Ram 1500 6.4 Hemi Specs Explained: What It Actually Has

The Ram 1500 has never come with a 6.4L HEMI V8 from the factory. That engine has always belonged to the Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty lineup, not the half-ton 1500. If you searched for “Ram 1500 6.4 Hemi specs,” you’re probably thinking of the 5.7L HEMI, the V8 the 1500 actually shipped with from 2003 through 2024.

This guide covers why Ram never brought the 6.4 down to the 1500, what engines the 1500 actually offers, the real 6.4 Hemi specs for the trucks that do get it, and whether a 6.4 swap into a 1500 is realistic.

Why the 6.4 Hemi Was Never Offered in the Ram 1500

The 6.4L HEMI, nicknamed the “BGE” for Big Gas Engine, was built specifically for Ram’s Heavy Duty trucks starting with the 2014 model year. It uses a cast iron block, forged internals, and a camshaft tuned for a flat, low-RPM torque curve, exactly what a 2500 or 3500 needs for towing and payload, not what a half-ton needs for daily driving and fuel economy targets.

Putting a 6.4 in a light-duty 1500 would work against Ram’s fuel economy math. Half-ton trucks face tighter fleet efficiency targets than HD trucks, and a bigger, thirstier V8 in the 1500 would hurt those numbers without adding much real-world advantage over the 5.7.

When Ram wanted to give the 1500 a high-output V8 option, it went a different direction entirely: the TRX and RHO trims got a 6.2L Supercharged HEMI instead, a completely different engine built for straight-line power, not towing.

Ram’s leadership has also ruled out bringing the 6.4 to the 1500 as a special trim. In a January 2026 interview with Autoblog, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis directly addressed the idea of a 6.4-powered 1500 special edition and dismissed it on business grounds, pointing out that the current Hurricane High-Output six-cylinder already outperforms the 6.4 on paper. For a deeper look at how the two trucks stack up beyond engines, see our Ram 1500 vs Ram 2500 specs comparison.

Ram 1500 Engine Lineup From 2003 to 2026

Here’s every engine the Ram 1500 has actually shipped with, in order of introduction:

The 5.7L HEMI was discontinued for the 2025 model year, replaced across most trims by the twin-turbo Hurricane I6, then reintroduced for select 2026 trims alongside the Hurricane lineup. None of these five engines is a 6.4L HEMI.

The closest thing the 1500 ever got to HD-level displacement is the 6.2L Supercharged HEMI in the TRX and RHO, and that engine is a completely different design built for high-RPM power, not low-end towing grunt.

6.4 Hemi Specs in the Ram 2500 and 3500

For the Ram 2500 and 3500, the 6.4L HEMI makes 410 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 429 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm in standard pickup trims. Chassis cab models with a GVWR over 10,000 pounds run a lower state of tune, dropping to roughly 367 to 370 horsepower to match their duty cycle.

• Displacement: 6.4L (392 cubic inches)
• Compression ratio: approximately 10.0:1 (truck tune, runs on 87 octane)
• Construction: cast iron block, aluminum heads, 16 spark plugs (two per cylinder)
• Transmission: 66RFE six-speed automatic on trucks with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs or less, or the heavy-duty Aisin AS69RC six-speed automatic above that threshold
• Multi-Displacement System (MDS) for fuel economy during light-load cruising

For the full breakdown, including towing and payload figures by trim, see our Ram 2500 6.4 Hemi specs guide.

5.7 Hemi vs 6.4 Hemi Specs Side by Side

On paper, the 6.4 out-muscles the 5.7 by about 15 horsepower and 20 lb-ft of torque, which isn’t a huge gap given the 6.4 is hauling a much heavier HD truck around. The comparison only really matters if you’re cross-shopping a 1500 against a 2500, since the 1500 was never available with anything bigger than the 5.7 as a naturally aspirated V8. For the complete specs, maintenance intervals, and common issues on the 1500’s actual V8, see our 5.7 Hemi specs guide.

Some 1500 owners look at those numbers and ask if a 6.4 can be swapped in instead.

Can a 6.4 Hemi Be Swapped Into a Ram 1500

Yes, a 6.4 Hemi swap into a Ram 1500 is mechanically possible, but it isn’t simple. The 6.4 shares the same block family, motor mounts, and bellhousing bolt pattern as the 5.7, so the engine itself bolts in. Owners on RamForumZ have completed the swap using a 6.4 crate engine, with one documented case sourcing a brand new take-out 6.4 truck HEMI for around $4,000 before labor, wiring, and tuning.

The real complication is electrical, not mechanical. The 6.4 uses different VVT and MDS calibration than the 5.7, and on any 1500 built with the eTorque mild-hybrid system, forum consensus is that eTorque cannot be retained through a 6.4 swap. That means an eTorque truck loses the 48-volt system’s smooth stop-start and torque assist entirely once the 6.4 goes in. For the full step-by-step process, wiring notes, and parts list, see our 6.4 Hemi swap into a Ram 1500 guide.

The Ram 1500 Engine Bottom Line

The 6.4L HEMI has never been, and still isn’t, a factory option in the Ram 1500. It lives exclusively in the Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty lineup, where its low-end torque curve and reinforced internals are built for towing and payload, not daily driving.

If you want the most power currently available in a 1500, the High-Output Hurricane I6 beats every HEMI Ram has ever put in a half-ton truck. If you want the classic V8 feel, the 5.7L HEMI is your only naturally aspirated option, and it’s now a used-market-only choice for the 1500. Either way, knowing which engine belongs to which truck saves you from chasing a spec sheet that was never written.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Ram 1500 have a 6.4 Hemi option?

No. The 6.4L HEMI has only ever been offered in the Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty lineup, starting with the 2014 model year. The Ram 1500’s largest naturally aspirated V8 was the 5.7L HEMI.

What’s the difference between the 5.7 and 6.4 Hemi?

The 5.7L HEMI makes 395 hp and 410 lb-ft in the Ram 1500, while the 6.4L HEMI makes 410 hp and 429 lb-ft in the Ram 2500/3500. The 6.4 is a heavier-duty design with a flatter torque curve built for towing, not just a bored-out 5.7.

Can you put a 6.4 Hemi in a Ram 1500?

Yes, the engine bolts in using shared mounts and bellhousing patterns, and owners have completed the swap for around $4,000 in crate engine cost alone. The main obstacle is that eTorque-equipped 1500s cannot retain the eTorque system through the swap.

Why did Ram stop making the 5.7 Hemi for the 1500?

Ram discontinued the 5.7L HEMI across most 2025 Ram 1500 trims in favor of the twin-turbo 3.0L Hurricane I6, which meets emissions and fuel economy targets more easily while making more power. The 5.7 returned for select 2026 trims alongside the Hurricane lineup.

What’s the most powerful engine ever offered in the Ram 1500?

The 6.2L Supercharged HEMI in the TRX and RHO trims, rated at 702 hp and 650 lb-ft, is the most powerful engine ever offered in the Ram 1500. Among six-cylinder options, the High-Output 3.0L Hurricane comes closest at 540 hp and 521 lb-ft.