5.9 magum engine swap
- Thread starter axman69
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PurpleBeeper
Well-Known Member
I can't help much except that if you have a '78 car keeping the injection is going to cost 1/2 the money of the whole project. The 5.9 (aka 360) is a bolt in swap & I'm pretty sure it will bolt up to an existing 904, A727 or A994 transmission you already have & drop right in your engine bay. Fuel injection in general creates the need to have a "computer" in your car to run the injection + the associated sensors to tell the computer what to do.
I know you want to keep the injection & it definitely does help gas mileage, starting, and drivability. However, a carburetor will perform better at the track & cut your project cost in half. Just my 2-cents.
Years ago, I had a '78 Cordoba that came with a Lean Burn 400 4bbl. I swapped it for a '71 440 with '67 closed chamber heads, 292/509 purple cam & headers & it would run a little over 150mph. To this day, it is the fastest top-end car I've ever owned.
I know you want to keep the injection & it definitely does help gas mileage, starting, and drivability. However, a carburetor will perform better at the track & cut your project cost in half. Just my 2-cents.
Years ago, I had a '78 Cordoba that came with a Lean Burn 400 4bbl. I swapped it for a '71 440 with '67 closed chamber heads, 292/509 purple cam & headers & it would run a little over 150mph. To this day, it is the fastest top-end car I've ever owned.
The magnum is different balance from the 360 LA, so make sure you keep the magnum flexplate. you will also have to elongate a hole to bolt to the stock converter.
unless the factory car was a 318, in which case the converter is neutral balance, so beyond the converter not really being matched to the magnum engine...you'll also have to deal with the neutral balance converter. will either need replaced, or balanced i believe.
then we have the accessory drive, which is going to be an issue if you try to replace the factory alternator, or a/c compressor. i forget the specifics, but the mag factory accessory brackets are not very swap friendly.
last strike for the magnum (for me) is the messing with the factory harness and computer...you'll still have plenty of custom modification, and tuning to make it work in anything other than a factory magnum engine ram.
so....i suggest an alternative... start with an LA engine, and order this from pace performance...
http://paceperformance.com/i-221610...fi-4-600-hp-basic-kit-matte-black-finish.html
or
http://paceperformance.com/i-23835638-fth-30003-go-street-400-hp-cast-finish.html
the fitech units are a simple way to take an LA engine with a 4150 intake flange, and bolt on EFI for 1000 or less. and you avoid the other issues a magnum swap presents.
-OR-
After putting together a 5.7 hemi swap program for pace performance, i believe that it's simpler, and almost the same cost as the magnum.
but thats another thread. (and may not hold true if you are sourcing boneyard parts)
This is just my 2 cents, and i'm glad to elaborate on anything above on here, or via pm. Or call me at pace performance and i'll shed some more light.
good luck whatever you choose.
unless the factory car was a 318, in which case the converter is neutral balance, so beyond the converter not really being matched to the magnum engine...you'll also have to deal with the neutral balance converter. will either need replaced, or balanced i believe.
then we have the accessory drive, which is going to be an issue if you try to replace the factory alternator, or a/c compressor. i forget the specifics, but the mag factory accessory brackets are not very swap friendly.
last strike for the magnum (for me) is the messing with the factory harness and computer...you'll still have plenty of custom modification, and tuning to make it work in anything other than a factory magnum engine ram.
so....i suggest an alternative... start with an LA engine, and order this from pace performance...
http://paceperformance.com/i-221610...fi-4-600-hp-basic-kit-matte-black-finish.html
or
http://paceperformance.com/i-23835638-fth-30003-go-street-400-hp-cast-finish.html
the fitech units are a simple way to take an LA engine with a 4150 intake flange, and bolt on EFI for 1000 or less. and you avoid the other issues a magnum swap presents.
-OR-
After putting together a 5.7 hemi swap program for pace performance, i believe that it's simpler, and almost the same cost as the magnum.
but thats another thread. (and may not hold true if you are sourcing boneyard parts)
This is just my 2 cents, and i'm glad to elaborate on anything above on here, or via pm. Or call me at pace performance and i'll shed some more light.
good luck whatever you choose.
Goldwing1800
Active Member
I did this swap into a 67 Belvedere about 2 years ago. 5.9 and AOD from a wrecked 98 Ram. I used the ECM from the Ram and bought a harness from Hotwire. I used the Ram alternator and kept the serpentine setup along with the AC compressor and added AC to a non AC car. It took some time to sort it out-and part of the problem was me--absolutely no electronics skills prior to doing the swap. I pulled out a finicky 340/727 and never looked back. The 5.9 EFI is twice as responsive to drive and has plenty of power to play if I want-but it's no race car. I'd do it again in a minute! Go for it.
rumblefish360
Well-Known Member
I swapped a 5.9 into my '79 Magnum BUT went with a carb.
Contact "MagnumMopar" at the A body site, FABO. He is super excellent with this swap.
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/member.php?u=43111
Contact "MagnumMopar" at the A body site, FABO. He is super excellent with this swap.
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/member.php?u=43111
jenkins71
Well-Known Member
DUDE!!! You can totally keep the injection system. Don't beleive others that it will cost thousands---just get the motor with injectors, computer, and harness, and transmission all from the same donor vehicle The factory port-injection system is AWESOME. You don't need some $2000 aftermarket system. Mopar already built it for you.
