Has anybody done this swap? I got a smokin hot deal on an 06 5.7/545 combo out of a Magnum with 6k miles. I'd like to put this in a Duster that I have, but TTI doesn't offer headers for this cause the starter is on the passenger side. I want to use the 5 speed automatic, and know that I need to use one from a 2wd truck to get the slip yoke. Anybody got any ideas? I've got the stock manifolds, but don't want to have to notch frame rails to make them work. I know, I know.....want in one hand and crap in the other, and see which one fills up first! Any help or ideas appreciated.

I would just use a SB 727 or a 904 Jackie; the tunnel is going to need too much work to get the 545 to work plus youre limited to an aftermarket floor shifter. The bolt pattern is the same and a dealer or aftermarket programmer can block out the transmission program in the PCM.

There are headers out there ($$$) but if you have a manual steering box the stock manifolds should work; I think guys are using Jeep Grand Cherokee manifolds to make the 5.7s work in A Bodys but I bet the LX manifolds would work too.

I want to do the same swap in my Satellite if I could find a complete setup at a decent price.

Thanks Dan. I don't care to hack up the tunnel to make it work with the 545. It's a /6,3 on the tree body, so it ain't gonna hurt the value any! The thing I like about the 5 spd auto, is it already has the gear ratios designed for the 5.7...and I've already got it! If I can use the stock manifolds from the Wagnum that this Hemi came from, that would be great, as I have them too. I can make a Lokar cable work for the column auto shifter, but will have to mount an electric switch on the shifter handle to be able to manual shift it I think.

First off..if the powertrain is out of a magnum, then it is not 545, LX never used the 545RFE
It will be a W5A580(NAG)
Trucks use a 545RFE, The RFE is a HUGE trans and will involve major floor surgury, tho it can be made "plug and play" with the correct use of electronics it is not just a simple drop in because of it`s size.
I just went thru this mess and while you`ll see alot of talk, I only found one person in the country that has actually made a NAG work standalone and even He said it was "quirky". The OE controller CAN NOT be made to work by itself, It requires a aftermarket programmable controller.
The NAG is very complicated (Electrically) to operate, due to it being a sequential automatic and having no direct input and output speed sensors it is impossible to monitor gear ratios so some "guessing" is involved when programming and the risk of the controller not knowing what gear it is in is huge.

The owner of the project I was doing decided to not cut the floor and go a different route because this was a pristine low mile car.

I Do have a 545 I need to sell now


Rick

Thanks Rick. That was the kind of info I was looking for. I did a bunch of reading yesterday, and figured out that the transmission hooked to this Hemi wasn't a 545. I will look for a low mile 545RFE to use instead of the NAG. If the one you have has very low miles...hit me with a PM. Thanks again for the info.

Performance wise do not expect much from the 545.Have one in an 07 Grand and after 120,000 miles the gear ratios still make no sense and this this is with a 3:47 rear.Huge gap from third to fourth,mushy engagement,etc.Still prefer the 42RH with Trans Go TF2 in my 04 Grand.

If anybody cares, took these a little bit ago just so you know the difference.

Left to right
Small block 727, NAG, 545RFE



And from the side




Rick

Thanks for the pics, that is a great comparison of the 3 main players. It's a shame the NAG won't lend itself well to this kind of swap. It looks like it would fit old cars without a lot of surgery. It's not a lot fatter than the 727. If the insides of the 545 are as beefy as the outside, they ought to hold up fairly well!

Can't say about that config in an A body but here is how a 5.7 and a W5A580 out of an 07 Charger fits in a 70 GTX.
I had a local drive line shop make a one piece drive shaft and a slip yoke. We turned a solid piece of aluminum to replace the rubber dampner. Yes, I had to cut the tunnel and raise it about an inch.
Here is a link with tons of photos on the entire build so far. I do not have it running yet.
My idea was to swap as much over as I could so I didn't have to reprogram or deal with the computer issues any more than absolutely necessary, haven't got to that point yet, the economy got in my way.

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?t=1121

Thanks Darius. I'm leaning towards selling the NAG transmission and going with a 545RFE. A Jamie Passon 5 spd is starting to look real good too, but I really want an automatic 5 spd. Good luck on the rest of your build, and it's looking great.

What about a 518OD? Is that any better than the 545? If you are going to have to massage the trans tunnel with either a 545 or a 518, and the 518 is better, you might as well go with that. Any input on the comparison of the 518 vs. 545?

Here is another picture of comparisons:

Phil,

I have a worked A500 I might sell. LMK