My truck is a 1988 w-150, 4spd. I found a good low mileage hemi w/ computer. Is this feasible? Is there an adapter readily available for the four speed? Thanks.
The small block bellhousing you have will bolt up to the Hemi. You might have a problem with the flywheel and clutch because the Hemi uses an 8 bolt flywheel. Perhaps the stock one out of a 5.7 manual will work with the older bellhousing and starter but, I would doubt it. Last I know they do make a flywheel for the 5.7 but it is a 10.5" version for cars. Not sure how well that would work with the NP435 either.
Mounts for the engine are available from Hotrodlane as they put one in a '93 Ramcharger with an automatic. They also sell harnesses that use the factory computer. When I talked with them they advised me that you need a manual trans computer from around 2005 in order to use a manual trans or older non computer automatic transmission.
It would be a cool swap but the wiring and fuel system are going to need serious changing as well.
i would check with mancini racing or somebody else to see if there's a stand-alone harness available for the 5.7. i know one comes with the crate engine (maybe just the one setup for carbs and it's just DIS control).
otherwise you need to get the complete harness/ECM from the donor vehicle and the appropriate FSM, map the whole harness out and thin it out to the essentials. i think that's the best way to approach a swap like that. i wish i would have went that route with MPFI for my magnum crate engine instead of the GM TBI setup i have. it works fine but you can't beat the factory matched setup with stuff like that.
i made a couple of harnesses like that for 5.0 HO engines years ago before ferd/svo started offering them. used a wall and a bunch of painter's tape to spread it out, make notes, and work on it.
This is exactly the information I am after. Once again you guys at RCC rule.Thank you all for your input and time. I love the sound and the pull of that hemi! But the fact is I have a 360 on propane. I can rebuild it the way I want. Propane is cheap and abundant. Hemi power is fun and "cool" but for me maybe the best way is the easiest way ( the 360- which might turn out to be a 40! But now I am drifting to a different topic. I just need to make a decision and go with it. Thanks again!
The Hemi's numbers aren't hard to make out of a 360 and the 360 is a cheaper motor to buy, build, rebuild, and replace.
Lots of stand-alone harnesses, a few dist conversions, and several aftermarket computers. Should be a few 5.7 to 833 solutions out there on the first page of your favorite search engine. (apparently there's a few now)
AVOID the early modern Hemis (03-05).
This is the buggy years. Buggy things like slinging a rod for no good reason.
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