newer truck/ old power

[dodgeboy67]

it appears  that my truck is going to die......has anyone ever put an older motor in as a replacement?.....does anyone know what will bolt up to my 5 speed tranny?

ive checked around for a replacement 318, so far im not impressed with the remans ive seen.............im told by the dealer that it is almost as cheap to put a new hemi in it

if i could find a low milege  boneyard motor i would try that , but it seems the boneyards would rather you buy the whole truck as a repairable, or they wont sell parts off of it at all

im sure i could find one if i looked hard enough , but then id end up paying a bunch on shipping

so , im hopping that one of you was crazy enough to try shoehorning an older  motor in a newer truck and was succssessful.

not worried about the resale ill never get rid of it anyway, i like it too much, besides it would be cool to put a 440 in it

[Todd Wilson]

What year is your truck?


todd

[dodgeboy67]

98 ram 1500 4x4

[694spdRT]

I think putting a 440 behind your 5 speed would be difficult and I doubt it would handle the torque even if it would fit. I doubt transplanting a Hemi is going to be easy either.

Is rebuilding your engine out of the question? 

If funds are an issue I would look for a drop in used 318 Magnum engine as that should be the cheapest. A late model yard should be able to locate one for you easily. Most of the time shipping is not too bad with yard to yard deals. I like bolt in deals because the truck will be back on the road quickly without dealing with the issues associated with transplants. Plus, the Magnum engines are decent for power.

[Charger4404spd]

I rebuilt my truck engine myself for less than $2000. This includes all the machine work and everything but the crank and rods was replaced.
At least if you do it yourself, you know what you got, unlike buying a junkyard engine.

[694spdRT]

It really depends on how much skill each person has. If he is willing to spend $2,000 or more I agree to rebuild the engine and then he will know what he has. I am planning to build up a low mileage 360 Magnum I picked up for $100 for the Challenger and the machine shop qouted me $800-900 if it didn't need an overbore. That includes a valve job on the heads also. If I balance it, put a cam in, or bore it the price will definately go up from there.

If he wants something for much less than that a used engine is about the only way to go. In that case I would look for a low mileage wreck that ran good enough to drive to the accident.    

[chrisII]

for 1500 you can get a magnum  or LA 360 short block from most dealers. the heads ect from the stock 318 shuld bolt on there. ive gotten conflicting storys bout balance differences between LA and magnum 360s  ooh an btw these short blocks are packin huge cams, might wana go smaller on that. for 3500 you could buy a 300hp crate 360

[694spdRT]

Will the factory 318 computer run a 360 Magnum? I think they are different.

[Todd Wilson]

Your best bet is to rebuild or replace your 318 with another one. It would take a lot of fab work to get a 440 into your truck. You also have emission issues depending on where you live. Your truck will have to pass emissions and the 440 wont do it. Lots of fab work and wiring changes to get an old skool engine to work.


Todd

[dodgeboy67]

ive just seen several  lower milage  old school motors that are ready to run for cheaper than i can find any boneyard or crate motor.....i can do most of  at least the grunt work myself .the truck has alot of miles on it , and i think i like my truck more than my wife sometimes.....lol

i dont really care about all of the computer stuff, i wont be driving cross country with it....its just a work truck....i just want to make sure the gauges and heater , etc will all work . that , and im not sure that anything will bolt up to my tranny . although ive been told all smallblocks will.but noone as of yet knows about the motor mounts

im kinda a tight ass....

[dodgeboy67]

for 1500 you can get a magnum  or LA 360 short block from most dealers. the heads ect from the stock 318 shuld bolt on there. ive gotten conflicting storys bout balance differences between LA and magnum 360s  ooh an btw these short blocks are packin huge cams, might wana go smaller on that. for 3500 you could buy a 300hp crate 360

id like to find those dealers....i was told by 2 different dealers in indy that it would be almost 4 grand for a 318

i wouldnt mind spending 1500 on a short block if it was a good one.....ive heard so many bad things about jasper motors and some of the others

does anyone sell a rebuild kit for that new of a motor???the newest ive seen advertised is 96, i believe that was in summit

[chrisII]

sorry , lost this thread. the short block i refered to is a mopar engine. im guessing you can buy it from summit for around $1500. my buddy can get it for $1200 as a mopar parts salesman at a larger dealer in the area. either way all the mopar crate engines are avalible from summit and jeggs, altho o wouldnt bite for the prices i saw at jeggs.

[dodgeboy67]

sorry , lost this thread. the short block i refered to is a mopar engine. im guessing you can buy it from summit for around $1500. my buddy can get it for $1200 as a mopar parts salesman at a larger dealer in the area. either way all the mopar crate engines are avalible from summit and jeggs, altho o wouldnt bite for the prices i saw at jeggs.

thanx fer the info