Did Dodge make a 4.9 liter V8?

Not in the sense of a production Dodge 4.9-liter V8; the closest Dodge V8 displacements in mainstream use are 4.7 L and 5.2–5.9 L, with modern Hemi engines starting at 5.7 L. There is no widely documented 4.9 L V8 in Dodge's consumer lineup.

Closest Dodge V8 displacements

To understand why a native 4.9-liter V8 does not exist in Dodge’s current or recent production, here are the major V8 families that sit near that size in Dodge’s history:

• 4.7 L PowerTech V8 — a common Dodge engine used in Ram pickups, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and other models beginning in the late 1990s (about 287 cu in).


• 5.2 L Magnum V8 — widely used in Dodge passenger cars and trucks (about 318 cu in).


• 5.9 L Magnum V8 — the 360 cu in engine family, used in a variety of Dodges and Jeeps (about 360 cu in / 5.9 L).


• 5.7 L Hemi — introduced in the early 2000s and became a cornerstone of modern Dodge performance.

All told, none of these Dodge engine families were released at exactly 4.9 liters, and Dodge’s modern V8 lineup has since moved into larger displacements with the Hemi family and beyond.

Clarifications and caveats

In some discussions or mislabeling, a value around 4.9 liters may appear due to rounding, conversion quirks, or reference to non-vehicle applications (such as marine or industrial variants). Those variants are not part of Dodge’s standard consumer V8 lineup.

Summary

In summary, Dodge did not produce a widely recognized 4.9-liter V8 for its mainstream vehicles. The brand’s V8 offerings have historically centered on 4.7 L, 5.2 L, 5.9 L, and later 5.7 L Hemi plus larger variants, with no official 4.9 L engine in regular production.

Did Dodge make a 4.9 engine?

Hutch's neighbor describes the 1972 Dodge Challenger he inherited as being equipped with the 4.9L V8. Dodge never equipped the challenger with a 4.9L V8 in 1972, or any other year for that matter. In 1972 specifically, the engine options for a challenger were the 3.7 L slant-6, 5.2 L V8, and the 5.6 L V8.

What engines were available in a 1972 Challenger?

The 1972 Dodge Challenger had three engine options: the 225 Slant Six, the 318 V8, and the 340 V8. These were smaller, less powerful engines compared to previous years due to changing regulations and the "Malaise Era" of automotive history. The 340 was the top performance engine for the model year.
 
You can watch this video to see a test drive of a 1972 Dodge Challenger with a 360 engine: 58sPC Classic CarsYouTube · Feb 25, 2025

• 225 Slant Six: The base engine, producing 110 horsepower.
• 318 V8: An optional V8 engine that generated 150 horsepower.
• 340 V8: The top-tier performance option, which produced 240 horsepower. 

What V8 engines did Dodge make?

Dodge has produced a variety of V8 engines, including the classic and modern Hemi engines (like the 392 and 5.7L), the supercharged 6.2L Hellcat and Demon engines, and older engines like the 426 Hemi and Max Wedge.
 
Hemi engines

• 392 HEMI: A modern V8 known for its performance in the Challenger and other models. 
• 5.7L HEMI: A widely used engine that provides a balance of power and efficiency, with options for both naturally aspirated and supercharged versions. 
• 426 HEMI: A legendary engine from the classic muscle car era, famous for its high horsepower and torque. 
• Red Ram: One of Chrysler's smallest Hemi engines, produced in the late 1950s and early 1960s. 

Supercharged engines 

• 6.2L Hellcat: A supercharged V8 engine found in models like the Challenger SRT Hellcat, known for its high horsepower and torque. 
• Demon: A high-performance, supercharged version of the 6.2L engine with even higher horsepower output. 

Other V8s

• Max Wedge: A powerful V8 from the early muscle car era that preceded the Hemi engine. 

Did Dodge make a 5.9 gas engine?

Yes, Dodge made a 5.9-liter gas engine, which was part of the "Magnum" engine family and also known as the 360. This V8 engine was produced from 1993 to 2003 and was used in various Dodge trucks and SUVs like the Ram, Dakota, and Durango.
 
You can watch this video to learn about the history and reliability of the 5.9 Magnum engine: 59s8020 AutomotiveYouTube · Sep 5, 2024

• Production and availability: The 5.9-liter Magnum was first introduced in 1993 and was produced until the 2003 model year. 
• Vehicle applications: It was primarily used in Dodge trucks and vans, including the Ram, Dakota, and Durango, as well as the Ramcharger and some Sprinter vans. 
• Engine family: This engine was part of the Magnum line of engines, which was a modernization of Chrysler's older LA engine family. 
• Successor: It was eventually replaced by the 5.7-liter Hemi engine. 

This video compares the 5.9 Magnum with the 5.7 Hemi: 1mRichard HoldenerYouTube · Aug 8, 2021