I have a 99 Ram 1500 QC 4x4 I picked up for $1700 running and driving (beleive it or not no dash cracks). Anyway he dude admitted to me it had been swamped at the hunting camp (just motor and trans, no water in cab) and the trans had issues. Turned out the motor had a spun bearing so I yanked it. I found a donor motor out of a 94/95 (guy couldn't remember exactly what year but knew it was one of those). As is normal, before going through all the work of putting it in I out it on the stand for further inspection. Glad I did because I really didn't like the looks of the last 2 lobes on the cam. The cam from my 99 motor is fine so I swapped that and I have new lifters to put in which brings me to my question. I noticed while looking into the 2 blocks (standing in front of the block) the 99 has a piece of the casting that goes from the lifter valley up to the rim of the block under the distrbutor. The 94/95 block does not have that piece cast into it. Is there a reason for that which would make the 99 block better? Just looking for any help deciding on it while I have them both apart.

 

I don`t know about the casting piece your talking about, but I can tell you that you want to use the intake from your original engine, and also get a new plenum plate and gasket kit and fix it before it goes back together.


The early intake manifolds had a divider inside of them, making them more restricted. the later manifolds are an open design on the inside for better performance and air flow.

 

Here are pix of the 2 blocks from the area I'm talking about. I first thought someone may have broken the piece out of the 95 block but when i looked at it very close there is no broken or ground area, it was just cast that way.
Actually i already have the Hughes kit and I have new lifters because this project started with just doing those 2 things but here I am with motor out and doing almost a complete rebuild.....which i REALLY didn't want to do.

 

Well that's interesting..... that's actually cast in? Not just kinda wedged in there? I don't think either of the blocks I have, have that particular piece. (a 94 or 95, a 96, and a 97...)

 

yes sir, it's cast in there. I am wondering if there was some type of failure they were correcting by casting it in there. if so, i would obviously want to use the original 99 block which I can do by replacing all the bearings and using the 95 crank.

 

I have never heard of any issues with the block itself. Certainly nothing relating to block failures.... unless brought on by lack of coolant, or oil....... but then, that wouldn't be the area to fail either.

I have no idea what possessed chrysler to do that.

 

This is isn't the Chevy world. All the serial numbers have not been gathered into a use and dont use list lol.

I, also, have never heard of any actual block failures caused by bad castings.

I say use the 95 block if it will be easier.


You can always save the 99 and put it toward a full on engine build to swap in later.

 

My 99' has that too. You can see it if you look close.

 

Yep, I can see it in there. Very nice roller rockers by the way!! I wish I had the time and $$ to really do a nice motor the way i really want it but right now just aint a good for that in my world. This is my first Mopar tear down so i am learning as I go.
Ham Bone - I understand, just thought someone may know why the 99 seems to have additional pieces cast in there. I noticed the overall casting of the 95 is not as clean as the 99. There is much more rough edges and break-aways that the 99 doesn't have nor did any of the chevys I ever built. None of it would make a difference to functionality or performance but just seems like there was less attantion to detail. I would love to keep the 99 block around to build later but i just don't have the space to store it. I will probably regret it later but i am planning to sell the block and the extra heads etc when I get this one done. I'm planning to build a pole barn but until I do, i am full to the roof. My other hobby is restoring/repairing old tractors. That takes a ton of room too.

 

Hmmm old tractors. Now that would take up quite a bit of room