So whats this kind of swap cost to do???

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1966 dart wagon

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A friend and I got into a discussion on swapping a new hemi into my barracuda, he was thinking 'oh a 5.7 hemi truck motor and trans should just drop in with some 'easy' custom mounts and whatnot'

This isnt a chevy pal lol! but anyways what are you guys spending to do a complete swap to a 5.7 and or a 6.1.

I would go all the way to the 6.1 but maybe thats not the typical choice.

Does an 904 or 727 just bolt up? what are you guys using for headers/manifolds, exhaust? trans? radiators? ecu's Standalone or a stocker?

I orginally started compairing it to a crate engine saying an ORGINAL 426 goes for 14k easy, assuming a new one couldnt be much less, summit has the 6.1 for close to 12k carb to pan. where is the oil pan sum located on the car and truck motor, front/rear/center/ custom k frame??

Thanks guys :-D
 
used engine 10K

new engine 20K

both +/- 10K depending on your skill level


- new hemi = drive by wire = pain in the arse

the older trans will bolt to it cept for one bolt

everything is salty for these engines unless you make it yourself
 
Lots of 6.1 take-outs available now.....complete trans,motor, ecu,fuel pumps etc, for 7500-8000. Brand new 6.1 block w/ 5.7 heads from Indy are like 7000bucks

Re-program the ecu, make room for the transmission. Everything else is available to buy for the swap nowadays (headers,mounts,rad,driveline)

This thread has answers to all your questions.... http://www.bigblockdart.com/index.php/topic,25852.0.html
 
Alot of people are staying away from the 6.1 due to the altenater being down low it requires frame work for clearance. Depending on how low you want to go a used 5.7 can be had for a little as 1k. But keep in mind this will be a used one probably requiring a rebiuld. I have seen people geting rid of crate 5.7L set-ups for a little as 6.5k. This being with the harness for plug and play.
 
I am installing a 5.7 engine and 545RFE transmission from an 05 truck in my 73 duster and trying to do it on a small budget.

Costs so far:
Engine, transmission, computer $2000 (e-bay)
Fuel Pump, Vapor Canister, and wiring $350 (salvage yard)
TTI Headers $780 (could have used grand cherokee manifolds to save money)
TTI motor mounts for 72 down k-frame $125 (they didn't have the spool ones yet when I was working on this)
Flaming River Manual steering gearbox $500 (could have found a slow ratio factory one for less)
Countless hours fabricating transmission mount and tunnel area. $???

Future estimated expenses:
Aftermarket gauges and dash panel $700
Computer programming $250 (hotwire) or $450+ (B&G Performance)
Miscellaneous Sensors $100
Radiator and fan $???
Countless hours creating custom wiring harness from factory harness $??? (hopefully less than the $1000 you can by one for)

I'm sure there will be other thing that I'm not thinking of but these are the big ones. My goal is to create a super reliable car that is easy to maintain and fast and fun to drive anywhere.
I was originally going to stroke a 360, but after I read the June 07 Hot Rod and other articles the allure of a modern engine and transmission was too much.
 
Valiant422 said:
used engine 10K

new engine 20K

both +/- 10K depending on your skill level
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It appears the going price for a brand new 5.7L is $3200-$3500.

Bone yard prices I've seen anywhere from $1000 to $2500 for the 5.7L depending on the mileage. 6.1's appear to be more expensive at the yards to to their limited availability.
 
If ya gotta have a 6.1 get the timing cover and related accessories for a truck and have fun! You will run ibto an issue with the tb hitting the timing cover but that can be overcome with some ingenuity. Now you have the 6.1 and the clearnce you need with the acc. mounted up high.
 
boden said:
I am installing a 5.7 engine and 545RFE transmission from an 05 truck in my 73 duster and trying to do it on a small budget.

