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Question about 360 Magnum tuning
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Posted by: David

Hello!

I´m David from Berlin, Germany.

My Dad drives an 1996 Dodge Ram PU with the 318 Magnum V8.
Now i buyed an 360 Shortblock from a 1998 Grand Cherokee LX with a scratched cylinder wall for him.

Now we want to make his Car faster with Dome Pistons(Hyperreutectic?) and a Mopar Performance Cam.
But i cant find the right Pistons on Summit.

And nowbody that i now nows wich volume the comb.chambers of the orginal Magnum Heads have.

Can anyone here tell this to me, and maybe any Hints for tuning this engine?

Thank you

Posted by: The OLE MAN

Where to start................

I think you have been reading to many MAGS. This is NOT a put down to you. Just don't believe everything you read in them.

Bigger cam, domed pistons and a different ( scrathed ) block.

My first thought is WHY...........

For someone who knows little about motors, I would suggest a CRATE MOTOR if you are bound and determined to do this. I probably goping to be cheaper and a better package when completed.

BUTT, if you still want to..............

First, check out the scratch in the cyclinder. How much do you have to cut to get rid of it. The 360 blocks aren't the thickest things on the planet. Much over .040 and I would shit can the block.

Second, I'm not totally sure the 360 block will bolt up to the 318 tranny. Havne't done alot of work on the NEW stuff. Seems to me you have to replace the flex plate. Need to check that out.

Third, domed pistons in a SMOG motor. Better check your VALVE clearance on this one. And, will the heads flow enough to make a difference?

Fourth, go back to my original statement and buy a crate motor. This is a diaster waiting to happen and I don't want you to spend alot of money you might or might not have. Especially on a car that it sounds like you NEED to drive.

Buy an older car and do a PROJECT first. If you survive that, THEN try you DADS truck. My guess is, you WON'T finish the project and throw up your hands and walk away. AGAIN, this in NOT a put down to you. I've just seen it TOO many times.

The OLE MAN

Posted by: David

Hello Ole Man!

Sorry, but your "help" comes to late.

I find the right Pistons (look here at the en of the page: http://www.hughesengines.com/www/hu.../360pistons.asp)

The Cyl. wall have only small scratches, .030 is more then enugh.

And for the rest: I work in a car repair shop, and i own a 1553 Desoto.
If i write that i built a engine for my Dad then i dont say that i´m 20 and workm on my first engine.

but thank you

Posted by: The OLE MAN

Sorry, I thought this was your FIRST attempt at building an engine.

Does that 360 block bolt up to the 318 tranny?

I haven't tried one yet myself.

The OLE MAN

Posted by: David

No Problem.

The tranny should fit becouse the Jeep Gr.Cheerokee´s have the 318 with the 46RH tranny, and the Doge have the 42RH/RE with the 318 and the 46RH/RE with the 360.
(taken from Transstar Catalog)

My brother is mechanican by Chrysler here and he means that it will fit too, but we have no much Dodges here.

David

Posted by: Grape Ape

The 318 and 360 are all but identical blocks from end to end. I ain't no Dodge guy, but that I know. They used the same trannies for years, like the 727 or 904, whatever... Same bolt pattern though, I'm sure.

David's only real problem is also a benefit. He's in Germany. Smog means little or nothing there, unless something's changed in the not so distant past. The problem, Dodge's are few and far between... Well heck, that's no different than here in America!

Posted by: David

Thats really no Problem, but only because it´s an US-Car.
Nobody here from "TÜV" (2-yearly Car-check) or Police can difference this engines, they not even understand what 360 mean.

But if you own an european car it´s not so easy...

Posted by: RAd Nova

318 and 360s are NOT identicle i believe its the 318 that is internally ballanced and 360 externally and as such u must use the correct torque converter

Posted by: bneaves

The 318/360 Magnum motors are identical except for the crank, which RadNova mentioned. You must use a Balancer and convertor from a 360 as it is external balance. Go to http://www.krcperformance.com and send email to tech support, Marty will help you out. He knows his stuff and is a great guy to deal with. He can get you a custom set of Ross pistons to you compression ratio wanted. I would swap the heads with a set of Mopar Performance 1.92's, with a M1 2bbl intake, 52mm F&B throttle body, Mopar PCM(or a custom flash), and a KRC 210x cam. That should put you in the range of 280-300 RW HP. Got any thing I can help with shoot me an email, brian.neaves@volvo.com

Posted by: Big X

I have a 400 mopor engine that have two set of points . I have a dodge dart sport with a 360. Which engine will give my dodge dart more horsepower for the less amount of money?

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