6.1 SRT8 Ram Swap

[ric3xrt]

Has any body else done a srt8 6.1 swap on a 2003 5.7 hemi that can help me out ?

Do you have a 6.1 ? if you do it will bolt up to your trans , and you can use your motor mounts.
as for the other stuff , listen to Chris(Chrisp2493) and Greg(Redtruck-VA) these guys will help you as much as they can .

 

[chrisp2493]

Here’s the basics. You can for sure keep your 4x4, not an issue. How much power are you wanting for your new engine? Is your old engine good right now? It’s an option to just stroke your current engine to 6.1 or 6.4 as I did. If you are set on the 6.1 srt swap, better start looking for an engine to get an idea on prices. They are getting rare and expensive.

I again highly suggest dealing with the 03-05 pcm swap first thing. If you are lucky and find a used pcm on eBay or a junkyard for about $100, buy two more oxygen sensors and some wire. By far the best thing you can do to tune your new motor. If not, you might get into a tuning nightmare that’s simply not worth the time and money. LISTEN to redtruck! I know he fought that thing for years trying every trick in the book to keep his running. He’s living the good life now haha
http://www.hemitruckclub.com/forums/f171/instructions-for-03-to-05-pcm-swap-24081.html

As far as transmissions, if you want to swap from the 545rfe, the cheapest option is a built 46re out of a 96-01 ram 1500. You need the 4x4 version, and unless you want to spend an extra $1000 on a stand-alone controller for it, you will need to change to a manual-automatic valve body, requiring you to manually shift every gear.
http://www.hemitruckclub.com/forums/f120/a518-46rh-46re-47-48re-rebuild-17576-52.html
This thread is a gold mine of info on the trans swap. The 4x4 info starts around page 52. But if you are serious about this, I would suggest starting at the beginning and reading through. Trust me, I know it’s long, I’ve read through it myself 3 times lol. This is the route I am going with my 03 4x4 this summer. Lots of guys can attest to the 545rfe being a hunk of expensive crap that’s not worth fighting.

 

[Ajwalk2008]

Here’s the basics. You can for sure keep your 4x4, not an issue. How much power are you wanting for your new engine? Is your old engine good right now? It’s an option to just stroke your current engine to 6.1 or 6.4 as I did. If you are set on the 6.1 srt swap, better start looking for an engine to get an idea on prices. They are getting rare and expensive.

I again highly suggest dealing with the 03-05 pcm swap first thing. If you are lucky and find a used pcm on eBay or a junkyard for about $100, buy two more oxygen sensors and some wire. By far the best thing you can do to tune your new motor. If not, you might get into a tuning nightmare that’s simply not worth the time and money. LISTEN to redtruck! I know he fought that thing for years trying every trick in the book to keep his running. He’s living the good life now haha
http://www.hemitruckclub.com/forums/f171/instructions-for-03-to-05-pcm-swap-24081.html

As far as transmissions, if you want to swap from the 545rfe, the cheapest option is a built 46re out of a 96-01 ram 1500. You need the 4x4 version, and unless you want to spend an extra $1000 on a stand-alone controller for it, you will need to change to a manual-automatic valve body, requiring you to manually shift every gear.
http://www.hemitruckclub.com/forums/f120/a518-46rh-46re-47-48re-rebuild-17576-52.html
This thread is a gold mine of info on the trans swap. The 4x4 info starts around page 52. But if you are serious about this, I would suggest starting at the beginning and reading through. Trust me, I know it’s long, I’ve read through it myself 3 times lol. This is the route I am going with my 03 4x4 this summer. Lots of guys can attest to the 545rfe being a hunk of expensive crap that’s not worth fighting.

Well explained chris


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ghost1990]

Here’s the basics. You can for sure keep your 4x4, not an issue. How much power are you wanting for your new engine? Is your old engine good right now? It’s an option to just stroke your current engine to 6.1 or 6.4 as I did. If you are set on the 6.1 srt swap, better start looking for an engine to get an idea on prices. They are getting rare and expensive.