Costs so far:
Engine, transmission, computer $2000 (e-bay)
Fuel Pump, Vapor Canister, and wiring $350 (salvage yard)
TTI Headers $780 (could have used grand cherokee manifolds to save money)
TTI motor mounts for 72 down k-frame $125 (they didn't have the spool ones yet when I was working on this)
Flaming River Manual steering gearbox $500 (could have found a slow ratio factory one for less)
.
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I agree, very similar to my expenses. I used a 727 trans with adaptor flex plate from another supplier.

I also spent a ton of money ( although not necessary) because I wanted extreem performance. I purchased a 426 stroker kit and had some machine work done as well as some extensive head work. I decided to go with a 2 four bbl set up and an edelbrock intake.

I spent a ton of extra cash, but the swap if done consevatively can be very reasonable.

I'm always happy to answer any questions and help in any way I can.
 
I bought a "New" production (LX) 5.7 in the crate for 3K off Ebay. I purchsed a new base (450) alternator (160), front belt and pullys (250), 545 trans from the bone yard (600). I need to buy harness (950), computer (600), DBW gas pedal, + misc. sensors (400), Jeep SRT8 headers (150) + things I forgot, about 7K total. There is no reason not go with the car (LX) motor or a 6.1, you only have to put a small notch in the right front frame rail for clearance (check my build), and they look better than the truck motors (IMO). Good Luck, if you have any questions, feel free to ask....
 
Engine/trans delivered-4000, wiring harness-950, intank pump-220, odds and ends-400, the balls to do it-priceless. Now all kidding aside, with the complete install from radiator to pump and all things in between to get it running- + or - 8000. There is some stuff still left to do, but it does run (it's just wired so I can fire it up now and then) so you can assume that more money will be thrown at it to get what I want. Remeber these are "guidelines", some have done it way cheaper, others use the term "money is no object". Figure out what you want, start doing the research, and get it done, you'll be happy how it turns out when finished. Remeber, if you got ANY questions, just ask, someone here can help.
 
IDE LIKE TO DO IT TO MY STREET ROD,,,USE all stock 5.7 out of a truck,,and my beefed up 999/904...use stock puter,if possible or msd computer and a carb would be the simplest way to go,,,or an XV motor sports kit,,,but still a ton of bucks to do it,,,
 
fstfish66 said:
IDE LIKE TO DO IT TO MY STREET ROD,,,USE all stock 5.7 out of a truck,,and my beefed up 999/904...use stock puter,if possible or msd computer and a carb would be the simplest way to go,,,or an XV motor sports kit,,,but still a ton of bucks to do it,,,
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It all depends on what you want to do with your vehicle. I want to use my Dart for car shows, cruise nights, maybe the Power Tour. So reliability, driveability, and gas mileage are important to me. A 2005 fuel injected engine making 350hp, hooked to a 5 speed auto, that gets 20+ mpg, in a 2700Lb car should be a blast to drive and enjoy.
 
Tincup said:
It all depends on what you want to do with your vehicle. I want to use my Dart for car shows, cruise nights, maybe the Power Tour. So reliability, driveability, and gas mileage are important to me. A 2005 fuel injected engine making 350hp, hooked to a 5 speed auto, that gets 20+ mpg, in a 2700Lb car should be a blast to drive and enjoy.
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i agreee,,in my street rod i dont need a ton of horse power,just dependabiltiy,,and decent mileage,,the HEMI eye candy doesnt hurt either,,, already have a 1954 dodge red ram hemi 241 CI motor,,,but has a few problems at the moment,,a more modern HEMI would do the trick,,but no matter how you do this conversion,,it seems way to costly,,,just to say wooow i have a HEMI,,,,

1940 dodge super bee hemi 001.jpg


241 hemi pics 003.jpg
 
If we are going to compare, let's compare apples and apples. What would it cost you to buy a crate 360 ? Mopar performance sells a 390hp 360 for 5K and that's without carb, dist, alt, wires, etc. So by the time your done, you still have about the same money invested, and I doubt that the 360 will get the mileage of the Hemi. I think it was Glendora Dodge in CA. selling production 2008 hemi's right off the assembly line (that's what I have except mine is an 05) for under 4k brand new. Of course you still need the accessories. IMO it is more a personal choice than a financial one, New School vs Old School.
 
