$14K Engine vs $40K Used Truck — What Would You Do?

[Frank_the_Tank]

Mopar 2009-2024 Dodge Ram 5.7L Hemi Crate Engine – One Stop Goat Shop

Yes, it's Ontario... but...$9,200 plus tax installed, or $7K plus tax for a brand new crate engine with a 4-year unlimited KM warranty

Only 2 left in their stock.

Or, you give me $14K and I buy this for you and personally deliver it to you and help you install it (cold liquid wrench and steaks are also on ya, too ).

I'd just budget for a new transmission with that mileage as well.

Ya I saw that one. That's the option I'd likely take if I were in Ontario. I've never bought a crate engine, but from my research, it seems some come fully dressed for $9-10k and some are long block only for $6-7k, meaning id have to move things over from my old engine or buy new. I'm not sure if that one is fully dressed or not, and when I called them, they didn't know either. " Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't" was the answer I got when I asked them if it came with injectors, plugs, manifolds, gaskets etc.

Going through a dealership is so far the cheapest/best option I've found if I'm going down this road. I could order that one from GOAT shop (or wherever) and get any garage to install it, but if there's an issue I'm now dealing with 2 separate people instead of one. Going to a dealership would usually be my last choice. I'd love if there was some other option I've not considered yet

 

[Wild one]

Ya I saw that one. That's the option I'd likely take if I were in Ontario. I've never bought a crate engine, but from my research, it seems some come fully dressed for $9-10k and some are long block only for $6-7k, meaning id have to move things over from my old engine or buy new. I'm not sure if that one is fully dressed or not, and when I called them, they didn't know either. " Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't" was the answer I got when I asked them if it came with injectors, plugs, manifolds, gaskets etc.

Going through a dealership is so far the cheapest/best option I've found if I'm going down this road. I could order that one from GOAT shop (or wherever) and get any garage to install it, but if there's an issue I'm now dealing with 2 separate people instead of one. Going to a dealership would usually be my last choice. I'd love if there was some other option I've not considered yet

Rent an engine hoist and you could change the engine yourself on a driveway in a week-end.Swapping the engines on the trucks isn't really all that hard,it's easier then stuffing a new cam into the truck,lol.
You'd save yourself a pile of money doing it yourself.Line a buddy or 2 up to help you,and it's easily done on a week-end

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Ya I saw that one. That's the option I'd likely take if I were in Ontario. I've never bought a crate engine, but from my research, it seems some come fully dressed for $9-10k and some are long block only for $6-7k, meaning id have to move things over from my old engine or buy new. I'm not sure if that one is fully dressed or not, and when I called them, they didn't know either. " Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't" was the answer I got when I asked them if it came with injectors, plugs, manifolds, gaskets etc.

Going through a dealership is so far the cheapest/best option I've found if I'm going down this road. I could order that one from GOAT shop (or wherever) and get any garage to install it, but if there's an issue I'm now dealing with 2 separate people instead of one. Going to a dealership would usually be my last choice. I'd love if there was some other option I've not considered yet

There are super cheap flights from SK to ON

Happy to pick ya up and bring ya to the dealership!

 

[Frank_the_Tank]

Rent an engine hoist and you could change the engine yourself on a driveway in a week-end.Swapping the engines on the trucks isn't really all that hard,it's easier then stuffing a new cam into the truck,lol.
You'd save yourself a pile of money doing it yourself.Line a buddy or 2 up to help you,and it's easily done on a week-end

I'd love to do that. I have a heated shop I could do it in but its well above my experience level. My expertise ends at injectors, coils etc. I'd gladly pay someone to install it in my shop. If I found a dressed engine that could just drop in, I'd do that. I like to learn new stuff, but I can't do this on my own.

 

[Wild one]

I'd love to do that. I have a heated shop I could do it in but its well above my experience level. My expertise ends at injectors, coils etc. I'd gladly pay someone to install it in my shop. If I found a dressed engine that could just drop in, I'd do that. I like to learn new stuff, but I can't do this on my own.