I again highly suggest dealing with the 03-05 pcm swap first thing. If you are lucky and find a used pcm on eBay or a junkyard for about $100, buy two more oxygen sensors and some wire. By far the best thing you can do to tune your new motor. If not, you might get into a tuning nightmare that’s simply not worth the time and money. LISTEN to redtruck! I know he fought that thing for years trying every trick in the book to keep his running. He’s living the good life now haha
http://www.hemitruckclub.com/forums/f171/instructions-for-03-to-05-pcm-swap-24081.html

As far as transmissions, if you want to swap from the 545rfe, the cheapest option is a built 46re out of a 96-01 ram 1500. You need the 4x4 version, and unless you want to spend an extra $1000 on a stand-alone controller for it, you will need to change to a manual-automatic valve body, requiring you to manually shift every gear.
http://www.hemitruckclub.com/forums/f120/a518-46rh-46re-47-48re-rebuild-17576-52.html
This thread is a gold mine of info on the trans swap. The 4x4 info starts around page 52. But if you are serious about this, I would suggest starting at the beginning and reading through. Trust me, I know it’s long, I’ve read through it myself 3 times lol. This is the route I am going with my 03 4x4 this summer. Lots of guys can attest to the 545rfe being a hunk of expensive crap that’s not worth fighting.

Ok awesome I will look into it I aprrwciate the knowledge would rebuilding the 545 be a wast of time like rebuilding all the internals have some friends that work on trans that are good at overhaulin them would that be good enough for the power that’s would be getting put down

 

[Ghost1990]

Here’s the basics. You can for sure keep your 4x4, not an issue. How much power are you wanting for your new engine? Is your old engine good right now? It’s an option to just stroke your current engine to 6.1 or 6.4 as I did. If you are set on the 6.1 srt swap, better start looking for an engine to get an idea on prices. They are getting rare and expensive.

I again highly suggest dealing with the 03-05 pcm swap first thing. If you are lucky and find a used pcm on eBay or a junkyard for about $100, buy two more oxygen sensors and some wire. By far the best thing you can do to tune your new motor. If not, you might get into a tuning nightmare that’s simply not worth the time and money. LISTEN to redtruck! I know he fought that thing for years trying every trick in the book to keep his running. He’s living the good life now haha
http://www.hemitruckclub.com/forums/f171/instructions-for-03-to-05-pcm-swap-24081.html

As far as transmissions, if you want to swap from the 545rfe, the cheapest option is a built 46re out of a 96-01 ram 1500. You need the 4x4 version, and unless you want to spend an extra $1000 on a stand-alone controller for it, you will need to change to a manual-automatic valve body, requiring you to manually shift every gear.
http://www.hemitruckclub.com/forums/f120/a518-46rh-46re-47-48re-rebuild-17576-52.html
This thread is a gold mine of info on the trans swap. The 4x4 info starts around page 52. But if you are serious about this, I would suggest starting at the beginning and reading through. Trust me, I know it’s long, I’ve read through it myself 3 times lol. This is the route I am going with my 03 4x4 this summer. Lots of guys can attest to the 545rfe being a hunk of expensive crap that’s not worth fighting.

And for tuning you mean with a hand held or taking it to a shop to get tuned

 

[chrisp2493]

I would say depends on your desired power level. The general consensus is wide open throttle downshifts from overdrive is what kills the 545. Manually selecting a gear first and letting it shift, then accelerating helps. Once I get my new trans built, I might go out and try to break my 545 just to see how long it holds up

 

[Ghost1990]

Here’s the basics. You can for sure keep your 4x4, not an issue. How much power are you wanting for your new engine? Is your old engine good right now? It’s an option to just stroke your current engine to 6.1 or 6.4 as I did. If you are set on the 6.1 srt swap, better start looking for an engine to get an idea on prices. They are getting rare and expensive.

I again highly suggest dealing with the 03-05 pcm swap first thing. If you are lucky and find a used pcm on eBay or a junkyard for about $100, buy two more oxygen sensors and some wire. By far the best thing you can do to tune your new motor. If not, you might get into a tuning nightmare that’s simply not worth the time and money. LISTEN to redtruck! I know he fought that thing for years trying every trick in the book to keep his running. He’s living the good life now haha
http://www.hemitruckclub.com/forums/f171/instructions-for-03-to-05-pcm-swap-24081.html

As far as transmissions, if you want to swap from the 545rfe, the cheapest option is a built 46re out of a 96-01 ram 1500. You need the 4x4 version, and unless you want to spend an extra $1000 on a stand-alone controller for it, you will need to change to a manual-automatic valve body, requiring you to manually shift every gear.
http://www.hemitruckclub.com/forums/f120/a518-46rh-46re-47-48re-rebuild-17576-52.html
This thread is a gold mine of info on the trans swap. The 4x4 info starts around page 52. But if you are serious about this, I would suggest starting at the beginning and reading through. Trust me, I know it’s long, I’ve read through it myself 3 times lol. This is the route I am going with my 03 4x4 this summer. Lots of guys can attest to the 545rfe being a hunk of expensive crap that’s not worth fighting.

