2003 Ram 2500 V10 into 78 Chrysler New Yorker

77 LeBaron

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Can a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 V10 & Tranny be stuffed under the Hood of a 78 Chrysler New Yorker ? The information I have states the V10 is only 4 inches longer than the 318/360 block now height and width I do not know. I am going to toss it around with local Mopar junkies tomorrow. It would have lower HP but mega torque and might be faster considering the New Yorker weighs in at 4500LBs and the Ram close to 7000LBs. I have access to a totaled 2003 Ram 2500. Just a thought probably not possible though. My first thought was to envision it in a 1977 LeBaron !
 

Oldiron440

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You need to start with something that has a long fan shroud. That's going to give you the addition space for the v10.
 

89.Fifth

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Yeah it'll fit. The /6 is longer than the V10 so it's doable, but damn that's going to be a nose heavy car. My dream is a Viper V10.

I'm sure you can expect a lot of fabrication.
 

BudW

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If an automatic (which V-10 transmission bolt pattern is different from anything else on the market place) it should fit - with some transmission crossmember modification and maybe floorpan modification (because the overdrive transmission will be larger and longer than the 727).

If a 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmission – again, you will need extensive floorpan modification (more than the automatic) and crossmember modification to fit (those are a monster size manual transmission – and it weighs about 750 pounds, by itself).

The engine mounts will need to be modified as well just about everything else.

I think you can spend a ton less money and do something with the 440 – and you know that everything will already fit.
Big block stroker kits are becoming fairly decent price wise, now.

The New Yorker will have a 9¼" differential with 2.71 or 2.94 rear gears (most likely). Getting a 3.21 or 3.55 ratio gear set from a pickup is easy to do and that alone, will wake that New Yorker up.


Is this for the eBay New Yorker from Piedmont, OK?

Also, there is not much performance parts available for the pickup V-10
BudW
 

JLN5thAve

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In agreement with BudW. The 440 has so many more options for additional performance that it is a much smarter engine to max out.

When I was working on my '73 Buick Regal and my '88 5th concurrently, at one point I had considered putting a 440 in the 5th - and it would have worked.. I however decided against it - maxed out the 455 Y block instead and had more than enough fun.

The V10 sounds like more of a novelty idea.. less of a benefit honestly.
 

77 LeBaron

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I dropped the idea after consulting with the local pro's and contributors in this forum .
 

BudW

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Getting off topic a little - even Dodge dropped the V-10 from their lineup on pickups, a bit after the new Hemi’s came out.
I think, mainly, because of the dismal fuel mileage the V-10’s got.

Ford still has a V-10 (I think . . . ) – but even they get dismal fuel mileage, as well. They are mostly for their big vehicles or multi-passenger vans (18 person or larger) - when a diesel engine is not wanted.

The Viper V-10 is a completely different engine – but same transmission and motor mount bolt pattern. Just about everything else is different. Now dropping a Viper engine into a car, I think, would have a lot more support on – but I think you would still have a LOT less money in modifying the existing 440 and a LOT less stress on getting things to fit in the car.

Please keep up us updated on this project!
BudW
 

77 LeBaron

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As I stated in my initial post it was just a thought I was kicking around under the influence of grain alcohol ! I did toss it around with the Mopar pro's and they like you Bud stated it could be accomplished with major sheetmetal modifications running several grand in labor. And actually the 2003 Ram 2500 carcass was sold lock, stock, an barrel for $4,500.00 . I will stick with that V10 .......... 318 in my 77 LeBaron for now which I am having reconditioned , and lay off posting while drinking my own corn squeezings .
 

slant6billy

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I cannot find the thread, but the V10 is longer than the slant6 by about 6 inches from what I remember. Ford still makes a V10. My budy just bought a Ford roll back for his shop. The cost of a Diesel was not attractive for maintenance. I would not mind having a clean late 90s V10 Dodge truck. I've seen them forsale in high trim packages for cheap with low mileage. I guess people bought them and regretted the fuel mileage. A good 2 wheel drive version that was not a tow mule would probably be a decent buy. I would not want the headache of shoving a V10 in a car. It would probably be just as painful to put one on a chassis and drop a car body on it.
 

BudW

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I'll . . . lay off posting while drinking my own corn squeezings .
No worries.
Personally, I like when people think outside of the box. Who knows, it may be the new next best thing out there, like dropping the new Hemi's into older cars.

In this case, I don't think the new Hemi has the down low grunt needed to move a mid-'70's C-body, though - but then again, who knows.
BudW
 

XfbodyX

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I have a late Gen 1 viper crate motor and a early Gen 2 viper crate motor, both production line complete. Overall the the Gen1 would be the easier vs the gen 2 since there are many stand alone programmable ecm-s.

I had considered a swap but my main reason I obtained them was for future resale as even now a low mile late Gen1 used on ebay goes for 3x what I paid for the new one. Starting with the late Gen1-s 405hp they were all forged motors where the early ones were not.

