Why Buy a Used Ram Engine from Auto Power Source
Ram trucks have carried a short list of engines through a long list of revisions, and the VIN 8th digit is what tells them apart — the 5.7 HEMI is a different engine before and after 2009, the 5.9 Cummins is a 12-valve or a 24-valve and a standard or a High Output, the 6.7 Cummins is a Pickup or a Chassis Cab calibration, and the 4.7 changed its tone wheel and EGR mid-run. Every product on this page is titled by that VIN code. Our 532 verified Ram engines cover the whole run: the 5.7 HEMI in every 1500, 2500 and 3500 since 2003, the 5.9 and 6.7 Cummins in the heavy-duty trucks, the 5.9 and 5.2 Magnum V8s of the 1992–2003 trucks, vans and Ramcharger, the 6.4 HEMI in the current 2500 and 3500, the 4.7 PowerTech, the 3.6 Pentastar in the 1500 and Promaster, the 3.0 EcoDiesel, the 3.7 and 3.9 sixes, and the 8.0 V10.
Every Ram engine we sell has been pulled from a low-mileage donor vehicle, cataloged by VIN, and held in our climate-controlled warehouse pending sale. Each unit goes through our six-step inspection — VIN-matching against the donor and against your vehicle, compression and leak-down testing of every cylinder, noise verification, full visual inspection of block, heads and timing cover, multi-angle photography for your approval, and palletized freight. Cummins units get an injection-pump, turbo-shaft and grid-heater check, HEMI units get a lifter and cam review, and the 4.7 gets a tone-wheel and EGR confirmation. Rejected units never reach the buyer.
You pay a fraction of dealer-new pricing for the same Ram engineering, ship free on a heavy-duty pallet anywhere in the continental U.S., and have 30 days from delivery to return for any reason — no restocking fees. The warranty printed on the listing — with extended coverage up to 3 years available — covers you if anything goes wrong after install. Across 100K+ engines and transmissions in stock, we hold a 0% fitment-related return rate.
Your Ram Engine Options: Compared
Most Ram owners face four real choices when the engine fails:
← Swipe sideways to see all columns →
| Option |
Cost |
Reliability |
Warranty |
Fitment Match |
| Used OEM (this collection) |
$$$ Best Value |
High — tested |
Included |
VIN-matched |
| New OEM (dealer) |
$$$$$ 2-4× more |
High |
Manufacturer |
Exact |
| Aftermarket / Reman |
$$$$ |
Varies |
6-12 mo |
May adapt |
| Junkyard |
$ Cheapest |
Unknown |
None |
DIY |
Tested used OEM hits the sweet spot — same engineering as new, fraction of the cost.
Ram Engine Buying Guide
5 things to verify before buying a used Ram engine:
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Read the VIN 8th digit — it is the engine code, and it settles the HEMI split. Ram encodes the engine in the eighth character of the VIN, and every product on this page is titled by it. On the 5.7 HEMI, VIN D is the 2003–2008 engine and VIN T or 2 is the 2009-on Eagle with VVT — different heads, intake, cam and controller — so a 2007 engine will not run in a 2010 truck. Match the code, not the badge.
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Cummins engines are listed by valve count, output and body style. The 5.9 is a 12-valve (VIN D) through 1998 and a 24-valve (VIN 6, 7 or C) after, and the High Output version (VIN 7 or C) was built for the manual transmission. The 6.7 (VIN L) is calibrated differently for the Pickup and the Chassis Cab, and the listings say which. A standard-output engine behind a High Output tune, or a Chassis Cab engine in a Pickup, will not run right.
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Magnum V8s and the 4.7 are split by small hardware differences. The 1994–1997 5.2 and 5.9 Magnums are listed by whether the block has the EGR valve hole, and the 2002–2004 4.7 by its 16- or 32-tooth crankshaft tone wheel and by EGR or no EGR. The controller reads the tone wheel, so the wrong engine cranks and will not start — the listing tells you which one you need.
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Promaster and Ram 1500 engines are not interchangeable. The Promaster runs a transverse 3.6 Pentastar and a transverse 3.0 VM diesel; the 1500 runs the longitudinal versions of both. Same displacement, different mounts, oil pan, accessories and controller — match the vehicle line before the engine code.
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Confirm the match with your own VIN before you order. Your VIN settles the engine code, drivetrain and build split in one step. Text it to +1-307-441-5554 and we will confirm in writing exactly which unit fits your vehicle before you pay.
Our ASE-certified technicians verify every one of these points against your VIN before any unit ships.