I bought a complete 1998 5.9 engine with complete harness and computer for $600 on craigslist. It had something like 60k miles on it and was out of a wrecked Ram 2500.
The factory injection system is lightyears ahead of ANY carb'd set up! You'll love the throttle response, cold-start ease, and better gas mileage. And never having to worry about playing with jets, air bleeds, etc.
The only thing is, you will have to find out how to work the modern wiring into your old 70's car. But again, if you get the engine, harness, computer AND trans as a unit, its all self-contained (ie, the computer reads info from the sensors attacehd to the motor and trans, etc) and really it would just be a matter of figuring out power and ground supply, and maybe adding a couple of switches inside the car to control the overdrive tranny.
GO FOR IT!!! KEEP THE INJECTION!!! I feel strongly that this can be accomplished for under a grand, total. You'll love driving your car after the swap is done.
I bought a complete 1998 5.9 engine with complete harness and computer for $600 on craigslist. It had something like 60k miles on it and was out of a wrecked Ram 2500.
The factory injection system is lightyears ahead of ANY carb'd set up! You'll love the throttle response, cold-start ease, and better gas mileage. And never having to worry about playing with jets, air bleeds, etc.
The only thing is, you will have to find out how to work the modern wiring into your old 70's car. But again, if you get the engine, harness, computer AND trans as a unit, its all self-contained (ie, the computer reads info from the sensors attacehd to the motor and trans, etc) and really it would just be a matter of figuring out power and ground supply, and maybe adding a couple of switches inside the car to control the overdrive tranny.
GO FOR IT!!! KEEP THE INJECTION!!! I feel strongly that this can be accomplished for under a grand, total. You'll love driving your car after the swap is done.
tjgp360
Well-Known Member
:VB toast: im glad you said it before I could! The answers were scaring me lol.
But yeah its as simple as a stock harness, ecu and engine. If the ecu is from a electronic trans just use the electronic trans it prevents any limp mode problems. The only real hurdle is upgrading the fuel system for efi.
But yeah its as simple as a stock harness, ecu and engine. If the ecu is from a electronic trans just use the electronic trans it prevents any limp mode problems. The only real hurdle is upgrading the fuel system for efi.
jenkins71
Well-Known Member
RIGHT, forgot the fact that you have to figure out a solution for the pressurized fuel tank. There are plenty of options there.
Bryan L Sisco
Member
hi new to this group and looking for some good info on this very subject of a fuel injected 5.9 magnum swap. i currently have a 2002 ram 1500 4x4 that has less than 15k miles on a complete build with all kinds of upgrades spent almost 8k on the motor. auto trans sitting on 35 inch tires with 3.55 rear gears and put 250 hp to the rear wheels on a dyno tune. bought a new truck and would really like to scavenge motor and harness and whatever need to put in my 1974 charger that im building. only kicker is i have an adapter plate to bolt a gm700r4 behind it cos im building a daily driver/cruiser and i want creature comforts. and i have a 700r4 that was built and will deff hold up to the 360. any tips/suggestions?? thanks
Bryan L Sisco
Member
Bryan L Sisco
Member
hello new to this group and looking for some help on this very subject. i have a 2002 ram 1500 4x4 truck that i built a motor for less than 15k ago. completely nonstock with all kinds of upgrades. truck is sitting on 35" tires with 3.55 gears and put 250 HP to the rear wheels. i bought a newer truck and got to thinking why not scavenge the motor to put into my 1974 charger that im building. only difference is i have a trans adapter kit to bolt up a gm 700r4 behind it (which i have a built 700r4 that will hold that 360 really well) im not wanting a torque monster im builing this car as a daily/cruiser car and like to have all the creature comforts that goes with this kind of setup. i feel like with the way this motor was built take into affect lighter car no transfer case that motor should be really powerfull in the charger and decent on gas with plenty of power. any tip/suggestions woould be great i think this would be a great swap if it can be figured out!!!!! again thanks
You really don't need a GM transmission.
A 46rh with a good converter will last a long long time.
If you do try and use an older trans you would need to make an opening for the crank trigger.
A 46rh with a good converter will last a long long time.
If you do try and use an older trans you would need to make an opening for the crank trigger.
Bryan L Sisco
Member
Bryan L Sisco
Member
The reasoning for the GM is less electronics and the fact the housing is smaller and be easier for the tunnel modification! Plus I would have to find a 2wd transmission and didn’t know the effects with my ECM which is new and been dyno tuned
I don't think you would need to modify the tunnel either with a 46rh. It's hydraulic shift with overdrive. It's like a 5 pin connector.
It's what I have in my Dakota behind a really nice 5.2 I put together.
I'm a pure Mopar guy.
It's what I have in my Dakota behind a really nice 5.2 I put together.
I'm a pure Mopar guy.
Bryan L Sisco
Member
Bryan L Sisco
Member
Ok I will do some more looking I would much rather stay pure mopar was just trying to make a more simple approach!! This is why I wanted to post here!! Much appreciated
Bryan L Sisco
Member
Bryan L Sisco
Member
is there a specific year 46rh i need to look for??
No, I think they were common between like 90-95.
Around 96 they changed to an electric shift or 96RE vs 96RH.
But they are heavy.
Around 96 they changed to an electric shift or 96RE vs 96RH.
But they are heavy.
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