Eco diesel to Hemi swap, looking for info.

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Hemi drifter

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Hey guys
I need some help on what's required to swap out an Eco diesel for a 5.7 Hemi in a 4th gen Ram. I've scoured the web but haven’t found any information on it yet. Has anyone ever done this before?
Here's the back story (before everyone starts chiming in to say "just trade it").
I have a 2014 1500 with the Hemi but I hit some ice on the highway, totalled it, and essentially I now have a 40K paper weight (was insured for fire & theft but not collision so it's quite the hit financially). But, the drivetrain is still good. I didn't know what to do until recently I came across a sweet 2016 Limited just like mine but with a blown up eco diesel. I purchased it for 16K and all fixed up it will be worth 35-40k around here. I'm assuming it won't be easy (or fun) but I do have the time to do it and my buddy has a garage with a lift so I can pull the cab off and have some room to work. Seeing as I have my original truck as the donor I should have absolutely everything I need, from the harness and pcm, to the gas tank, lines, exhaust etc.
But, I'd love to hear from someone who's done it before. Again, I'm pretty sure it can be done, but I'd hate to strip everything apart and waste a few days on this only to realize it won't work for some reason.
Any help would be greatly appreciated .
 

RLJ10X

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If both trucks have he 8 speed, and similar electronic package, I would think you take EVERYTHING from the donor truck and swap it over, and in theory, you'd be good. The electronics is going to be the hard part.

You have a lot of work ahead of you. I hope it works out. Best of luck.
 

Jeepwalker

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Sorry to hear about your wrecked truck. That's the problem with these Rams is they're really expensive to insure (compared to some other older trucks). But, since you have 'everything' on the parts-Hemi tk, should be doable. How bad is the Hemi truck? Is the frame tweaked? (even those can be straightened). Let's see a picture of the wrecked truck.

What's the deal with the ecodiesel? Is it just a rod knock, or busted block? or don't know? Maybe the PO doesn't know (headgasket??). Might want to pull the diesel first, disassemble and then decide. An ecodiesel would be great to own these days. But could be expensive to fix if it's major damage.

But I see you predicament.
 

KKBB

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Just curious why you would have a 2014 without full coverage?!?!
 

Fediej

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Hey guys
I need some help on what's required to swap out an Eco diesel for a 5.7 Hemi in a 4th gen Ram. I've scoured the web but haven’t found any information on it yet. Has anyone ever done this before?
Here's the back story (before everyone starts chiming in to say "just trade it").
I have a 2014 1500 with the Hemi but I hit some ice on the highway, totalled it, and essentially I now have a 40K paper weight (was insured for fire & theft but not collision so it's quite the hit financially). But, the drivetrain is still good. I didn't know what to do until recently I came across a sweet 2016 Limited just like mine but with a blown up eco diesel. I purchased it for 16K and all fixed up it will be worth 35-40k around here. I'm assuming it won't be easy (or fun) but I do have the time to do it and my buddy has a garage with a lift so I can pull the cab off and have some room to work. Seeing as I have my original truck as the donor I should have absolutely everything I need, from the harness and pcm, to the gas tank, lines, exhaust etc.
But, I'd love to hear from someone who's done it before. Again, I'm pretty sure it can be done, but I'd hate to strip everything apart and waste a few days on this only to realize it won't work for some reason.
Any help would be greatly appreciated .
On the Hemi by some small chance is the frame still straight? Then it would just be a matter of swapping body panels.
 
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Hemi drifter

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Sorry to hear about your wrecked truck. That's the problem with these Rams is they're really expensive to insure (compared to some other older trucks). But, since you have 'everything' on the parts-Hemi tk, should be doable. How bad is the Hemi truck? Is the frame tweaked? (even those can be straightened). Let's see a picture of the wrecked truck.

What's the deal with the ecodiesel? Is it just a rod knock, or busted block? or don't know? Maybe the PO doesn't know (headgasket??). Might want to pull the diesel first, disassemble and then decide. An ecodiesel would be great to own these days. But could be expensive to fix if it's major damage.

But I see you predicament.
Thanks.
Yeah I'm not too sure how bad the frame is or isn't, but it did hit hard enough to rip the front left wheel off before it started flipping, so I'm assuming she's tweaked. I'm not really equipped to start measuring and straightening that out anyway.
As for the eco diesel he told me it was seized, but I'll definitely give it a look before I start tearing out a potentially saveable engine
 
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Hemi drifter

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On the Hemi by some small chance is the frame still straight? Then it would just be a matter of swapping body panels.
I don't think it is to be honest, it hit pretty hard.
That was a thought I had as well, just find a donor with a good body and maybe swap that and my interior into it, but then this truck came along. The truth is mine is so beat up i think the engine, trans and front diff are about all that’s good on it. The air suspension is pooched on all 4 corners, the 4 wheels, the real axle, etc.
 
