alrighty fellas. just a quick couple questions regarding my 81 w150 that I picked up for $1600. It's got the 6cyl mated to the 4spd. So does anyone know what that 4spd is? I'm planning on pulling the engine and swapping in a v8 for good reasons and since the drivetrain only has 68,000 miles (original I'll add) I'd like to keep the tranny and t-case setup assuming they'll handle the power as well as allowing the v8 (318 FI or 360) to mate up. If you have any better ideas let me know cause I'mmore familiar with jeeps than full size trucks but I need to build something close to reliable to start trailering my jeep. thanks in advance

 

Check this out; http://www.slantsix.org/articles/4-s...fourspeed1.htmabout halfway down is some truck trans info.

 

I have put 318s in place of slant 6 engines without changing the tranny, and not had any problem. Just get the bell housing to match the motor.

You would be better off using a non-fuel injected motor, as the Fi trucks need a different fuel tank with internal fuel pump, plus the electronics to run the FI unit, which are hit or miss used and very expensive new. FI motors are also harder to upgrade for more performance. Just get a carburated 318 or 360 with a manual bellhousing and it will run fine as soon as you bolt it in. If you get a motor fron a truck just grab the motor mounts also, as well as the throttle cable and larger radiator. The hard part is the details, like the wiring- the best way to do it is to find a donor truck and pull the motor yourself, taking a bunch of pictures and notes about how things are hooked up so you can duplicate the setup in you truck.

 

Great thanks for the help. Went to the yard today and found a 318 from a ram van that's been covered since its been there so I'm going to probably pick that up. I found a TBI kit that can be fitted to a 318 for 300-400 dollars DIY kit. And about 5 dana full float 60's that I have my choice from, 1 truck had the 60's front and rear. I'd like to set up FI due to living in alaska and the temps change so drastically that the carb in the current truck has been killing me. luckily they've got several other first gen models there so it shouldn't be hard to peice this project together and make a good tow rig.

 

I have a 1988 318 stock fi motor which is a good choice because it has higher compression than the older ones and it already is a roller cam motor,just add a carb or fi system and go.

 

is 1988 the first year they started using that model of the 318? From what I can tell right now there isn't a dodge in that yard that is newer than '85 and with only one yard on the island it makes it difficult to get the needed parts. Thanks for the input.

 

88 is the first year for the 318 fi( not the magnum but the old motor).

 

If you are going to replace the 6 I would go 360.

 

i've been looking into that option and found a mopar guy up here that has a 84 dodge w150 with the 60's and running 318. we set up a deal for $700 I get the 60's, driveshafts, 4spd bell housing (correct me if I'm wrong but its the same 4spd in both the slant 6 and the 318 there's just a different bellhousing), and the 318. I'll do a quick rebuild on the whole thing and throw em in, get some leaf spring packs built and put the thing up on some 35's. anything else you can think of? the 60's will be rebuilt using a detroit in the rear and 4.10's.