ideas please

georgeandrhian · 07-30-2006, 08:23 AM

hello all. i have read all the questions and answers in the dodge section, and am very impressed at the info and such. so here's mine....... i have a 2000 dodge ram 1500. it has a water leak issue and such already, has 50000 miles, so am considering swapping out motors. i am having a very hard time finding a company that makes a kit or such to do so. have no problems with swapping trans, rearend, ect if needed. considering a new hemi or something of that line,,,, you know, big horse's.... thanks for any info...

Larry O'Daniel · 07-30-2006, 11:03 AM

What are you going to do with the truck? Haul? or work out of? or use as daily transportation with kick?
What motor is in the truck now? What transmission? Where is the water leak?
I have not found a company that has any "kits" to change motors. From past swaps I have done I pick the motor and transmission I want to put in and start making parts and pieces IF they are not available. There are a lot of motor mounts out there for MOPARS so you should be able to find mounts.
You say "big horses", do you care about "miles per gallon" or "gallons per mile"? "Big horses" have "Big appetites" so that has to be considered. Also "how easy is it to repair" has to be considered. Since you are considering a swap because of a "water leak issue" the swap must have a solid reputation for long life. Personally I am prejudice toward the 440, can't beat cubic inches, and the 440 lives on the street and is a happier motor than the original hemi on the street. Hope this helps.

georgeandrhian · 07-30-2006, 05:26 PM

well....it will be a semi daily driver, with 'tude. dont care about miles per gallon or such. would like to be able to run with the locals on the track on the weekend, and still drive. the water leak issue is just a reason to get out from underneath a 318, not enough pull for me. will not tow anything so thats not a worry. was hoping to find a trans/motor all at once thru summit or such. the 440 is great but want to be able to have the hemi logo put thru the graphics and have on under the hood also...

Larry O'Daniel · 07-31-2006, 07:39 AM

HEMI--I like sound of it too. Anyway, looking around on the internet and reading one of my magazines I found a place that sells the new 5.7 Crate engine. You can get it either fuel injected or carbureted. Price starts at $7,300.00 for the crate motor with 360 HP. ( http://www.mopartsracing.com/parts/blocks.html )
I need help on the transmission. I don't know what transmission(s) fit the new 5.7. Is it a "LA" block configuration? Is a "B" block? or is it new and takes ONLY one of the newer transmissions?
I like fuel injection and ease of starting, but for swapping the carburetor has it's advantages. You will still need a computer to control spark/timing on the new 5.7 because there is no distributor.
Check with the local "recycled parts store" (salvage yard) and see what a complete 5.7 with transmission, computer, wiring harness, and mounts would run. This method would take someone very strong in electronics and wiring to do but it could be done. The exhaust still needs cats and sensors but any good exhaust shop can handle that. Driveshaft is probably wrong but is not a major problem. Rear cross member is probably wrong, depending on transmission, but again it is not a major problem that can not be fixed. Radiators are important but should not be a problem now since the hemi is present in so many vehicles. Trans coolers are easy. Electric fans are easy so you don't have to worry about belt driven fans, fan shrouds, etc. Remember the fuel pump is in the gas tank, runs higher pressure than a carb can handle so plan a pressure regulator and possible a fuel return or bypass line. Dash instrument sensors can be a small problem but if you can wire this thing(computer) the instruments will be a "walk in the park".
But, you probably know all of this and I am "digging the hole" deeper by talking. Hope this helps.

Larry O'Daniel · 07-31-2006, 09:09 AM

HEMI-Just found this site, has some good information about swapping the new 5.7/6.1 into other MOPARS.
http://www.thehemi.com/newhemiswap.php

Hope this helps.

devildog75 · 08-06-2006, 07:48 PM

yeah you should drop in the 540 HEMI crate motor from www.hemi.com.
theres some horses for you.

RAMSLAM · 09-17-2006, 12:55 AM

Heres an idea, Go out and buy an 03 with a HEMI already in it. It will probably even be cheaper then swapping one in.

