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High Mileage Hemi Engines

[memphis]

Web wheeler
Joined
Jun 6, 2020
Member Number
1867
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751
Found a Power Wagon locally, it has typical Dodge truck cancer. Some parts can be fixed reasonably. I have been shopping for a cheap beater truck for the past several months because it's not going to be a DD. I'm not too scared of the terrible fuel mileage until fuel hits $2/L ($8/US Gallon).

The truck in question has 188k miles on it. It's a 2007 and I am aware of the valve seat issue (but don't know the fine details) which was resolved in 2008 or 2009?

As a parts monkey, I never sold many engine parts for these motors... the 2500s also lack some of the emissions components which were common failure points in the earlier generations. Totally aware that the front ends fall out of these. Not sure what transmission it has but I know it is automatic.
 
I have a 2006 Ram 2500 with the 5.7l hemi...bought it used w/125,000 miles. I am now at 22X,000 miles. No issues to date with the hemi other than a little piston rattle on cold mornings. Might use 1/2 qt. of oil between changes (3000+ miles)

The only work I have done to the engine so far is replace a water pump and change the spark plugs. And forgot to add...exhaust manifold bolts....the heads popped off a few. From what I've seen GM, Ford, they all do it, the bolts fail instead of the manifolds.

Transmission - it's a Dodge, so yes it had some work done to it...probably around 177,000, I would have to check my log book to be sure.
 
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I've got a 2018 6.4 hemi and have heard to save money back for a MDS delete. Not sure if that era has MDS though. The problem for me is the transmission, not the engine. 86K on mine now with one transmission rebuild in the rearview.
 
My dad has an ‘05 2500 hemi with about 125k on it. Other than weird electrical gremlins, front hubs and axle joints, exhaust manifold leaks and already needing a transmission it’s been great. :homer:
 
I remember seeing the 392 Hemi in the mid 80's to mid 90's back when I lived in LA.

They could be picked up for all of 50 bucks each.
 
I have a 2005 2500 Hemi truck. It has 178k on it. I don't daily it, it just sits until I need to drag my Jeep or my camper somewhere. I've had it for almost 7 years. I've replaced ball joints, the radiator, and a crank sensor on it in that time, mostly in the last year. It has the 545rfe transmission and it has the common issue where the torque converter drains occasionally when it sits, which isn't a big deal. It has the common electrical issues with the rear doors that I fixed. Otherwise its been a great truck overall for what I paid for it.

The valve seat issue is usually only occurs if it has overheated. Friend of mine has a 2011 Hemi truck that his happened to.
 
Stupid question...

So in the OLD days of racing, you could machine a second spark plug.
It was one of the beauty of a hemispherical combustion chamber design.
Do people still do that? And if not, why are they so proud of having a hemispherical combustion chamber???
Hemi.jpg
 
grumpy356 said:
Stupid question...

So in the OLD days of racing, you could machine a second spark plug.
It was one of the beauty of a hemispherical combustion chamber design.
Do people still do that? And if not, why are they so proud of having a hemispherical combustion chamber???
Hemi.jpg
Click to expand...

I seem to recall some modern hemi's having 2 plugs from the factory from my days behind a parts counter in college.
I was also drinking a lot back then, so take that for what its worth. :homer:
 
MuntCuffin said:
I seem to recall some modern hemi's having 2 plugs from the factory from my days behind a parts counter in college.
I was also drinking a lot back then, so take that for what its worth. :homer:
Click to expand...
They do have 2 plugs per cylinder from the factory.
 
My son has a 2003 2500 5.7, he bought it cheap with "blown motor" that was just a broken valve spring. New heads etc, at 160k and still running at 225k. I think it's going to rust out before the motor quits . I guess 2003 ish 5.7 had bad valve springs.
 
grumpy356 said:
Stupid question...

So in the OLD days of racing, you could machine a second spark plug.
It was one of the beauty of a hemispherical combustion chamber design.
Do people still do that? And if not, why are they so proud of having a hemispherical combustion chamber???
Click to expand...
The reason they needed a second plug was because the dome of the piston had to stick so far up in the head because of the huge open chamber. The flame had to travel a long way to burn all the fuel/air. Adding a second plug ignited the fuel/air on both sides at once. Open chamber big block chevy's have the same problem. It's not a benefit, but a fix. Well I suppose back in the day the ignition systems might not have been super great so a second plug may have helped that as well. The new hemi has a better chamber but still uses dual plugs.

