I've been dying to update progress on my swap from a Big block to a 3G Hemi.

I had a perfectly fine running 69 HP 383 with 915HP heads, a DP4B/650DP, HP Manfiolds and a 4 speed with 3.23's. I drove it like that for about 1000 miles and it bored me. The combo that I thought I wanted and I'd always dreamed about. I didn't like it for the type of driving that I do.

So, I pulled the 383 and parted all my big block stuff on Craigslist and on here. Sold all of it for a fair price and decided that it was time for a new hemi. I was just upset with bent pullies, leaky valve covers and general old car quirks.

I worked from 2006-10 for a shop that worked on and modified the LX Hemi cars, so I know my way around them quite well. I fell in love with the powerplant in a 4700lb station wagon, so my 3600 lb B-body would be ridiculous fast with just a simple head and cam 6.1. I started with just a bare 6.1 block. Literally nothing else at first. I knew about what I wanted, and I had really big dreams at first. I was looking to build a motor that would compliment all the handling stuff that I've done to the car.

-1.24" T bars
-Koni Red Shocks
-AndyF's LCA plates
-Tubular UCA's (Coming off now...)
-New bushings and Poly where I could
-Firm Feel Firmer than stage 3 box from Dick
-11.75" with Firm Feel Carbon Metallic Pads


I ran without sway bars, so a set of fresh leaf springs and F&R Hotchkis or Hellwig sway bars are about all I need to complete the suspension to where it needs to be. All of the above made the car feel amazing, even in it's incomplete state.

I started my motor build parts gathering a few years ago and it all started with a $300 6.1 block that I was going to build a 426 or forged 6.1 out of. I quickly realized that I didn't need that much motor, so after some horsetrading with my friend uhcoog1 (wade) I ended up with a stock bore 6.1 in great shape. I picked up a stock set of 6.1 rods and pistons and started my process of building up a mostly stock 6.1 shortblock. Nothing fancy except for a set of stock rings opened up a little bit to keep the pistons from breaking the ring lands (a common 6.1 issue). Otherwise, the whole motor is stock spec with no after market parts aside from the valve springs (PAC) and the Comp Camshaft.

Here is the motor buid

4.055x3.580 6.1
Stock pistons/new rings
Stock Powdered metal rods with new Chrysler rod bolts (Same as 8.4 viper)
King Bearings
Stock 6.1 Timing set and tensioner
Melling Oil pump
Jeep SRT8 Oil Filter Adapter
Frank Racing 219/231 .585/.585 112LSA
GTP ported 5.7 2009+ Eagle Cylinder heads with PAC 1220 Springs. These are a closed chamber heads and will net 11:1 CR with my stock shortblock. More than do-able with 93 octane all day long
Stock 6.1 Intake Manifold with BBK 80mm tb
SRT4 Stage 1 43lb injectors
Stock 6.1 fuel rail
TTI 1 3/4 Headers to a 2.5" H pipe system with turbo mufflers
Lakewood Bellhousing from a SB
MP/Mcleod Hemi 10.5 Conversion Flywheel
Sachs Diaphragm 10.5 stock clutch
TTI Motor mount brackets with a solid and rubber mount on either side
Mildon Oil Convesion oil pan

It's a bit scary to me how stock and simple this motor is. Nothing fancy at all.

I've just purchased the Megasquirt MS3X kit from Mike @ www.efisource.com as of yesterday and I'm really looking forward to running his system. It is the first kit to come out for a 3g hemi that is a refined harness that is based on megasquirt.

The electronics portion of this build will be a copy of the fuel system that uhcoog1 has on his road race duster. So simple yet it more than makes up for the fact that I'm still running a stock fuel tank. If he can't run out of fuel on a roadcourse, then anyone on here will be fine.

My fuel system will be the following
Carter 4601HP pump (ran both my 383 and 440 with a carb previously)
BCBroncos Accumulator to act as a resivour/surge tank.
Walbro GSL392 Inline pump
Corvette Fuel/Filter Regulator by Wix.

