2002 4.7 options

[rangerenforcer]

I have a 02 with 4.7 5speed that's been sitting for about 10yrs. 220k miles. I got it running but it has NO power. Drives great until you put something in the bed or even an empty car trailer. Dont particularly want another 4.7. But what other options do I have.

 

[Fast69Mopar]

With the 4.7 your best option to increase power output a substantial amount is forced induction.

Now, a 5.7 HEMI swap would be pretty simple for me.

 

[rangerenforcer]

Had been told that a hemi was to big of hassle. What about the 360 of around the same yr model.

 

[Fast69Mopar]

Well, for the 2002-2003 model years the 360 was still an option in the DR body. 2003 was the first year for the 5.7 HEMI. Since your truck already has a 45RFE trans in between the rails it will bolt up to the 5.7 HEMI. You are going to need a complete engine wiring harness for both the 360 and the 5.7 HEMI. Pick your poison. Do you want to stick in a 360 that makes at best 245HP or a 5.7 HEMI that makes 100hp more in stock form. You are giving yourself a greater advantage and a better starting point for power and performance if you go with a 5.7 HEMI.

With the 45RFE already in your truck you have an advantage when it comes to controllers and electronics. The 2003 5.7 HEMI trucks had a stand-alone PCM and a stand-alone TCM which is how your truck is already set up. The 2002-2003 DR trucks with a 360ci under the hood used the JTEC PCM and no transmission controller.

Now, if you go with the 360 setup you are going to need to pick up a 46RE transmission to go with it along with a torque covertor and potentially a matching driveshaft. I cant remember the lengths of the driveshafts for a 46RE or a 45RFE.

If you swap in a HEMI you will need a wiring harness, NGC PCM and I believe your TCM can still be used with some aftermarket work to flash the 545RFE software and update the TCM info to reflect a HEMI in front. If it were me I would talk to a few of the companies that flash PCM's and TCM's and tell them what you want to accomplish and see if they can take your current PCM & TCM and flash them with the software that you need for the motor and trans you are going to be running.

Next thing on my list would be this...How good are your skills? Can you wrench, tune and fabricate? Are you an electrical master? Can you look in the engine compartment and visualize how you see things going? Do you have all the tools you need to get it done? Do you have a scan tool and know how to use it to its fullest potential to diagnose any issues after you hook up the battery and try to fire it off?

Several factors need to be addressed. With the experience I have as mechanic working on Chrysler products for a living and my background building Mopar race cars, I could choose either motor and make it happen all by myself but that just comes with years of experience. Its not a dig against you in any way.

Do you have a certain amount of time that you would have to complete the swap because this is your daily driver and your only ride or can you take your time because you have a backup set of wheels?

5.7 HEMI swaps are only a hassle for people that do not have an imagination.

 

[rangerenforcer]

Oh I'm not taking it as a dig in anyway. I appreciate the advice.

As far as skills. I've been a mechanic in some sort of fashion since I was about 17(almost 40) But mostly all was diesel. Trucks, drilling rigs, pulling units etc. And also building custom motorcycles. I think the tuning and wiring would be my only hiccup.

Its definitely a side project, not daily driver.

 

[HemiLonestar]

5.7 HEMI swaps are only a hassle for people that do not have an imagination.

Or the tools and/or know how lol

 

[Fast69Mopar]

If this is a side project then putting the HEMI in would be the easiest swap in my opinion. These trucks were actually built with the 5.7 and the RFE trans. That is one less thing you have to worry about spending money on. The electronics will all be plug-and-play if you get a complete HEMI engine wiring harness and the PCM to match.

I was worried you might have taken my advice as a slight earlier and I am glad that you didnt. I am brutally honest when it comes to automotive and performance work. Too many people end up spending money that they didnt need to spend because of something they read that didnt provide the information that was necessary or the correct context. I want to see my fellow MOPAR brethren succeed. Stuff like this can be so satisfying when completed by oneself instead of dropping it off at a shop for 6 weeks and waiting on the phone call. With that being said, I know that not everyone can do their own work and that is okay too. Not everyone is a mechanic with the tools and the knowledge or imagination to make things like this happen.

Do the HEMI swap. You wont regret it. Find a wrecked donor truck on Craigslist or one with some type of mechanical issue and let your tools fly brother. Here in Texas where I live donor trucks are plentiful and for a cheap price. Take my daily driver for instance, I bought it as a complete vehicle, not running, for $1100.00

The body sheet metal is in good shape with typical 15 year old paint. The interior is a little rough but intact. This thing came with a fresh performance rebuild on the trans that was actually done correctly and it had a fresh valve body with a Trans-Go shift kit correctly installed too. I am a trans guy too so I was amazed to see the trans done correctly when I pulled it apart. The reason the truck was a non-runner when I made the purchase was because of too many broken exhaust valve springs on the 03-08 cylinder heads. I didnt tell the owner that I knew what was wrong with the truck when I went to pick it up but I knew beforehand.

My truck is just a prime example of what can be had as a donor vehicle. A truck like mine would net you the motor, a spare trans, engine wiring harness, driveshaft, rear diff and interior/exterior parts just to name a few all for $1100.00. If I was going to do another swap like what we are talking about I would be searching for that perfect donor truck that was smashed in the bed and totaled by the insurance company or one with some type of mechanical issue that the owners dont know how to fix or dont want to spend a bunch of money on a 15-16 year old vehicle. Happy hunting!

 

[rangerenforcer]

I'll definitely go that route then. I live in southeast N.M. so I have pretty good places like Lubbock and Odessa to find something.

Is there certain yr models only. I'm guessing it needs to be closer to the yr of mine.