I have a 1978 D-150 Power Wagon, and I can't tell what engine is in it. I had siezed the motor on a trip to my grandmothers because i was young and stupid and didn't realize a lot of things. So I need help trying to figure out how to tell what engine is it right now. I was told it was either a 318 or a 360 and if so can either engine use the same transmission and other external parts. Please let me know, i'm looking to get the truck back up and running. thank you.

 

Look on the block down by the starter you will see a number cast into the block. Last three digits will be engine size.
I am 99% sure either motor will bolt up to what you have. I have read the 360 needs a different pan. Not first hand knowledge. It will need a truck pan for sure, so if you have a 318 and need the truck pan it will have to come from a 318 truck, and visa versa. Other than that it all bolts right in. If your new motor came out of a truck you are good regaurdless of what comes out.

 

318 and 360 pans are different. As to balance 318 will work with anything, The 360 needs a balanced converter or a special 360 B&M flex-plate. Another way is to look at the crank damper
the 318 will be like 1" and the 360 is about 1 3/8"

 

There are some casting numbers on the passenger side of the block. Post those up and we will show you how to tell what you have for a block.

 

I heard from two of you that there's casting numbers on the passenger side and driver side. So then which is it is my question.

The truck is up north at my grandmothers closer to the canadian border and I don't have a proper mode of transportation up there to look. So it will take me some time before i can let you guys know the casting numbers. Now are these numbers on the bottom of the block or are they going to be somewhere closer to be seen easily? And thank you guys for helping me out, the truck has been sitting since summer of 2010 and i want to get it back up and running so i have 1) a mode of tranportation and 2) my truck back.

But I will definitely let you guys know once i get the numbers.

 

You don't normally need to even get "down under". Look at the FRONT of the block on the DRIVER side immediately below the parting line at the head/ block. There will be a long string of stamped numbers there, unless the block was an oddball rebuild, etc. The CID will be (I think) the second, third, and fourth no's. IE X318XXXXXX.....

 

if the motor is original, and you can get someone to go look at the vin and tell you it over the phone, you could look and see what motor came in it.

 

If you have the VIN, post it here. We have people here who can decode them.

 

Hey guys, i have the VIN that's on the registration. Here it is:

W14BFS240905

If someone can decode it and tell me what engine came in it that can help. I plan on going up and fixing the truck within a few weeks. Thanks guys

 

I have not found any decoder on line that says its a valid VIN no. to many errors in to many places. Maybe some of the no's and letters arent what they first look like.... I have tried 5-6 different sites and none will decode this no. ie: the 4th digit should be a no and not a letter etc.... the F maybe an 8? etc. maybe someone else will have better luck than i did....

AND it being a 'truck' is another hurdle it seems, but surely someone can help...

 

Well i know i'm heading up north to where the truck is at so i can start working on it so i'll be able to look on the block. I know i've tried to look up VIN decoders online and didnt find anything. But i know i'll figure it out once i'm working on it. It'll be about a week or so when i head up there.

 

this is the truck, my 1978 power wagon. I also included pictures of the engine as well.

 

The casting numbers you want to look for are in the first pic behind the exhaust manifold. They can be a pain to find behind there but that will tell you what size the motor is.

 

the 360 is externally balanced
the 318 is internally balanced
they will share the same trany but not the converter u need one that is specific to the engine used
as for the the abillity to share parts
360 to 318
intake heads exhaust manifolds the brackets water pump alternator power steering
318 to 360..............................brackets water pump alternator power.
a set of 360 heads on a 318 really wakes em up .woohoo

 

hey guys, so finally moved yesterday and as for the VIN.....it's not W14BFS240905

it's actually W14BF8S240905

 

Try this: http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45062

 

Based on the VIN and the site, it looks like you have a 360.

 

Look, it should not take days on end and several people on a forum to figure this out. If you would have looked ad the left side of the block (driver side) immediately under the head, the CID is in the first few numbers of that stamping

Lacking that, crawl underneath with a flashlight and look for casting numbers

Lacking THOSE, look at the front dampener. 360's have a huge chuck milled out to balance the external balanced engine, 318s don't

Or look at the pan. The "half moon" on the front and rear of the pan is about the same size on 318s, on 360's the rear is considerably smaller than the front:

You are looking at the REAR of a pair of front sump pans (your truck will be REAR sump)

The blue pan on the left is SMALLER in the rear and fits 360

The pan on the right is LARGER in the rear (same size as front cutout) and fits 318

 

Do you guys know a good website where i can buy a new 360 for the truck or at least a remanufactured one.

 

You can get a stock reman one for around $2k last I looked (its been a while).

What about rebuilding your's?

 

i thought that if the motor is seized the engine block is ruined....is that true?

 

stock type Jasper engines
performance Hughes Engines
or your local Pep Boys/ Auto Zone/ Kragen

 

It depends on what is seized. I suggest removing it, tearing it down and doing a full inspection. It may not be that bad. If it is, then look at getting a Magnum motor and installing a carb intake. I've heard from people here that when you get rid of the stupid design stuff off of them, they can make some really good power.

 

how would i know if i should get an engine with smog holes or without. My plan is simple, i want to buy a new long block for the truck, buy all the gaskets, buy any parts that need to be replaced, and get the truck back up and running. I'm not worried about power or anything like that for now. I'm only 22 years old and i plan on having the truck for quite awhile. My main focus is getting the truck up and running.