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Which next gen hemi is better?

brian.linn

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I have been talked into potentially doing a hemi swap, but I have some questions... The car will be installed in a cruiser. I want power, performance, reliablilty and economy in that order. But, It will be a cruiser and rarely see the track. First question, is there a particular year I want and what size do I want? Second, how difficult is intsalling the motor to the k-member, not looking to dump $5000 in a tubular k-member, how about wiring it up? And last, where do I buy it? Salvage? Crate? Thanks for the help!

I plan to put this in a 63 wagon down the road, plus I would like to install one in my 65 Coronet, and THEN maybe in my 65 Belvedere for the track... I am really intriqued by the reliability of these engines, from what I have heard...
 
All years are good, but any engine 09' and up has vvt so bear that in mind. Tuning is available for all years, including vvt engines. Stock is just fine, but if more power is wanted then you will need to contact vendors that work on the hemi's as they will help you to build what you are looking for. TTI has the mounts that will drop the engine onto a factory k frame. Schumacher Creative Services has poly loc engine isolators (engine-swaps.com) to replace the factory rubber isolators.

Hotwireauto.com has the harness (5 or 7 wire hook up then plug n play using a factory computer) also they can program the computer, supply a Diablo Trinity or Intune for the ultimate in performance.

Ebay is a real good place to start looking for a complete engine, 5.7,6.1, 6.4. Trans is up to you....auto, 4,5,6 spd., factory late model trans, 727, 904, etc.? Any small block trans will bolt up. Tunnel mods are necessary for the late model trans....no getting around it.
 
The new hemi is a great engine. It is not really a hemi like a stage II, but considering what expense your looking at a nice compromise is the newer hemi. If you do build a Stage II your looking at 20K before your done. It will make more torque and a great deal more power but do you need this expense? The Stage II will add a great deal of powre but is very costly to build today.
 
This stuff is all new to me, I am not aware of the vvt... Pros? Cons?



All years are good, but any engine 09' and up has vvt so bear that in mind. Tuning is available for all years, including vvt engines. Stock is just fine, but if more power is wanted then you will need to contact vendors that work on the hemi's as they will help you to build what you are looking for. TTI has the mounts that will drop the engine onto a factory k frame. Schumacher Creative Services has poly loc engine isolators (engine-swaps.com) to replace the factory rubber isolators.

Hotwireauto.com has the harness (5 or 7 wire hook up then plug n play using a factory computer) also they can program the computer, supply a Diablo Trinity or Intune for the ultimate in performance.

Ebay is a real good place to start looking for a complete engine, 5.7,6.1, 6.4. Trans is up to you....auto, 4,5,6 spd., factory late model trans, 727, 904, etc.? Any small block trans will bolt up. Tunnel mods are necessary for the late model trans....no getting around it.
 
Variable valve timing.....I'm not to educated on it, but it varies the valves, lol, but seriously, cam phasers are part of it. Do a search on the net, you'll find all the info you'll ever want.
 
Vvt advances or retards the cam.

- - - Updated - - -

I was kind of against the whole putting a modern engine in an old car, but i have come around to completely embrace it. I still dont like it for the actual performance cars, the r/t's or rr's and super bee's, but the non performance satty's and coronets i am all for it. I have been selling off all my old engines and stuff and getting the modern stuff. I managed to get 2 5.7 engines. If you think about it, its hot rodding 101. Way back when this whole car craze thing started, guys were taking cars from the 20's and 30's and putting in the new for the time v8 engines of the 50's. Now we take cars from the 60's and 70's and put the new v8's of today. They make great power with potential to make massive power. Fuel injection makes them more efficient. I know the old school die hards find it a tough pill to swallow, but its the natural progression of the hobby.
 
I break it down like this:

G3- 2003-2008 5.7 and 2005-2010 6.1
G4- 2009-present 5.7 w/VVT and 2011 - present 6.4 w/VVT

The G3's have simplicity and proven tunability on their side. Lots of aftermarket cams and other performance parts like engine management systems, intakes etc. Stock ECM's can be programmed to work nicely and are well supported.

The G4's have better flowing heads, more compression, variable valve timing, truck and 6.4 engines come with variable runner length intakes. But, the tuning is still in its infancy and there is no aftermarket engine management available yet. There are several companies offering stock ECM's set up to work in a swap.

If you don't mind the slight complications and waiting for the aftermarket to catch up, Id go with a G4. Im biased because that's what Im doing myself.
 
