So I bought a 1993 Dodge Dakota 4wd 318 with 195,xxx miles. I wanna rebuild the stock motor but not performance wise where i am in 1200 dollars I was seeing where I can start.

 

Talk to the local machine shop.

$1200 will let you sniff the machine work and parts, but you get to do all the labor yourself, and NO improvements, and PRAY the heads aren't cracked.

(EngineQuest heads run you about $321 or more each bare, and about $500 with cheap valves and springs ... there went your $1200.)

What's wrong with it now? If it's just burning oil, check the plenum gasket; that's a common failure, and also the valve guide seals. Fix those and it'll probably be good for about another 200,000 miles (well, get the timing chain and the water pump and thermostat while you've got it partially apart too).

I'd budget about $3k for a basic engine overhaul, to pick up some nice items like a set of EQ or Edlebrock heads; check what Marty Fletcher's been doing with the kegger intake; replace the exhaust system (keep the manifolds, but if you dump them for headers, sell'em - they breath the best of all the factory exhaust manifolds for 92/93!); bore just enough to clean up the cylinders; new pistons and rings to match; possibly new cam. None of this is really for performance per se - all will help gas mileage save for possibly the cam (depending on which one you get! Comp Cam has a nice configurator that can help you build a cam package.)

RwP

 

Why does it need rebuilding? I've found just replacing the timing chain, oil pump and maybe expansion plugs will get a lot of miles out of a motor.

 

It doesn't burn oil or anything but it was in a fire said previous owner and i don't know if it had work done to it. When I did the first oil change and the oil was so black it looked like no one changed it in a while. So I did a tune up like spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, oil change, air filter. it start right up but have an intake manifold leak so I was going to see if I should just take it out and check it out and clean it out. Also check the plenum gasket; that's a common failure but while at it should I change just the gaskets or do the top end. Pretty much clean out the crap built up. Let me know recommendations.

 

I did not even think of that, thanks. I will look into it.

 

Run a compression test. If it's not really low and the cylinders are close to each other, a light refresh will do wonders.

 

I too was wondering why on a rebuild. If you want to, run what you have and find another 318 to rebuild, while you drive it. Then when you get the new one built up then swap. I have a 96 with 216k and counting, drive it 70 miles every day. Have the engine out of my 92 which has 226k on it but seemed to actually run a bit better than this one ever did, have it as a ready spare. I had that truck 60k+ miles and know where it's been so not at all afraid of it even with the miles. The 92 was retired for other reasons, but the engine ran so good I just had to hang on to it.

 

It would be wise to have a look at the internals and see what it looks like. I got two magnum motors off of craigs list with 200K (according to the seller). Both had bad cams and at least one scratch in the cylinder wall that a hone won't remove. I could post pics but thanks to photo bucket you won't be able to see them(blurry). If everything is in good condition a refresh is the way to go.

 

I'm in agreement with Don, I would run what I had to keep the vehicle from being down and buy another engine to rebuild, that way I'm not under pressure to get it back on the road.

Stats say the longer a project stays down the more likely it is that it will never be done, at least by the person who started it. I have seen this in action on numerous ocassions, person starts, gets tired (bored, doesn't know everything, can't afford parts, loses interest etc) and it sits for 3 years occupying a garage bay until finally the liquidation is forced because of complaints or because someone is moving etc...or divorce.

Buy a used 5.2 from a truck that was wrecked (preferably in the back end) and use that as a basis.

Steve