5.7 Hemi injected or carbed or 383 carbed?

-

74swangur

Active Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2005
Messages
35
Reaction score
1
Location
Florence, MS
Looking for 5.7 cost comparisons:
Stock Hemi with stock injection
Stock Hemi with intake and carb
Mild 383 with aluminum heads

I prefer to do the Hemi, but the 383 is ready to drop in. My biggest question is the cost comparison between the Hemi options. I have found some used, takeout Hemi's in the $800 to $1500 range. I'm sure the Hemi's will need extras to make them function, I would think the carb version might be a little cheaper and less complicated, but the 383 basically just needs 12 volts and ground. Would the carb version of the Hemi be just as simple? I'm sure there is someone here that has all this worked out on a spreadsheet somewhere. Ha!

Thanks!
 
Carbed or injected with the hemi is a toss up on price. It'll cost a ton to get it working with the injection but be well worth it in the end.
 
If money is the issue go with 383.. if not a fuel injected 5.7 in a old school muscle car is my dream or the 6.4 lol
 
If you have the 383 ready to go, drop it in and enjoy it while you research, shop around, research some more, shop some more and then start buying slowly but surely until you have what you need to start the Hemi swap...
 
If the 383 is ready to go then I'd use it. Changing to injection has the costs of computers, alot of wiring, fuel pumps, better fuel lines & filters, new extractors and the list goes on
 
throw a double pumper on the 383 and let 'er rip :D

then find a used V-10 somewhere for your project, and get the stuff you need for that :D

but maybe you wouldnt like the look of headers with 5 pipes haha

030.jpg
 
As far as the engine goes, the 5.7L Hemi fuel injected vs. carbureted is a toss up, especially if you use an 05-07 5.7L Hemi. Fuel injected motors require a more sophisticated fuel system, so this pushes the cost of a fuel injected hemi up a bit. Also, if you know how to properly tune a Holley, and have a used 650 CFM carburetor lying around this can save several hundred dollars, a not insignificant sum.

For a fuel injected motor you'll need to mount either an external or internal fuel pump in the rear of the car and install a pressure regulator. It can be done on the cheap for less than $300.00 but others have spent a lot more. Many spec a custom aluminium tank with an integrated pump.

You will need to run an electric fuel pump regardless of whether you run fuel injection or not, as the 5.7L Hemi has no provision for a mechanical fuel pump.

The 5.7L Hemi will be A LOT more expensive to install than a 383. You'll need at a minimum a new oil pan, motor mounts, and some mods to your radiator. The 5.7L Car Hemi doesn't use a mechanical fan so you'll need some type of electric fan. I THINK (don't quote me) some trucks used a mechanical fan, but I don't THINK (don't quote me) the truck fan will fit in an A-Body where the space between the front of the motor and radiator is tight to begin with.

If you use a stock k-member you have two choices for exhaust, you can use 5.7 Jeep manifolds or TTI Headers. Truck manifolds will not work, 6.1L SRT-8 Jeep manifolds can work with an Alter-k-tion BUT NOT WITH THE STOCK K-member.

A fully dressed 5.7L, 6.1L, 6.4L or 7.0L Hemi will weigh 80 Lbs. less than a small block and thus nearly 180 Lbs. less than a 383. If you plan to build a car that can go around a corner, the Hemi will serve you much better.

Regards,

Joe Dokes
 
i had to make this decision 2 years ago. i had the money, and really wanted to go with the hemi. but i had the K frame, headers intakes, and a 400. i was running a t56 with either trans so that didnt matter. i wanted to run power steering so tti headers werent an option with the 5.7, and i didnt find anyone that was running power steering with a 5.7 and stock k frame at that time. i couldnt justify the cash required to get the 5.7 up and running for the electronics. there werent a ton of guys that had a lot of luck with a diy hemi swap, but it seemed like the only good option was a few thousand in wiring harness and computer. i just didnt see the value. i reringed the 400 bought and bought an ez efi setup. im considering it again now but im not sure.
 
throw a double pumper on the 383 and let 'er rip :D

then find a used V-10 somewhere for your project, and get the stuff you need for that :D

but maybe you wouldnt like the look of headers with 5 pipes haha

030.jpg

Use the 383 until your epic mullet grows out like these studs. Then, and only then, will you be ready for the v-10 conversion.
 
Thanks for all the comments! My bubble has been busted......I was really hoping to build a 5.7, quiet, grocery gitter, sleeper, without all the thumpity thump of the 383. I want to drive the car a lot and feel like the 5.7 would be smoother and get better fuel economy, especially in front of an AOD transmission. Surely a stock 5.7 would move a 3200 lb car, as well as a beefed up 383?
 
