How funny this is...

[xb1230]

Been on here for a little over 6 months now.

I am starting to notice that most new RAM owners get the 4.7, as other more experienced mopar fans mostly have hemis or 5.9L...

Too bad there have been some engineering errors on the 4.7L as from my readings it could/should have been a great motor. It was the most innovative small block V8 engine design when it was released.

 

[RonJon '06]

I've driven Dodge trucks since I was 16 and when I bought my '06 new there was no doubt in my mind about getting the Hemi. If and when I get another truck it will probably have a Cummins.

 

[usaf2006]

I second the Cummins choice. Although those 6.4s are getting great reviews.

 

[codered]

I like the 318 they are reliable. With these engines you have to watch out for the plenum in the keggar. Mine is very solid it sat for 4 years and the first time I started it over it fired right up. Dad had his 3.0 in his tortoise sitting for 6 months and it took 3 times to start up. Sure I don't get the same horsepower and torque as my 360 brothers. But, bet ya ass it'll turn over. Sitting with 4 year old plugs and 4 year old oil. You can imagine what this thing is capable of.

 

[Trenton]

I wont buy a new cummins cause they are junk the way they try to control pollution creates 10 x more Give me a good running 12 valve that is running good not over fuelled to try to make more power. I see a 12 valve swap into my mega cab in its future when I stumble across a great deal on a rotted out farm truck.

 

[dodge dude94]

A lot of people get the 4.7 because they're cheap and make decent power for what they are.

And they're STILL more reliable than the new GM 5.3s

 

[JPT]

I got mine, because it was the only manual I could find, oh and it was $5k a year ago.

 

[hotkarl]

Love my 4.7! The original passed away and I replaced with an upgraded reman that addresses the original factory design goofs. The motor is now as it should have been off the assembly line.

 

[rammanriley20]

A lot of people get the 4.7 because they're cheap and make decent power for what they are.

And they're STILL more reliable than the new GM 5.3s

My new style 07 silverado has the 5.3 with cylinder deactivation or "active fuel management" or whatever, and even though it is a great motor IMO i am not quite convinced that shutting down cylinders is a good thing... 130k miles and its running fine but something about shutting cylinders off just doesnt sit well with me. motor always starts though, never had problems

 

[jwheeler]

Love my 4.7! The original passed away and I replaced with an upgraded reman that addresses the original factory design goofs. The motor is now as it should have been off the assembly line.

How is it upgraded? What design flaws from the factory?


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[Crescent1101]

Hemi FTW!!!

 

[LTDMan]

After about 6 months of ownership, the 4.7 seems like a good motor to me. Mine is a reman with only about 20K on it though. When I was truck shopping I didn't have a preference between motors either way personally. I was just looking for a specific model Ram, in Black, as clean and rust-free as I could possibly get.

The one I finally found after searching for 5 months just happened to have a 4.7, and though I would have rather started out with a Hemi, the truck was so clean, I couldnt pass it up. So far the 4.7 does everything that I want including towing fairly heavy loads. It mostly just hauls me and the family around though, and is a street queen, so I really didnt need a Cummins, though it would have been nice.

 

[dodge dude94]

My new style 07 silverado has the 5.3 with cylinder deactivation or "active fuel management" or whatever, and even though it is a great motor IMO i am not quite convinced that shutting down cylinders is a good thing... 130k miles and its running fine but something about shutting cylinders off just doesnt sit well with me. motor always starts though, never had problems

You've obviously not heard about the new 5.3s rolling back into dealer lots on rollbacks with spun rods and grenaded cams then.

 

[xb1230]

How is it upgraded? What design flaws from the factory?


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HAve a look at powertrain products WEB site. They list a lot of design flaws they have corrected.

The main one which is very well known is that the 4.7L has a little too small oil passage ways which easily clog up with sludge. In terms it can starve the engine from being properly lubricated and kill it in the process.

There is also an issue with the Valve seats that are made out of Powdered Steel in many aluminum heads. Some rebuilder or remanufacturers change the valve seats to some cast metal ones improving the heads resistance to heat and catastrophic failures.

There is also a weakness in the complex timing system used by the 4.7L, and some rebuilders and aftermarket providers have corrected with better beefier components (namely the chain tensioners).

These are the 3 biggest ones I have at the top of my mind but there are others

 

[hotkarl]

How is it upgraded? What design flaws from the factory?


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This ^^^
Power train products gives the run down of what most remains have done to them but always double check with whomever does the build.
Larger oil passages, upgraded timing components, gaskets, etc..