84 Ram 250

[MorePower]

I'm going to go pick up a 84'Ram 250 today to use as a winter vehicle. It has a 360 in it and a leaky 3speed automatic in it. This vehicle was used for hauling a 5th wheel. It sat for a year and yesterday I went over to the guys house and we got it started. No smoke out of the tailpipe was a nice sign.
My questions are about the tranny and the 360. What auto was commonly used? What are some of the reasons it would leak? (The fluid drips onto the exaust crossmember)What carb was commonly put on this year 360 and which heads.
I will probably answer most of these questions myself when I start to dig into the truck. I am hoping that it will make it through the winter and then I'll tear it down and rebuild the 360 for my 99' Dakota ClubCab. I'd like to yank the 318 and drop the 360 in after a fresh rebuild.
Any replies would be greatly appreciated.

[DodgeMan]

That’s an interesting story. A year ago I sold my 1984 Dodge D-250. The transmission is a 727. A very strong unit. If your exhaust is like mine was the exhaust pipe from the drivers side goes right under the bellhousing. Mine always dripped there too. I found out it wasn’t the transmission, but the back of the intake manifold that was leaking. The engine oil just ran down the bellhousing and dripped off the bottom onto the exhaust. I believe it did this just to aggravate me. My 360 also had a Carter Thermoquad on it. It must have been one of the last years for the Thermoquad. They are a good carburetor if they are working well. The heads are standard 360 heads with 1.88 intakes and 1.60 exhausts.

Switching the 360 for the 318 in your Dakota would be a large task. The 318 in your Dakota is a Magnum engine. Its intake will not bolt onto the 360’s stock heads. You would have to convert your 360 to Magnum heads. It can be done. You should look into it thoroughly though. Maybe someone out here has done it before.

Good Luck with your D-250. Mine was a real workhorse.