My engine is great runs smooth and strong just like the srt8 engines well the Jeep but would like to see it on my ram lol

 

[chrisp2493]

And for tuning you mean with a hand held or taking it to a shop to get tuned

Hand held. Most of us have a guy that tunes through email and data logging through our diablo programmers

 

[Ghost1990]

I would say depends on your desired power level. The general consensus is wide open throttle downshifts from overdrive is what kills the 545. Manually selecting a gear first and letting it shift, then accelerating helps. Once I get my new trans built, I might go out and try to break my 545 just to see how long it holds up

Ohh ok maybe putting a shift kit on the 545 would make it work just right

 

[Ghost1990]

Hand held. Most of us have a guy that tunes through email and data logging through our diablo programmers

Right now I have just used the superchips one unlocked the governed and such took the stock sluggish away

 

[chrisp2493]

I’ve never used the super chips so I don’t know how well the run when you start getting the more modded engine. Normally a custom tune is the best way to get the full potential, you’ll need a diablo for that. Just figure out if you want to start with a 6.1 or mod the 5.7 and go from there

 

[Ghost1990]

I’ve never used the super chips so I don’t know how well the run when you start getting the more modded engine. Normally a custom tune is the best way to get the full potential, you’ll need a diablo for that. Just figure out if you want to start with a 6.1 or mod the 5.7 and go from there

Ok sounds good I’ll start looking for an 05 pcm doesn’t it make a difference in just the stock or only see the difference when modded fully

 

[chrisp2493]

Ok sounds good I’ll start looking for an 05 pcm doesn’t it make a difference in just the stock or only see the difference when modded fully

A tune will help some with a stock truck, but it’s not mind blowing. The trans tuning you get from an 05 pcm is really nice and totally worth it though. When buying a pcm, there are a lot of different model numbers for the computer. They match up with features your truck has. What style truck do you have? 2 or 4 door?

 

[Ghost1990]

I’ve never used the super chips so I don’t know how well the run when you start getting the more modded engine. Normally a custom tune is the best way to get the full potential, you’ll need a diablo for that. Just figure out if you want to start with a 6.1 or mod the 5.7 and go from there

Idk if you know but have you seen people put the m112 supercharger of a cobra on the 5.7

 

[Ghost1990]

A tune will help some with a stock truck, but it’s not mind blowing. The trans tuning you get from an 05 pcm is really nice and totally worth it though. When buying a pcm, there are a lot of different model numbers for the computer. They match up with features your truck has. What style truck do you have? 2 or 4 door?

I have the 4 door

 

[chrisp2493]

Idk if you know but have you seen people put the m112 supercharger of a cobra on the 5.7

Not sure on that. You are getting into a whole other ball game wanting boost. It’s not a simple thing and a lot more goes into how the engine is built. Better figure out for sure what you want and what you are capable of doing yourself

 

[Ghost1990]

I have done super chargers I had a 5.0 1990 mustang with a powedyne supercharger did all the work my self except for the tube stock block
Ran good was beating the 2014 at the time

 

[chrisp2493]

Sounds like you got a handle on the build side then [emoji1303] boost is out of my specialty at the moment. Maybe in a few years.

 

[Ghost1990]

Not sure on that. You are getting into a whole other ball game wanting boost. It’s not a simple thing and a lot more goes into how the engine is built. Better figure out for sure what you want and what you are capable of doing yourself

 

[Ghost1990]

Sounds like you got a handle on the build side then [emoji1303] boost is out of my specialty at the moment. Maybe in a few years.

I was a ford guy but have always liked rams so bought myself that one just don’t know much about them so good to meet some people that have the knowledge on them