Just a simple query (hopefully). If money was no issue, and without any major engine compartment mods, other than maybe a hood with a 3-4 inch cowl for clearance (i.e. having to swap and remap the layout of all other components). How big of an engine could we possibly fit in our trucks?

Also, let's say (hint hint) that I came into lets say $5,000 that needed to be burned and my auto skills arnt rookie, but still minor league. I have done all the exterior mods that I wanted, stereo was done, and I even went ahead and serviced all the little things that my 6 year old truck needed (i.e. brakes, calipers, ball joints, u-joints, suspension, leafs, battery, starter, bushings, you get the idea...) and all I wanted to do was improve performance. WHAT WOULD YOU DO????? I was brainstorming and got thinking, huh, how big of an engine could I get, or would it be easier to just mod the crap out of my 4.7?

Just thought if the old Daks had up to a 5.9, couldn't we do that now?

Also, it would just be so bad ***, to pull up next to a F-250 or Chevy 2500 and have a big ol' 6.2 emblem smacked on the side of my fender.

I don't know much about messing with engines, but Im not stupid, and I am eager to learn.

If any of you would wanna chat one on one lemme know, maybe even swap phone numbers, so you could give me a quick schooling.

Thanks guys!!!!

 

I can't answer the question for you but I can add another one. I wonder if it's possible to put a fan on the front side of the radiator to push air instead of pull. Giving a couple more inches in the bay.

 

To me a 4,7 seems to ba a total waste of money.
its a complicated engine, unreliable and even with big boost you will never have good resault. 13,0@109mph

I am more a old school pushrod style engine guy.
cost alot less for big hp.

And i dont know the laws where you live about emission. But if you dont have restriction i would go carburated big stroker wild cam smal block with big bore etc...and pull around 600whp

sorry guys..but i dont like our 4,7L

I built a dodge dakota 5 speed 2wd 1997 5,2 for a friend with minor mods (headers, single exhaust 3'',mopar cam and pcm,big air filter,traction bars and 275 tires)

he was head to head with my trans am with the old 305 with bolt ons (14,02@97mph)

who is near of 14 with a 4.7?

 

Hey I'm proud of that, only one G3 Dakota has ran a faster time than that, lol. 13's is great for a Quad cab truck on 20s. I hear what you are saying but he 4.7L isn't a complicated engine at all. I tear them apart all the time. My only real gripe is the cost of performance parts to actual HP gains. Plus it's fun going to the dyno with all the modded Hemi's and putting more to the wheel than they do. I know what your saying man, if I had put these mods into a Hemi vice a 4.7L I would be pushing 11s.

As to the OP, how big can you go? It all comes down to how much modification you are willing to do and how much stuff you are willing to get rid of. If you can do without A/C etc. The 4.7L is a short fat engine where the Hemi is a taller, narrower engine.

 

LOL nothing against you BLOWN287 i am proud for you and you have so much answer for us because yo tried so much combination. but like you said a hemi with thoses mod would push you down to 11s.

and about a 5,9...the drive train should be bolt on??? i would top that roller engine with old school heads and intake aftermarket with a 750 cfm good carb

 

I will love to hide under my dak's hood a Viper SRT10 engine!!!!! VVVRRROOOOMMMM!!!!!! lol

 

Man that 392 Hemi is just about making making viper numbers. I think if I were to swap motors I would get an 04 Hemi with wire tb and install it and tune it. Once all the bugs were worked out pull it, get the 392 build kit with inertia heads and drop it back in. Then later down the road throw some boost to it.

 

Well the question is by big do you mean cubes, physical, or HP.

For cubes, you could go two ways, but one would be really hard to totally pull off. That would be a Ford GAA 1100CID, SOHC.

The next that I would way is a 440 block, and a put a 542 stroker kit in it. Beyond that is custom race block, which is possible, but not up that 5k price range alley.

Or you can go the route that I have decided to go.

Rip out the CAN network, rewire, and put a gen 3 Hemi 6.1 block stroked to a 440 in there. 7.2l of hemi power baby, topped of with high compression, and BA cam, you cant go wrong.

But the other thing that you need to think of too is after the engine. The stock trans and transfer case under these trucks don't hold up to much more than a 4.7, so anything bigger, and you might as well plan on a new tranny and t-case too.

So all in all, you would be lucky to pull off a large engine swap with 5k, save it up for a while yet, and put it all in at once, and make something EPIC!

 

I vote for a Cummins Dakota
Slap a big ol 12V 5.9L in there!!!

 

If you keep it to a 5.7l Hemi, the 545rfe trans will mate right up. And with an SCT tune, you can keep the 4.7l PCM and have it reprogrammed. You can build the motor up while your truck is still running, and then do the swap once you have all the internals modded to what you would like. You should be able to squeeze alot of power out of a Hemi with a few thousand, and your biggest concern under the hood would be the crossmember/oil pan situation.