Magnum VS Hemi
Wow, a lot of half truths and misinformation in this thread.
Here's a list of problems I see in the thread.
1. People say that the 5.9L Magnum is cheaper, no doubt. But then they say, "I'm building a 408" with RPM Heads and a whole host of other aftermarket parts. By the time you've done all of that to your motor the Hemi starts to look a lot cheaper.
That all ends up depending on how it's built. There's definitely money left for a build if not swapping to a Hemi.
4. The bell-housing of the Hemi is essentially the same as that of the LA/Magnum motors. Your 727/904/A833s will all bolt up with minor adjustments. The bell-housing has a .060 offset so you can either add a spacer or use a different flex plate. Not a big deal.
Pretty much, like $40 for a flexplate, ain't it?
6. Power output, there simply isn't any comparison in power output between a STOCK Hemi and STOCK Magnum. We're talking over 100 HP difference. A set of headers, cam, and a tune puts the 03-08 Hemi at around 480 HP. 500 HP for the 2009 and later. A stock 6.1L Hemi starts at 425 HP, again with a cam and headers you're knocking on 500 easy HP. Again this is out of only 372 cubic inches. 500 HP out of 372 LA cubic inches is a beast.
Which means you need more gear to make the most of it. 480hp from 345" isn't happening at 4500. That's why Magnums weren't slow and why they're an excellent choice in budget street vehicles that won't ever have enough gear to make the most of peaking over 6k.
8. Fuel Mileage. Assuming you keep the fuel injection 25 MPG is not unheard of assuming you can keep your foot out of it.
I believe it. Entirely reasonable for RWD cars with tall gears or OD.
9. Speed. Stock Hemi's with only a Cam, Headers, and a Tune, in A-bodies are running 11s. Let's see a cammed 360 stock, run 11s. Not going to happen.
Only a cam, headers, and a tune? Isn't there a thread with Mags/LAs having "only" heads, cam, intake, headers, and about as much invested as budget Hemi swaps running in the 10s and 11s?
Finally, if you want to run an LA/360 motor great. If you want to build a Hemi Great. But before you start buying parts, do your homework. The key is to sharpen you pencil and add up your costs OF BOTH MOTORS. The numbers may surprise you.
Absolutely. Always very good to be informed as to what people are running with what. Apparently they're tuning the stock OBD-II PCMs to run some pretty serious cams.
If your goal is 400-425 HP a stock 5.7L Hemi will serve you well. You can pick up a used truck motor for $1500.00 (car motors are more). You could probably buy a used 5.7, throw in a cam and spend less than a rebuilt 360 with forged internals and ported stock or aftermarket heads. If you want 500 or more HP you'll need to either buy a 6.1 or 6.4 or spend some money upgrading your internals of a 5.7. If you want more than 650 HP you'll need to start upgrading the internals of a 6.1 or 6.4. The point is that when you buy a Magnum motor, and a stroker kit, and a head kit, and an intake, headers, cam. You might be at the same cost as a Hemi.
Might be. Might be making more power for less money too.
How about comparing the factory numbers? The 5.9 was 245hp and 330fp torque, the 5.7 is 395hp and 410fp torque. This comparing truck engines to keep it apples to apples. The 6.1 and 6.4 are another animal.
And pray tell what are those RPMs for those peaks? An extra 1000 RPM is a big deal, which is why most builds involve cam swaps in Magnums.
Don't get me wrong the Magnum head is the best "production" small block head Chrysler made. There is a reason Chrysler moved from the Magnum series to the Gen3 though, the Gen3 is more efficient, it does more with less, and yes it is a much stronger platform.
It's more built out of the box. It has the fuel system, the cam, the head flow, everything to be an 11 second motor in a light car with the right gears. The Magnum is needs more parts bought for it to be there- cam doesn't put it into that range, cheap heads are an improvement, the intake is a huge improvement, but for just a street vehicle there will be little potential left of the stock setup untapped by being tall geared with a 3spd.