It's still more money than just an LA transplant. You can buy alot of used LA engine stuff to perform a swap on the cheap. Yea a 360 is $5000. But for an a body swap from a /6 to an LA engine it's penuts compared to a 5.7L swap. Shumacher mounts, pulleys, a SB 904 and torque converter, and some header and exhaust inginuity, and some radiator work is it (roughly). It can be bought used and on the cheap. I have not been lucky enough to find used 5.7L hemi swap stuff yet. It's too new. Just to put the engine in the car you are talking about a $90 flex plate, $700 for headers (unless you can make the stock exhaust manifolds fit), a $360 oil pan, and $131 for motor mounts. That's $1281 with no carb, $700 worth of msd wiring harness and hemi 6, or intake. That's for an a-body not custom fit for a street rod. I could of had that 360 in by now!! You have to be able to tell yourself, I want a 5.7L even though it costs more. Because I want it not because of price.
 
fitment in to my 1940 dodge i dont think woul;d be an y problem,,several choices are out ther as far as firing it up,,factory injection/ignition, still cost about 2 grand,,to buy it ata salavage yard,get a wiring harness retro fitted,and a reflash,,, or the XV mosotr sports option of there intake carn and ignition computer,,1300 bucks,,then thre arrrington chip killer,,,2 grand all said and done,,,as far as dependablity,, all of these options would work ide think,,but if you break down on the side of the road with any of the above,,your towing it home,,,

i wish the chip killer was afordable 2 grand in my eyes is out of control,,,and when you can do a dizzy conversion on a GM ls motor for underr 400 bucks,,the chip killer pricing makes no sense,,,

as stated buying a used LA motor and swapping it in has to be thousands cheaper then the modern hemi swap,,but imn still hopefull i can either make my red ram hemi dependable for a reasonable amount of money or do a 5.7 swap,,
 
fstfish66 said:
fitment in to my 1940 dodge i dont think woul;d be an y problem,,several choices are out ther as far as firing it up,,factory injection/ignition, still cost about 2 grand,,to buy it ata salavage yard,get a wiring harness retro fitted,and a reflash,,, or the XV mosotr sports option of there intake carn and ignition computer,,1300 bucks,,then thre arrrington chip killer,,,2 grand all said and done,,,as far as dependablity,, all of these options would work ide think,,but if you break down on the side of the road with any of the above,,your towing it home,,,

i wish the chip killer was afordable 2 grand in my eyes is out of control,,,and when you can do a dizzy conversion on a GM ls motor for underr 400 bucks,,the chip killer pricing makes no sense,,,

as stated buying a used LA motor and swapping it in has to be thousands cheaper then the modern hemi swap,,but imn still hopefull i can either make my red ram hemi dependable for a reasonable amount of money or do a 5.7 swap,,
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For swap reliability and ease of maintenance, Carburetor all the way. You can stop at any pep boys and pick up a gasket kit for an edelbrock carb. Ask them for an injector for a 2009 charger and you are out of luck. Fuel milage will be a little lower but that is all tuning anyway!! Just the fact of being able to patch it up to get home is a plus for me. As for Ignition, MSD hemi 6. I have a spare msd hemi 6. Yea it's a $500 spare computer but if you figure a chip killer is $2000. I have the msd coils as well. Pricy, absolutely!! But if you have a problem, change the coil pack that's bad and keep rollin. MSD wiring harnes $200, Hemi 6 X 2 $1000, and MSD coils $500. Still less than $2000 even with the plug wires!! Chip killers only run 1 set of plugs, now I understand that the only reason Hemis have 2 plugs per cylinder is emmisions but if it's there I want it to work. :toothy10:
 
