Small Block Rebuild or Replace??

[Lowprofile]

OK, Here's my question.....
I have a 93' RamCharger 4x4 with a fuel injected 318 & auto trans. The truck has over 150,000 miles on it and is burning oil.  Should I just pull out & rebuild the 318 and trans, or upgrade the engine to a 360?  Will all the 318 brackets bolt back on, the transmission, etc..... or will I have to get a different tranny, flywheel, torque converter etc.....

Any info or help would be appreciated.        Thanks!   

[Khyron]

well, I can say for my Charger, the 318 to 360 was flawless. same everything. bolted right in, So I would say go 360.

[Chryco Psycho]

you will need either a balnced converter or flex plate to balance the 360 & the left engine mount should be different as well , the extra torque of the 360 is worth getting

[Rocky]

I'm assuming, that since it is a 93 that it is a Magnum engine.  In that case the motor mounts are the same between the 318 and 360 (5.2L and 5.9L) unlike Chryco previously mentioned, as long as you are using a used 360 magnum or crate motor as a replacement. 

Your 318 is internally balanced.  The older 360, and Magnum 5.9 are externally balanced, and they both have a different balance as well.  This difference is most easily fixed with an externally balanced flexplate which should be easily available through B&M or a similar company.  Don't forget that the harmonic balancer is different too, so make sure you have the right unit for the balance.

I'm not sure about a difference in fuel injector sizes for the EFI, so that is another area to look at too,  otherwise, it is a very easy swap.

[694spdRT]

I think the oil pan is different also...it definately is on the non Magnums.

[Khyron]

opps, i'm an idiot, didn't think of it being a magunm 

[Lowprofile]

Thanks guys. I have a mid 80's 360 that needs a rebuild. So, other than the flexplate and balancer...and maybe a motor mount & an oil pan,
everything is aok!  I'll just need to find out about the EFI? 

This sounds easier than I thought. Thanks Guys. 

[694spdRT]

If you plan on going with a "stock" setup I would rebuild a 318 Magnum over a 1980's 360 if it were mine. I was never impressed by any of the 80's 360's until the Magnums came along in 1992. The earlier 360's got poor mileage and the power was fair at best. The fuel injection system will not work on the earlier 360 without modifications. The intake manifold bolts on differently for one thing.

I suppose you could use the 360 shortblock and convert it with the Magnum heads on your 318. The easiest route would be to find a low milage 360 Magnum and drop it in. That way you would get the parts you need and it would be set up for the factory fuel injection and probably cost less in the long run.

[Chryco Psycho]

you will need a truck oil pan for the 360 as the 318 pan will not fit , but most 360s in the late 80s were out of trucks already