[2006 magnum awd]

Last August I got a screemin deal on an 06 r/t Magnum AWD & we love it. It's a base model with limited options, but so be it.
Last month I bought for $800 another 06 r/t Magnum AWD. It has the options I was initially looking for when I bought the first Magnum.
Unfortunately whoever had it before, ran it out of oil & locked up the engine. It was abandoned & then became property of a tow company. Another party bought it & did nothing with it. Then I bought it, for $800.
The next week I was searching craigslist for a donner engine when I came across a brand new factory Mopar shortblock that listed for $3650. The guy I bought it from had got it from Mopar for a project & then decided to go with something different. I picked the shortblock up for $1500. CANT BEAT THAT DEAL!
The shortblock doesn't have any valvetrain components, so I can tailor the cam, etc to my needs.
I'm new to the 5.7, but have a good general knowledge of vehicles & drivetrains. A friend of mine who will be helping me with the project has extensive machine shop skills & access to a machine shop. That's my ace in the hole.
The shortblock has 1-05139102AC
As a part#. It has several other numbers & barcodes that I need to have my local Dodge dealer decipher for me when I run the above number in the inter-web, I find no build info on it due to it being "temporarily unavailable"
I'm looking for a good balance of performance, a broad torque range & also good fuel economy. I wish to keep costs down wherever possible, but will spend as much as necessary to have a long lasting & bullet proof engine. I'm not looking to go wild in this build. My machinist friend can do the head work, etc.
If one, or more of the knowledgeable subscribers to this forum could advise me on the best most cost effective components & sources for the needed parts, I'd very much appreciate their time & input. I want everything to be new &/or remanufactured.
From what I've read here in this forum is that the 5.7 is a very good engine that has a lot of potential to be much better using stock components from a 6.1 or 6.4 such as intake & exhaust manifolds & high flow cats. I'm thinking about installing a new pump & torque converter just to prevent future issues (the car has 137k miles) or would this be a waste of time & money?
If there's anything that can be done about the "hemi tick," now would be the time to address that issue, if there's a remedy.
Thankyou for any & all thoughts & ideas from you all to help me on my quest to put this Magnum back in service.

 

[gunnut]

Just saw this post. Look up Modern Muscle Extreme (MMX). They have a cam and ported head package for $1,900 that would give you what you’re looking for. Then, for another $895 you can get Hellcat manifolds and catted downs, and get rid of those horrible 5.7 exhaust manifolds. I’m putting those manifolds on this week with 3” down pipes. I was going to go header route, but the only improvement over factory SRT s is long tubes. I drive mine for business, and didn’t want the troubles (starter access, heated swing arm and sway bar bushings, etc) associated with long tubes for a daily driver. Congrats on a good purchase.

 

[2006 magnum awd]

Just saw this post. Look up Modern Muscle Extreme (MMX). They have a cam and ported head package for $1,900 that would give you what you’re looking for. Then, for another $895 you can get Hellcat manifolds and catted downs, and get rid of those horrible 5.7 exhaust manifolds. I’m putting those manifolds on this week with 3” down pipes. I was going to go header route, but the only improvement over factory SRT s is long tubes. I drive mine for business, and didn’t want the troubles (starter access, heated swing arm and sway bar bushings, etc) associated with long tubes for a daily driver. Congrats on a good purchase.

Thanks for the shout out GUNNUT.
I will look into MMX, but I'm not looking to get too wild. I've got a good friend who is a top grade machinist & fabricator. He will be doing my head work. I'll be looking for 6.1/6.4/or hellcat exhaust & better cats for sure. Most the rest will be mainly stock. (Wife's car you see. She's wild & knows the skinny pedal on the right a bit too well at times. I don't want to scrape her or what's left of a good Magnum out of a ditch.)
One thing I'll need to research more, is differences between R/T & my AWD.
Once again thanks for your info!

 

[gunnut]

The ported heads, cam, and SRT headers would put you into SRT and scat pack territory. The AWD adds a bit of weight to overcome from a performance perspective, but you you will be able to use all that upgraded power, and your wife will enjoy it (lol). I remember back in the 80’s my dad dropped a 13 second bracket engine in my mom’s Cordoba, she complained at first until she actually drove it, and became the car to beat in town (lol). Have fun with your project and post updates for everyone to see.

 

[2006 magnum awd]

Once again thanks for the advice GUNNUT.
Right now, I've got to concentrate on our first Magnum. It went into limp mode yesterday.
Stuck in first gear. Trans fluid black & a bit of burnt odor. I serviced the trans two months ago. When I pulled the pan, the filter wasn't attached to the valve body. I suspect the same problem again, & the fluid is drawing into the valve body above the dislodged filter. I'll see if the magnet can be relocated under the filter to keep it attached it's intake port on the valve body. I'll stack some computer hard drive magnets on top of the original magnet to shim the filter to keep it in place. I'll have to check the wiring for good connections as well. I'll see what codes, if any, it's throwing & go from there.
Thanks again gunnut.

 

[gunnut]

Yeah, no fun for you for a while! All the best on your transmission quest. Keep us updated if and when you build your engine.

 

[2006 magnum awd]

Will do

 

[L.A.Freedom]

The ported heads, cam, and SRT headers would put you into SRT and scat pack territory. The AWD adds a bit of weight to overcome from a performance perspective, but you you will be able to use all that upgraded power, and your wife will enjoy it (lol). I remember back in the 80’s my dad dropped a 13 second bracket engine in my mom’s Cordoba, she complained at first until she actually drove it, and became the car to beat in town (lol). Have fun with your project and post updates for everyone to see.

I have a 76 Cordoba! ….89 Lebaron,…. And now an 06 Magnum…

 

[2006 magnum awd]

I've just began my work on both my '06 Magnum AWDs. The one I will keep with the new 5.7 short block is on hold until I get my first '06 back on the road & sold. It had trans issues & upon second fluid & filter change I found metal parts in the pan. I'll have it completely gone thru & put into my '06 with the new short block & have all new engine & trans. My question is about swapping the two transmissions from one '06 to the other '06. Do I have to swap transmission control modules from one car to the other? In other words keep the trans & module together as a matched set. Will there be anything else necessary like resetting the computer, or anything else? Thanks for any info you can give.