Craig,
I know how you feel. I spent approx. $7,000 on my 95 5.9L. It started with
the Vortech install, 9 months and an additional $4,500 above the
supercharger kit netted
me a truck I could live with. A change always led to another problem. The
greatest challenge was the pistons. The Magnum uses a dish/dome piston
unlike any
of the earlier A-engines. The end result was a highly modified Keith Black
piston (needed to drop the compression down with the blower). There aren't
many choices
out there for internal parts (crank, pistons, valve components, etc). A big
chunk of the buildup costs came from injectors, custom computer, and the
ignition retard
setup. I am sure that most of the crate motors available use standard OEM
components anything different will be very costly. The advantages (at least
in my case)
is that I really know what I have got and I know that the engine went
together clean (one of my biggest worries). This offsets some of the
frustrations.....
Frank
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Craig Baltzer [SMTP:Craig.Baltzer@Anjura.COM]
> Sent: Thursday, October 08, 1998 2:43 PM
> To: 'dakota-truck@buffnet.net'
> Subject: DML: RE: Mag Buildup
>
> Thanks Frank. I had explored the 380 crate route prev., but to get it
> converted over to injection with a Mopar Perf. cam, etc. I had heard
> estimates of anywhere from 70-90HP loss from the local Mopar heads.
> Still nothing to sneeze at, but basically the same HP as the "stock"
> 5.9l with cam/headers/intake. For blower use, then the head work would
> still be req., as would some more "robust" pistons (and possibly crank
> as well) so basically all that was left was heads, block and crank from
> the "crate".
>
> I guess I'm still a bit bitter about my attempt at the 5.2 buildup that
> wasted literally months of my time screwing around collecting parts,
> chasing orders, and trying to make things work. Block and parts alone
> ran $4.5K (no blower), and then I had another $3K worth of outside work
> plus tons of my own in it. This "ready to drop in with no screwing
> around" has a lot of appeal to me after that :-)
>
> BTW thanks for the lead on Hughes, I'll have to chase them down for a
> chat!
>
> Craig
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Holloway,Frank T [SMTP:Frank.T.Holloway@KP.ORG]
> > Sent: Thursday, October 08, 1998 1:17 PM
> > To: 'dakota-truck@buffnet.net'
> > Subject: DML: RE: RE: RE: RE: Mag Buildup
> >
> > Craig,
> > If it were my choice and I was looking for a crate engine, I would do
> > one of
> > two things. I would either purchase a 300 or 380 HP Magnum Mopar
> > Performance
> > crate
> > motor (price between $3,000 - $4,000). To use either engine, you would
> > need
> > to scrap the intake manifold, cam, distributor, timing chain cover,
> > water
> > pump, and
> > oil pan (use your existing parts). The advantage here is all new parts
> > including the nice looking MP valve covers. My other choice would be
> > to
> > purchase an engine
> > from Hughes Engines. Dave Hughes is one of the sharpest individuals I
> > have
> > come across in the Mopar A engine world. Last time I checked, his
> > early A
> > engine
> > (top of the line) crate motors were approx. $6,000. He also does build
> > Magnum engines. The Vortech kits for the Magnum list for approx.
> > $3,200 but
> > can be had
> > for approx. $2,500. Either way, the price should be a lot less then
> > $10K. My
> > first choice for myself would be to build the engine myself.....
> > Frank
> >
> >
> >
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