I am contemplating on buying a hemi and having a shop do the swap. I am trying to gauge what everything (minus the engine) to do the swap into a older mopar A-B-E-body car (I have a few to chose from since I didn't sell my entire collection off last month). Would love to see the price break down and what people used like harnesses, computers, fuel delivery, exhaust, etc. Sadly, I no longer have a shop, the equipment, tools or even a laptop any longer, so I would be having everything farmed out. I found a few 3rd gens I can score for reasonable prices and would run cheaper than having a big block built. I would love to have a modern drivetrain but happ with it slapped to a regular old 727-A transmission. Would love to know if it's affordable on a budget or if I have to sell my blood and soul to get one between m k-member.

While not my post, its a good list someone created in doing the swap. I only wish the actual Excel file was available.
https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopa...omprehensive-cost-and-parts-list.227609/

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthread...e-install-in-an-old-car.html#Post3101876

10-15k

I kept a detailed speadsheet

Miguel, You will find that the low cost and high availability of finding junkyard engines tempts you into s deep hole of cash for the install in the long run.
Unless you can fabricate your own mounts, you're stuck with paying for them.
The front end accessory drives often have fitment issues with classic cars at the frame rails and K member. There are aftermarket front covers/accessory drives but they aren't $59 at Auto Zone.
The electronics have become easier but that is another expense you don't deal with on a classic engine.
If you skip EFI. carbureted intakes are available but not many are made so the prices are not like a swap meet 440 Performer.

well that settles it, no hemi swap for me. I did a ruff calculation and came to figure out it would be a minimal of $21k witt the parts and labor. I m moving onto doing a big or small block. Hopefully I can figure out something that will be more feasible for my future project. Thank you to everyone who, responded with info.

Even with the outrageous $$$ junkyard Hemis seem to command, that seems pretty high unless you were talking 6.4 fresh/new everything. If you don't require MDS/VVT, I would look for an 05 and older Hemi Ram engine or the whole truck to start with. The truck engine mounts most of the accessories above the frame line so it is more swap friendly into a classic Mopar. If you are paying someone to do the swap, store bought mount kit from Holley will knock more than a day off the labor $$.

Trucks didn't get MDS until 06 so if you want something other than OEM engine management, you have reasonably priced options like Megasquirt or Holley. MSD makes an ignition only controller if carbs are your preference.

A flexplate and spacer kit bolts a 727 or a 46/48RH OD behind it, neither requiring any computer controls. Converter lock up and OD on the RH trans can be automated with some pressure switches which can be bought as a kit or you can run them manually with toggles switches.

Depending on what kind of labor $$ you're dealing with, you should be under $10K, maybe well under depending on how good a deal you can make on the engine/trans.

Kevin

All above is true. I went Junkyard motor/904 trans, MSD and Carb. all for under 10K. then after the initial hit you can change and add to it as you go and are driving and enjoying the fun you get from the swap.

For $10 grand I can have one heck of a regular engine in the car

I'm a one and done kind of guy. Hate to go back and do additional work so adding parts later on is not something I want or can do. I lost access to four shops (they all closed up and left). I could have done some of the work., but with No shop, no tools, no equipment means everything is farmed out, and I do mean everything. Junkyard motors around here are trash unless you know someone. I can score a 6.4 donor car for $4k,but selling parts off it is not what I have time for. No shop around here has quoted less then $12k to do the work, no parts included. So I'll play lotto today and have better odds than getting that hemi swap done. The main reason I contemplated the 3g hemi was not about power or drivability, but an aggressive looking engine. Like when you have a blower sticking trough the hood or tunnel ram. That was my initial goal, except I wanted a more modern day version. I could afford the parts, it's the labor costs and inability to do the work is what kept this project grounded. I really like the though of the Holley Hi-Ram sticking trough the hood. Think I'm going to push this project in a corner and work on my cuda for awhile.

The swap doesn't make financial sense, no disputing that.
Same issue I went through when I swapped in the 518. The fuel savings doesn't justify the cost, unless you drive 20k miles per year, which most of these cars don't.

Same situation going from the tired 340 to the 5.7.
I picked up 150HP and 3-4mpg, could have rebuilt the 340 for ~5k less than the swap.

But in both cases, the 518 and 5.7 have both made the car so much more enjoyable to drive.
I plan on driving this car a lot going forward.
Taken several 4hr roundtrip drives that I would have never considered, even with a rebuilt 340.

So in my case, the new motor, upgraded tech and driveability was worth every penny.

I built my whole car for less than $21k with a stock bone yard 5.7 engine and 904. I did farm out a few things like headers.I think inability to do the work is why the price is high and living in one of the highest cost of living areas. I was buying junkyard 03-07 5.7s for $300-500

THIS is the reason you do the late model engine/trans swap!

I drag race only and would never make the switch but I follow a few guys that have made the switch. I have around 5700.00 in my 360 (408) and it’s gone 5.98@2850 pounds. Probably a 9.28 in the 1/4 mile. Being able to do a lot of my own work saves me 1000’s of dollars. It’s also a nicer fit in the engine compartment for maintenance.

Yeah, a small block is less expensive for a drag race n/a combo especially once you want 700+HP.
Gen3 valvetrain is stoopid expensive.
One thing I should of tried with my car is just swapped to the 09+ Eagle heads on my 05 JY engine. Instead I built a new engine
I am building a new car so I might try that

On my Hellcat swap, I did it all for under 20k. Thats everything, motor , trans, electrical, exhaust cooling system, etc, etc. I admit I got some good deals. Couldnt do it today with prices the way they are. Did ALL the work myself, so didnt have to pay anybody for anything. Yes its expensive, but my previous motor was a 451 that probably made around 600 hp, ran 10.80's and the drivability was crap. With this swap, Ive put more miles on the car the past 3 years that I have the previous 10 plus years, because it is so nice to drive! The drivability along with the power is a dream. Working on my next G3 swap currently in a 99 Dakota RT.

Did you use the TF8 or a 727/518? That's a pretty good all in cost. Holley Terminator to control it? Or Hotwire Auto reflash of OEM and you pinned out a harness?

I have a full manual 727 built by CRT. When I did the swap the 8 speeds were not really proven yet, so I did not consider it. The 8 speeds are awesome, but it would cost me alot of money to convert now, and for what I do with the car the 727 works just fine. Running the Mopar crate kit for engine management.

Man, that Colt in the above photo is so cool it hurts !

We're going to need more pics of that Colt, sir. Please tell me you have a timeslip or two...

Lost most of build pics on my last phone.