Even with the Al. V10 doing the math a mild 4.0 stroke small block V8 or a longer stroke would be a much better balance and cheaper in the long run.

To me the only benefit would be the two overdrive gears in the viper six speed and the no hastle fuel injection.

Even with the vipers there is nothing exotic about the cooling system but actually rather simple even as simple as a fmj cars cooling system. The vips used a std thickness three core iirc. rad. and a low profile thin electric fan and shroud.

Yes it would be cool eye candy but not the stump pulling, race car that immediately jumps to the mind.

With the Gen1-s getting fairly low in price with alot of miles or hurt motors that might be my future.

I just cant get used to the V10 sound, to me they are like a pair of six cylinders.

There actually is a good many performance parts around but only used but most gains are seen through the worked ecm or the programmable aftermarket, and a good free flowing cat free exhaust.

Id almost like to see what a stroked semi hi reving V8 would do in a viper chassis, I have seen some crazy old plymouth prowlers converted to a V8 magnum that were very impressive.

But to the org. thought of a iron truck V10, I dont think there would be many gains vs sacrifices.
 

MiradaMegacab

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Duke5A

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Guys are really doing crazy things with low displacement V8's and turbos. They're getting an unbelievable amount of horse power to the wheels and turning tens in the quarter with small tires too. If I hadn't gone big block I would have do something like that with a 318 or 360, but I chickened out and went for simplicity.
 

BudW

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About a decade ago, I was thinking about what to do with my ’86 Fifth Ave. At the time 400ci stroked small blocks were available. I was also thinking about what I want for long term.
I don’t plan on racing or street racing (even though there is a popular TV show who films that kind of thing, not far from me) – but would like to take car to road race once or twice in my lifetime.

Other plans is I want car to be (mostly) trouble free for next 100k+ miles, primary driven (daily driven) in city with occasional long distance trips and have plenty of low end power on tap when I want it.
Another goal is wife can drive car – without her complaining about it. Also I want car to be quiet and smooth at idle as well as all of the other conveniences of a Fifth Ave, like cruise and A/C has to work.

I personally don’t care for high RPM engines – so my plan is to build a low deck 400 with peak torque around 1,500-3,500 RPM and shift points at around 5,000 RPM (maybe). With right camshaft (not yet selected), intake and so forth, I think all of that can be done.
However, I suspect, once done – the car might roast the tires with little effort.

In effect, I also decided on simplicity.
BudW

I would like to see details and pictures your A518 big block setup (along with pictures of rest of your setup)!
 

77 LeBaron

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Bud the V10 into a New Yorker swap is DOA which I posted with a few ounces of Tennessee tranquilizer in me as Granny Clampett once called it. But a newer more realistic swap is now within my reach . My venerable 318/ A904 powertrain combo in my 1977 Chrysler LeBaron could possibly be replaced with a totaled 112 K (rear ended) 1997 Eagle Vision TSI mated to a 3.5 L , 214 BHP / 42LE W/ 4 Speed Auto Stick Option which I acquired for $500.00 . This is being researched as I post ! The LeBaron is a base model with no collector value and better MPGs and daily driving is the goal . If this is feasible I will proceed within the next year in a timely and slow manner , also cautiously and albeit finances permitting. Hope does Springs Eternal !
 
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BudW

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The 3.5L engine was being used by Chrysler until 2010, until it got replaced by the 3.6L engine.
That 3.5L engine is pretty darn stout in stock form. Matter of fact, I think a newer Challenger or 300 with a 3.5L could keep up with 90% of the 60’s muscle cars, possibly.

A 3.5L engine with a rear wheel drive transmission I think would make a nice combo in an FMJ car – once someone figured out how to mount it to K-Frame and made the transmission tunnel changes.
It might even get a person 30+ MPG without trying hard.

A person might want to look at what it takes to install the Gen3 Hemi – for ideas. I know the Gen3 Hemi uses different mounts and has a different transmission bolt pattern – but I was thinking about all of the other changes, needed.

If I was going to replace a small block in my FMJ body, my choices would be:
. Big block (because of less overall changes and parts availability)
. 3.5L V6
. Gen3 Hemi (which I think is still too expensive overall – but a ton of aftermarket parts are available for it).
BudW
 

80mirada

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Gen 3 Hemi is the same bellhousing bolt pattern as an LA/Magnum (even uses the same bolts). There is a special flexplate to hookup a 727 or 904 based trans. Schumacher makes mounts, but it looks like the heads will hit the firewall, but there is room to massage the sheetmetal. TTI, and Hedman make headers for the swap.
 

80mirada

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I think the 3.5 swap would be interesting, would need a trans from an LX car..... custom headers, engine and transmission management could be adapted from the Visions controllers, maybe.
 
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