Ok, I have an '85 W100 that Im fixing up. It has a 318, 727, and 2.76 axles. My questions are this. I have an 87 ramcharger avail. for purchase. Its a 1/2 t, supposedley 3.73 axles, 360/727. First is the 360 worth building(mild) and will the doors, and front clip from the ramcharger fit the pick up. I have heard that some body parts from an suv counterpart sometimes wont fit a pick up. Plus Im planning on swapping the front and rear axles from the ramcharger, to the pick-up. Im looking to build a mild street/trail hauler, as inexspenively as I can. I can pick this ramcharger up for $700 Also, I see in summit racing, that the good 318/360 parts are for 85 and down. Should I look fr an older 360, or will I be ok with the 87 360, in regard to hi-po parts availability. Thanks for any info, Im new to the mopar resto thing. Thanks again.

Josh

 

Ramcharger and Ram pickup are the same from the doors forward, and run the same drivetrain, save a shorter rear driveshaft. The 87 360 will have smog heads on it, but it's still a serviceable engine. Lots more performance stuff for 360 than 318. Just port the heads nicely, bore/hone the block and install some decent pistons (Kieth black hypers come with decent CR's for about $350/set), have your rotating assembly balanced and then put a moderate cam in it (like Isky 264 megacam). Top it off with an Edelbrock intake and carb, then wire an MSD 6A into your existing ignition system. If you port the heads and doall the assembly yourself, you should be able to make a nice 300-350+ HP mill for under $2,500.

If the tranny is healthy, just adjust the bands for a sharper shift and your're good to go.