Vannin' Home Forums Dodge General Discussion How far do I go?

77 B200 with 318 and 252K on the clock. Put on 3800 miles since ownership. Uses very little oil, starts ok, runs ok, just don't feel good about taking it anywhere. Pulled it in the shop for the long winter and noticed radiator fins were deteriorating. Long holiday weekend and now I have the whole front end opened up. Radiator, trans cooler, alternator, water pump and fuel pump removed. I couldn't find my compression tester (been thirty years since I used it) so I will run a test next weekend. With the whole winter to go yet where do I stop or should I pull the block and have it rebuilt now. Replace intake and exhaust. Just looking for some thing I can take on a long vacation and not have to be towed home. Thanks

Gone that far I would go all the way!

Yes, thanks for the encouragement. Ceramic headers and new intake? 4 barrel or really go big with new EFI system? I'll see how the compression test works out. Radiator support looks like it's been worked on in the past. Looking for a new one this morning and have not come across one yet. Any sources? Thanks

Sounds like you are in pretty deep. Might as well do a full rebuild if you can.

Especially with 252,000 miles!

Especially with a small block, it's easy in and easy out. Sure you'll have a couple grand in it by the time you're done but it's a lot less hassle than getting a tow truck to drag you home after something finally lets loose. Take a picture of the slop in the timing chain. The factory nylon gears were quite but the wore really fast after that 80,000 mile mark.

Block is out, have a lead for a 75 360 out of a pickup. Would I be better off rebuilding the 318 or the 360? Will the 360 bolt up to my 727 tranny?

Thanks for the help

The 360 will "bolt up" but you will need a 360 torque converter because the 318 is internally balanced and the 360 is externally balanced. Also the passenger side mount is different on the 360....not sure if p/u mounts are the same as van mounts to be honest.

If it were me I'd stick with rebuilding the 318. Great little engines.

Ok, finally got to drop the 360 block off at the local builder. Race engines stacked everywhere. These guys have been busy over the winter. Builder told me to use a different flex plate(looks like a full circle with a bite out of it) and use a 318 high stall torque converter(2500-3000 rpm's)because they are easier to find then the 360 torque converter. Anybody go this route with success? Thanks

I thought you were wanting a long trip motor? Maybe I read something wrong, but headers, intake, high torque stall, more cubic inches are all going to add up to more power and less mileage. Not that it can't be done, but why not just rebuild the 318 with maybe a set of headers if the sound is what you're after and focus on the economy and reliability side of the house. When you start squeezing more power out, it quickly snowballs into a street/strip motor and then it's not much good on long trips unless you have really fat pockets. Just my 2 cents.

With the size of the B200 and pulling a small boat I figured the 360 power would be great to have and I have most of the components to add A/C. I got the 360 for $300 79k miles with motor mounts and a perfect front bumper off a camper. Mine had a few dings. The 360 still had all the cross hatching in the cylinders so it could be less for the rebuild. I'm hoping they can build me a reliable engine. I asked about installing fuel injection in lieu of the carb and they told me not at their shop. Anybody have good luck with these systems?

Thanks

Okay, if you're towing then a little more performance would help, but a high stall converter will raise heat, so might not want that.

Fuel injection is a great thing, sadly I don't have any experience using any on older engines myself as I also enjoy the simplicity of carburetor maintenance. I've heard really good things about the Holley EFI systems though, so they're probably worth it.

$300 for a 360 is a good deal man, I wouldn't have passed on that either.

That is good. There's a 1971 Challenger for sale near me with a seized 318. He wants 15k, which is cheap for my area. A 360 would be enough to drive for fun everywhere.