The car already had 1/2" feed and return lines in stainless with a 1/2" stock style pick up that I added a 1/2" return to, so my fuel system is ready for whatever I can throw at it with just a pump change.

Over the next few weeks I'm going to detail my engine build and install for everyone to see.

I'd like to eventually do up a website to help inform people about the process of putting this new style of motor into a classic mopar. I had a cardomain website a long time ago, and I'd like to do it one better.

http://www.cardomain.com/member/themoparkid/

The goal for me is to have a fair weather daily driver that I can hop in and knock out 300 mile day trip while maintaining above average fuel mileage, not smelling like fuel (its a real problem), being able smile from the speed and being able to have a road course worthy classic Mopar.

Here are some already shown pics of my car...








So far, I'm most of the way there.

Reserved.

Reserved again.

Get some Alex! You and I share alot of the same goals. I ordered the 92MM TB from Mike a week ago and am anxiously awaiting its arrival so I can finish mock up of cold air routing and such. I will definitely have my eyes and ears on what you do since I will be running the same EFI.

A guide that I've found very helpful for someone in my situation has been the actual mopar performance book for the Drag Pack Challengers.

If you dont start with a core motor, you will have a ton of parts to order from the dealer to get the whole thing together. Very few hardware store bolts will fit this motor, so it's easier to have a complete core motor or a good list of parts.

Jegs Link to Drag Pack PDF

For all my mopar parts, I've purchase from Matt Deane at Glendora Dodge in California. He has been a great help and even knows the swap like the back of his hand.

Here is a link to Matt's car...

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/hrdp_0803_1970_dodge_challenger/

He made finding and ordering all of the parts a breeze. My local dealer was no help, and if I needed 6 bolts...they wanted me to buy 12 or whatever their minimum was to keep the items from being absorbed into their inventory. Matt sold me what I need and the service was great.

Man thanks for the parts list! I need that like yesterday, my engine was FAR from complete and I still need water pump bolts and main bolts yet. My dealer is great to deal with and the pricing I get is super.

Alex, what tubular UCA's did you have on the car and why / what are your plans to switch to for an UCA?

I've got very early CAP (now qa1) from about 2005. They have threaded rod ends and are really adjustable, but I don't need all that adjustment and they are really more of a drag race option.

I'm going back to stock UCAs with moog k7103 problem solver bushings and AndyF's spindle bushings.

I'll get hotchkis or firm feel down the line.

This car is gonna rock! Can't wait. I'm looking forward to watching this car come together!

Quote:

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Wade has been a really good friend and we've talked all the possibilites the of EFI inside and out. I really hope he isn't keeping tab and billing me for his time lololol

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Ha! Yeah right. Good friends help each other out. Not to mention you played a huge part in getting mine running. Both times! Haha

Nice! Wish I was closer and could help out with the build.

im lookin g forward to watching this build. are you building your msx3 or buying it complete?

thats a pretty good deal there. now finding the hemi is the hard part. at least around here

My throttle body will be here tomorrow.

I'm going to get my intake opened to 90mm and a get a full port on it eventually. Should be good for another 20rwhp with a tune. When I do, I'll buy the S&B from Mike.

The car has been parked since 09! I just need to hear it run. This little cam should really fire off...

Same specs as mine by another company.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE0A1ub24xg

That's a local guy. Now he has a small cam 5.7.

Truthfully, I've always wanted an LSX car and admired what they do with small ci motors. Once this motor came around I knew i would have to make it sound like one and make the power.

To me, the 3G Hemi is just an lsx with a better stock head. If you put the short blocks side by side, it's obvious Chrysler just took a good idea and made it better.

Im tired of being jealous of them LS guys, and am doing something about it. I totally agree, an old musclecar with 500+hp that can get 20+mpg is a reality if you put your mind to it.

Some new purchases today.

Ford 4.6 Thunderbird cooling fan from Dorman 620-118 for $58 brand new on eBay (step below lincoln mkviii) and the proper pig tail connector.

and the Mildon Hemi conversion Dipstick tube.

My EFI is hung up at the post office, so I'll have to wait until Monday :-(