I have this argument/discussion almost every weekend at my buddy's garage. I personally have nothing against building a 360, 440, etc. if that is what you want, I personally want an old looking car with a modern drivetrain. Like I said, if your going to compare, you have to compare apples to apples. I want to drive my car, not spend my nights and weekends adjusting this, and tweeking that. I've been there and done that, and I'm too old to do it again. Fstfish66, that Hemi you have is an awsome engine, I would love to build a rat rod someday with something like that in it, but you have to admit, something like that is never going to run like a modern engine. Hell, 50 years of engineering and modern manufacturing techniques should count for something, otherwise the new Challenger would have a 360 in it. Please dont take any of this personally, it is just my opinion. And Hemijoejr, your right I can't just go to a Pep Boys and pick up a new gasket, but 1. I wont have to, 2., I have a cell phone and AAA and 3., I can bring it to any Chrysler dealer and they can fix it.
 
Oh one other thing, why would you want to replace a $1600 harness/computer with a $2000 dist ?
 
Tincup said:
I have this argument/discussion almost every weekend at my buddy's garage. I personally have nothing against building a 360, 440, etc. if that is what you want, I personally want an old looking car with a modern drivetrain. Like I said, if your going to compare, you have to compare apples to apples. I want to drive my car, not spend my nights and weekends adjusting this, and tweeking that. I've been there and done that, and I'm too old to do it again. Fstfish66, that Hemi you have is an awsome engine, I would love to build a rat rod someday with something like that in it, but you have to admit, something like that is never going to run like a modern engine. Hell, 50 years of engineering and modern manufacturing techniques should count for something, otherwise the new Challenger would have a 360 in it. Please dont take any of this personally, it is just my opinion. And Hemijoejr, your right I can't just go to a Pep Boys and pick up a new gasket, but 1. I wont have to, 2., I have a cell phone and AAA and 3., I can bring it to any Chrysler dealer and they can fix it.
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Yea, you are right. I have had this friendly argument/discussion and it all depends on taste and what you are into. The $2000 distributor idea from Arrington is a good idea but is way too much money. If you are going for the early hemi look or just simplicity in installation with a carburetor it's ok. This part is just my opinion please take it for what it is, I have had a bit of experience with dodge dealers in my aria, I wouldnt want a 20 year old kid with his hat on sideways, his pants around his ankles, and no respect for what he is looking at and dosn't care, working over the fender of a car that took me 4 years to build. Again an opinion please take it for what it is!!! Im not lookin to start an argument!!
 
i really like the modern hemi, really want to put one in my duster but like fstfish, i cant get used to the prices. playing with cars isnt cheap but some peopel really like to capitolize on the mopar community. it pisses me off that you can buy a running engine for less money than the odds and ends it will cost to get it running in a car. i want to keep it stock and run the factory efi. i want it to be reliable and predictable for a daily driver, like my hemi ram, but good on gas. nothin wrong with carbs or anything against anyone that wants to to run one on a hemi. im wanting to run a manual trans with od. im so tempted to just go with the 400 in my garage. i have all the parts i need for that, i just wanted to build something different, i already have a big block dart.
 
jamesdart said:
i really like the modern hemi, really want to put one in my duster but like fstfish, i cant get used to the prices. playing with cars isnt cheap but some peopel really like to capitolize on the mopar community. it pisses me off that you can buy a running engine for less money than the odds and ends it will cost to get it running in a car. i want to keep it stock and run the factory efi. i want it to be reliable and predictable for a daily driver, like my hemi ram, but good on gas. nothin wrong with carbs or anything against anyone that wants to to run one on a hemi. im wanting to run a manual trans with od. im so tempted to just go with the 400 in my garage. i have all the parts i need for that, i just wanted to build something different, i already have a big block dart.
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I hear ya!! Someone needs to come out with basic installation kits! Design cast iron exhaust manifolds, an affordable intake, and sell it with no missing pieces!! Like a carb kit would be $1200 and an efi kit for $1700. There would be alot more installs and they would sell tons of them!!!
 
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