Great information Dave! Out of interest, would your suggested 6.1 swap using the existing 5.7 tuning include using the 6.1 intake manifold and exhaust manifolds, or would/could all of the existing 5.7 induction and exhaust components be swapped over, including injectors, etc?
Kind of hijacking the thread a bit, but I am starting to plan the outcome of my 2016, as it will have over 200k in the next 3-4 years. Could a truck 6.4, or car 6.4 (bottom end and cylinder heads) be swapped into one of those with the stock 5.7 tune, using all of the 5.7 induction and exhaust components in order to pass CA visual examination? Of course, I would be beefing up the 65RFE trans as well.
your 07 Is it 4x2 or 4x4 ? my kids 08 is a 4x2. 2500 Regular cab long bed.
Swap the whole 6.1 over, the 5.7 intake will bolt on but the ports are different enough that it's becomes a hindrance in performance.
I can tell you from personal experience that the SRT8 exhaust manifolds will not work in a 4x2 , the passenger side hits the frame rail. we used a set of JBA headers and changed the flange, I've seen my buddy do a few 6.1 swaps in to 03-05 1500s and the 5.7 headers work fine for a stockish build.
As for your 2016, Yes the 6.4 short block with either the stock top end or the (eagle)top end with the 5.7 intake can be swapped in and use the stock tune...but keep in mind that a tune will make it issue free.
My experience,
The 09 1500 I bought back in june we swapped 2016 6.4 in it, ,used the Eagle intake off of the old 5.7, had some start up issues with it ,keep running lean after about 4 hour it sorted it's self out, ran fine for a day or two , then the next day it would throw a fit , after an hour of start ,die ,start run 5 mins,die,start,die,start run 5mins, die, it sorted it's self out ran for fine for a day, then back to start,die crap, . this went on for 2 weeks then I got a friend of mine to "tune it" I bought HPtuners for the truck ,all he did was go in to general under engine , and change engine size and displacement from 5.7 to 6.4 , left everything else stock, and it's running great since ever since fun truck to beat on.
Now my buddy Ric, when he swapped the SRT392 in his 2014, he also changed the heads and intake over the the 5.7, dropped it in and not one issue, he says the difference was the ECU/PCM then went in to a half hour of an explanation that was WAY over my head....it was one of those just node and say , Ok I understand type conversations.
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