i've looked into it and haven't really found much info on it due the fact that most people just chance trucks as to converting the engine. but i've got a 2002 qc 1/2 ton ram with the 4.7. roughly 144,000 miles. the headgasket went out on it last night, but it never overheated (or so the needle said). i noticed the truck was running rough and pulled over to check it out and notice a sweet smelling white smoke coming from the exhaust, so i check the cooling system. it's over a gallon low on coolant i haven't driven it since then but have researched replacing the headgasket and it's showing roughly a $2,500 repair bill, minumum if the heads don't need ot be replaced.

i've also looked into swapping out the 4.7 to the hemi. i can find good low mileage hemi's for around $1500 with a warranty, wiring harness for roughly $200 and and ECU. i don't have my major tools up here as i'm in school, but have a shop that could do the repairs for me or bolt in the new engine and allow me to do the wiring harness on it.

my question is, what all parts would i need other than just the engine, engine wiring harness, and ECU to make it a direct swap?

 

well, i found a complete hemi out of a 2003 2500. 30k miles complete with wiring harness and ECU for $1300. i've read that you can use the transmission that is in my 4.7 4x4 with the hemi, but i'm trying to find out if the 2500 is a 4x4 and if so i might just go ahead and buy the transmission and transfercase out of that one so that i have a 30k mile powertrain versus a 145,000 powertrain. i can get them for another $300.

the shop near me said they'd charge $300 to pull the old engine and bolt the new one in. i'd be doing all the electrical and major connections.

 

alright, i got the engine, transmission, transfercase, wiring harness, computers, radiator, all accessories for $1700 delivered. it'll be here tomorrow and i'm starting the tear down this week as well. should have it all covered and finished by next weekend. i'm ASE certified as well as having 6 other friends who are all international certified mechanics working on it. we'll make short work of this project. i'll also be building a fiberglass intake and redoing the exhaust again to help the hemi out with breathing.

 

looks like i'll just be going into this blind. the engine will be here tonight and tomorrow the 4.7 will be coming out and the 5.7 will be going in on friday. wiring and plumbing on saturday and sunday and hoping to crank it monday morning.

 

Sounds to me like you got alot of work ahead of you..
Good luck..
Post some pics as you go, and when your done for all of us on here