360

Green Dakota · 09-20-2007, 09:22 AM

I have a 1998 Dakota 2wd club cab SLT. It has the 318 5.2 in it with a AEM cold air intake system, pacesetter headers, and flow master 40s. I am looking at rebuilding a 360 and putting it in my truck. Here is were my questions lie. I will be doing all this in a pretty good shop at school with my shop teacher but i need to know if the motors are the same size? Is the intake manifold, exhaust manifold, water pump, alternator bracket, interchangeable. If so how old of a motor can i get so that i can take stuff off my 318 and put it on the rebuilt 360. If the rebuilt motor has a carb can i change it to fuel injection? Will putting a new motor in mess up my trucks computer? If any one knows were i can get a 360 please let me know. thank you.

ucfierocharger · 09-20-2007, 10:54 AM

First, Welcome to the forum.

The 5.2L you have is the Magnum block I believe which means you will need a magnum 5.9 in order for it to bolt up. Im pretty sure the magnum block was started in 1994, so I would assume any vehicle 1994 and up with the 5.9 would work.

Quote:

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/318.html

Magnum Engines (318/5.2, 360/5.9, 3.9 V6)

318 LA series V8 engine from Chrysler - magnumThanks to Carl Payne

The main differences to the "new" 5.2l and the "old" 318 are in the block and heads. The new block affords roller lifters, yes it has changed lifter agle for same, and has bosses for the lifter retainers. The heads are high-swirl / high-flow heads, though not the old "X" heads of the 340, and obviously the Magnum has that cool intake. the "new" 5.2l came about in changes made in '87, which were fully incorporated by '90. The changes were made to facilitate a more common creation of the 5.9, 5.2, and 3.9 V6 engines.

Webmaster note: with the Magnums came more standardized parts between the 318 and the 360, mainly to the benefit of the 318. The 360 has seen new life in a special edition Jeep Grand Cherokee and the new Durango. The "Next Generation" V8 family produces similar power with less weight, fuel use, and emissions, though durability is unknown. I'll miss the LA family's low-end grunt and long life, but the new engines seem to rev more freely, are more efficient, and may be as bulletproof.

Gary Howell wrote: "The Magnum 318 and 360 engines are LA engines with different cylinder heads. The blocks are physically the same as the earlier LA engines, except the oil passage for the shaft mounted rockers is not drilled, because the Magnum engines oil through the push rods. The boss is there if you need to use the old style heads."

Apparently the blocks are identical with a few exceptions so an old one (LA family) SHOULD be able to bolt in, but your computer would be screwy. Since the heads are different in the newer ones you probably could not use a new intake on an old motor or vice versa.

I know that on the older ones the intake, water pump, alternator bracket etc are interchangable, but on the new ones I am not quite sure. I would suggest looking up part numbers and see if they are the same. Most of the parts are interchangable, but its always good to check.

You CAN change a carburated motor to fuel injected, but why would you want to

. you can, but its pricey if you dont have the parts already.

I would suggest nabbing the computer with the motor when you pull it to aviod computer conflicts. I am much more familiar with carburated/non computer engines, so that is how I would do it, but Im sure you can get someoen to reprogram it or simply replace a chip on it to work with the 360.

Sorry If this just confuses you more, I am doign the same project with an OLD 318 to an OLD 360, so If you were doing that project I could make it clear as mud

auggie56 · 09-22-2007, 06:59 PM

One thing I ran into on a 72 that had a transplanted 360 from a 318 (or vice versa). The torque converter on one has a counter weight for engine balance. The other doesnt. This cause a vibration in the car. It's been to long for me to recall witch. But I'd check to see that the torque converter was the right one for that engine your putting in. I solved the problem by knocking off the weight.
I'd think though you in for allot of problem solving, but not impossible. The electronics will be the toughest.

Green Dakota · 09-25-2007, 08:49 AM

thank you guys for your help. Do you know of any places i could get a newer 360 magnum?

ucfierocharger · 09-25-2007, 12:52 PM

The 360 is externally balanced, and that is the one that has the weight on the torque converter.

You can (if your lucky) find one in a junk yard. they put them in the grand Cherokee and I believe the ram. 1994 and above. Ill be starting a thread on my 318 to 360 swap in my 73 charger.

polyhead_318 · 10-24-2007, 06:13 PM

i've had one of each generation of 318 (62 dart poly318, 65 a100 la318, 01 ram magnum318), so if you're still in need of answers let me know and i can post la/magnum interchangeability.

SixtySixDeuce · 11-05-2007, 07:57 PM

The 318/360 swap will always have some quirks. Most things will bolt up (driver side engine mounts are different). But the engines use different oil pans (rear bearing caps are different) and 360's are externally balanced (this can be changed, but it's spendy). On the magnum engines, the 318's use a bellhousing mounted crank sensor instead of a distributor mounted cam sensor. Not a big deal going 5.2 to 5.9, though. You will need the PCM for the 5.9l truck if you want it to run right. You will also need the 5.9l TC or flywheel. This is where you may run into problems, as 360's were never mated to manual transmissions in Dakota's and 5.2l trucks usually got a 42RE or 44 RE trans, while 360 trucks are 46RE. I am not sure the converters can interchange (or that the PCM for the 5.9l truck wil be compatible with the 42 or 44 trans). Best bet would be to aquire the 5.9l trans as well. If your truck is a manual trans and you are rebuilding the 5.9, I would suggest having it internally balanced so that you can use your flywheel. This is what I did with my '51 pick up so that I could use the baby torqueflight I already had rebuilt.
As far as parts compatibility from LA to magnum, there isn't much. It's similar to GM with 2nd gen SB's vs. Vortec engines. Esentially the same engine, but heads, intake, exhaust, valvetrain-all different. Addionally, the water pumps and timing covers are different on the LA and magnum engines.

ccflash22 · 11-05-2007, 08:03 PM

Be very glad you found this forum. This information is PRICELESS. Alot of trial and error has went into this info.