If you can do coils/injectors etc., you can swap an engine,lol.They aren't really difficult to swap on the 4th Gens,especially if you have a heated shop. I'd seriously consider picking up a low milege used engine from Natty in Calgary,as his engines are complete take outs,so it's just a matter of pulling your engine,and stuffing one of his in,and being as how yours is a 14,you wouldn't even need to swap any of the sensors,as your sensors are the same as a newer engines sensors,so it'd be a direct plug-n-play swap,the only thing you might need to swap would be the pilot bushing in the end of the crank,and you'd only have to swap it,if your truck has the 6 speed transmission,if you have the 8 speed,you don't even need to swap the pilot bushing.

 

[Frank_the_Tank]

If you can do coils/injectors etc., you can swap an engine,lol.They aren't really difficult to swap on the 4th Gens,especially if you have a heated shop. I'd seriously consider picking up a low milege used engine from Natty in Calgary,as his engines are complete take outs,so it's just a matter of pulling your engine,and stuffing one of his in,and being as how yours is a 14,you wouldn't even need to swap any of the sensors,as your sensors are the same as a newer engines sensors,so it'd be a direct plug-n-play swap,the only thing you might need to swap would be the pilot bushing in the end of the crank,and you'd only have to swap it,if your truck has the 6 speed transmission,if you have the 8 speed,you don't even need to swap the pilot bushing.

Dodge 5.7 Hemi Motors | Other | Calgary | Free local classifieds - Kijiji

Legendary Power. Unmatched Performance. Ready to Roar.GTR Auto is proud to carry a wide selection of Dodge 5.7L HEMI V8

www.kijiji.ca

Is this him?

 

[Wild one]

Dodge 5.7 Hemi Motors | Other | Calgary | Free local classifieds - Kijiji

Legendary Power. Unmatched Performance. Ready to Roar.GTR Auto is proud to carry a wide selection of Dodge 5.7L HEMI V8

www.kijiji.ca

Is this him?

Nope that's Robert or Robertus as he posts as,those are reman engines.
Natty's engines are brand new take outs,and are complete right down to injectors/coils and exhaust manifolds.With Roberts engines,you're reusing all your old parts,including sensors.

 

[Wild one]

Dodge 5.7 Hemi Motors | Other | Calgary | Free local classifieds - Kijiji

Legendary Power. Unmatched Performance. Ready to Roar.GTR Auto is proud to carry a wide selection of Dodge 5.7L HEMI V8

www.kijiji.ca

Is this him?

I've never seen Natty post on Kijiji,maybe he does,and i've missed it,but he usually posts on facebook.

When you get to your wifes phone,this is Natty on facebook.
As you can see his engines are complete with everything,so it's just a matter of pulling your old engine,dropping one of his in and plugging in the sensors and hooking up the fuel line ,as his engines even have the fuel rails in place

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[Frank_the_Tank]

I've never seen Natty post on Kijiji,maybe he does,and i've missed it,but he usually posts on facebook.

When you get to your wifes phone,this is Natty on facebook.
As you can see his engines are complete with everything,so it's just a matter of pulling your old engine,dropping one of his in and plugging in the sensors and hooking up the fuel line ,as his engines even have the fuel rails in place

Facebook

www.facebook.com

I gotta go but I'll be back on later. I have a couple AG mechanic buddies that said they'd help. I'm sure its a thing that we could accomplish as journeyman trades guys. If I can get one of these from Natty, is it advisable to upgrade the oil pump etc while the engine is out? Might as well do that type of thing if there's not a big warranty anyway. What else would you do if you were in my shoes?

 

[Frank_the_Tank]

Nope that's Robert or Robertus as he posts as,those are reman engines.
Natty's engines are brand new take outs,and are complete right down to injectors/coils and exhaust manifolds.With Roberts engines,you're reusing all your old parts,including sensors.

Forgive my questions, but why would someone pull out a motor with 1000 km on it if it were still good?

