Which is better to locate engine or whole car?

[73frostmistsatellite]

I have been toying with the idea of a new hemi. I have read countless threads about the topic. Information overload and now it is getting confusing.

Goal would be a relatively stock hemi setup with all accessories (ac, ps, etc). As little mod surgery as possible. I had an 07 Daytona and felt it was really adequate so no need for cams etc.
I have looked at locating totalled vehicles. Is it best to go with a truck or car since youd have the harness and ecm? Any particular year? OR Is it best to just find an already pulled engine and transmission from a yard or eBay and buy an aftermarket ECM and harness?

I would be shooting for cost effectiveness.
Thx

 

[5.7 hemi]

The truck 05' pcm is the best for tuning. Car or truck engine is good. Trans, go with the truck for the o/d, or any small block trans (gear vendors for o/d). Wiring harness from hotwireauto.com tswer all talk to Chris he'll help answer all your ??'s regarding doing this swap.

 

[67 coronet]

prob get best deal with whole vehicle that is wrecked,vs a loose motor.at least with a vehicle you can check millage and vin references to motor.you never know what you get with a loose motor.

 

[greenmonsta79]

There are deals out there I bought my 05 5.7 Hemi, 545RFE trans, stock wiring harness, PCM for $1000.00 and it has 3000 miles on it!! Guy showed me the reciept were he had payed almost $4000.00 for it back in 2009 I sold the stock wiring harness for $200 on Ebay, kinda sad I bought the engine,trans,pcm for what I paid for the TTI headers!!! (but they are nice!)

 

[Pugly]

Where can you find a wrecked vehicle that an individual can purchase?

I have been also looking around, thought it would be best to find a whole vehicle but they seem to be really high priced, don't really know where to locate one except on CList.
To buy at the salvage auctions around here you need a salvage or re-builders license as well as Tax ID etc...

There are a couple of salvage yards selling complete pull outs for what they call Street Rod swaps. They say you get everything you need.. Did anyone get one from a yard? ....

 

[chrisd]

You can check Copart.com I'm not sure what part of Texas you're in, but hey have a few yards. I haven't found any local salvage yards selling complete pull outs in my area yet.

 

[Pugly]

Coparts is one of the ones I tried signing up for. They had mountains of paperwork and THEY don't really understand Texas Law. I have a friend who would loan me his dealers license but they wouldn't accept it unless I had a Dealers License, Rebuilders License, and a resale Tax ID number .

 

[chrisd]

When I talked to them a while back, theymade it sound pretty easy. Maybe they give me all the info then.

 

[kb67mopar]

Copart is a joke, stay away. Lots of states require dealers licenses to purchase and then you have to buy through a broker which almost doubles the cost of the purchase. I signed up and ran into this but they don't disclose that information before you sign up or at least back then they didnt.

I found my engine on Craigslist with 60k on it for $800 and talked him to $600 :yaayy:

The whole vehicle would be best but only if you plan to use things like the a/c condenser, the ac unit under the dash, etc. If you are sticking with old school stuff just get the engine and trans, computer, wiring harness (if you want to make your own) throttle pedal and accessories.

 

[chrisd]

Copart is a joke, stay away. Lots of states require dealers licenses to purchase and then you have to buy through a broker which almost doubles the cost of the purchase. I signed up and ran into this but they don't disclose that information before you sign up or at least back then they didnt.

Good to know.