hey guys, Im wanting to upgrade the axles ect in my truck, but may have found a better solution. saw an add for an 89 dodge ram 2500 parts truck. cab in ok shape, no box. frame is supposed to be in good shape. mine isnt. Im thinking that i could put my dakota body on the better frame and use the drive train from the 2500. the motor is a 360, and as far as i know they were the la style with tbi. please correct me if im wrong. fabrication of the new body mounts doesnt concearn me, what I want to know is if I can swap my intake over to the 360 to use the magnum efi as my 318 runs great in all weather, but I would definately love the extra displacement.

 

don't think that dak body is going to fit on a full size dodge frame. as far as i know throttlebody injection does not have LA heads. all the LA heads have multi-port injection.
if you can get a 360 tbi and drop it in your rig and change the computer, you should be ok.

guess that does not solve your frame problem. sorry.

 

i could put a camaro body on a truck frame if i wanted. the dakota would be no trouble. basically center it side to side, then get the wheel wells to fit. if the rear axle needs to be moved ahead or back thats fine.


I thought only magnum motors had multiport?
that being said, would my 318 bolt up to the 360 trans? (then i could build the 360 into a stroker when funds allowed)

 

The late model LA engines had throttle body injection (TBI). When they switched over to the magnum engines (318 in '92, 360 in '93) they switched to multi-port injection.

The frames are the same width, so it's just a matter of length and axle location. Obviously you know all about body mounts!!!

 

been googling/reading my *** off tonight. the intake is not a bolt on. the magnum heads will bolt up if you use aftermarket pushrods, and then the intake will bolt on. not really something i want to get into unless i tear down the entire motor to build it.
seeing how my magnum 318 is putting out more power than the la 360(220- 190 respectively in stock form), I would definately like to try to fit my entire motor into the older truck. I believe the ram has a 727 trans. no idea on t case, but i know thats completely different (and bigger/better)
will my 318 bolt up to the other trans? or will my trans bolt up to the ram t case? which is the better option? Im assuming the ram would have stronger stuff, but Im not sure how you would go from an ecu controller trans to... whatever the older style is

having a 360 to build in my spare time would be interesting 408 anyone?

yup, i got body mounts down. home fabbed lifts in my truck and my buddys 79 chev

 

Well let me word it like this... a 42rh is a 904 with a seperate electronically controlled overdrive unit and electronic torque converter lockup. So technically, your transmission is not electronically controlled, just the overdrive and lockup units. A 46rh is the same thing with a 727 transmission. The 3 base gears of these transmissions are hydraulically controlled... meaning shifting is controlled by a hydraulic governor valve and hydraulic throttle valve. The governor valve tells it when to shift based on transmission rotating speed, and the throttle valve holds it back based on throttle position. The 42re and 46re got an electronically controlled governor valve, but kept the hydraulic throttle valve, yet somehow got called electronic :P. The 45rfe is a "fully electronic" transmission, meaning shifting is controlled by solenoids, not hydraulic valves... don't get confused though, shifting is still performed hydraulically, just controlled electronically.

I'm almost positive your engine will bolt up to the bellhousing.

 

the original 727 is a 3 speed. they added a fourth gear (screwed it). they went from the best auto in the world to the worst.

 

Yes, but if you press the OD off button on the dash of a v8 dakota with the 46rh, you have a 727.

 

wiki is confusing me :S

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TorqueFlite#46RH

 

Please Don't those are so ugly.