OT . Used Dodge 1/2 ton Pickup

Need another pickup, Fastenal has several company pickups for sale. 2008 1500 Dodge trucks all less than 30K. Some have hemi V-8, whatever that means, for $14,700. Some have regular V-8, which I assume means a 318 engine, for $12,000.
I have no idea what these trucks are worth, it this a fair price? Or am I better off buying a stripped down new 2010 something. Thanks

you really dont know what a hemi is? the 'new hemi' has been around a few years, its basicly a high performance engine with hemispherical combustion chambers which are more effecient, making the engine produce more power for a givin size, personally while they are quick i like the original ones better , no the originals were not found in trucks unless somebody crammed one in there back in the '60's lol drive one and you'll get a clue, other than the different engins a lot depend on how the trucks were taken care of just like any purchase the prices are right if the trucks are in good shape if there beaten down then no, look at something else

The new Hemi's are not a true Hemi!!! They do not have a hemispherical combustion chamber. Dodge owned the rights to that name and they are using it as a sales gimmick. Its just a glorified "Magnum" with overhead cams.

Kris!! If Dodge had a daughter I would have married her!, But you have me beat! You sound like a true Mopar pureist.

I would add that a google on "dodge 426" would probably anwser most remaining questions.

I thought it was a hemoroid. Glad you informed me correctly

The Hemi engine is a 5.7L v8 with 300+ horsepower and 350+ ft-lb torque. If they have variable power output, you can get close to 20mpg with that engine. It's nearly the same power output as the 8L v10 they had, only about half the fuel consumption.

The 318 engine was discontinued in '99 or '00. It was replaced by the 4.7L, which is a smoother running, more efficent engine, but isn't as bullet proof as the original.

The Fastenal trucks are probably all 2wd and the most basic of options. $14k sounds like a fantastic price if they have 4wd, otherwise it might only be a decent price.

Good luck.

318 was discontinued in 02

My mistake. The 4.7L was used in the Durango and Dakota starting in 2000. It wasn't used in the Ram's until 2002.

A TRUE MOPAR NUT would know that the only TRUE HEMI are the 50's Chrysler, De Soto, and Dodge Hemis. The 426 IS NOT a true Hemi because both the intake and exhaust valve were tilted 12 degrees toward the intake so the head could be narrowed to fit the "B" block. The new generation Hemi uses less that a true HEMISHERE, Half of a SHERE, because it has been found, by NASCAR engine builders, that a SMALLER combustion chamber with less piston dome makes more power, is more fuel efficients, and has lower emissions than the BIG combustion, big domes used on both the 426, and the 50's Hemis. A point of trivia. The first production Hemi, 1951 331 CID Chrysler only had a 7.1 to one compression ratio.. On the 426 NOT being a true hemi with the valve tilt. That said NO ONE can argue with the power they produced in late 60'/early 70's PRO STOCK racing trim.

Kent

"Four Wheel Drive & Off Road" magazine says that
the "new" Hemi"s are not really Hemi"s, as in the
old days. Chrysler owns the rights to the trade
name "Hemi" and is just using it as a marketing
ploy to lure in unsuspecting,(stupid) buyers!

With all names and biases aside, the 5.7L v8 engine that Dodge is using produces 330hp and is able to get 20mpg highway in a full size 4wd pickup.

I still think that's an impressive combination regardless of what they call it.

I have a Dodge Ram 2500 and would trade it for a Chevy any day! I do like the fact that dodge have good axles under the trucks but that"s about it. They rust out fast, have steering problems and cost more for parts than a Chevy.
But I won"t even think about buying a Ford!

And what are your reasons for not buying the Ford?

The new Hemi's are not a true Hemi!!! They do not have a hemispherical combustion chamber. Dodge owned the rights to that name and they are using it as a sales gimmick. Its just a glorified "Magnum" with overhead cams.

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The 3G Hemi is not an overhead cam motor. Mother Mopar started with a clean sheet of paper. Completely different animal than the LA family it replaced

the bore centers and v angle are the same as the LA and magnum engines, so they could keep some of the tooling. Other than that, it's a new motor. They have less dome in them so they can keep the chamber hotter, which helps emissions. Where they actually make their power is with the way the valves are angled. It allows a straighter shot into the cylinder for the intake charge, and a straighter path out for the exhaust. They are fired by coil packs instead of a distributor, and each coil fires a plug on its cylinder, and one that is 180 around the crank from it's cylinder. One plug it fires is on compression, the other on exhaust. That way if a coil pack fails, each cylinder has at least one plug still firing. They also run two rocker shafts per head, like both previous generation Hemis did. Beyond the v angle and bore centers, and the bell housing bolt pattern, there is nothing common between a new Hemi and a Magnum or LA engine.

Magnum heads can be swapped to an LA engine, but LA heads will not work on a Magnum block. The Magnums oil the rockers through the pushrods like a smallblock Chevy. The LA heads oil them through the rocker shaft pedestals.

The second generation 426 Hemi had a unique block. You can't bolt Hemi heads on a B (383, 400) or RB (Raised-deck B, the 413 and 440) block, nor can you bolt wedge heads on a Hemi block. They also used a unique input shaft on the manual transmission.

The first generation Hemi blocks are actually quite similar to the 383 block.

I guess the new generation Hemi can really be woken up with a cam. You will run out of valve-to-piston clearance before you max out the airflow while adding valve lift. You can also buy a kit, or a whole motor, from Indy Cylinder Head, that strokes the 5.7L (345 C.I.) out to 426 inches, and the 6.1L (apx 370 C.I.) out to 440 inches.

I've worked on a lot of Fords from old half tons to 450 chassis motorhomes and I never liked the steering linkage setup on these, it transfers too much in to the wheel on bumps. Plus they have toe-in on up and down movement. Weak hubs, my Dodge is bullet proof in this catagory with Chevy somewhere between the two. Fords cost more for parts also, like Dodge. Would never buy a Ford Diesel, cummings is the way to go or new Chevy Dirtymax Diesel - they both whoop on Fords at the pulls! I would own a late 70's Ford with a straight axle leaf front end but that would be it.

The first generation Hemi blocks are actually quite similar to the 383 block.

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There is nothing that can be swapped from an early Hemi block to an 361, 383, 400 B block.
Bell housing pattern is different, distributors are in different locations, and will not interchange, heads, cranks, the list goes on.
The early Hemi's have more in common with the LA family.

392 block

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B/RB blocks

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The Mopar magazines say you can substitute a 383 block or select 383 parts in an earlier engine, maybe an AMC? I'm not sure, the investors pushed the prices up so ridiculously I quit subscribing. $3500 for a rolling shell for a Dart? That's nuckin-futs!!