Would the 2.6

[K-CAR_WAGON]

Yes, the slant 6 was one of the best engines Chrysler ever produced, but would be considered an outdated design today. The motors would run forever with no major failures, but the valve guides had a tendency to wear out over time (bellmouthing), and then the car would burn oil at high mileage (maybe 170,000 +). The valve seats on the earlier heads were not hardened - which was fine when leaded gas was available (and would last forever), but later when only unleaded was available the exhaust valves would recess into the heads over time especially if the car was driven hard at highway speeds.

As for a lighter version, Chrysler produced an aluminum block version which was considered a success from an Engineeering standpoint, but I think was expensive to produce and was dropped. The Aluminum Chrysler slant 6 incorporated cast iron sleeves while the Chevy Vega had a solid Aluminum alloy block which did not last.

http://www.slantsix.org/articles/dutra- ... ck-sl6.htm

http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/proj ... index.html

[88AriesLEwagon]

The aluminum slant 6 suffered from poor corrosion protection offered by the days coolant.Discarded engine blocks due to porosity of the castings also added a big expense not originally figured on.Gasketing was not as advanced,and the aluminum block/cast iron head lead to 2.2 style head gasket woes.An economy engine meant for economically priced cars meant the cheapest methods and that called on cheaper cast iron instead.As the engine was originally planned to be aluminum from the start,the block thickness was very beefy as needed when cast with aluminum.Instead substituting iron made for a heavy,thick,durable engine.Being a long stroke design,it didnt like to rev,and Chrysler always made sure it never did.Net horsepower ratings seemingly never exceeded 100hp (the Super Six added like 10 hp) and only went down from there.It finished with around 85 hp,and by that time,car dealers were urging Chrysler to drop the 225 in favor of standard 318s in trucks.Chrysler came close,they took the 318 and lopped off two cylinders to make the 3.9 V6,the 225s replacement.
In my book,the best combination of power/economy/and durability was the Ford 300 truck engine.
The slant 6 was good for economy and longevity,and not much else,unless heavily reworked.
The slant 6s real successor should have been the Australian "Hemi" I-6.But Chrysler considered it too expensive,too rev happy,and not a good "econo" or "Truck" type engine.