07-30-2006, 08:23 AM	#1
georgeandrhian Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2	ideas please hello all. i have read all the questions and answers in the dodge section, and am very impressed at the info and such. so here's mine....... i have a 2000 dodge ram 1500. it has a water leak issue and such already, has 50000 miles, so am considering swapping out motors. i am having a very hard time finding a company that makes a kit or such to do so. have no problems with swapping trans, rearend, ect if needed. considering a new hemi or something of that line,,,, you know, big horse's.... thanks for any info...

07-30-2006, 05:26 PM	#3
georgeandrhian Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2	hmmmm well....it will be a semi daily driver, with 'tude. dont care about miles per gallon or such. would like to be able to run with the locals on the track on the weekend, and still drive. the water leak issue is just a reason to get out from underneath a 318, not enough pull for me. will not tow anything so thats not a worry. was hoping to find a trans/motor all at once thru summit or such. the 440 is great but want to be able to have the hemi logo put thru the graphics and have on under the hood also...

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07-30-2006, 11:03 AM	#2
Larry O'Daniel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tulsa, stationed at Ft. Sill, OK Posts: 90	What are you going to do with the truck? Haul? or work out of? or use as daily transportation with kick? What motor is in the truck now? What transmission? Where is the water leak? I have not found a company that has any "kits" to change motors. From past swaps I have done I pick the motor and transmission I want to put in and start making parts and pieces IF they are not available. There are a lot of motor mounts out there for MOPARS so you should be able to find mounts. You say "big horses", do you care about "miles per gallon" or "gallons per mile"? "Big horses" have "Big appetites" so that has to be considered. Also "how easy is it to repair" has to be considered. Since you are considering a swap because of a "water leak issue" the swap must have a solid reputation for long life. Personally I am prejudice toward the 440, can't beat cubic inches, and the 440 lives on the street and is a happier motor than the original hemi on the street. Hope this helps.

07-31-2006, 07:39 AM	#4
Larry O'Daniel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tulsa, stationed at Ft. Sill, OK Posts: 90	HEMI--I like sound of it too. Anyway, looking around on the internet and reading one of my magazines I found a place that sells the new 5.7 Crate engine. You can get it either fuel injected or carbureted. Price starts at $7,300.00 for the crate motor with 360 HP. ( http://www.mopartsracing.com/parts/blocks.html ) I need help on the transmission. I don't know what transmission(s) fit the new 5.7. Is it a "LA" block configuration? Is a "B" block? or is it new and takes ONLY one of the newer transmissions? I like fuel injection and ease of starting, but for swapping the carburetor has it's advantages. You will still need a computer to control spark/timing on the new 5.7 because there is no distributor. Check with the local "recycled parts store" (salvage yard) and see what a complete 5.7 with transmission, computer, wiring harness, and mounts would run. This method would take someone very strong in electronics and wiring to do but it could be done. The exhaust still needs cats and sensors but any good exhaust shop can handle that. Driveshaft is probably wrong but is not a major problem. Rear cross member is probably wrong, depending on transmission, but again it is not a major problem that can not be fixed. Radiators are important but should not be a problem now since the hemi is present in so many vehicles. Trans coolers are easy. Electric fans are easy so you don't have to worry about belt driven fans, fan shrouds, etc. Remember the fuel pump is in the gas tank, runs higher pressure than a carb can handle so plan a pressure regulator and possible a fuel return or bypass line. Dash instrument sensors can be a small problem but if you can wire this thing(computer) the instruments will be a "walk in the park". But, you probably know all of this and I am "digging the hole" deeper by talking. Hope this helps.

07-31-2006, 09:09 AM	#5
Larry O'Daniel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tulsa, stationed at Ft. Sill, OK Posts: 90	HEMI-Just found this site, has some good information about swapping the new 5.7/6.1 into other MOPARS. http://www.thehemi.com/newhemiswap.php Hope this helps.

08-06-2006, 07:48 PM	#6
devildog75 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 57	yeah you should drop in the 540 HEMI crate motor from www.hemi.com. theres some horses for you.

09-17-2006, 12:55 AM	#7
RAMSLAM Full Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 20	Heres an idea, Go out and buy an 03 with a HEMI already in it. It will probably even be cheaper then swapping one in.