I didn't realize the 09's and up were considered
4th generation. Thought they still fit in the 3rd gen.
 
From what I've been gathering around the net over the last several years, the VVT engines are considered fourth generation. Or G4.
 
I got a lovely 6.1 hemi for my coronet body-over swap project that keeps plugging along at an incredibly SLOOW RATE.....Any way, got it off e-bay at Chuck & Eddies Auto Salvage in Connecticut. They probably have a boat load of salvage since the Sandy storm at decent prices....
 
5.7L hemi - proven, and been done a million times it seems - most affordable option - throw on a supercharger if you wanna have alot more fun
 
I have seen several G3 5.7 motors go really really cheap lately. One the guy scrapped because it didn't sell and another listed for $400. I usually see this stuff on craigslist. I personally got my 5.7 off CR for $600 ready to run.....so if you want to be economical go that route.

If you want horsepower first and budget second then go G4 6.4... its a question of how much you want to spend.

Though a G3 you pick up cheap and put $3000 into can make a hell of a lot of HP vs paying $6000 for a 6.4
 
I have seen several G3 5.7 motors go really really cheap lately. One the guy scrapped because it didn't sell and another listed for $400. I usually see this stuff on craigslist. I personally got my 5.7 off CR for $600 ready to run.....so if you want to be economical go that route.

If you want horsepower first and budget second then go G4 6.4... its a question of how much you want to spend.

Though a G3 you pick up cheap and put $3000 into can make a hell of a lot of HP vs paying $6000 for a 6.4
Hell, yeah. I got my first one free. Granted, there was a hole in the block where #7 escaped, but i fixed it. Got my second one for 700 from a guy i work with. He claims it has a knock so i will have to take it down and check it out. Came with an extra set of heads he had 400 in machine work in. Engine harness. Couple throttle bodies and gasket sets. Too much crap to list. Both 5.7's. I will take dem 57 hemi's all day long. Sink the money saved in a turbo and not think twice about a 6.1 or 6.4. Just need to find a body to get one in. The one with a window will go in my beat up 87 ram 250. Been looking for bodies for the other. A or B.
 
For your application, I'd recommend getting a 5.7 from a boneyard. Go from there. Your bankbook will also be happier.
 
a 6.4 for $6000...cheapest i could find is $10500...6.1 are going for $5500-$7000 in my area, you are getting good deals where you are at.
 
I can't say I had priced a 6.4. I was guessing. I knew back before the 6.4 came out the 6.1's were fetching 6k which no way I'd pay that. I'd buy a 5.7 block and stroke it, have the heads machined and make more power then a 6.1 way before I'd ever buy one.
 
I can't say I had priced a 6.4. I was guessing. I knew back before the 6.4 came out the 6.1's were fetching 6k which no way I'd pay that. I'd buy a 5.7 block and stroke it, have the heads machined and make more power then a 6.1 way before I'd ever buy one.

oh man, i bought a 6.1 for $6k it came with all acc. alt., a/c, ps, trans, wiring harness, k-member and power rack and steering. i hope i didnt get shafted to bad.
 
oh man, i bought a 6.1 for $6k it came with all acc. alt., a/c, ps, trans, wiring harness, k-member and power rack and steering. i hope i didnt get shafted to bad.


Didn't get shafted at all - the front accessories are about $1500 new - the trans is about $1500 used - Wiring harness and PCM is about $2000 to purchase and what not....

$6000 is a decent price for just the engine... not including everything else you got -

YOU GOT A STEAL
 
oh man, i bought a 6.1 for $6k it came with all acc. alt., a/c, ps, trans, wiring harness, k-member and power rack and steering. i hope i didnt get shafted to bad.

See now I just would never pay that. A hotwire harness is 1K, the computer you can buy used from a salvage yard for $150, you could have bought a 5.7 that either didn't need help or had an issue with a good block and heads for under 1k easily. I paid $75 for my alternator, already had a water pump on the engine, and the only thing it was missing was the tension-er which cost me $15. Came with a wiring harness, computer, intake, all injectors, throttle body, etc etc...for $600.

Now If I had a budget of $6000 that would have paid to have it up and running, a stroker crank, new pistons and rods, machining, intake, oil pan, etc...I'd have a stroker of some sort. Though i also have to say, I have less than your motor budget in my whole car so far if you count my dealings with parts cars. So I'd tell you, yeah you got screwed even if you didn't get hosed just because my broke perspective is skewed.
 
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