So I guess I will need 4wd mounts from a Dakota.

I just found out why my motor mounts are so much different than everyone elses, its becuase I'm 2wd. There's no need for a two piece mounting system without a differential to bolt to. So mine are just a single cast peice that has the rubber isolator built in, and bolted directly to the block.


So anyways, what I will do is get the 4x4 dakota mounts, cut the brackets off the block plate and weld them to the 5.7 block plate after test fitting the engine for positionoing and fitment.

i edited the crap out of this post by the way.

 

Frantic ~ Didn't you write in the explanation of your truck it was a 2 wheel drive ? Or did I read that part wrong ?

 

O.K , I just read the page before this one.. You're going to have to cut at least one mount perch off your frame no~Matter what you do. I had to cut them both off mine , and since I couldn't find 2wd mounts for a Hemi , I customized a way to use the 4.7 mounts . It's an option ,
There's a big difference between 2 and 4wd .

 

I'm hopefully optimistic that this is not the case. Not that I don't agree with you, I mean I do agree. Every 4wd vs 2wd I've seen is worlds a part. Different knuckles, different spring perches, different welds, different crossmembers, control arms.. 100% different front ends all together.

But honestly, these 3rd gens are virt ually the same exact truck in almost every way, mine just has parts missing. Basically, if I got a hold of a junkyard 4wd, I could turn this into a 4wd without ever breaking a weld.. I even have the splines in my hub bearing assembly for the CVs. The only reason I think they used different motor mounts is for cost, I imagine a simple cast piece is cheaper for them than the two piece used in the 4wd.

Now, I'm not 100% sure about the isolator perches on the frame, but I'm going to look deeper in to it to make sure they are the same, before I buy 4wd mounts

 

Here's some of the essential goodies that I will need for that motor to breathe, and something to teach it to breathe.

IMG_20120405_135932.jpg
IMG_20120408_235328.jpg
IMG_20120408_235128.jpg
IMG_20120406_142000.jpg
IMG_20120405_235540.jpg

 

this headers looks like a cheap turbo manifold???? why runner so short?

 

those are gibson logs. certainly not cheap.. ceramic coated and are every bit as good as any shorty, but they add more TQ and a bit less HP according to gibson. I went with them because I know they will fit. No other shorty, and certainly no long tubes will fit without modding them.

 

So here is a full status update

Still waiting on my throttle body from Rich at HiPoTek, no big deal. At least I know it will be done right.

Oil pan will be no problem, I'm getting a Ram pan and pickup tube and I will need no modifications. thank you 2wd.

Engine mounts are still being hammered out, I got a set of isolators made for the 4wd 4.7 model, brackets will be here in a week and then I will know how close they are. place I got them from will take them back if I don't mess with them so no biggy if it doesn't work. The reason I'm doing this, is because I decided not to go solid mounts and my 2wd cast iron mounts can't really be modfied. The 4wd system uses a steel block plate on the motor that can be cut and rewelded, it bolts to a different type of cast iron isolator and then to the frame. I have the block plates from a Hemi Ram, so the Dakota brackets will be cut off the plate and rewelded to the ram plate after some fitting is done.

For performance stuff I got an EGR delete kit, Log style gibson headers (the "cheap" ones in the pic above...), high performance "Spartan" cam, 6.1 srt springs with custom length pushrods, Magnaflow highflow 2.5" cats, a Spintech SUV muffler, a 2600 stall converter, and I just did an efan conversion... that's it.. so far.

I got an SCT tuner with a starting tune by Sean at Hemifever put on it and I got an Innovate Motorsports wideband gauge for the readings.

I have a full set of accessories that I still need to clean up, I will need to get my AC drained and start to get some custom AC lines made. I haven't looked at my power steering lines yet so I don't know how they will transfer over. I will need to do something about heater hoses and radiator hoses..

I am going to be cutting up the 05 engine wiring harness I got, cutting each connector I will be using, leaving plenty of length to work with. I was able to buy new 05' 4.7 sensors to replace a couple on the engine that didn't match up, I bought a coolant sensor and oil pressure switch. Some connectors, such as the camshaft sensor, will need to be relocated. If I was keeping the EGR, it would need to be lengthened aswell and relocated too, and that's 6 indivdual wires, no biggy, but it was easier to delete it.

Things someone will NEED if they do this swap from a 4.7

Hemi engine with all accessories and wiring harness with injector harness.
Oil pressure switch from 4.7
Modified 4wd 4.7 dakota engine mounts with custom block plates or hemi ones, or build new set from scratch. (still under investigation)
Custom AC lines
Special or custom radiator hoses and heater hoses
Ram oil pan, for 2wd
Modified Ram oil pan, for 4wd
Cable operated throttle body from Mopar Performance or BBK.
Custom bracket for throttle cables.
SCT for custom tune
and probably more..

If you have a 3.7, I'm not sure what all will be needed and i can't be sure what connectors on the engine match the 4.7/5.7. And there's no way to know if the 3.7 PCM will tune a 4.7 or 5.7. Sean at hemifever may know. But, other than that, most of the other stuff should apply to a 3.7 to 5.7 swap too.

Be sure to have an LSD.. because all that power will not want to be sent through one wheel lol.

 

This is so exciting to follow and I feel like it will be less than a year Preston..maybe August?? Haha knock on wood..anyways..it was exciting enough with a Hemi swap alone but you've probably added about 50 HP with those current mods..probably more once Sean does your custom tune. Anyone who wants to do the swap will have a lot less of an issue after reading this thread and using you as the guinea pig. Good thing you did that Auburn Performance LSD..you were planning on big HP gains from the start but originally with a blown 4.7L eh? The Hemi is a great motor..can't wait to see dyno results. Do you have a link to the Y-pipe btw? If I do the exhaust again I would like to switch to that one for the increased flow

 

I always wanted something fast, and when this idea popped up I couldn't get it out of my head... I am definitely going to keep updating the thread as I go and in the end I may make a separate thread to organize it all to keep the useless banter from the prospective swappers.

For a long while there I was really wanting to boost this thing. But I thought about the possible tuning nightmares, and the high maintenance of a boosted motor and decided against it. There were only two options, trade her in or swap it out!

Here's the link to the Y-pipe I got, and another to one that would weld or clamp up to stock dakota 4.7 exhaust.

Tru-Y Pipes - 2.5in. Dual/3in. Single - 10in. - #10778
Tru-Y Pipes - 2.25in. Dual/2.5in. Single - 10in. - #10758

I am hoping for higher numbers than that now. Take a look at this dyno sheet from a 5.7 '06 Charger. Long tube headers, dyno tune, and CAI. Plus he has the NAG1/W5A580 trans which is less parasitic than our slush box. But it's got me hopeful because he's using the Spartan cam.

As for the time frame, haha. I am inclined to agree and I too have my fingers crossed. I have a Vet friend at school who works at a military equipment production and repair facility, and he's already spread the word to his buddies, and I'll have at least 3 welders and a gearhead or 2 there helpin. All they want is pizza and beer lol.

But I am shooting for June to do the initial teardown.