6.1 or 6.4?

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justinp61

justinp61

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I’m going to sell my Dart and buy a 77-84 swb Dodge truck. The plan is to swap to a Gen 3 Hemi and 8 speed transmission. 6.1 or SRT 6.4, and why?

Thanks.
 
6.4... many more of them were made than the 6.1, more power, more torque, pretty much better in every way.
 
justinp61 said:
I’m going to sell my Dart and buy a 77-84 swb Dodge truck. The plan is to swap to a Gen 3 Hemi and 8 speed transmission. 6.1 or SRT 6.4, and why?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
We are doing pretty much the same swap in a 76 D-100. It's a 6.4 w/6speed manual. The 6.1s have less power yes, but they also have less stuff to go wrong too, (VVT, adaptive intake runner lenth etc.) all good things until they go wrong.
 
If you want an 8 speed, it's gotta be a 6.4, right?
 
justinp61 said:
I’m going to sell my Dart and buy a 77-84 swb Dodge truck. The plan is to swap to a Gen 3 Hemi and 8 speed transmission. 6.1 or SRT 6.4, and why?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

It depends some on your application. Isn't the Dart a racecar? If so, do you plan to race the truck or just drive it?

Personally I think the 6.4 with VVT and SRV is the better all around option. More bottom end without losing top end. But...they have weaker pistons and should be swapped if you plan to boost it or anything. So take that into consideration if you plan to turn it up in the future. Personally, I would delete MDS even with the 8HP. That's the one thing I don't trust on them.

I think the 6.1 is a little more robust and things like cam's are cheaper. And they can certainly be built to be equal to a 6.4. Plus they are simpler since they don't have VVT, not that I have heard of anyone having issues with VVT ever, and they never had MDS. Pretty sure you could run the 6.4 intake on the 6.1 if you wanted to add the SRV functionality though.

I've never owned either, but based on my understanding I would say a 6.1 would feel like a build SB, a little more peaky and softer at the bottom but very fun. The 6.4 would probably feel more like a good BB, just bigger everywhere.

Also, what has you turning away from the Dart?
 
For those who have purchased a 6.4L 392 485hp. Where did you buy from? Who sells them? Only Roseville? I tried my local Dodge dealer, they said they don't sell the performance parts, they pointed me to Mancini or Roseville. I don't think Mancini sells crate engines.
 
DionR said:
It depends some on your application. Isn't the Dart a racecar? If so, do you plan to race the truck or just drive it?

Personally I think the 6.4 with VVT and SRV is the better all around option. More bottom end without losing top end. But...they have weaker pistons and should be swapped if you plan to boost it or anything. So take that into consideration if you plan to turn it up in the future. Personally, I would delete MDS even with the 8HP. That's the one thing I don't trust on them.

I think the 6.1 is a little more robust and things like cam's are cheaper. And they can certainly be built to be equal to a 6.4. Plus they are simpler since they don't have VVT, not that I have heard of anyone having issues with VVT ever, and they never had MDS. Pretty sure you could run the 6.4 intake on the 6.1 if you wanted to add the SRV functionality though.

I've never owned either, but based on my understanding I would say a 6.1 would feel like a build SB, a little more peaky and softer at the bottom but very fun. The 6.4 would probably feel more like a good BB, just bigger everywhere.

Also, what has you turning away from the Dart?
Click to expand...
The Dart is street/strip. Nothing wrong with it, would just like to build a decent cruiser with air that runs well.

Most likely I’ll rebuild the engine, add a cam and do whatever mods needed to make it live a long life.
 
justinp61 said:
Most likely I’ll rebuild the engine, add a cam and do whatever mods needed to make it live a long life.
Click to expand...

Might be worth looking for a 6.4 truck motor then. Seems like those are cheaper and if you are going to toss all the pistons/cam/etc. anyways, it might be worth it.
 
6.4 hands down. More stroke, more availability. Think about it this way: if a STOCK (not the tires…) 6.4 and 8 speed can go high 11’s in a two-ton Challenger…

IMG_8113.jpeg
 
The 6.1 is a dinosaur at this point. Uses earlier electronics also. The eagle 5.7 is nearly as good. With a cam swap, it easily beats the 6.1. However 6.4 hands down if you are comparing to 6.1. And the best hemi of all, is of course a BluePrint 426 HEMI :)

Chrysler Gen III Hemi Compatible - 426 c.i.
 
6.4.. the heads alone are better than anything else you'll find

6.4s are cheaper, more powerful and plentiful. No debating these 3
 
I picked up a 6.4 off market place and it was cheaper. all in 2800 shipped to my house. I have already purchased car motor pistons and a bigger cam. looking for 500hp out of the box. we shall see. going in a 2900 pound 72 demon.
my dart sport is a handful already with the warmed up 5.7 so this one should be a hoot to drive!!
 
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