The 5.7 with a relatively mild cam and a set of headers is well north of 450 HP. Hot-Rod did a test a few years ago and a stock 5.7L Hemi with Comps largest cam and a set of TTI headers yielded 480 HP at the crank. Now in all honesty Hot-Rod's dyno numbers tend to be a bit optimistic.

Considering that the 5.7 will weigh 180 pounds less, this equates to a free 20 HP. Assuming you plan to run a stock stroke and slight over-bore on the 383 you'd be hard pressed to get a streetable, grocery getter with 500 HP.

In terms of drivability, dependability, and coolness the 5.7L Hemi wins hands down. (I am a bit biased, I'm building a 6.1L Hemi)

But although I am a HUGE proponent of the modern Hemi, it is still quite expensive, as I've found out. I've been collecting parts for several YEARS and have a couple of years to go. :( But hey if this were easy or cheap it wouldn't be any fun.

Regards,

Joe Dokes
 
Mr. Dokes,

You are da-man!!! Thanks for your insight! I think I'm gonna drop in the 383 for now, while I search for all the pieces needed to make the 5.7 happen. I really want the stealthy thing to happen.(element of surprise!) Maybe there is someone here with a grocery list of items needed to make the 5.7 happen?????
 
Do a search, there is a bunch of threads on the build with a laundry list of items you need. Needless to say, at first glance the list looks short but it gets pretty long quick. It also gets pricey quick.

I know I've posted on here a list along with retail pricing of most of the stuff you'll need. As always, because there are so many variables prices are all over the map. For example, if you plan to efi you can spend $1500.00 on a Hot-Wire harness and a computer re-program of a factory computer, or you can spend $3,500.00 on a FAST setup.

Best of luck,

Joe Dokes
 
fuel injected but run the FAST EZ EFI Direct port kit....Really good kit, that way you don't need all the mopar crap

http://www.compperformancegroupstor...re_Code=FS&Product_Code=302000&Category_Code=

Don't forget that doesn't cover the ignition at all , also you will need a different mechanical throttle body, some sensor changes IAC etc. By the time you add all that up you could go with the factory ecm , which is gonna give you all the driveablility of a new car, and an ALDL port to give you diagnostics , obdII diagnostics can tell you which cylinder is misfiring , sensor out of spec,or if your fuel trims are correct etc.

I think this would be a decent option for an engine that has a distributor,like a 440 with one of those edelbrock ram intakes. You can tap into your mds box for a batch fire signal. But not an engine that came from the factory with sequential . Lots of factory cars and trucks stock to boosted tuning factory stuff, getting 500-600hp and 20+ mpg while doing it. To me thats the advantage of running the hemis with gas prices near $4 bucks a gallon.
 
Or you could consider MegaSquirt III, for fuel and spark control. I hope to find out soon, how good the Eddy dual quad/plane manifold is, with (2) two barrel tbi's on it-work. This manifold should produce a more street friendly torque curve, vs the Indy Mod single plane. Time will tell. Good Luck, ateam.
 
There are two problems with the Edelrock dual quad 5.7L Hemi intake manifold.

First, the dual quad manifold is only compatible with the 2003-2008 5.7L heads, it will not match to either the 2009 and later heads or the 6.1L heads. I'm pretty sure that you could port match them to the 6.1L heads and the 2009 and later 5.7 Heads, but this is additional work that shouldn't have to be done.

Second, the dual quad manifold doesn't have bosses pre-cast into the manifold for port injection. Certainly someone could weld bosses onto the manifold to accept injectors, but again this added expense should be unnecessary.

I really like the look of the dual quad setup and sent Edelbrock an email suggesting that they make one for the 6.1L Hemi and include bosses for EFI, I received a canned response. :(

Like a lot of people, I am not a particular fan of the Mod-Man manifold. The runner length is simply too short to produce the torque these motors are capable of, that being said if you wish to use an old-school air cleaner, or you don't like the looks of the truck manifold it is about the best option.

Finally, you are quite correct. Megasquirt is a viable and inexpensive option. I am using MS3 in my build. As far as price goes, depending upon whether you build-it-yourself or buy a pre built unit the total cost of MS is comparable to the Hot-Wire Auto setup, but the learning curve is obviously steeper. You can save quite a bit if you choose to build your own.

Diyautotune.com has a new MS3 setup called MS3 Pro, basically it is a pre-built MS3 but has the benefit of being in a sealed case with AMP style connectors. Thus you can now mount it under the hood, rather than inside the car.

You can read about it here:

http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/ms3pro-standalone-ecu-with-839-wiring-harness-p-538.html

Regards,

Joe Dokes
 
-
Back
Top