420a head on 2.4 block IN Stratus

[sacermors]

Hello all. I have been looking through the forum for about a day now and just want to make sure I have this all correct. Nobody over on Stratusphere had ever mentioned this as far as I could tell.

I see that swapping the 2.4L Stratus block (before 2003) is becoming common or has been common now with the 420a head. Now I have a stock 2000 Stratus 2.4L. And I do mean it IS a Stratus, not just the motor. I would be swapping in a 420a head to relocate the exhaust and intake ports. Most of the posts here say either it is a direct fit or that some modifications may be made or go to such and such other forum, I just want to know this:

Can I literally take the 420a head and attach it to my 2.4 block without modifying the 420a head (Cams, sensors, valves, lifters, etc...)?

I know I may need to extend vacuum lines, and electrical lines.

Which timing belt would I use at this point? The 420a belt, the Stratus belt, or some other?

Which year and vehicle would be best to pull the 420a from? I was thinking an Avenger or Eclipse, but I'm unsure of years.

Is there anything that you have to modify to make the 420a head work on the 2.4l block is basically what I need to know. I'm asking here because you guys have been doing it for a while now, and as I can see it has not been done over on the sphere and I only heard of it first from "the red sled".

Thank you for your time!

Oh and one more thing. When you swap the head in and use the 420a computer you have to swap the injector wiring and the coil wiring and move the cam magnet, but since i am doing this in a stratus, and using the stratus ecu, would i need to swap any of the wiring or move the cam magnet?

 

[Canadian_CD9A]

The 420A head should go on the block nicely, but I'd flip the pistons around to reflect the 420A's port orientation (Stratus has the intake at the front). Use a Stratus timing belt.

The Stratus cylinder head is the same as a 1995-1999 DOHC Neon, which as far as I know, is a mirrored 420A head. There is a lot of info on neons.org about 2.4L installs and the necessary wiring, the same should apply to the 420A.

Serious SRT4 drag racers have been doing this to be able to install a bigger turbo.

 

[jayson427]

Are you going to turbo your stratus? I don't see you gaining alot of hp if any unless you do some mods with it. For the money it's going to cost you for 5-10 hp maybe it's not worth it on a stock car.

 

[Canadian_CD9A]

Even N/A, it's a big bump in low-end torque by going 2.4L. Once you go with big cams and improved breathing, 200whp is attainable (Neon head anyway, your results may vary). For the price of a Stratus shortblock, the gain is pretty solid.

 

[sacermors]

The plan is for turbo. And to my knowledge the pistons in the stratus are just dimpled to prevent valve to piston interference in the case of timing belt breakage. I was seeing if I would need to require still since I'm still using a stratus ECM. I know with the 420a ECM you have to rewire the injectors and stuff just wondering if it would be the same with the 2.4s stock computer

 

[jayson427]

There's no way you would gain 50 hp with bigger cams even with a fully ported head and exhaust.

 

[sacermors]

My main problem is every forum has a little vague info but they all point to a different forum to ask questions. This might help, why do you need to rewire the injectors and turn the cam magnet with the 420a ECM? If I could figure that out I might just answer my own question haha

 

[Canadian_CD9A]

203whp on a stock 2.4L bottom end in a Neon: forums.neons.org/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=355168&start=320

2.4l with 2.0l Crower Stg 4 cams and Crower valve springs Gates Racing Timing belt
Stock Head shaved .035 & intake gasket matched
1 step colder NGK v powers
PT Performance Solid timing belt tensioner
60mm MPx Tb
AllMotorMike ported & polished box intake manifold with separated water neck
Megan UDP
AF/x Longtube header to 2.5" piping into a stock DOHC muffler
AFX-Race PCM
Walbro 255lph fuel pump
2.7 Rockers and PT Lifters

The cam magnet position is different on the 2.4L cams vs the 2.0L cams; it's 90 degrees out since the crank trigger is different (if I recall correctly). You're just changing the timing of events by switching injector clips and rotating the cam magnet. I'm not sure what wiring is like on a DSM for a Stratus ECU but I imagine it isn't easy. Neons usually run a stock ECU or Mopar ECU with either stock injectors and higher fuel pressure or 24lb injectors and stock fuel pressure. You might be able to get away with stock PCM doing the same mods.
That, or go Megasquirt.

 

[sacermors]

So basically move the cam magnet 90 degrees clockwise and swap the injector wires and coil outside wires.

 

[Canadian_CD9A]

That should be it, yes.

 

[jayson427]

Well that's about 3500 in parts plus labor for 50hp. You can gain more from a stock 420a head and a turbo.

 

[Canadian_CD9A]

Both setups have completely different characters and I'll disagree about your price estimate, but I won't clutter the thread as it's a separate discussion.