Tearing down 318
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Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 7
From: Chicago, IL
Man this whole post feels like deja vu. Heres my build post with pics & stuff. Hit me up if you got any questions.
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ome-today.html
Looks good!
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ome-today.html
Looks good!
I read the entire thread and it is a story with no ending. What happened to your electrical issues? All sorted out? LOL, but really it has some good stuff in there that I swiped.
I have a second gen computer too that I would love to evnetually switch to, along with every wire out of a second gen truck. Paint looks good, I see you went with the CAST color for the aluminum too. I liked it a lot. Seems like it will hold up too.
SO what is the deal with FRAM oil filters? They suck? If they do I will stop buying them. I never heard of an oil filter failing.
Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
From: Dubuque, Iowa
I was able to get all of my problems sorted out. My BIGGEST problem was finding the correct wiring harness and computer combo to work.
-I first tried a harness and PCM out of a 99 Durango, but that didnt work.
-Then I got a PCM and harness out of a 99 Dakota, it would run but I got the "nobus" display
The hardest part about my swap was that the 5.2 was never offered in 2000, which is when the Dakota went through alot of different changes than previous models.
I finally went back to my v6 harness and spiced in the 2 injectors.(just because you wouldnt believe how much changes from one year to the following year!) I paired that up with a 5.9R/T PCM from a 2000 Dakota(Same year as mine) and bingo! She runs like a dream, sooooo much more power than the 3.9, and EVERYTHING works correctly, down to cruise control and A/C.
There was a point where I almost scrapped the project cus I was so frusterated with it but I stuck it out and am glad I did. Completley worth it.
I would for sure reccomend using a v8 harness for the SAME YEAR as your truck thats getting the 318, or reusing the v6 one like I did. The most important thing is that you use a wiring harnas for your year. I cant stress it I enough, and I wish I would have know this.
No issues with the paint still bright and looks good. I used duplicolor engine paint upto 500 degrees, and for my manifolds I used duplicolor exhaust paint upto 1200 degrees.
Fram filters do suck. The paper in them can disolve and become part of the oil causing all kinds of problems. Thats another thing... After you get it put back together, change the oil after the 500 miles after break in.
Ill try to get some finished pictures of mine on here tomarrow.
Until then, Good luck!
-I first tried a harness and PCM out of a 99 Durango, but that didnt work.
-Then I got a PCM and harness out of a 99 Dakota, it would run but I got the "nobus" display
The hardest part about my swap was that the 5.2 was never offered in 2000, which is when the Dakota went through alot of different changes than previous models.
I finally went back to my v6 harness and spiced in the 2 injectors.(just because you wouldnt believe how much changes from one year to the following year!) I paired that up with a 5.9R/T PCM from a 2000 Dakota(Same year as mine) and bingo! She runs like a dream, sooooo much more power than the 3.9, and EVERYTHING works correctly, down to cruise control and A/C.
There was a point where I almost scrapped the project cus I was so frusterated with it but I stuck it out and am glad I did. Completley worth it.
I would for sure reccomend using a v8 harness for the SAME YEAR as your truck thats getting the 318, or reusing the v6 one like I did. The most important thing is that you use a wiring harnas for your year. I cant stress it I enough, and I wish I would have know this.
No issues with the paint still bright and looks good. I used duplicolor engine paint upto 500 degrees, and for my manifolds I used duplicolor exhaust paint upto 1200 degrees.
Fram filters do suck. The paper in them can disolve and become part of the oil causing all kinds of problems. Thats another thing... After you get it put back together, change the oil after the 500 miles after break in.
Ill try to get some finished pictures of mine on here tomarrow.
Until then, Good luck!
Last edited by huseman808; Jun 6, 2009 at 01:44 AM.
