysmal mileage. lol

    -M
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    Lots of metal between the rear of the car and under the hood where the receiver is. Not sure you can do anything about it except try replacing the battery on your remote and maybe parking your car FACING the door of the store. :)
  • tucsongiltucsongil Member Posts: 116
    Man Av, did you get hit by another car or was it a Shark attack?????

    BTW, neat looking mufflers back there. What kind and $$$$$??????
  • avalanche165avalanche165 Member Posts: 558
    i am gonna modify a pair from my dad's benz and put them on. i was gonna modify the stock ones, but it wouldn't be worth the time or money when u can just get them from another car with them already and paint'em. the clk430 should fit the m nicely, i already did the measurements.
  • avalanche165avalanche165 Member Posts: 558
    no no, someone bit the shark. haha, anyway, the mufflers are DTM predators, stainless steel, $150 a piece. worth it tho trust me. 2.75" inlet, 3.5" outlet. thas some BIG holes!
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    clpurnell-

    If replacing the batteries doesn't improve the key FOB, there is a TSB on the lack of range. Your award winning "5-STAR" Chrysler dealer can easily find it on their computer. If they can't or won't or tell you that they all do that, let me know. Somewhere in my Christine folder, I have the TSB. You don't have to live with this. After the fix, I could open Christine from "across" town!

    fastdriver
  • avalanche165avalanche165 Member Posts: 558
    yea yea, its bad, but i took tons of pics...here...

    http://frealfso.frostburg.edu/cs1101f00/janjuao/300/ohno/


    it IS bad, but its not. remember its me, AVA baby! with the money i am geting from insurance--$4500, u gotta remember more than 2 grand of that is just labor, and i work at the shop, i'll literally be paying myself for labor. lol. so the lights are gonna be grafted it, the gas door conversion will be done, and maybe suicide doors if i still have the mucho huves for it...

  • easyrider300measyrider300m Member Posts: 1,116
    the insurance company expects you to put it back to factory specs--no fancy lights no trick gas door--they may make you do it over ;-)

    is the rear wheel bent a little or is that an optical illusion---how bad is the exhaust--is it damaged just at the end or farther up as well

    you'll have to paint the entire car again---whats that--4 layers now--or are you gonna strip all the paint----phases damage was a piece of cake compared to your car--
  • guesswho1guesswho1 Member Posts: 209
    if i were you i would try to wreck it at least once a month. better yet buy one just for wrecking. extra 2g's in da bank a month. ;-)
  • avalanche165avalanche165 Member Posts: 558
    ?
    remember i need some big ones, lol. easy i looked at the maxima today, no go, just dont look good on the m, i literally yanked mine out since it was already broken, colored some paper, and put the tailight in, shoot i should've took pics. any good ones u guys can think of? remember my color too, no ricey look wanted
  • avalanche165avalanche165 Member Posts: 558
    the rear right suspension is like jelly. no illusion there, 4 link rods are broke, and the strut almost got driven thu the trunk. its messed up pretty bad, but no MAJOR damage, nothing that new parts and a socket wrench won't fix. there are actaully not gonna be "repairs" on the car, most of the stuff is coming in new. rear quarter panel is gonna be fun fun, cuz we have to cut old damaged, and then mold everything in, and that can get tough sometimes. inside the trunk there is some damage as well....as u can see here...

    image


    and the exhaust, well its not that bad at all, its still functional, but i will be getting a new DTM predator muffler, exact same, and redoing the pipes just because the insurance adjuster thought it was a good idea (hey can't argue with that). and as you can see, the guy hit me pretty hard, i was basically stationary, <5mph. the pipes are gonna be stainless now too, but thats not under insurance, i'll just take money they gave me for exhaust, add some of my own, and buy pipes....but i can do all the work in the shop...here's the exhaust up close, only tip got bent, and the the muffler got loose welded from the holder...

    image

  • avalanche165avalanche165 Member Posts: 558
    perks about the shop, insurance mails me the check and thats it, i technically don't even have to fix the car, i could go to hawaii and spend the 4500 there if i wanted too. well this is what i was told anyway, watch me do it and then end up in jail
  • avalanche165avalanche165 Member Posts: 558
    hopefully i can get my stuff painted, engine, calipers, etc...and put in those gears as well. so i can take very detailed pics of the gear procedure, i called dean up he has a unit for me rdy to ship, i just wanna get everything started up first and make sure its good to go
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    AV-

    Glad you're ok. The car will be like new when you get finished.

    fastdriver
  • easyrider300measyrider300m Member Posts: 1,116
    are they giving you price for oem parts or Korean specials---a lot of insurance cos around here make you use Korean parts or pay extra after the car is about a year old--

    you should take pics as you do all the mods and make a nice portfolio of the work in process to put on the table in the waiting room--seeing that your car is on the premises for viewing, it would be a good sales tool---

    you must be making more than just the labor charge on the car---dont parts have a big markup---
    you should show the car to the insurance co when its done cause otherwise the depreciate the value of the car and if you get hit in the same area of the car, they wont pay unless you had it properly repaired---at least thats how it works in MA
  • mmcccmmmcccm Member Posts: 19
    The insurance guys don't care if you fix your car or not. They have to pay what it would cost to fix your car, but you are not obligated to use the money to repair the damage. It all comes out in the wash when it's time to sell, anyway. Since you're doing the work yourself, you should have a nice hunk of money left over for more mods - if you haven't already run out of stuff to modify... :^)

