Hey all me again,

Does anyone happen to have a link, or can steer me in the right direction? I have the 5.2 engine in my 99 Durango. Now that I've managed to fix up all the bad parts (minus the steering box, which I'm getting a RedHead) I am looking to get some power out of the old rig.

Acceleration seems rather sluggish. If I slam the gas she will get going but beyond that its kind of "meh". I've tried power breaking just for fun and she can BARELY break the wheels. So I figured its time for a tune up. I'm not looking to do anything crazy like a cam or heads. I figure if I was to go that route I might as well swap in a 5.9 instead.

I've searched YT and Google and never found anything quite what I am looking for. Maybe it's asking too much but I'm kind of looking for a guide. Like "Change your plugs, use these. Then change the ignition coil, use this", etc. I figure I would do all possible bolt on's fist, then do the exhaust and then see where I'm at. I'm not concerned with actual HP numbers. I'd just like to get a little more "jump" from her. I've found a few articles related to the 318. One in particular was about getting 400hp out of the 318 from Hot Rod Magazine. But they went all out to achieve that.

Anyway, thanks for any information or guidance.

Oh one last question.. where does everyone get their parts from? Summit? Jegs?

Thanks!

Derek

 

I'd probably not bother with a 318, but it's up to you. How many miles on the motor? How much money are you prepared to spend?

 

108k on it. Not sure about the $$. Maybe 2k? Preferably lower. Like I said, not really looking to do heads or cam or anything. Obviously I want to do the 1.7 rockers, ignition, exhaust. Not sure if there is anything else.

PS- Should add that this is my one and only car, which is why I can't do anything that will put her out of commission for long periods of time.

 

I'm sticking with I wouldn't bother.Consider instead, sell it, add the $2k to the sold income, and get something else, even a newer Durango with more OEM power to start with.

 

Unfortunately I can't really get something else until the spring. As it is if I sell it I'm going to take a loss. I bought it for $1500, and ended up putting $3500 into repairs. I doubt I could recoup that.

 

I fully support building the 318 magnum motor... The 340 back in the day waz the performance engine... 340 has same stroke as the 318 witch is 3.3125in but the 318 has 3.91 bore vrs the 340s 4.040 bore... So iv always supported the 318 being a performance engine just cuz how many people dislike the engine and are like ehh its just a 318... You can make the 318 bad to the bone so easy... For the get go it has better heads than the 360... 318 magnum heads are 1.916in vavle size and 1.624exh size with 1.6rr the 5.9 has bigger combustion chamber and smaller 1.5rr and smaller 1.88intake 1.617ehuast valve... So right from the get go the 318 has more performance than the 360 regardless it having less cubes... Iv always wanted to find some killer heads for a 318 big lift and duration cam for it as well and made shure it breathed to make a 400n/a 600+ boosted 318... but honestly there more of a market for the 360... Cheap mods on the 360 to get you to 350+ hp you can grab a set of 5.2heads port match the gaskets and polish them port polish air intake cut the center devider and shave the runners slap on a set of headders and grab a tuner and you can see 350-375 hp out of a 5.9 that easy... I have a spare 5.2 sitting around that im gona rib the heads from and do this to my 5.9 ill let yall know how it goes... But iv have always wanted to build a 318... Still do but idk i really wana make a 440 out of a 360... Thats acheived by 0.060 over bore 4.06 and a custom 4.25in crank witch they still sell... But you would need some massive heads to flow that big bastard to make some real power

 

gunna have my 99 dakota w/ 318 as second vehicle pretty soon. thought about building it vs swapping some crate motor in. id like to build the 318 just for the experience and the same reason like...nobody does it...i guess a swap would be more more practical as far as parts bolting on. Jared Boulanger if you start building that 5.2 it'd be cool if you could share your processes. I might like to get into mine at the same time...if i have all the necessary equipment. maybe later this summer or next year. anywhey i support upgrading performance of the 318 however you can DerekJR321. Defenitely change your plugs and wires if its been a long time. take everything apart you can get back together and clean it. high flow air filter, fix any leaks in valve covers/ exhaust