- Local time
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- Joined
- Apr 13, 2012
- Messages
- 35,647
- Reaction score
- 125,634
- Location
- Granite Bay CA
This truck is getting long in the tooth:
360,000 miles on the 5.7 and still running quite well. I do know that eventually, this engine will wear out. I still have the original water pump, alternator...heck everything except the EGR valve and spark plugs. The original serpentine belt is still in place.
It sometimes smokes, uses some oil but runs smooth and does not knock or rattle. Power may be down a bit from when it was new though.
I love this truck. I am not interested in buying new. If I knew of a well preserved 10,000 mile "Found in a barn" 2007 Ram identical to this one, I'd buy it but that is highly unlikely to exist.
As is the case when it comes time to replace an engine in a classic, I want to take this opportunity to increase the power in whatever engine I put back in. I've looked at stroker assemblies that can push the cubes from 345 to 394. THose ain't cheap....$3000 is about the norm. Then I'd still need machine work, a cam-lifters and timing set. I'd be into the engine $5000 or thereabouts. Okay, maybe that isn't so bad.
I've thought of getting a low mile 6.1 SRT long block and putting the 5.7 intake and throttle body stuff on. The 6.1 was rated at 425 HP. I'm only guessing but with the truck intake, I'd probably be down to about 400 HP. That is still a big jump up from my 345 HP stock rating.
A simpler route would be a rebuilt 5.7 with a little more camshaft. I need to pass CA emission testing and can't have it throwing MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) codes.
A stock based 5.7 with smog legal headers and a switch to 3.92 or 4.10 gears (I currently have 3.55s) would wake up a stock engine and the overdrive negates some of the deep gearing when at freeway speeds.
The truck used to peel out from a dead stop on dry pavement. It does not do that at all anymore. I am not looking for a hot rod but it would be great to get the jump on the minivan in the next lane!
360,000 miles on the 5.7 and still running quite well. I do know that eventually, this engine will wear out. I still have the original water pump, alternator...heck everything except the EGR valve and spark plugs. The original serpentine belt is still in place.
It sometimes smokes, uses some oil but runs smooth and does not knock or rattle. Power may be down a bit from when it was new though.
I love this truck. I am not interested in buying new. If I knew of a well preserved 10,000 mile "Found in a barn" 2007 Ram identical to this one, I'd buy it but that is highly unlikely to exist.
As is the case when it comes time to replace an engine in a classic, I want to take this opportunity to increase the power in whatever engine I put back in. I've looked at stroker assemblies that can push the cubes from 345 to 394. THose ain't cheap....$3000 is about the norm. Then I'd still need machine work, a cam-lifters and timing set. I'd be into the engine $5000 or thereabouts. Okay, maybe that isn't so bad.
I've thought of getting a low mile 6.1 SRT long block and putting the 5.7 intake and throttle body stuff on. The 6.1 was rated at 425 HP. I'm only guessing but with the truck intake, I'd probably be down to about 400 HP. That is still a big jump up from my 345 HP stock rating.
A simpler route would be a rebuilt 5.7 with a little more camshaft. I need to pass CA emission testing and can't have it throwing MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) codes.
A stock based 5.7 with smog legal headers and a switch to 3.92 or 4.10 gears (I currently have 3.55s) would wake up a stock engine and the overdrive negates some of the deep gearing when at freeway speeds.
The truck used to peel out from a dead stop on dry pavement. It does not do that at all anymore. I am not looking for a hot rod but it would be great to get the jump on the minivan in the next lane!
