5.7 Hemi question

[Gary42]

I am currently finishing up work on my 1979 Dodge D100 pickup (pics following soon). Larry and I were talking about my 72 Rally and the restoration to come. He had the very best idea yet with the build. Take the 340 mag with trans out and set it aside as it is a numbers matching car, and in its place put in a 5.7 Hemi with an over drive trans. With a few modifications (cross member, new motor mounts, etc) the car would be able to drive from say from CA to NY if I wanted to.

Great idea. I looked on line and found several that are "plug and play" as they say. From what I am seeing, all I would need to do is buy the adaptable harness to hook up to my gauges because it comes with everything else. Here's my question: where is the best place to find a 5.7 Hemi? The ones I saw were from Bouchillon Performance Engineering for around $7700.00 before shipping. Is the the best place and the "normal" price range I should be considering? I know getting one out of a newer truck would work, but by the time you change the oil pan and many of the extras, you are in or around the same ball field of buying new.

Is there someone that can help direct me as to where to look and consider the purchase. I appreciate any and all comments, as I'm a bit out there with this build and thought direction.
V/R
Gary

[Indygenerallee]

Craigslist. I bought a 2005 5.7 Hemi out of a Ram came complete with the 545RFE transmission,PCM, Wiring harness totally complete with 3000 miles I paid $1000.00!!!
The guy gave me the receipt where he bought it for $4000.00 in 2009, you can bolt your smallblock transmission to the 5.7 Hemi same bellhousing pattern, I have TTI headers ($900) Milodon oil pan and pickup ($350) Schumacer makes motor mounts and a Hotwireauto harness plus they disabled the VATS security system in the PCM ($1200) You want a 2005 Ram PCM the LX platform is more complicated as far as transmission sensors and has it's own computer.

[Gary42]

Sounds like an awesome deal my friend, I could only get so lucky So it has to be a 2005 Ram or above that will also do the trick? How would I even go about finding one on CL? What posting site on CL would do the trick for me? Sry if I'm a pain in your butt, just have allot of questions right now

[Indygenerallee]

I just always do searches on Craigslist your local area (or wherever you want) It's best to use the Ram Hemi as it has less sensors on the transmission and the LX (Charger,300) have a another computer that runs the transmission functions (more difficult) you want to use a 2005 Ram PCM that's what the guys at Hotwireauto.com said because ease of disabling the VATS also make sure when you buy a PCM you make sure you know the VIN numbers for the vehicle it came out of, mine is totally 2005 I will be able to plug in a OBDII scanner, it's drive by wire, deal with the guys at Hotwireauto they know their stuff. $1200 bucks but that has all factory connections and all I have to do is hook up 8 wires and it will run, has a small fuse block and 4 relays, does away with all the factory harness altogether.

[Indygenerallee]

Here is a pic of my Hemi with the TTI coated polished headers (super nice!!) I still need to install the camshaft, Milodon oil pan, but I was going to repaint the engine Hemi orange with black wrinkle valve covers first!!  


100_1136 by indygenerallee1, on Flickr

[Patronus]

Some great info. I'd love to get that door badge on my car..

[Gary42]

Holy cow , just what I need for my build .....hummmmmm.......that would awesome in my Rally I will have to do a search, as I'm forever looking for things of interest on CL. So....in total, how much would you say that you will have once you have completed the engine and are ready to install/ Please forgive me for asking, just wanted to compare from what you have invested to buying new.

[Gary42]

Is it possible to use a 2006 5.7 Ram Hemi? There is one local, but it doesn't come with the computer, and I think its too much as it has 87000 miles on it. Here is all he listed (Complete minus 1 coil pack.... Has wiring, throttle motor, No accessories....NO COMPUTER).

[Indygenerallee]

Yep, That would be a good one, Hotwireauto has PCM's that you can buy from them already programmed if you can't find a 05 PCM, I would say on my Hemi fully done I should have around $4000 in the engine, trans,headers,wiring harness everything, I did buy a brand new drive by wire gas pedal and it's the same for a Hemi as it is a Cummins diesel Ram. Also with the 05-up PCM I have a Diablosport Trinity tuner that you can download custom "tunes" MPG/Towing/Performance, HUD realtime datalogging, make your own "Tune" via your PC has tons of options change shift points, pressure, tire diameter, rev limiter, built in shift light, ignition spark timing even 1/4' 1/8' 60 and 100 foot times. I am going to see what kind of MPG I can get out of it being it's in a Daytona I have a feeling on the right tune and gearing I will be able to pull dang near 30 mpg.

[Indygenerallee]

Go here this is the wiring harness and they will custom modify anything you want on it, I had them remove and turn off the EGR in the PCM when they disabled the VATS as well.   

http://www.hotwireauto.com/?page=sales-dcx

[Gary42]

I am sincerely grateful for all the info you have provided, you don't know how much this means. If its ok, I'd like to PM you from time to time with some questions. I do have Larry Roper to count on, yet sometimes he's extremely busy with his builds and resto's, so his time is limited. Great start to an amazing direction you have sent me on. May God bless you and your family always my friend,
V/R
Gary

[Indygenerallee]

Hey no problem, Anytime! Larry is a heck of a good guy I bought a few pieces for my Daytona clone from him and he has put up with all my questions!! 

[Gary42]

Lol, if you only knew the conversations we have had.......I've known him for about 9 years now, do dinner when we can and we sure laugh about some crazy things we see going on. If not for him, not sure which direction I would have gone after I retired from the Army. He has helped me in ways no one would understand. Not only a great person, but I true friend when you need him the most. Its great to have one of the top guru's of MOPAR on your side when you need him, lol. He will be doing all the work on my Charger, so I never question him on what he wants to do and how things could possibly work out to my advantage. This is his idea, and now I have to run with it until I exhaust him to no end, lol. He's the one who got me this fantastic 1979 Dodge pickup.....what a deal and what an awesome looking truck. He's certainly the man to go to when you are looking for some help. Can't wait to watch him start on this numbers matching Dana Daytona he just got in. What a resto job this will be.........awesome car if I say so myself!