2018 5.7 in a 2008 Ram 1500?

[toomanymopars]

We recently purchased a 2008 1500 4x4 quad cab with a bad engine. We also have a 2018 Charger police package 5.7 with only 36,000 miles.
Have been around Mopars all my life and have had several 3rd. gen Hemis...but until now have never had the desire or need to work on one.

06-08 with MDS seems to be the direct interchange....but, was wondering if I could use the 2018 short block, eliminate VVT, use the 08 heads, intake, etc and make it work.

Does anyone have any experience trying to mix and match on the 3rd gen Hemi ? I do have a good running high miles 5.7 in a 05 Durango but it seems to be a year too old and no MDS.

thanks

 

[HemiLonestar]

You really don't want to try using the 2018 engine; that is likely more work than you are prepared to do, especially with what you suggested lol. Stay within the 03-08 timeframe. If you want to keep your MDS then yes 06-08 truck 1500 (or 05-08 car) 5.7 is your direct drop in. If you don't care about MDS then any 03-08 truck engine will work, bearing in mind that all 2500/3500 engines those years & all 03's don't use EGR (which your truck uses).
Putting pre-eagle heads on an eagle engine is a terrible idea. You would have to pull the crank to swap the tone wheels if you were trying to use your stock PCM. You would have to completely rearrange your accessory drive to match the newer engine because you can't use your stock truck front cover. It would actually be easier to get a 2009 2500 PCM and alter your wiring to accommodate the newer engine (but with a truck accessory drive). 2009 2500 is a 3rd gen platform with a 4th gen engine in it.