5.7 in a 73 charger, many questions

[AmadeusCharger500]

Ive decided to depart from the norm just slightly on my latest project.
Ive done a modified 383 in 71 charger, and stock 400 in a 74 charger
Now Im working on my masterpiece!
1973 charger taken from the junk yard (maaco, unpaid paint job) and brought back to life with entirely new sheet metal. There are so many modifications on this car that I feel like using a newer engine is just the logical next step.

I have read about and wrapped my head around some of the fitment issues.
-Transmission hump gets cut, trans mount fabricated
-k-frame notched
-possibly unable to use stock steering
- fuel pump in gas tank modification
-gas pedal becomes drive by wire
-Ecu and wiring adapters and much much more

So here are my biggest issues at this point.
Do I get the engine from a car or a truck (truck has ac compressor on top)
and what makes/models am I looking for when I call the yard for the engine.

Ive read that the 5.7 will end up with about 350 hp. If the 6.1 is an easy install (it looks huge at the bottom end for fitment) it would yield about 400.
Wish I could use the 6.1  but seems like a lot more work and money.

I'm settled on the 5.7 only because its been done many times in other projects and I might find someone to talk about it.

But thats my problem so far. I simply dont know anyone who has done it.


any links or words of wisdom would be fantastic...Heath

[JB400]

Check Pro Touring Mopar

http://www.protouringmopar.com/forum.php

[AmadeusCharger500]

posted there, no response. Interesting silence on this.

[AmadeusCharger500]

Here is a fairly comprehensive list of cars with 5.7 and 6.1 Hemi engine

5.7   2003 dodge 2500 and 3500 full size pickups
5.7   2003 to present Dodge Ram
5.7   2004-2009 Dodge Durango
5.7   2005-present Chrysler 300C
5.7   2005-2008 Dodge Magnum RT
5.7   2005-present Dodge Charger RT
5.7   2005-present Jeep Grand Cherokee
5.7   2006-2010 Jeep Commander
5.7   2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen
5.7   2009-present Dodge Challenger
5.7   2009 the 5.7 revamped for more hp and efficiency, dual spark plugs
6.1   2005-2010 Chrysler 300C Srt8
6.1   2005-2008 Dodge Magnum SRT8
6.1   2006-2010 Dodge Charger SRT8
6.1   2006-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
6.1   2008-2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8

[AmadeusCharger500]

Called one salvage yard which was somewhat helpful and tedious at the same time. Since all their cars are stripped apart, I needed to provide a specific year and make to find anything. Fortunately the guy was patient.
Here are some engine prices, no accessories or computers
05 Jeep Cherokee 41k $2550
05 Durango 93k $2300
06 Charger 57k $2800

Evidently the 545RFE transmission is a proven workable pairing and I might find one attached if a yard would let me walk through.

This is the list of prices at the parts yard
75k $550
07 Jeep Commander 43k $850

Then Im left with finding all the stuff like computer, wiring, ECU, brackets, AC, seems like the wrong way to go.

[JB400]

Have you considered going to a salvage auction?  It's where the insurance companies and the wrecking services dispose of the cars they collect, where they are sold to the salvage yards.  You might make friends in this field that will allow you to go to the auction and get a vehicle with the parts your wanting.

[AmadeusCharger500]

Thats an awesome idea thanks!

[c00nhunterjoe]

I suggest getting a whole car or truck so you will be guarenteed all of the wiring and sensors needed. I would say get an 06-08 model. The earlier ones had plug wires and valve seat problems. After 08 they went to variable cam timing. Fwiw, my 07 charger with over 150,000 on the bone stock engine internals is knocking on the 12 second barrier at 105 mph and weighs 4500 lbs.....

[AmadeusCharger500]

Yes, that is definitely sounding more like the way to go. Finding auctions is one great idea. I was under the impression I could go to a salvage yard, find a car, and buy it. But it seems those days are quickly fading as these yards are stripping the cars as quick as possible.

[SRT-440]

I have a 6.1 in my 70 Road Runner. Had to cut on the stock K frame some, but not a lot needed to be removed. Over all, getting the motor in the car was the easy part...installing headers was tough cuz the heads on these motors sit so wide in the engine bay.
Had to change the fuel system for EFI..got a in-tank pump..these motors want a constant 58psi of fuel pressure. For the moment, I'm running a small block 727 which was an easy install and bolted right up with a adapter flexplate...prolly next spring I'll upgrade to an overdrive trans.
For an ECU I'm using the FAST XFI 2.0...which I like a lot and works great...but there are other cheaper options..like the new Holley EFI stuff is great too.

As far as performance, it runs really well..it's not super fast..the car had a 12.5:1 compression 383 in it before and it was fast..I'd consider this car as being "quick"...but it's road manners are 100% better. Idles like a new car and does everything you expect it to.
If I had to guess, I'd say it is putting down around 320rwhp..even tho the 6.1 is rated at 425hp..my 727 is killing my hp I think.
It's an expensive project with lots of learning curve..took me a year to get it all installed and running right.
What I love the most is, around my area (Arkansas) there isn't many HEMI swaps and NONE in a 70 Plymouth...so it attracts a LOT of attention.

[AmadeusCharger500]

Thanks for the response. Everything you say about it is confirming my excitement in the project.
I've called around to a lot of local yards about getting parts, or a complete car. One guy has taken it upon himself to tell me when they get a possible candidate.
Today should be arriving a 2005 Dodge ram 2wd 5.7. Which should be connected to an RFE 5 speed trans, if my studies are correct. This might be a good donor, but I hate to jump at the first thing.

I was under the impression the 6.1 was a more difficult install, but sounds like maybe not? Not sure how much the engine bay in b-bodies changed from 70 to 73.
How difficult was it for you to track down the engine.
What cars did you look for to get it, or was it an off the shelf engine?

[SRT-440]

I believe 6.1 and 5.7 and the 392 all share the same "block"..meaning they all take up about the same space. What gets tricky is if your gonna run AC or not..I've got AC so the K frame has to be notched some for the compressor to fit on the 6.1..but..if ur running a truck 5.7 all the accessories are riding up on top of the engine instead of down low like on the 6.1. So, in regards to AC the 6.1 is a more difficult fit.
I actually found the engine (and it came with a TR6060 6 speed too that I didn't use..regret that) on this site in the parts for sale section. 6.1's are quite a bit more expensive than the 5.7..I noticed you can get a new 390 hp 5.7 from most salvage yards for $2-3K...a 6.1 will run you around $6-7K.

Mine came from a wrecked 2009 SRT8 Challenger...again it depends on what you want..the truck motors are easier to install with the top mounted accessories. The 2005 donor your talking about would work just fine...and as long as your not gonna be upping the HP a lot the trans will be good too..you will probably have to cut on your trans tunnel to make it fit. That's the reason I chickened out of using the 6 speed was all the cutting I'd had to do.

Bouchillion Performance can help you a lot..they can point you in the right direction..they helped me a LOT. Personally, I like the aftermarket ECU's cuz they are more customizable than the OEM and they have a new harness that plugs right in and is labeled.

I'll post some pics tonight so you can see how mine looks.

[Troy]

Here's some stuff to ponder:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,62589.0.html
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=94835.0
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=44274.0
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=113531.0
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=113643.0
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=115360.0
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=53669.0
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=36120.5
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=80372.0
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=72007.0
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=50451.0
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=100181.0

From elsewhere:
http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/3930520/site_id/1#import

Troy