    -MMCCCM
  • avalanche165avalanche165 Member Posts: 558
    buhahh, i still have some MAJOR things to do yet, minor things are always gonna be there, but only a few major things left, such as a interior make over... i didn't know that you could do whatever with the money. i don't think i'm gonna sell or trade this car, especially now, the value is too low for the car, and i already have some serious cash in it, it'll be more like a sentimental thing for me, prolly keep it in the shop showroom or something. something to show the grandkids?
  • avalanche165avalanche165 Member Posts: 558
    its ok its ok, i'll have it better and bolder, 3-2-1, 1-2-3-, its ok, i am freee, to all you accident incidenters, i feel ya, and remember, we are ok, thats the important part


    image

  • easyrider300measyrider300m Member Posts: 1,116
    what is the link to the pics of your mods you've done--I want to show it to someone---
  • avalanche165avalanche165 Member Posts: 558
    not really organized well but u can surf around...

    http://frealfso.frostburg.edu/cs1101f00/janjuao/300/
  • avalanche165avalanche165 Member Posts: 558
    i'm takin the plane this out, lol. i'll be in wisconsin, any owners there? b back monday, everyone have a safe and happy weekend...
  • hataxhatax Member Posts: 56
    Ohhh boy... =) For those of you interested in doing the 2.7l transmission gear change, look at www.oem-car-parts.com and put in the part number suppiled by sdmike (4659834) and say it's for a dodge... Price is $35.45. Now, if that gear is smaller, and the other gear is the same size, the chain has got to be different. Unless they have a chain tensioner that is installed on the 2.7l engine. That would pick up slack, if there isn't much there.... So... Gonna check out my parts dept, and talk to some techs... Tell ya what though... For under $100 and taking .5 second off the clock? That's a good deal.

    Wheee! Fun times. =)
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    Maybe together we can figure out what parts need to be changed. You're up. lol. Like I said though, the parts guy said that's the only chain for that tranny, and it's the same part number for the 2.7 and the 3.5. There were about 8 other smaller parts (clips and stuff) shown in the diagram on his computer. I didnt' check how many of those need to be replaced as well. When you see the part guy, the diagram that I got for this is:

    Catalog: 01LH Group: 42LE Title: Shaft, Transfer, Automatic Transaxel (DGX). The gear is part number 42 in the diagram and the chain is #45.

    He puts the numbers in the computer and it tells him what the options for that part are. The gear (42) had two options. The chain had one. The gear on the other side showed one also, which indicated that it's the same on the cars.

    -M
  • 300michael300michael Member Posts: 1,815
    There are only a few part involved. The two gears, wave washers and snap rings. The service manual doesn't show any pretensioner or anything like that the shafts are fixed. There is a chain scrubber, which I suppose could take up a little slack. I have the parts on microfilm and will try to look it up. From the looks of things you may be able to reverse the gears to improve gas mileage too, of course your performance would go down. (with the power pro gears reversed, you would have the performance of a minivan but you would get 40 miles to a gallon of gas).
  • hataxhatax Member Posts: 56
    Heh, Yeah, I'll admit to being a night owl. Where else are you going to find time for your car? Gotta make it somehow. =) Well, if I get a chance to stop by today I'll do it, if not, tomorrow I can figure some stuff out. I'm guessing that there is either a tensioner or something to pick up the slack, maybe a rolling "chain follower" That bolts around the chain and just picks some slack up... Had to explain, but if you saw it, you'd know what I meant. Too bad they can't make something for a car that is kinda like a "2Hi & 2Low" that could switch between a set of gears so when we are going on a trip or something, we could use a very low gear set, such as the prowler pros in reverse, and when we feel like kicking butt, use the prowler pro as intended. Wonder if that new Audi A4's variable drive transmission achieves any of this? (Their new tranny is similar to how the Toyota Prius's tranny is)
  • vlisvlis Member Posts: 28
    Painful to look at that mangled rump, Av. Glad you're okay.
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    We have rapidly lost our top activity listing and are in danger of dropping out of the top 5-10. Yikes. Guess it's time for an interesting topic. :)
  • clpurnellclpurnell Member Posts: 1,083
    For the info for the key fob. Will ask about the tsb on monday. Have a good weekend and drive safe.
  • mykemmykem Member Posts: 203
    I'll be gone for about ten days. This'll be my last post in Edmunds.

    Viva Las Vegas!

    -m
  • drpixeldrpixel Member Posts: 256
    switched logo and trunk lettering. If you zoom in on the picture, you can see its the same car, but the image has been flipped horizontally. I zoomed in to the subatomic pixel level, and its the same license plate and car, but apparently the poster flipped the image so it would look better.
    to AV: YIKES!..but it must be nice to have access to the stuff you have to fix your baby.

    Doc
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    It would be cool to be on the east coast so I could take Big Red to Av if I ever had a problem. Then again, I may not recognize it when I got it back. ;)
  • silverbullet4silverbullet4 Member Posts: 449
    Even if you recognized it you wouldn't know how to get the doors to open anymore.:>)
    Silver
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