5.7 hemi

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3404spdfish

3404spdfish

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this might be the wrong place but is there anything wrong with a 03 5.7 hemi engine? non MDS type from a truck. i got a free one slightly pureaid on the inside
 
Early 5.7's that I saw, anyways, had issues with cams and valve springs. Also, if they overheated, they would often drop valve seats, and cause catastrophic failures, sending metal everywhere including up into the intake manifold.
 
I have an 04 in my Barracuda for 14 years now still running great. I abuse mine. So I don’t think there is anything wrong with an 03 at all.
 
03-08 are known for dropping valve seats(extreme over heat condition), weak oil pumps, and bad timing tensioner. I've seen the effects of all these situations. In general, they are very decent engines. I have two half ton trucks(an 03 and an 08), with 97 thousand and 178 thousand miles respectively. Both have been maintained properly and often. Just like any engine ever made, if it was taken care of you'll be fine. If not sure, tear into it. They are relatively cheap to put back together.
 
well this 5.7 hemi didn't want to play anymore due to timing guide failure., i was just wondering before I throw money at it like new heads to eliminate valve issues, upgrade oil pumps, different cam after some research not sure what's out there.
 
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The problem" from personal experience" has nothing to do with overheating etc..
The interference fit valve seats would fall out, not when overheated, not when on the freeway at speed but after just a warm up, park and restart after 20 minutes or so.
Failure is instant with no warning.
I have an 06 Magnum R/T 5.7. My failure was at 83,000 very pampered miles. Never got hot. Mobil 1 oil changes every 5k.
I drove to a DR. appointment, returned to car about 1/2 later. Started engine, instantly sounded like loose bolts in a metal coffee can.
Towed home. 2 dead cylinders with spark plug electrodes mashed flat. heads toast.
Replaced with remanufactured engine with upgraded valve seats, oil pump and timing chain tensioner.
Common problem on 03-09 5.7 Gen III.
Good short block and the money you saved can go towards upgrades.
 
In your own experience, over heating was probably not a factor. In many others it is. Just like timing chain related failures. In my neck of the woods I rarely saw those cause any catastrophic failure on a 5.7. I heard of it but never saw it, though I did see drivability issues from it. I find it interesting that vehicles in different geological locations have different frequencies and types of failures not necessarily relative to the geological and climatic differences between those locations. I certainly agree, the OP has a good foundation action to work with, that short block, provided nothing else got damaged. Its nice to not have to work around that MDS system on the early ones.
 
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I was shopping for new heads well ahead of my failure. Dealers were on a nationwide back order for new factory heads but officially said they were having no problems with them.
I have been involved in a lawsuit against Chrysler since 2015 and have communicated with many, many 5.7 owners across the US. The general consensus was that overheating was not one of the major causes. Surely some but not the majority. Of course Daimler/ Chrysler and then Cerberus, next Fiat SPA, now Stellantis refuse to admit a design flaw.
 
I remember the time they were out of heads. I had to replace a set due to broken exhaust studs. A younger tech tried drilling them out. Instead of welding nubs and nuts. He ended up drilling into the coolant passages. that truck sat around a long time. Luckily, it belonged to one of the sales people.
 
MoparLeo said:
I was shopping for new heads well ahead of my failure. Dealers were on a nationwide back order for new factory heads but officially said they were having no problems with them.
I have been involved in a lawsuit against Chrysler since 2015 and have communicated with many, many 5.7 owners across the US. The general consensus was that overheating was not one of the major causes. Surely some but not the majority. Of course Daimler/ Chrysler and then Cerberus, next Fiat SPA, now Stellantis refuse to admit a design flaw.
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GM never paid a time for all the engine gasket failures, either, which also ruined a lot of engines. Dumped the coolant with no warning right into the sump. Mine happened on a very low mileage Olds, with no warning. Only reason I caught it, is that it was "just" cold enough, I had a little heater going. But "a wife" would not have noticed. That failure will not activate the temp sensor in time to save anything
 
loganscuda said:
I have an 04 in my Barracuda for 14 years now still running great. I abuse mine. So I don’t think there is anything wrong with an 03 at all.
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Exact same thing here, 04 5.7 in my Cuda for about 14 years and no problems whatsoever. I did put a 6.1 cam in it and changed all the valve springs to the 6.1 exhaust springs before putting it in my car. I'm in the desert southwest ( it gets HOT here!) and I have hammered on it many times with no ill effects.
408 swinger said:
03-08 are known for weak oil pumps.
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Mine has always had great oil pressure! 70 psi at start up, dropping down to 35-40 psi at idle when at operating temps.
 
400,000 miles. Oil changes every 3k
2003 dodge ram
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20220402_140530.jpg
 
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