Engine Swap

hemisixpac · Post by **hemisixpac** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 2:17 pm

I have a 71 Dodge D100 with a 318/727. Basically I want to do an engine swap up to a bigger dodge motor. The thing is I don't want to have to do that many changes as far as altering engine compartment. I just got new headers and exhaust system so I was hoping to not have to by new ones. Would a 360 be the easiest upgrade in motors as far as bolt on and go? Thanks

nfury8 · Post by **nfury8** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 2:59 pm

You are probably better off doing some performance upgrades to your 318. The 360 will offer a little, but not a lot. I am not a big 360 guru, I think the headers will bolt up, but aren't the exhaust ports bigger on a 360? I have heard of people putting 360 heads on 318's.

With that said, a big block conversion would not be that much more than going to a 360, I think. Everything you need should be able to be pulled from a late 70's big block truck. I am sure you could find a new home for the headers, and the exhaust would probably not need much modification. Everything else should bolt on.

My truck was swapped to a 400 before I bought it, WOW! It has some serious power!! Now fuel economy is another issue. 10mpg no matter what.

hemisixpac · Post by **hemisixpac** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 4:52 pm

Thanks for your input, anyone that has done a similar swap to a bigger motor with good results I would appreciate your opinion on what I should do. I would like to use my 727 transmission still because I just had it rebuilt. It sounds like finding a later 70s donor truck might be a good idea, tell me what you think....

farmhand66css · Post by **farmhand66css** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 6:03 pm

Well I know a 1977 360 works in a 66. That is what my truck had in it when I bought it. It mounted to the same bell housing and transmission( 4 speed) I pulled it out and went back to a 318 poly. wanted something original.

Matt

66patrick · Post by **66patrick** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 9:34 pm

The 318 and 360 use the same bellhousing bolt pattern, but you will require the torque converter or flywheel off a 360 to accomodate the swap when going to a 360. For a B/RB swap, you'll of course need different mounts and a new tranny (or bellhousing, if manual), but you probably know that.

Whichever way you go, you should be good!

Floorguy · Post by **Floorguy** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:06 pm

I recently swapped an 89' 360 into my 2wd 71' D-100 with ease. It had the 318(484,000 miles) and the 727 automatic. I had to swap the torque converter as well, which didn't cost extra since the tranny & converter were being rebuilt at the shop anyway (either rebuilt converter was the same price). The only modification was the motor mount on one side. It had to be cut at the top, where it bolts onto the block, spun 180 degrees and welded back on. The bellhousing pattern was the same, as well as the exhaust/header bolt pattern. Also, the pulleys/brackets even matched. One of my concerns at first though, was the oil pan clearance. The 360 came out of an 89' 2wd Dodge 1/2 ton truck. The pan ended up clearing the front axle, no problem. This swap was very simple. The 360 is readily available as well as parts/upgrades. As far as the output, there is a very big difference. Much more power. I would recommend this swap to anyone.

Post by **cowboy** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 6:53 am

The 360 has more Tq then the 318 & juat a few more horse's , when frist built the 360 was made for trucks , it was later in life that the 360 found it way to cars , the reason you have to change the Tq converted is the 360 in externaly balenced & the 318 is internaly, & I think it's the right side mount thats need to be modafied, it's a good easy swap & well worth it ,

Website · Post by **wideblock** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 6:07 pm

my 69 crew has been swapped to a 360. its running the 318 intake, exhaust and all external parts. the only thing 360 is the block and heads. so id say everythign swaps over. the 360, with very few upgrades will out do the 318. more torque, more hp, and with a good exhaust and a nice cam and intake, you can get 325-360hp easy. aint that easy on a 318 to get that much horsepower and still be reliable. id recommend the upgrade, its the easiest one to do, and the results will speak for them selves.

MountainMoparRobin · Post by **MountainMoparRobin** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 8:17 pm

Wow I can't believe Trey's response! If I didn't know that you had owned a 318 before I'd swear you were a loyal 360 man.
Theres a 318 build up in the CarCraft magazine, February or the March issue, with a 318 build up that puts out 400 hp, and the cost wasn't much at all.
You have to decide which engine you want to build, what you want the truck to do for you and then research and build.
Keep in mind the 318 has a shorter stroke than the 360, thus rpms will be faster, and small blocks love RPM's.
What ever choice you make good luck and have fun!

JJ · Post by JJ » Sat Sep 25, 2004 7:51 pm

Guys there is night and day difference between 318s and 360s! To swap to a 360 from a 318 is a left side(driverside) motormount and either a torque converter for a 360 or the weight kit from chrysler to make it a 360 converter or a B and M flexsplate to use the 318 converter. The rest will bolt up with no issues. There is no comparison in the power output or more importantly for us the amount of torque produced by the 360 over the 318. I can tell you from experiance: bowl port the heads, four barrel(edealbrock or better yet a demon) cam from mopar performance or racer brown, flattop pistons and a 2200 stall converter and these can put a serious hurt on a big block.

Website · Post by **wideblock** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 12:17 am

hey robin, we are talking l.a. blocks here. i will say this, my l.a. 360 is better in stock form then any l.a. 318 stock form i have ever been in. i have raced both 318's and 360's, and helped build both. with the mods you would do to a 318 to get 350hp, the same mods will get you 375-400 from a 360. but, my stock poly, might not have outran the 360, but it would out pull it in a heart beat. i miss my low end torque monster

MountainMoparRobin · Post by **MountainMoparRobin** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 8:59 pm

I can't forget all those years I heard Trey with a poly 318!
I like hearing these post on building motors!
Any motor can be builded get to know it first and build to its strengths, and improve its weakness.
We really should get serious and have a get together.
Readind this makes me want to go outside and do some burnouts.