That would be an ideal engine for it. I was thumbing through Craig's List ads today and came across this '52 Dodge for sale: http://wenatchee.craigslist.org/cto/2881391430.html Appears to be the same basic body as your Chrysler It's been modified with a Volare' / Aspen front frame clip and a Lincoln disc-brake rear end (probably a Lincoln Versailles - fancy Ford Granada - I think they have the same bolt pattern as the Volare' / Aspen) On the Hemi - don't know anything about how difficult it would be adapting all the engine management controls and wiring. Marshall
Man, that is one sweet wagon. What a find. Two thumbs up! P.S. I read the whole thread and I am refering to your first photos, what a beauty
Nice, looks like it's in great shape. That'd make a hell of a hot rod, if someone follows his suggestion to use a big block. On this Florida ad, I'll ask over at the HAMB, see what they think. I wrote to the seller with some questions, too. Thanks so much, both. When we have the suspension sorted out, I'll take lots of photos of us down at the lake, of our '1949 wooden canoe on the roof rack, and of course at Superdawg, Chicago's classic drive-in.
Bredlo, when you first wrote about the 2003 Dodge Hemi engine project I wrote back with a 37 page document telling my thoughts. Just as I finished the power went off here for an hour. Life and other things on my mind seemed to prevent my rewritting. I have a 2004 Dodge Hemi truck I bought new, I get an amazing 15.2 MPG. Ain't that amazing? A friend with a 2005 did some tuning on his and says he gets 22 MPG. Something about changed intake, plug wire routing, etc. I've seen a lot of these engines in older cars. One a 30's Dodge 4-door with everything they could use from the truck including dash and seats. Please don't do that! From what I've heard it is not too difficult to do the wiring, especially if you get a complete vehicle. The engine appears to be about the same size as a small block Chevy. Would look nice in your T & C. After 2005 they went to the 4-6-8 engine.
Denny, so sorry to hear you lost all that time!!! I would've liked to hear all your insights. Sheesh, I hate when that happens. 15 MPG ain't all that great, I admit. While towing I suspect we'd be down to 10 or 11... yikes! I thought the 5.7L LT1 in my '04 Firebird got more like 19, and 28 on the hwy. Then again, it was lighter than these big trucks. We have a hybrid Toyota Highlander right now and were averaging around 17 while towing our last Airstream cross-country, but this new longer trailer will undoubtedly be too much for the little V6 to handle: one of the reasons we justified buying the T&C in the first place. I checked out a neighbor's 5.7 Hemi Ram yesterday (an '05 I believe), and the only thing that bummed me out were all the sensors - he said if just one of those trips, the engine will largely shut down because it assumes it's being stolen, the radiator broke, etc. So I'd hopefully be able to eliminate all the doodads and computers except the one that controls fuel injection, etc., basic modern functionality. Obviously we're not talking about preserving warranties, here...
I believe any Hemi after 2005 has more sensors and engine management than the older ones. In fact, a friend's 2005 seems to have more lights and things on the dash than my 2004. I'd go with a 2005 or older. From what I've heard it is not too difficult to do the wiring. Of course, depends who is doing it. Some of us have trouble finding a blown fuse! I really like the newer Hemi in an old car. Even the truck radiator is small and would fit. Get rid if the original air intake and cheap plastic shrouding and paint it like an older Hemi.
I have thre 440 and Torqueflight out of my old motorhome with around 48,000 miles on it. Great running when last used. But only got around 9 MPG on 100 octain. Had the brainy idea to pull the rebuilt 350 out of my 1948 Chevy panel and slip the 440 in. But lazy and other things stopped me. It would be so cool to open the Chevy hood and have that 440 Dodge painted GM orange with CORVETTE decals on the valve covers.
Just wondering here.....since you are going to swap for a big engine which will require new harness etc....why limit yourself to a Dodge engine? Just askin'.
Great to hear there's a cutoff, and that it's not all Gen3 Hemis that are connected to some Microsoft-dependent mother ship. I have ELEVEN computers in this Hybrid, and the last thing I need in Death Valley with 2 hot greyhounds and a spooked wife is to break down and need some "flash drive" reset for me. Indeed, that'd be cool. While the view under the hood is currently around #190 on my list of importance... there's a shot of the "Derelict" wagon by ICON on Youtube which shows how he grafted old Hemi valve covers onto a new engine, and used a whiskey bottle as a radiator overflow receptacle. Just about the coolest thing ever. Here's a different clip about it - right around 5:10 they head under the hood, but the whole video is just great. This Jonathan Ward character is a genius, and he just gets it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh6xyPAi_PM
I think Bredlo, if I were attempting an update on your T&C, I stick with a Chrysler engine, but maybe a bit more old-fashioned than what's been suggested, to keep the wiring and other technology-related add-ons to a minimum. Say a 383 or 440 from 1969/1970 or so. Yes, you wouldn't get the MPG that the modern engines give you, but you wouldn't have the complexity, either.
