Anyone have experience or results to share using a remanufactured 4.7HO long block? They are NOT cheap, but with the upgrades it makes 310HP, and all the 4.7 issues addressed for the cooling and oiling. With the right intake and aftermarket exhaust 320hp at the crank may be possible, to get about 270hp at the rear wheels

Planning way ahead for the eventual build of my 56 Dodge C3-B8 onto the frame/mechanicals of my 2001 Dakota 2wd 4.7V8 5-spd chassis. My Dakota has 203,000 miles on the original 4.7V8. So I plan to use a remanufactured 4.7HO long block, 2008 or newer as the engine for the 56. I'll use most of the accessory systems from the 2001 Dakota 4.7 onto the HO long block, maybe some underdrive pulleys, and the Gibson headers I've had on the Dakota since 2014. But I plan to use the 2008 intake manifold, and a TB from a salvaged later model Dakota or Jeep with the HO engine. So I plan to have a cable operated TB which means I'll need the Airram TB adapter kit.

I know the 2008 and later intake manifold is the best choice. But use the 68mm or 72mm TB? My goal is a daily driver with good mid-range power updates over what I'm used to in my 2001 Dakota. Not racing it, just want decent power for everyday driving and occasional towing/hauling.

I have a 12 ram 1500 regular cab Long bed w/a 4.7, supposed to be 10:1 and 310hp. Completely stock. I got it with 93k on it, now has 113k. Is kind of sluggish until 2800rpm, then 1st takes off like a shot...
Not much choice anymore especially if you are like me and specifically didn't want a 4 door and with the 318/360 not being made any more,
It gets the job done but is just ho hum..... I don't believe the 310hp claimed. Most hp I've ever had but don't seem like it
All after 2008 are supposed to be the "improved" version. In the previous couple of vehicle bought ice specifically avoided the 4.7 because of all the horror stories id heard about them but as I said not much choice this time and I certainly ain't buying a Ford or a import.

Powertrain remanned 4.7HO claims they fixed all the known issues wit the 4.7, especially issues with oil flow, coolant and valve springs/seats. Powertrain uses a higher flow oil pump, better head gaskets, pressed in valve seats with greater interference fit than Dodge stock, stronger valve springs, better pistons, forged crank, etc. The bottom end of the 4.7 is pretty stout, it has a bridge style main bearing cap set. So with all that it should make for a much better engine than Dodge had started with.

Of course they are gonna tell ya what ya wanna hear regardless if it's really true. They want your money

Absolutely correct. However, they are the only ones that show on their webpage that they address the cooling and oil systems to improve flow, elminate sludging, install better head gaskets, improved cam chains/tensioners. Seems all the other engine remanufacturers do all the usual stuff; new rotationg parts, improved gaskets, machined surfaces, new valve trains and cams. But Powertrain seems to address the other known issues with the 4.7 to make it a better engine overall. Another thing about the 4.7HO engine after 2008 Chrysler changed the head castings to better support the rocker arm lash adjusters. Per 2008 a dislodged rocker arm could actually break off the cast in post/socket that holds the lash adjuster.

When I compare the specs of the 1978 Dodge Lil Red Express with the 360 V8, the horsepower/torque of that era V8 is very comparable to the current 4.7HO, in a truck that is near the same size and weight of what my 56 will be. In fact, the 78 Express has the same rear axle ratio (3:55) with limited slip but only a 4-spd automatic. The 66RFE trans I plan to use has a lower 1st gear ratio for better take off and closer ratios between the gears to better use the power to accelerate. The Lil Red Express was known to do 0-60 in under eight seconds. The net HP for the Lil Red Express was about 275, and the 4.7HO I plan to use in my 56 will be about 325 at the crank, which should be about 300 net HP.

https://moparwiki.com/index.php?title=1978-1979_Dodge_Lil_Red_Express

In response to my earlier response comparing the torque output of the 4.7HO to the 5.9 is like comparing oranges to apples. The 4.7HO makes the same peak torque as the old 5.9/360 in the Lil' Red Express or Warlock. But yet, everyone says the modern 4.7HO has nothing of power like the old stock 360/5.9.

That's because the torque curve of the 4.7HO literally sags in comparison to the 360. The 4.7HO torque curve is sagging near flat and low from idle up to about 2500 to where it finally rises quickly and peaks at 3300 rpm at 330 ft-lb, and drops off suddenly. The 360/5.2, stock, makes about 330 ft-lb, but it makes a lot of torque low off idle in a humped up torque curve all the way up to and past 3,300 rpm. It stays up there and then trails off much less than does the 4.7HO. That's why the 4.7HO feels gutless until the revs get up over 3,000 rpm, and drops off sharp after 3400 rpm. On the highway at say 70 mph a 4.7HO is turning maybe 2200 to 2500 rpm, dead in the gutless torque belly. A 5.2 or 5.9/360 at highway is always rising the torque output from off idle to 3300 rpm, always ready to push harder with little throttle effort.

