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Old 04-08-2001, 10:08 AM
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zig zig is offline
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all right i can get a hold of a mid 80s 318 for dirt cheap that needs a rebuild. i am also wanting to drop a V8 into my 94 V6 dakota. i know all the other stuff about the swap, but will this engine be a good core to start with in the way of building up a motor?? i want to stay fuel injected, either stock magnum hardware or an mpi kit. i'm guessing i will need to put magnum heads for this to work, but otherwise will this idea work?? i'd also be into boring and stroking it while i am at it. who makes kits for this application?? are 318 and 360 blocks the same?? thanks for any help in my quest for more power.....
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Old 04-08-2001, 10:54 AM
goldduster goldduster is offline
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It can be. Here's the scoop about the blocks. The mid 80's 318 is an "LA" engine with a 3.91" bore and a 3.31" stroke. If it has "302" heads it is a good one, though you can't get cams for the roller cam engines. A 360 "LA" Engine has a 4" bore and a 3.58" Stroke. The blocks are nearly Identical in appearance, but the oil pan bolt pattern is different on the 360, and so are the main bearings.

"LA" engines oil through passages in the block/heads and they have shaft mounted rocker arms and solid pushrods
"Magnum" engines oil through the pushrods/lifters and have pedistal mounted rockers and hollow pushrods and roller cams (though you can get cams for these)

The magnum lifters and pushrods wont fit in an "LA" engine, and you must run an electric fuel pump with a magnum. Wolverine makes the conversion parts so that you can put Magnum heads on your "LA" engine (AMC style lifters, hollow pushrods, etc...)

I don't think you can get an oil pan to put a 360 in a 1st gen Dakota. I'd stick with the 318.
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Old 04-08-2001, 10:30 PM
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Hammer 74 Hammer 74 is offline
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Does the Dakoda use the front motor mounts or the mid-engine mounts? The new Magnum motors in a Ram use the mid mounts which the older LA does not have.
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Old 04-09-2001, 01:33 AM
blk66sat blk66sat is offline
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Zig i just got done with my motor 318 mag heads thare are some things you need to know 1.Mag heads have bad habit of cracking so spend your money on the new RT mag heads 2.you dont have to get the wolverine stuff mopar has the push rods for the converstion #p5007477 ahell of lot cheeper use amc lifters and your cam but remember that the mag heads have 1.6 rockers .Mopar also makes a stroker crank for the 318 . good luck
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Old 04-09-2001, 01:45 PM
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thanks for all the replies. well first i think my 2nd gen dakota has the middle motor mounts. so it sounds like i would have to fab up some mounts if i used this engine.
i would definetly go with some good heads. so blk66sat did you put fuel injection on it then?? what kind of car did you put it into?? how much power do you think you're putting out?? those are the main things i want, fuel injection and a good amount of power. did you use mopar pistons also?? thanks again...
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Old 04-09-2001, 10:11 PM
blk66sat blk66sat is offline
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Zig i put a m1 man for carb but the man has bosses for fi you have to machine them out i put the motor in my 71 demon have not driven it yet am waiting for a drive shaft .the bottom end is stock 318 as are the pistons iput a comp cams 268hi energy cam it has a nice lope to it .mopar has 4 hole throttle body that might work for you if you go with the m1 manifold #p4876375 .Iguss mopar just came out with the rt heads this year or idhad gotten them all ican do hope is that my heads dont crack to soon if you need more help email at moparman109@hotmail.com blk66sat
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Old 04-09-2001, 11:50 PM
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Hammer 74 Hammer 74 is offline
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I have not heard much of heads cracking. Hope mine are good. I injected a 380/360 last year. Still working out some bugggs. Hears a link to the pics. I installed it in my 74 Dart.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/Album...a=12211147&f=0
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Old 04-10-2001, 12:34 PM
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waynebo waynebo is offline
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You would be beter of to find a set of 87' up to 91 pre mag heads,casting #302.with 1.88int. and 1.60ex their the best 318 head around and have the beter shaft rockers which means no converting.Mopar perf. book says their good for 55hp over the early castings,that is a serious perfmance head.I have a set and the combustion chamber looks identical to my w-5 heads,nice exhaust port to. waynebo
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