95_318SLT, no offence taken at all. You’d be surprised how many times I’ve been wrong. I’m kind of like you though; if it doesn’t make sense to me I want proof. I’m also not trying to come across as a no-it-all.

I thought the same thing you did about swapping the weighted flywheels back and going with unweighted converters. My guess is it should work; assuming Chrysler didn’t change the size of the counterweight due to some sort of other change in the 360 setup when they moved it from the converter to the flex plate. I do know the weight changed from a triangular one to a square one in 1993 but I’m not sure if just the look changed or the weight of the weight. This may be due to the change from LA to Magnum that you pointed out.

I work for an Automatic Transmission Parts wholesale company (we sell parts to Aamco, Cottman and other transmission shops) and we sell a full line of torque converters. Unfortunately I’ve had mechanics come to the counter who’ve swapped out a transmission behind a 360 with one that used to be behind a 318 and used the converter that came with the transmission The complaint was that the engine was vibrating to the point that it wasn’t drivable, both LA and magnum. Putting a 360 converter in with the correct weight fixed the problem. We distribute Dacco torque converters and they have a web site with an online catalog. You can go there to check it out.

 

Well thats definately interesting info to know! I've tried all the parts sites I know and can't find the info that would prove either way! It seems as though nobody sells flex plates!!

But after thinking about it, Crazy4x4RT used a later 360 for his swap (1998?) and my 360 block came out of a '98, and mine has a weighted flex plate. So after thinking about it, I can't say I've ever had any personal experience with a 1993 or 1994 360 magnum.

Now I'm kinda interested in finding out for sure what it is! I'll keep checking if I think about it later.

 

im putting a 2001 360 in my truck soon, to be on the safe side im using the converter from the 360 aswell as the flywheel. Rather be safe then sorry

 

LOL! We don't have you worried do we burntricer?!?!

I think both me and CentralTexas can both agree that the '01 torque converter is neutral and the engine is balanced off the flexplate. Its the '93 and '94 we're arguing about :P

 

It was a 2000 or 2001 LOL I can't remember. If it helps At that time I used my 93 5.2 torque converter with no problems.

 

95- I’m not arguing, it’s more like a debate. Congratulations on the mod position, I think the site made a good choice.

Know, back to the 360 balancing issue. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but when I was restoring my Dakota I had it in the back of the warehouse with the hood off, engine and tranny out and the 5.9 sitting on an engine stand. I’d put the flex plate from my 318 on the 360 since it didn’t come with one and was getting ready to put it back in. Two transmission rebuilders from a local Chrysler dealership where in buying parts and we were talking about what I was going to do with the truck and I showed them the converter I’d bought (no weight on it). They looked at the engine and back at the converter and said “I hope you’re going to hire someone to lay under the hood and hold that engine when you’re driving it because it’s going to vibrate out of the truck”. I ordered a weighted flex plate.

Check out the Dacco catalog I referred you to. They didn’t weld that square weight on from 93-95 for no reason.

 

Lol, I use the word argue very, very lightly... more of a joke than anything else. Heck, I wouldn't even go so far as to call it a debate... just two people with different information looking to see which one of us has the right info!

Thanks!

 

no no im not worried atall, i was just throwing my 2 cents in there... i guess i should get pics of my bumper eh...haha