 

[Wild one]

I gotta go but I'll be back on later. I have a couple AG mechanic buddies that said they'd help. I'm sure its a thing that we could accomplish as journeyman trades guys. If I can get one of these from Natty, is it advisable to upgrade the oil pump etc while the engine is out? Might as well do that type of thing if there's not a big warranty anyway. What else would you do if you were in my shoes?

The oil pump upgrade is nothing more then myth from Re-ignited Cycle,it does nothing to put anymore oil onto the camshaft lobes and lifter bottoms.They are strictly oiled by the oil flung off the crankshaft,you'll accomplish way more by tuning it,and upping the idle rpm with the stock pump.Don't fall for that one,as the money you'll spend upgrading the oil pump,would be better off spent on buying a crappy Diablo handheld tuner,and using it to up your idle rpm.Upping the idle rpm to 750 with a stock pump will give you the same oil pressures as the hellcat pump does at the stock idle rpm of 550/600,and puts more oil onto the cam lobes and lifters.
Spend 13 minutes and watch this video,and you'll know more about the hemi's lack luster oiling system,then most guys do.

We look into the Hemi lifter failures and the dreaded Hemi tick

We unpack the lifter oiling issue that plague the late Hemi.Powellmachineinc.comIf you want to support us financially https://cash.app/$PowellMachine

www.youtube.com

This video by Uncle Tony is also worth spending 10 minutes to watch,if you watch both,you'll have more knowledge then most guys do.

A Closer Look At The Mopar Gen 3 Hemi And It's Often Fatal Flaw

Our first video concerning Mopar's Gen 3 Hemi's notorious camshaft and lifter failure phenomenon caused a lot of discussion and controversy. It has nothing ...

www.youtube.com

 

[Frank_the_Tank]

Nope that's Robert or Robertus as he posts as,those are reman engines.
Natty's engines are brand new take outs,and are complete right down to injectors/coils and exhaust manifolds.With Roberts engines,you're reusing all your old parts,including sensors.

Turns out they're working together. Natty gave me his partners number which lined up with that kijiji ad

 

[Wild one]

Turns out they're working together. Natty gave me his partners number which lined up with that kijiji ad

That i didn't know, i thought him and Robert were 2 differant outfits

 

[Frank_the_Tank]

5.7 Hemi Engine New Take Off

Like New - 90 day warranty

store.gtrauto.ca

All roads lead here. Looks like a good buy if it’s legit.

 

[HuskerRam]

Forgive my questions, but why would someone pull out a motor with 1000 km on it if it were still good?

Good question. Likely the motor was pulled from a wrecked truck without engine damage.

 

[Wild one]

5.7 Hemi Engine New Take Off

Like New - 90 day warranty

store.gtrauto.ca

All roads lead here. Looks like a good buy if it’s legit.

That engine looks like it's from a 5th Gen,as there's a few parts on it that don't look familiar to a 4th Gen.

 

[mtofell]

Forgive my questions, but why would someone pull out a motor with 1000 km on it if it were still good?

Flood vehicle? Definitely a good question. Hard to imagine a wreck that totaled the truck wouldn't damage the engine at all but I suppose it's possible.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Forgive my questions, but why would someone pull out a motor with 1000 km on it if it were still good?

Good question...

Paging @JHoward

 

[Frank_the_Tank]

I’m sure that place is a scam. I asked a bunch of questions, got a response that answered none of them. It seems strange to me to have multiple brand new engines for way cheaper then most other places.

 

[Curmudgeon]

I’m sure that place is a scam. I asked a bunch of questions, got a response that answered none of them. It seems strange to me to have multiple brand new engines for way cheaper then most other places.

Where I grew up we all had a saying: "When in doubt throw it out."

I grew up in Maryland and we all enjoyed the shellfish from the Chesapeake.
A lot of it were bottom-feeders and had to be cooked live, because if it died
first, and you ate it, your next 1-2 weeks were guaranteed hell. So we would
always carefully smell anything before we ate it.

...and that's assuming you lived.

There are plenty of fish. Choose wisely.