I had a ram quad cab with a 4.7, it was a slug. So I upgraded to a ram crew cab with a gen 3 hemi. The difference was night and day. Tons more power, especially low end grunt, and 50% better fuel mileage. No way would I put a 4.7 in anything when a hemi is way better and cheaper.

Agreed. Too bad Chrysler never used their knowledge of heads. valves, porting to make great torque and power in the 340, 360 and Hemi, and apply similar knowledge to the OHC 4.7HO. The 4.7HO makes ok torque for a peak of 330 ftlbs at 3300 rpm. But the shape of the torque curve is for crap; nothing down low, near flat (very little torque increase) from 2000 to 2800, then it finally spikes up quickly to 3300 rpm, only to drop off near as quick over 3500 rpm. The 4.7HO has a torque curve like a 70's vintage 2-stroke morotcycle.

The Hemi has that very satisfying fat humped up torque curve that feels like power from just off idle all the way up to 4,000 rpm. Same for the desirable 340. Even a properly built 318/5.2 Magnum engine, can produce torque equal to a Hemi, using Mopar factory parts (except for the cam) for a lot less dollars than a Hemi. So in my opinion the 4.7HO simply is not the way to go, and I used to feel I needed to keep the 4.7 for my 56 Pickup build just because it comes in my Dakota donor chassis. Nope, 4.7 bye bye.

Good decision.

IMHO using something in your build "just because I have it" is not necessarily a good plan. I've seen builds following that formula that end up looking like someone drug a magnet thru a scrap pile and whatever stuck...

You can always sell what you have and roll the $$ into a more suitable part.

The head gasket blows because the head warps and better head gaskets won't fix that, I don't see a cure for that without a different head casting and I highly doubt they did that. The head warps from overheating usually due to leaky water pumps and radiators, pretty much every single one of those I have seen with blown head gaskets had warped heads and a significant coolant leak elsewhere. Push the overheating issue even further and the valve seats fall out but I suppose they could stake them or put in tighter fitting ones but you got other problems by then.

Oiling is not a problem, HV oil pump is just a placebo. The lash adjuster bleeds down sitting around with the engine off, more oil volume won't fix that. The plastic chain guide gets hot and brittle and typically breaks around 100,000 and 150,000 miles, more oil volume won't make the plastic stay pliable longer. I have not seen any better chain and guides that the OEM set up. When a rocker falls off you put it back and run a good engine oil flush to clean out contaminates and they usually stay put again after that.


It is not a good engine for people who don't take care of their stuff. Take care of them, change the oil don't let em overheat and they will last a long time with just an occasional timing chain/guides/tensioner replacement. I have bought and fixed a bunch of them as well as customers, many shops hear the timing chain noise and tell people they need a new engine when that is far from the truth but they just don't want to learn about the particular engine.

I agree on all counts. Chrysler could have developed the 4.7HO much further. But the Hemi rules in the market. For my build project I'm going with a built Magnum for more power, more torque, more options (intake, cam, exhaust) than are possible with the 4.7. Plus parts for the 5.2 are plentiful and inexpensive, and its easy to work on.

I have 203,000 miles on my 2001 Dak with an original 4.7V8. But it does burn just enough coolant that I have to check the coolant level regularly, yet I never see any whote smoke out the exhaust. Does not burn any oil, and the oil stays normal color with the miles between oil changes. Way back at 170,000 miles on it I had the rusted through oil pan replaced and installed a new oil pump at that time, which may have helped the engine last this long. I change the oil every 5,000 miles. I put headers on it way back in 2015 when an exhaust manifold cracked. But these past few years I rarely drive my Dak, saving it now for the donor chassis going under my 56 pickup.

I bought a 4.7 from Powertrain Engines in 2019 and can't say enough good things about it. It isn't the HO version, and it is in our 2004 Dakota quad cab. Hasn't made the first tick, burnt or leaked a drop of oil. Powertrain was great to deal with, and everything they said they did to improve the engine was done to it. I'd buy another one from them in a heart beat!

Good to hear that the real experience with Powertrain agrees with how they claim themselves to serve the market. Hard these days to really get good feedback from end users. Powertrians does have a 5.2 Magnum remanned engine that sells for $2297. Not bad for a stock spec 5.2 Magnum. I've chosen to go with a local build, using factory parts with aftermarket cam, pistons, rockers, etc to get far more power than the Powertrain option.