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Hemi drifter

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Just curious why you would have a 2014 without full coverage?!?!
It was paid off, the extra coverage would have cost me an extra grand a year, and I've been driving for 25 years without an incident.
 

pacofortacos

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As long as the wiring and electronics are good on the donor, should be an easy swap.
Do engine and trans as an assembly, driveshaft may be different?, rear diff should be the same - though check the gear ratio and if they are different, use your preferred ratio.
 

Evguy1

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Should be relatively easy, just a parts swap. Some of the options may be different so some programing with AlphOBD may be required but the rest should swap over. The 14 and 16 use the same basic electronics so if the 16 has some options that the 14 does not you can probably just add them. Way easier than swapping in a Cummins like I'm trying to do. ;>) On the other hand, parting out the 14 may get you enough cash to rebuild the diesel.
 

CliffordK

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Any progress?

Does the old pickup run? "Move"?

Post some photos of the old pickup.

It is nice to start with a complete setup, not just an engine, and missing the electronics.

My experience so far is that a right side impact, there isn't much critical over there. On the other hand, the left (driver's side) is full of critical electronics.

I'd probably either rebuild the old diesel, or find a good replacement.
 

indept

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Thanks.
Yeah I'm not too sure how bad the frame is or isn't, but it did hit hard enough to rip the front left wheel off before it started flipping, so I'm assuming she's tweaked. I'm not really equipped to start measuring and straightening that out anyway.
As for the eco diesel he told me it was seized, but I'll definitely give it a look before I start tearing out a potentially saveable engine
Reminds me of a Rabbit diesel I bought used back in the '90's. Guy told me the engine was seized. Got it for $200. Towed it home. Engine wouldn't turn. I removed the injectors and it cranked. Oil poured out of the cylinders. Evidently he overfilled it with oil and it got into the cylinders causing hydrolock.I Drained it, added new oil and it started no problems, hopefully your diesel is that easy to fix. :cheers:
 

Milspec

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You may want to check the legality of that. I only mention because I’ve toyed with putting a 12 valve Cummins in my 2017 RCSB only to learn that on modern vehicles, you cannot replace a gas engine with a diesel legally.

Section 203(a)(3)(A) of the Clean Air Act talks about this along with the Mobile Source Enforcement Memorandum. They talk about what a “certified configuration” would be based on the year and original configuration of your vehicle.
 

Wild one

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You may want to check the legality of that. I only mention because I’ve toyed with putting a 12 valve Cummins in my 2017 RCSB only to learn that on modern vehicles, you cannot replace a gas engine with a diesel legally.

Section 203(a)(3)(A) of the Clean Air Act talks about this along with the Mobile Source Enforcement Memorandum. They talk about what a “certified configuration” would be based on the year and original configuration of your vehicle.
He's in Canada
 

Daw14

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You may want to check the legality of that. I only mention because I’ve toyed with putting a 12 valve Cummins in my 2017 RCSB only to learn that on modern vehicles, you cannot replace a gas engine with a diesel legally.

Section 203(a)(3)(A) of the Clean Air Act talks about this along with the Mobile Source Enforcement Memorandum. They talk about what a “certified configuration” would be based on the year and original configuration of your vehicle.
You do not have to tell anyone, if you don’t have emissions testing where it’s registered.
 
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Hemi drifter

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Small update real quick to save others the blood sweat and tears that I've had to suffer through.
It is essentially mission impossible. The frames, the connectors going to the cab, basically absolutely everything is f@c#ing different! I may as well have tried to put a Yaris engine into an F-250 :(
So anyway now I'm stuck with two trucks that are very expensive paper weights, and around here there simply are no Eco diesel engines available. The one I pulled out has suffered a catastrophic failure and one of the connecting rods is now sticking through the block...
 

Jeepwalker

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How about posting some pics of the Hemi truck? Did you take it to a body/frame shop to see what it would cost to straighten it out? Another option (although a lot more work, is to buy a front 'stub' frame and just section it in. I worked for a guy who hit a bridge with his dually (back when I was younger). He was able to buy a replacement front frame pretty cheap. We removed the front clip and lifted the cab off. After welding the 'used' front frame stub on, and putting it back together ...freshly painted up, the truck ran, looked and drove great. He ran the truck or many years and eventually sold it for a newer dually.

I've personally helped/seen guys straighten frames out which were pretty darn bent. I used to buy and rebuild wrecked cars back in the day. I'd definitely check it out. The lay person looks at mangled metal and often thinks something is beyond repair that 'pros' fix frequently. If you can't take it to a shop, stop in and see if a local shop guy could stop out at your place. It doesn't take too long for a trained eye to determine, "sure it looks like we can do something here", or "That's going to be a tough one." Guys who straighten frames know whats in the relm of repairable or not. It would have to be a lot more damaged that what you described to condemn it. And if your cab is mangled up, those are easily swapped too.

As for your eco-diesel, what's the cost of a replacement block? Any difference between a Ram and a Jeep 3.0 block?
 
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