Whatever happened with that 5.7L Hemi someone was trial fitting in an early Dart

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
September 07, 2008, 06:43:40 AM

I've not dropped the motor and tranny in mine yet. But, I've got an '03 Ram and I grin ear to ear when the temp is in the low 50's when I pull onto the interstate on the way to work. Until I pass a gas station anyway. I know it'd make my little Dart a fun driver.

Anyway, I was curious how the 5.7 worked out, especially the exhaust.

Early A-Boby and the 5.7 Hemi.

I posted a question a while back to find out if anyone had experience with a 66 Dart and the 5.7 Hemi. I got a few responses but nobody had one up and running at that time. There was one installed in an early Dart but at that time it wasn,t finished. From what I've learned the best way to go is an Alterkation K-Frame setup. It eliminates the torsion bars,and stock steering and replaces the complete front suspension with state of the art coil over springs, rack and pinion steering, and disc brakes. It gives plenty of room for headers. I don,t know if anyone makes them yet for this application, but the stock manifolds are pretty good. If you really want headers there is always the custom route.

Thats about as far as I have gotten with the project. My "toy money" had to be used for home repair after Hurricane Katrina. My Dart still has a good running 273 for now but I am hoping to get back on track shortly. Let us know how you make out.

Thanks,
Benny

Havent posted in awhile. I have a 64 dart convertible im gonna be putting a 5.7 truck hemi in. I bought an alterktion, but i think you can use the motor mount adpators from S&P if you want to keep your stock suspension. I bought a locked up hemi cheap, so i could use it to see what was gonna fit were. I opened it up to see if it was rebuildable, but the cylander walls were pretty bad. Anyway, im not feeling well right now, but ill soon have the block sitting in in the enginebay (maybe next week. Youll need your steering column moved over a touch, and you may not be able to use power steering unless you move the battery to the trunk. thefit is (im told) pretty tight on the passengerside, and would require notching if you wanted the get the valve cover off without bringing up the engine. You also need to switch to a 2 bolt master. The pics that follow are of an early A off Bills RMS site. this car is using an alterktion set up. Check the clearance issues out. Ill take some pics of mine when i get it in. might take awhile.

I just really want to know if my hood is gonna clear the hemi ram intake box, i think if it clears, the a/c and alternator should clear, although the lines on the a/c compresser might have to be bent a different way. Remember, im using a truck hemi, car hemis are different up front and may need more mods to get it to fit.

[attachment deleted by admin]

Ok guys, i dont have a pic, but i will this week. I put the k frame of my alterktion in my 64 with the motor mounts (the mounts were a little tricky, but i got em). Dropped the 5.7 in, stuck the driversside head on, clears nicely. I tried to put the passengerside head on but there are three small places in the fenderwell ill need to mod (allready knew id have clearance issues with that side). Stuck the truck 5.7 intake on.....man this is gonna be close. I think the plastic Ram intake might clear, but its the throttle body im worried about. I wont know for sure until i get a hood on, the throttle bodys edge is higher then the plastic air intake. i have a few options if it wont clear. The first is to see if i can shave the top part of the throttle body down, i might be able to take a little off of it. If thats not possible or if thats not enough, i might be able to have the hood modified to clear it. I was thinking of raising the 64s hump just a touch so that it wasnt noticable. The other option is to find a car hemi intake and front cover plate and see if the low slung alternator will clear my front frame rails. Ill take pics of were things need to be notched and of how close the hood will be.

I havent even messed with the steering column yet, but i have a plate that will move it over abit, i hope it clears. Ill probably have to mount the rack so i can see if the steering clears. Another heads up, I will need jeep grand cherokee exhaust manifolds, the passenger side ram manifold goes strait back and doesnt angle down. Hot Rod magazine clued me in on that one before i even put my engine in.

Almost forgot. So far it looks like the a/c and alternator are far enough down to clear the hood, but again, i wont know for sure until i get that hood on. Might have to use a different hose to go to the condessor from the compressor, really just need one that is bent further down. But the rams a/c hose might clear.

Im using an alterktion, so some of my clearance issues arent as bad as stock suspensions. I dont think ill need a remote oil filter, which is good.

Wish me luck on the hood clearance, ill update ya guys later this week

Got some pics, had to stick my head into the engine bay while the hood was down. The truck hemi clears the hood by about an inch. Awsome news for anyone doing this swap. Ill update later on moding the passengerside fenderwell to fit the passengerside head. Might be awhile on that one though, gotta work on my basement some more......Wifes got that "OK, get back to working on the basement" feel about her Madd

[attachment deleted by admin]

Good to hear about the hood clearance. Keep us up on the project

Heres a few more pics. This was the first time ive ever had my hood on. I love the 64 dart, it has a 60s sports car look. Ill update later on the other items.

[attachment deleted by admin]