The hemi design moves the intake valve to the center of the bore and allows for a straight intake runner that doesn't have to curve around the push rod. The gen 3 hemi is a really good design, which is why it's won Engine Masters multiple times.
 
Exhaust manifolds and occasionally I see some cam/tappet replacements but that's about all. My 5.7L only has 36k on it,so my experience is in parts sold to our shop or other shops. Overall the Hemis seems to be pretty reliable.
 
Elwenil said:
Exhaust manifolds and occasionally I see some cam/tappet replacements but that's about all. My 5.7L only has 36k on it,so my experience is in parts sold to our shop or other shops. Overall the Hemis seems to be pretty reliable.
Click to expand...
That's what I'm hoping to hear, punting on LS in JK, just doing a hemi as they are dirt cheap and seem to be reliable.
 
Other easy service issue is the electronic lockers, need to pull the diff pan and clean the magnets. If the ‘smart bar’ electronics have quit (which engages lockers), lots of folks do a bypass and just hardwire a rocker switch direct to the diff. Power Wagon Registry forum has good info.

What is price for this truck?
 
I have 231k on my 05 PW. It had 62k when I got it. It just spit a spark plug out a couple months ago. That was the only major mechanical failure other than the 5.7 being a gutless turd.
 
dirtybird said:
I have 231k on my 05 PW. It had 62k when I got it. It just spit a spark plug out a couple months ago. That was the only major mechanical failure other than the 5.7 being a gutless turd.
Click to expand...

345/375 is not awful, even by modern standards. Is it a transmission issue, bad gearing, sucking up too much HP, ?
 
I'm pretty sure engine. The early hemis have pretty low compression ratio which I think is the issue. It has to be wound up to over 4k rpm to have any chance of pulling hills while towing. The 5 speed auto sucks in that you cant choose a gear and stay with it. I have a core engine sitting here in the shop that I have aspirations of doing a 6.4 stroker someday.
 
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I've been looking for the 09 and up from what I can tell on searches, supposed to have more compression and VVT IIRC
 
Hemis really only make good power at higher RPM. The 09 up has VCT but also has MDS which I would immediately program out.
 
Hooligan said:
Other easy service issue is the electronic lockers, need to pull the diff pan and clean the magnets. If the ‘smart bar’ electronics have quit (which engages lockers), lots of folks do a bypass and just hardwire a rocker switch direct to the diff. Power Wagon Registry forum has good info.

What is price for this truck?
Click to expand...
6589BEE5-8B2B-49BB-B705-4A8A032C6CB3.jpeg


$4000 USD. As is it won’t pass safety with the Swiss cheese body. I am sure the rockers are gone. Box can be replaced with a southern unit for around $1500-2000 here. I could flat deck it for the ultimate hack look. Front fenders are about $200 a side.

Personally, I want to low ball him 50% because it’s been posted for +30 weeks with no takers
 
The HD line, 2500, 3500, didn’t get MDS until much later, thought it was until 16 or 17. My 2012 doesn’t have it.
 
[memphis] said:
6589BEE5-8B2B-49BB-B705-4A8A032C6CB3.jpeg


$4000 USD. As is it won’t pass safety with the Swiss cheese body. I am sure the rockers are gone. Box can be replaced with a southern unit for around $1500-2000 here. I could flat deck it for the ultimate hack look. Front fenders are about $200 a side.

Personally, I want to low ball him 50% because it’s been posted for +30 weeks with no takers
Click to expand...
Gotdamn, that's an expensive truck to let rot like that.
 
Cam/lifter failure is the most common Hemi problem I see, but I don't think I've ever had to do them on a non MDS Hemi. Seen a couple broken valve springs, dropped valve seats always went with ones that had been overheated. Front end is junk, electrical is junk.
 
Shit, they roll off the lot brand new almost that bad here in the salt belt! Doesn't matter GM, Ford or Dodge, the rear wheel well is bubbling with rust within a year or two.
 
PAE said:
I remember seeing the 392 Hemi in the mid 80's to mid 90's back when I lived in LA.

They could be picked up for all of 50 bucks each.
Click to expand...
ok, sure. Never mind that it didn't exist then.
 
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