Hey guys, I have a 97 dodge ram with a 5.2L engine with over 220k original miles. Im thinking about getting a junkyard 5.9L to use as a base to build a nasty 408 stroker, my goal is to get 500+ horsepower. With my goal in mind what do you guys think? Any other options you guys would recommend for building a 500+ horsepower engine for one of these trucks? This is mostly going to be a weekend truck that will see the track occasionally.

 

I think most 408s are in the 400-450HP range, and they aren't cheap to build. Hope you have deep pockets. The more HP, the deeper your pocket needs to be. I think you can get 500hp out of it, but it would be crazy expensive (here is one that $9400 and 475hp). What do you need that kind of power? What are you wanting to do with the truck? What's your budget for the build?

Here is a link to a past 408 build:
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...roject-13.html

Here is a link to a current 408 build: https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...-build-41.html

Here is a link to a past 360 build with good power: https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ld-thread.html

Here is a link to Hughes, where they built a 408: http://www.hughesengines.com/TechArt...ngsept2002.php

 

500 HP is going to take putting the engine on funny juice or some type of forced induction. I guess the first question that needs to be asked is are we talking about crank numbers or rear wheel numbers? You could see 500HP at the crank but to see those numbers at the rear wheels, like I said is going to take more than just the engine.

 

500 HP? As stated, what is your budget? When you say "track", are you referring to a drag strip or a mud pit or stadium truck?

 

And once you have those HP numbers, better look at spending a couple grand on a transmission that will stand up to it as well.

 

Big block time!


He should have found parking lot instead of a tiny street to play on

 

Thanks for all the responses guys, lets see if I can clear some things up. My goals for this truck is to be a weekend cruiser/street machine that can also make respectable passes at the local 1/8th mile drag track. After reading some of your responses and a little more research it is likely that my original goal is going to be out of reach. I really don't want to put more than 5k into just an engine for this truck and I know horsepower is not cheap, the main reason for my 500+ hp goal is I would like this truck to be able to at least hang with most of todays modern muscle cars although that could probably be done with a little less. So with the new information what engine would you choose/build for a project like this with a 5k budget for the engine?

 

360 block
Odessa EQ heads, 2.02 intake valves.
Mopar M1 intake
Nice cam for 1200-6500 rpm
Roller rockers. (adjustable chevy style on 3/8ths studs?)
long tube headers, y-pipe, 3" exhaust.
Tuner.....
52mm throttle body.

And then a trans that will stand up behind it..... of course, that will put you over your 5K budget by a bit.....

 

thanks, i will check into these parts. will a stock bottom end hold up to the power these parts will put out? also how would i go about getting tuning for this? Im more familiar with old school carbs.

And yeah im sure a transmission to hold up to the power will be another 1-2k, i know very little about mopar transmissions as well so which base transmission would you recommend i build on?

 

If you do the work yourself, you can do the trans for 1-2K...... If you look on page six of MonteC's trans corner thread, there is a list of parts he recommended for a member that towed regularly..... go by that list, and your trans will live a long life. Your only choice that will be a direct bolt-in is the 46RE...... Another option would be swap to manual trans. (NV4500, skip the 3500)

Bottom end is pretty stout. Still, I would go thru any motor you were going to spend that kind of money on, new bearings, rings, maybe an overbore if required. Could do forged pistons, and gapless rings.

Hemifevertuning.com for tunes.