So I have the chance to get a 01 sebring REALLY cheap and it is real nice with low miles. The engine runs real smooth and quiet, has real light timing tensioner noise at times and I am tottaly cool replaceing it, the weird thing is it smokes huge clouds of burned oil, and when you pull the oil cap with it running the idle speed goes waaaaaay high like it has some kind of big internal vaccume leak into the crank case. My question is can something be leaking vaccume into the crank case like that? If so what could it be? Mabey an easy fix?

Last question is, if the 2.7 is toast, can I just stab a 3.5 into that chassis? I don't think they ever came with one but I have put them in 2.7 Intrepids and the 2.7 computer runs it just fine. I happen to have a super nice recently rebuilt 3.5 with bumped up compression and a little bit of porting that was pretty fast in the intrepid, might be a real rocket in an even lighter smaller car

Most posts I've seen in the past on this issue, most if not all, would say no. I'd say it's worth a chance if you can get the Sebring cheap, and have time to do it.

I see no reason why not if you've done this already on other MoPar cars. But, I'm only parroting what I've heard/read.

I thought the 2.7 sebring engines were a different animal than the intrepid/300, making the 3.5 a tougher fit yet.

Looks just like the blowed up 2.7 in my Intrepid

IIRC, the Sebring motor has a different oil pan and maybe exhaust manifolds than an Intredpid.

I just did another water pump this week on a 2.7, 2 styles of tensioners are used on these engines. With the cloud of blue smoke and timing chain/tensioner noise, I would verify the correct oil viscosity, level,check PCV system, lower intake for leaks and check oil pressure......Matt

I wouldn't buy anything with a 2.7 litre in it. I advise my customers the same!!