I've been looking for a 5.2L Magnum engine at all the local Pick-a part yards and cant seem to find one but I have found several 5.9's in Ram trucks. My question is compatibility. Now before everyone jumps down my throat about searching the site first, I have and couldn't find exactly what I needed to know, i.e., engine/tranny length to transfer case, motor mount location/modification, ECM/PCM compatibility/modifications, etc., etc. I know I will need to beef up my 42re since I am building up the V8 but I guess all I really want to know is will the 5.9 bolt right up to the tranny like the 5.2 would? I want to go out this morning and buy the engine. Any reply will be appreciated and I hope this post doesnt offend anyone.

 

nahh your post isnt ofensive and i dont know but is an interesting question and i join to hear the answer

 

No sense beefing up the 42re for the 5.9 you will have less money going with a 46re. The 5.9 throws out some torque and thats the thing that will kill a tranny. Even with a 318 the 42re isnt a good choice it should at least be a 44re.

 

Will the 46re match up between the 5.9 and the dakota transfer case? I left the transmission that was attached to the engine at the Pick-a-part yard but I can go back and get it in the morning.

 

The 46re is what came with the 5.9's and the 231 tc will bolt up to the tranny. Im not sure on drive shaft lengths im going to assume they will be the same but I cant be sure.

 

Okay. getting closer here. Now knowing that 1), the 5.9 will fit into my truck and 2), the 46re will bolt between the engine and the transfer case, will the 46re take the 400+hp I am planning on building the 5.9 up to without getting it beefed up? I guess i should ask that same question about the transfer case. Regarding the physical layout of the tranny/tc/drive shaft, I am very much a visual learner so pictures serve me well but here goes; where does the tc go in relation to the tranny/tailpiece etc? gee im not even sure if i know how to ask the question. nevermind. i'll ask it tomorrow maybe, when i have had some sleep. thanks guys

 

Why do you need it to take up to 400hp the 360 only has 245 to begin with and they prob wont handle more than 300-350hp

 

The tranny will not take that kind of power without a rebuild. I would go with a upgraded valve body, new clutches/steels, just a basic rebuild but the parts you use will be the determining factor on how long that transmission will last.

 

I don't "need" to take it up to 400hp, I want to. 4700lbs is a lot of weight and I dont want the truck to feel like a slug. Now granted, the Ram 1500 Daytona edition has the 5.7 hemi and "only" 345hp, and it never felt like a slug. 400hp is my goal of my rebuild. If i get it there, great. If not, 245 or whatever the stock 5.9 has will be vastly superior to the V6. I want to do a good rebuild with this 5.9. when I got the heads off it, I found one broken piston and a ton of rust inside, so much, in fact, that the whole rotating assembly wouldn't, um, rotate. After a lot of WD40 and a custom tool to work the crankshaft, I broke it all loose and now it at least turns. The heads are pretty rusty inside too. What I really want is torque, but a large electric motor with all the supporting equipment is way too expensive for my budget. So is a diesel conversion. If using a 46re still would require a rebuild, why not just rebuild the 42re and be done with it?I know everything fits with what I have. does the 46 have external features that make it stronger that the 42 doesnt? I'm glad you two replied because I was about to go back to the pick-a-part yard and get that tranny. And oh yeah, do i just use a pulley puller to remove the harmonic balancer off the front of the 5.9? Thanks again for your replies.

 

I standard 3 jaw or even a 2 jaw pulley puller will take the harmonic balancer off. To my best understanding, the 42RE has the same bellhousing pattern but some of the sensors between the 2 transmissions are different. I may be mistaken on that though. The 42RE will not hold up to ANY abuse behind a 5.9 anyway, and would only likely hold up for a marginal amount of time as a daily driver.