Sorry if this has been beat up already, but the more I read, the more confused I get. Could you clarify this for me, please?
You can use a 6.1 cam and intake on a 5.7. Are these two motors on the same block? I spoke with the service dept. at dealership and he said the 5.7 is a small block, and the 6.1 is a big block. Since you can use the cam from a 6.1, can you not just swap engines and plug and play? or what about just swapping short blocks? Will the heads cross over or bolt up as well?

Thanks for the clarification guys.

'04 2500, Q/C, 4x4

 

They are both "small blocks". The 6.1 has a larger bore. Both will utilize the same crank which is why 5.7 folks get the forged 6.1 crank. The cams interchange and the heads interchange. Oil pumps are different and I THINK the oil pan is different. You can put the 6.1 shortblock in place of the 5.7 with a few modifications. The coil packs are different. The throttlebodies are in totally different locations with the two intakes, but a custom air intake system can be put on the 6.1 intake.

 

If the 5.7 were bored out and put on steroids, it would be the 6.1. The new 392 is a 6.1 on steroids AND speed. Which is what I want. Or maybe the Indy Cyl Head 426 version. I'd REALLY like that.

 

392's are actually 6.4's. The 370 stroker some guys build is a 6.0 something. With some wiring changes the 6.1 will bolt right in. They mate up to our transmissions perfectly.

 

any idea of the total cost to do a complete swap?
can the stock tranny handle the 425 horse power at the crank?

 

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/new-mopar-hemi.html

 

Thanks Hank, that was a good read!

Dean, I got a quote from the dealer with the 5.7 short block at roughly $2,100, and the 6.1 at about $2,800.

I appreciate all the replies

 

That is probably the stripped down price with no cam, crank, intake or any of that stuff. The cheapest I have seen them is $5995 for EVERYTHING. The transmission can handle this power if you know how to treat it. No freeway WOT, andno WOT in O/D.

 

I myself have doubts that the Dodge 545 auto can handle the torque, especially the plastic parts in the factory torque converter, and think that Dodge went instead to the Mercedes designed and built W5A580 auto behind the 6.1 for good reasons.

http://4x4abc.com/ML320/ML_specsII.html

 

Is that price for a short block, or just the bare block? If it's for the short block, then it comes with a full block, i.e., cam, crank, rods, pistons.