[t vago]

Well, got the Red Sled back on the road, after 6 months of off-and-on working on it to replace the dead 4.7L V8 engine that spun #8 piston's conrod bearing.

The replacement engine is also a 4.7L V8, but it is out of a 2009 Dodge Durango 4WD. The engine has 2 spark plugs per cylinder, a compression ratio of 9.8:1, and a revised exhaust manifold set. It also generates quite a bit more power and torque over the rating of the engine I pulled out.

The replacement engine is also drive-by-wire, so I replaced its intake manifold with a 2002 HO manifold out of a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I also installed 12-hole fuel injectors, and a 65 mm throttle body out of a 2000 Dodge Dakota. I replaced the transmission computer with one out of a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, so now I have a 5-speed transmission instead of a 4-speed. Along with the 12-hole fuel injectors, I installed the same fuel rail temperature equalization modification that my Fiat Dakota currently has.

With this modified Durango, I took the family on a trip to Ohio and back, putting about 1700 miles on the frame over the course of a 5-day trip. Average fuel economy is apparently 25% over EPA estimate.

I will, of course, work to improve this even further. The Durango, being the new family hauler, will see a lot of city driving, and I expect the average fuel economy to drop somewhat.