64 Dodge Dart Gt 5.7 hemi update - Lateral-g Forums

Dodgenut64 · #1 03-20-2007, 07:54 PM

Havent posted in a long while. A month ago i won a dirt cheap 5.7 hemi out of a 04 ram on ebay. The seller said the engine was locked up, but he didnt know what had happened. He had bought it from another person and was told the truck was in a wreck. I didnt have to drive far to get it, but for $600 bucks i thought it was worth it. I really needed an engine like this to see were things are gonna fit in my engine bay. I also got an alternator, ac compressor and a few other things with it. My though was to use it for mocking up things, then later tare it down and see what was wrong with it.
Well after i got it home, i couldnt resist opening it up. As you can see from the pics, i first found this muddy dried up dirt in the cylinders, then two broken connecting rods. To my surprise the end of the rods would still turn freely on the crank and the bearings didnt look damaged. The only damage to the block was a tiny nick just outside the cylinder and then a very small scratch on the bottom of the cylinder wall. The scratch isnt deep and appears to be just at the bottom edge of the wall. I dont even know if the piston rings would go this far down. Im thinking about taking the block down to a shop and have it looked over. If its rebuildable ill use it. Itll save me 3-5 grand and get my car on the road in less time.
I was really wanting a 6.1, but im thinking a 5.7 will still be fun in a 3000lb convertible 5 speed. Plus getting a 6.1 would set me back a few years, and the most important thing to me is hitting the open road. I should still be able to hang with new mustang GTs and still fend off some turbo'ed up rice, but im not really wanting to build the fastest car on the street anyway, just an updated fun, yet decently fast cruzer.
I also yanked out my front K member. I have the Alterktion for my car and i wanted to clean the enginebay up and the whole under carriage before installing it.It should take a long awhile to do that. I also bought a small MIG Millermatic welder that i need to learn how to use so i can make the modifications i want to do with my enginebay and dash.
Also there is a pic of my "shop buddy". Hes my scotty, his name is Benny. He really likes to hang out with family members. One day i was putting the hemi back together after i got the crank out and he was hanging around the garage. I warned him about the oil in his hair, but he didnt seem to mind. I put the hemi back to gether without the crank,pistons, and cam so later i can put it into my enginebay and see how things will fit. Later i will take it back up to a shop and have it looked at. If i can use it, i will, otherwise ill have to buy another hemi later, but for now its serving its purpose.

d touring · #2 03-25-2007, 12:07 PM

Sounds like a nice project. keep us posted!!
What are you going to do for a computer an wiring?

Bandit Ls-1 · #3 03-26-2007, 12:26 AM

kool project

californiacuda · #4 03-26-2007, 09:58 AM

I recently found out that the "new" hemis have 2 plugs per cylinder. The 5.7 use a wasted spark from the other side of the engine to fire one of the 2 plugs in each cylinder

What are you using for engine management and will the dual plug system cause any problems for you.

Dodgenut64 · #5 03-27-2007, 06:51 AM

For now, im going to use the factory computer. S&P has them and the engine wiring harness. The factory stuff is cheaper then the others, however, they are limited at 5800rpm, wereas the aftermarket stuff goes up and over the factories rev limiter, and are programable. It all depends on what ya want and how much money your willing to spend. For me the factory stuff is fine for now.
The new hemi is cool. something i thought was interesting was the oil pump is mounted onto front of the crank, which is different then the old LA series blocks.

Dodgenut64 · #6 05-01-2007, 10:09 AM

Haven't posted in awhile. Got the alterktion frame and mounts on and wanted to see how the hemi would fit in. I didn't think my 64 darts hood was gonna clear the truck hemis throttlebody, but it did by an inch. This was the first time ive ever had the hood on, when i bought my car 2 years ago it was off. Almost looks like a car again.
I have to modify the passengerside fenderwell so as to make getting the valve cover off on that side possible without bringing up the motor. Two of the valve cover bolts touch here.

californiacuda, Ill be using a factory ECM, when im ready for it. Its not as nice as some aftermarket stuff, but way cheaper.

Dodgenut64 · #7 05-03-2007, 12:20 PM

alternator and a/c compressor clear, and if ya use the AlterKtion, you wont need a remote oil filter or a center sump pan, the truck hemis rear sump clears very nicely. I put my Flaming River stearing column in to see how it would fit. It doesnt touch the rear corner of the head, the plate i got from Bill at RMS moves the column over abit so i didnt have any problems. The U-joint clears, but ill have to trim up my heat shield a touch.

**XcYZ** · #8 05-03-2007, 10:32 PM

How much did you have to move the column?

Dodgenut64 · #9 05-05-2007, 01:17 AM

Maybe a half inch, maybe a touch more. Looking at old shots of my enginebay, it looks like the old column was a touch more center. Its not noticable inside the car at all, which was one of my fears.

Dodgenut64 · #10 01-06-2008, 07:54 AM

I haven't posted in a long while. In truth I know alot of people could care less
about a 64 Dodge Dart, but for those of you who like off beat cars, Ill continue to post when i have something worthwhile to post.
Now for the update. I have most of the enginebay sanded down. I removed the 64s upper and lower radiator support and I'm in the process of putting in a 65-66 radiator support. The 65-66 radiator support is wider then the 64s, but even so ill still be opening it up some more so that the radiator im gonna use will fit prefectly. As you can see in the pics, I have the upper rad support welded in, but Im gonna have to modify the lower support a little so that the 97 jeep grand cherokee radiator will fit nicely. The lines on the rad support in the pics are how much im gonna trim off.
I've also made the modifications on the passengerside inner fenderwell so that the hemi's valvecovers can be removed without having to raise the engine (tight fit).
Once i have the radiator support mods done, Im gonna fill in the areas where the shocks used to come up. After that Ill fill in a few small holes around where the windshield weather strip goes. Then, Ill most likely move on to trying to fit the 65 polara dash into my car.