Kenny

440roadrunner · 11-11-2007, 03:04 PM

Sixtysix, you are obviously ahead of me, specially on the later generation engines, but there might be one other thing:

For those wanting to go with a manual box, at least in the engines I'm familiar with, Chrysler was FAMOUS for NOT doing two things to an "automatic" crankshaft--

The crank may not be drilled deep enough to accept a stick, so you either have to bore the crank, or cut off a little of the pilot shaft

and...

many weren't bored to "standard" pilot bearing size, either. You USED to be able to buy undersized pilots for auto cranks, from good parts stores.

(First time I saw a 4 speed with about 1/2 missing from the pilot, I'm like, WTF??)

09-20-2007, 09:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
Green Dakota Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3	360 I have a 1998 Dakota 2wd club cab SLT. It has the 318 5.2 in it with a AEM cold air intake system, pacesetter headers, and flow master 40s. I am looking at rebuilding a 360 and putting it in my truck. Here is were my questions lie. I will be doing all this in a pretty good shop at school with my shop teacher but i need to know if the motors are the same size? Is the intake manifold, exhaust manifold, water pump, alternator bracket, interchangeable. If so how old of a motor can i get so that i can take stuff off my 318 and put it on the rebuilt 360. If the rebuilt motor has a carb can i change it to fuel injection? Will putting a new motor in mess up my trucks computer? If any one knows were i can get a 360 please let me know. thank you.

09-25-2007, 12:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
ucfierocharger USB car drive man Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cincinnati OH Posts: 142	The 360 is externally balanced, and that is the one that has the weight on the torque converter. You can (if your lucky) find one in a junk yard. they put them in the grand Cherokee and I believe the ram. 1994 and above. Ill be starting a thread on my 318 to 360 swap in my 73 charger. __________________ Unique mopar flash drives? http://www.usbcar.com

11-05-2007, 07:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
SixtySixDeuce Shooter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 17	The 318/360 swap will always have some quirks. Most things will bolt up (driver side engine mounts are different). But the engines use different oil pans (rear bearing caps are different) and 360's are externally balanced (this can be changed, but it's spendy). On the magnum engines, the 318's use a bellhousing mounted crank sensor instead of a distributor mounted cam sensor. Not a big deal going 5.2 to 5.9, though. You will need the PCM for the 5.9l truck if you want it to run right. You will also need the 5.9l TC or flywheel. This is where you may run into problems, as 360's were never mated to manual transmissions in Dakota's and 5.2l trucks usually got a 42RE or 44 RE trans, while 360 trucks are 46RE. I am not sure the converters can interchange (or that the PCM for the 5.9l truck wil be compatible with the 42 or 44 trans). Best bet would be to aquire the 5.9l trans as well. If your truck is a manual trans and you are rebuilding the 5.9, I would suggest having it internally balanced so that you can use your flywheel. This is what I did with my '51 pick up so that I could use the baby torqueflight I already had rebuilt. As far as parts compatibility from LA to magnum, there isn't much. It's similar to GM with 2nd gen SB's vs. Vortec engines. Esentially the same engine, but heads, intake, exhaust, valvetrain-all different. Addionally, the water pumps and timing covers are different on the LA and magnum engines. __________________ *Wanna make those folks with the rice rockets close thier mouths? Just mention the word "torque" and watch them shrink away.*

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09-22-2007, 06:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
auggie56 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 15	One thing I ran into on a 72 that had a transplanted 360 from a 318 (or vice versa). The torque converter on one has a counter weight for engine balance. The other doesnt. This cause a vibration in the car. It's been to long for me to recall witch. But I'd check to see that the torque converter was the right one for that engine your putting in. I solved the problem by knocking off the weight. I'd think though you in for allot of problem solving, but not impossible. The electronics will be the toughest.

09-25-2007, 08:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
Green Dakota Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3	thank you guys for your help. Do you know of any places i could get a newer 360 magnum?

10-24-2007, 06:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
polyhead_318 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: cali's valley Posts: 34	i've had one of each generation of 318 (62 dart poly318, 65 a100 la318, 01 ram magnum318), so if you're still in need of answers let me know and i can post la/magnum interchangeability.

11-05-2007, 08:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
ccflash22 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 41	Be very glad you found this forum. This information is PRICELESS. Alot of trial and error has went into this info. Kenny

11-11-2007, 03:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
440roadrunner Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 272	Sixtysix, you are obviously ahead of me, specially on the later generation engines, but there might be one other thing: For those wanting to go with a manual box, at least in the engines I'm familiar with, Chrysler was FAMOUS for NOT doing two things to an "automatic" crankshaft-- The crank may not be drilled deep enough to accept a stick, so you either have to bore the crank, or cut off a little of the pilot shaft and... many weren't bored to "standard" pilot bearing size, either. You USED to be able to buy undersized pilots for auto cranks, from good parts stores. (First time I saw a 4 speed with about 1/2 missing from the pilot, I'm like, WTF??)