Hemi swap question

[reek]

so I have the opportunity to get a 2014 5.7 salvage vehicle 50k miles with rear end damage for $6000. I was thinking if I buy the whole truck, I can pirate the motor, maybe trans, and interior. as well, I can use some of the cab parts to fix the work related damage to my 2015 2500.

anyway, I didn't realize the OEM ECU controls the motor and the transmission. If I decide to go with my 727 instead of the 8 speed, will an aftermarket crate hemi computer work with the 2014 ram hemi? I couldn't find any info with a search so if anyone knows, the info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[reek]

never mind. just checked my email and finally got a response from mopar hemi vendor I contacted. the new crate hemi's are manual trans spec with no MDS. so ECU is different from the ones that run the 1500 trucks. back to the drawing board.

 

[crazzywolfie]

you could probably get the computer tuned to not control the trans but if you have the trans why wouldn't you want to use it? i feel like a 8 speed would be way better than a 727. even a 46rh would probably be better than a 727. with the way those 8 speeds are geared your truck would be a torque monster off the line. that is about the only thing that would make it better than a 46rh but in overdrive both transmission are almost equal. i think the only trans that would be better high up would be those 9 speeds

 

[reek]

main issue is fitment and modifying the trans tunnel on the floor of the cab and frame/support. Not sure how much more fabrication I'm willing to do. The other part I need to confirm is what sensors are involved with using the set up. I'm sure that would be the minor part of the issue. but I've gone this far, I will mull this over for a while.

 

[crazzywolfie]

i don't think modifying the frame support would be too hard. i am not sure about the trans tunnel. i know if you had a cab off a 4x4 or standard truck the trans tunnel is larger. if you bought a whole parts truck all the sensors work be there and you could always try test fitting the trans or sell it off it it don't fit. the price don't seem like it is too bad for as low of a mileage engine as it is plus you will likely be able to part it out and get some money back.

 

[reek]

you are such an enabler. will likely do exactly what you just suggested. thanks.

I'm probably just feeling a bit of project burn out. doing 2 identical trucks side by side makes it feel like I'm making no progress. but I'm actually getting a lot done.

 

[crazzywolfie]

hahaha. i just know there can be quite a bit of money in parting vehicles out which is why you see a lot more people doing it if they can. i helped a buddy do it and i think we at least broke even on what we paid for the truck plus we got to keep all the parts we needed for our trucks. he needed a cab which would have been at least $500-1000. we could have probably made more money if we didn't rush to sell parts.

i completely understand. when stuff isn't moving quick enough it really don't feel like you are making progress. i use to hate that feeling when i was working and jobs felt like they were dragging on.

 

[likes2build]

I've done a lot of salvage in my lifetime and we like to say " they're worth more dead than alive". Just means there're worth a lot more money in individual parts than as a rebuild-able vehicle.