I have a 1989 w150 manual trans 4x4. I would like to swap the 3.9 out for a 360. I have looked through this site and one other site, while there are only some post about this no one has said what may be needed for this. I understand the best way is to have a donor truck but to find a donor truck with a 360 4x4 with a 4 speed is kind of pricey if i can find one that runs. I am looking at buying a rebuilt or new 360, I assume i will need to run a msd ignition and may go with a carb or aftermarket fuel injection unless anyone has any cheeper ideas on how to do this. I belive the trans will bolt up to the 360 but I was also wondering if there was a 5 speed i could us instead or would that involve a whole new drive tran with new driveshafts and transfer case? Or i was thinking about the overdrive kit for the 4speed if anyone has any info on that. Thank you.[/align]

 

i tihnk that putting in a five speed would be a lot of work. I dont know if the 360 will be able to fit on the engine mounts which come with your 3.9, but you should just be able o measure. try to find sombody who has either the 318 or 360 since they are the same. Check a Haines too...As for addingMSD ingnition or carb well it all depends which year you buy. You could buy a magnum engine and you wont have to put any of those. You should find out what year of 360 you want and then the answer to that question will sort itself out. Also, it just occured to me that you may or may not be able to hook the 360 to the transfer case set up to connect with a 3.9. Im in over my head at tat point...Tryinga Ramcharger forum (ramchargercentral) will help since they deal with 4x4 a bit more then us. somebody here might know though.

 

Yeah, I had noticed there arent that many 4x4 in here. I did find the adapter engine mount for the 360 to put in my truck, its for theleft side and as far as everything else it all lines up and will bolt right on the trans I have from what i have seen so far. I am going to go with the Mopar magnum engine 360 with goes for almost 5 grand but that comes with everything includeing the ignition. If anyone else has any more info they can give on the upgrade on the transmission or on the swap please let me know. Thank you for your help

 

jeez i know youve probably got a certain vision. but five grand plus labour plus the cost of a new transmission you could just find a w150 witha 360.say you get thatfor a thousand, and then maybe at the most it would be two thousand parts and labour to make that LA head a magnum (not swap, convert). Just a thought.Anyhow, ive looked at the those "crate" magnums, theyre pretty awesome engines. 3, 400 hp?

 

what does it mean when a 318 is the same as a 360? They are same power or what?

 

the LA engins are pretty much all the same block, the 318 is a 3.91 boreand the 360 a 4.00 slightly larger. so the main chunk of metal is more or lessidentical, they just cut wider holes for the cylinders (also the 360 has a lrger stroke). point is, i was just rtying to point out they they should use the same engine mounts because of this.