Building a motor for fun?

[rduchateau2954]

Something that's been in my head for a while now. Looking at buying a house out in the boonies, when that happens I'll also be buying some eco-box little SUV for commuting. Truck will be regulated to days off, truck stuff, and towing the boat.

I've got it in my head to pick up a junkyard hemi, strip it and rebuild it with some go fast parts. Nothing super insane as it's still gonna have to do normal truck stuff but I wanna go fast.

Do all this in my free time over the course of a year or so, then one winter when the boats tucked away and the snow tires are on the eco-box swap it and a built transmission (that I'd just buy).

One I figure this would be a cool way to spend some of my free time, second I've never really gotten into the guts of a motor bigger than a four wheeler or snowmobile, and third I get really bored in the winter.

What do you think? Dumb daydream or worth pursuing?

 

[Wild one]

Something that's been in my head for a while now. Looking at buying a house out in the boonies, when that happens I'll also be buying some eco-box little SUV for commuting. Truck will be regulated to days off, truck stuff, and towing the boat.

I've got it in my head to pick up a junkyard hemi, strip it and rebuild it with some go fast parts. Nothing super insane as it's still gonna have to do normal truck stuff but I wanna go fast.

Do all this in my free time over the course of a year or so, then one winter when the boats tucked away and the snow tires are on the eco-box swap it and a built transmission (that I'd just buy).

One I figure this would be a cool way to spend some of my free time, second I've never really gotten into the guts of a motor bigger than a four wheeler or snowmobile, and third I get really bored in the winter.

What do you think? Dumb daydream or worth pursuing?

If you're going to start out with a junkyard engine,try to find a 6.4 and use it as your base to build a quick truck.The extra 47 cubes makes a world of differance when you're trying to move 5,000+ lbs of truck.Plus you could easily take it out to 426 cubes.

 

[shadowhawk]

a buddy and I are chatting about how much fun a project car or truck would be. He's got far more skills than I do, but I think it would be fun too

 

[rduchateau2954]

If you're going to start out with a junkyard engine,try to find a 6.4 and use it as your base to build a quick truck.The extra 47 cubes makes a world of differance when you're trying to move 5,000+ lbs of truck.Plus you could easily take it out to 426 cubes.

How does the initial cost and cost of parts compare between the 5.7 and the 6.4?

I had just assumed 5.7 because there have got to be millions of them in junk yards and parts/tuners will be more available and cheaper.

 

[rduchateau2954]

a buddy and I are chatting about how much fun a project car or truck would be. He's got far more skills than I do, but I think it would be fun too

Right? I think there is enough information out there that if you took your time you could make it happen.

Beats playing video games all winter.

 

[Wild one]

How does the initial cost and cost of parts compare between the 5.7 and the 6.4?

I had just assumed 5.7 because there have got to be millions of them in junk yards and parts/tuners will be more available and cheaper.

Couple places to start out with pricing for you,but there's lots more outfits with 6.4 kits.
BTW: "cheap" and "Hemi" do not go together,not if you want it reliable to,lol

https://www.modernmusclextreme.com/c-43-64l-392-hemi-based-stroker-kits-by-mmp.aspx

https://www.shophemi.com/m-12-arrington-performance.aspx

 

[rduchateau2954]

Couple places to start out with pricing for you,but there's lots more outfits with 6.4 kits.
BTW: "cheap" and "Hemi" do not go together,not if you want it reliable to,lol

https://www.modernmusclextreme.com/c-43-64l-392-hemi-based-stroker-kits-by-mmp.aspx

https://www.shophemi.com/m-12-arrington-performance.aspx

By cheap I mean "less expensive" lol.

I appreciate the info, can't get enough research material.

 

[shadowhawk]

there's a guy on youtube- Pete's Garage- that has a whole series on building a motor. He mentions FM a lot- foreign material. I would think you have to be VERY judicious on covering the motor when you don't have time to work on it. A year is a long time to make sure nothing gets into the motor.

 

[rduchateau2954]

there's a guy on youtube- Pete's Garage- that has a whole series on building a motor. He mentions FM a lot- foreign material. I would think you have to be VERY judicious on covering the motor when you don't have time to work on it. A year is a long time to make sure nothing gets into the motor.

I'll check into it, thank you. Ideally I'd do research this winter, collect parts over summer, get the machining done maybe this summer as well, then hopefully assemble and install next winter.

I keep myself pretty busy in the summer but I haven't had any winter toys for a few years now and I need to find something to do when it gets cold other than video games or sitting in a bar.

 

[shadowhawk]

I'll check into it, thank you. Ideally I'd do research this winter, collect parts over summer, get the machining done maybe this summer as well, then hopefully assemble and install next winter.

I keep myself pretty busy in the summer but I haven't had any winter toys for a few years now and I need to find something to do when it gets cold other than video games or sitting in a bar.

I think that would be my path- get everything together first and then take a few days to assemble. It seems the safest route.

 

[U&A]

there's a guy on youtube- Pete's Garage- that has a whole series on building a motor. He mentions FM a lot- foreign material. I would think you have to be VERY judicious on covering the motor when you don't have time to work on it. A year is a long time to make sure nothing gets into the motor.

Trash bag over the motor on motor stand.


Sent while firmly grasping my redline lubed RAM [emoji231]

 

[shadowhawk]

Trash bag over the motor on motor stand.


Sent while firmly grasping my redline lubed RAM [emoji231]

agreed, but over the span of a year I'm not so sure I'd trust the bag that long.

 

[burner71]

I did this very thing.
I picked up a short block that was pulled from a 2011 Durango. I spent about 6 months slowly rebuilding it. Along the way I did some extra work on the heads, mild port and backcuts on the valves. I went with a 6.4 cam and mopar performance springs.
I had finished it and had it wrapped up when my transmission went out. While I was having the transmission replaced i went ahead and had the motor I had in it at 235k miles pulled and the new motor installed. We started it up on the diablo 93 tune and it ran, just a little rough not bad. Then I had Hemi Fever tune it to the cam and the head flow. I just hit 10k miles on this motor and its insanely fast. My 30-75mph takes about 1 second flat. My truck is a 2500 and have yet to get beat by any 1500 or chevy or ford for that matter.
I took my time putting it together and got everything just right and it paid off. I would guesstimate I picked up 80-90hp from the stock motor. One day I will dyno it to see.