Well, I own(i should say, my mom owns) a 2003 R/T that she bought brand new. I have done all maintainance on this truck since new. Oil change every 3000 miles, air filter 6000 miles, etc etc. The truck has never gone over on an oil change and I make sure the oil level is checked regularly. That all being said, she was driving down the road yesterday on the highway and heard a huge boom, then the dumbie light turned on due to no oil pressure as she pulled to the side of the highway. It was towed to my garage a couple holes in the oil pan and I think one hole where the block meets the pan. I have been working on cars since I was 10 years old, I have built 3 motors so far, and do all the work on all of our cars, so I sort of know what I am doing with automobiles. I have never seen this happen for no reason at all. At first I thought the motor hydro-locked after punching out a head gasket for whatever reason, sending the rods through the pan...that doesn't seem to be the case so far. I don't see oil in the coolant, or any coolant in the oil...the oil that was left in the pan looked clean basically what oil should look like with about 1500 miles on it, and yes I used the correct oil and change the filter with every oil change. So this leads me to believe that this wasn't a lubrication issue...though it may have been...I haven't pulled the motor out or apart yet. My question is, has anyone had any experience with something happening like this, and what is the best place to find a good long block to put back in this thing?? I live in CT by the way if that makes a difference. I would not like to go the dealer route, as the job has already been quoted at $6300?!?!?!?! the guy is claiming the long block alone is $4400! that just seems a bit much...there really isn't anything special about this motor. I realy just need a good place to buy a long block. I am not really a mopar guy so I don't have much knowledge on who it reputable to buy parts from...just trying to help out my mother. Thanks for any help!!

 

what motor is it? i would call around to junk yards in your area and try that route if your not wanting to spend mega bucks. i have never heard of anything happening like this at all. maybe sabatoge? have any enemies that really dont like you?

 

haha, no, no enimies that I know of. I don't know that I really want to go the used route, that may be an option though. I was just wondering if there were any reputable companies out there that sold a decent long block.

 

try this site
http://www.mopartsracing.com/parts/blocks.html

 

Since it is the rt i am going to guess it is the 5.9 or 360 which is a good and proven motor. Check Junkyards that motor has been around since 91 i think and was put in the ram, Dakota rt, and the durango RT's. You should be able to pick one up cheap and rebuild it.

How many miles on it?

And did the holes in the oil pan come from the motor or did she hit something?

 

2003:

How many miles on your Mom's D???

If its under 70k, don't touch it any further, and get it to your local dealer as the powertrain warranty should still be in effect.

If not, I agree that $4.4k is outrageous!!!!

You can surely do better than that.

Don

 

Yeah, the truck has 74000!!! that was what I thought originally, that it was still under the 7/70, but its not! the hits in the pan are definitely from the inside out, there are no indents on the pan. If you really look under there, hitting the pan from the outside is pretty difficult without hitting a half a dozen things to get to it. but the dents were definitely made from the rods hitting it. The 360 design hasn't changed since the 60's...the shortblock at least. the only explanation I can come up with is the possibility of the drive for the oil pump snapping somehow and none of the rods and mains were getting oil anymore.

 

Darn!!!!!!

So close, yet so darned far. My bet is that unless you have excellent documentation and receipts along with a VERY good relationship with the dealer where Mom bought it, the answer will be sorry for your luck.

Assuming the warranty route is a no go, I would scour the local yards as well as the internet for a low mile 2003 5.9 long block. My bet is that you can do much better than $4400.

Assuming you can do the labor yourself, I would think you can get the job done for $2.5k or less if you go the used route, or a bit more if you can rebuild the OEM motor.

You might also check with Jasper engines as they have a 3yr/75k warranty, and are known to be built right as far as OEM specs go.

Give Morris Rose Auto Parts in Michigan a call. I bought my NV244 transfer case from them, and was very pleased with both price and service. 800-345-0123.

Don

 

Check out these links. The last one is an OEM Mopar unit.

Don


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MEWA:IT&ih=016

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MEWA:IT&ih=013

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MEWA:IT&ih=022

 

Sounds like just a bad rod. Maybe the bolts on the main came loose. There could be a lot of small things it could be. I'm thinking workmanship. The short block should be easy to find but you might just be able to use your block considering the rod went down through the oil pan. I would pull the motor and have it rebuilt. (your motor) Take it down to some place like NAPA and they will bore it for about $800 if I remember right and rework everything. Why you are getting the heads done have them at least polished removing any and all high spots. Port them if they can.

In other words, just rebuild your block and re-install your motor.