I blew up the motor in my 2015 dodge 1500 tradesman 4x4 crew cab it had the 345 5.7l v8 eight digit vin T originally with MDS and VVT well I swapped that motor with a 2006 Dodge Durango 345 5.7l v8 i rebuilt had the crank and cam inspected, lapped the valves, honed the cylinders, reringed, and new gaskets top to bottom I didn’t install the MDS solenoids and the motor isn’t VVT when I try to turn it over it sputters you can hear the exhaust for a half second and it shuts itself down. I’ve been told that i cannot flash the pcm and reprogram it to read the cam sensor instead of the VVT solenoid and that even if I pulled the donor trucks wiring harness and pcm it wouldn’t work because of the security system and key fob is this true? Should I sell the rebuilt motor and just buy one 2009-2018?

 

Yes an 06 engine maybe the “same” 5.7, but in reality it’s not, just like the body style… i.e. 2nd gen, 3rd gen etc, the hemis also have a 1st, 2nd 3rd gen. You need the same gen as your original.

 

You need a 2013+ engine (has correct crank wheel). No, you cannot retrofit the older, less capable engine.

 

^^^ This. The 09-up Is a totally different engine and your PCM will not recognize the crank signal. There have been some other changes through the years as well like Magnoom mentioned.

 

Hey, hey, hey! At least they don't have cylinder deactivation.

 

He pulled one from a 2006 Durango; yes it does.