HI everyone, I'm new to the forum and I have owned my Ram for 8 years now. I'm having a motor issue and everyone keeps giving me different solutions so I'm turning here.. I have a 94 ram 4x4 it came with a 318 auto, about 5 years ago the 2nd trans went south so I swapped over to a 5 speed, two years later the motor went with 150k on it. I had that rebuilt and the truck ran great. I took out the 3 inch sus. lift and put in bigger blocks and added springs to total 7 inches of lift along with the 3 inch body, I also swapped out the old axels for v10 ones I found on eBay. (bought the whole truck that was rolled for 3500$ with 12k miles!!) The truck ran fine with the 38.5 super swampers until I sucked up some water (out playing in the mud) and bent a rod this past May. Now the problem starts... I purchased a crate 360 short block, since my old heads only had 3000 miles on them i kept them, bought a new flywheel, balancer, cap, rotor,wires, plugs, starter, ported the intake, and bolted it all together. Keep in mind it was a 318. I was under the understanding that the heads and injectors even the computer are the same (318 to 360). I got the truck running and it idled great, good oil pressure. When I drive it, it feels like the truck wants to "bottle up" in low RPMs 1500 to 3000 range, anything above that it smooths out and pulls like it should. At cruising speed say 30 mph with your foot on the gas to stay at speed it backfires. thats in any gear. I had it timed even stuck in a new crank sensor. Its ben in the shop twice for the same problem and the mechanic is puzzled. All the electrical checks out, he said there was little play in the rotor, pointing to drive gear or bushing, but its still in spec. I ran a vacumm test and it checked out. (18.5 inches @ idle) I called the motor place back and they said I had a bad computer or distributer. Just looking for some help, I have over 2000 in the motor plus 300 already in shop fees. I tried other forums but no help.. 94 dodge ram orig 318 auto now 360 5 speed. Thanks and sorry so long, Brian

[IMG]local://upfiles/76682/7844861FAC3E486EB0168338890B6D81.jpg[/IMG]

 

Is the CEL on?

 

did you have the computer reprogrammed? because that could be what it is. might need to find a wrecked 360 in the junk yard and find the computer and swap them out should cost around 20 bucks

 

I don't even think theres a bulb in it for the cel. I did call a dodge salvage yard they said the computers the same 318 to 360. I wondered if the fuel curve was different, is that what you were getting to TANK? I can get a computer from the yard (100$) do you think mine might have went bad or is the fuel curve different? That would be an easy fix, the help is appreciated, Brian

 

My understanding in doing a 318 to 360 swap is that the harmanic balancer and flexplate have to be from a 360 (externally balanced, vs. the 318 which are internally balanced) as well as the PCM.

 

Thats good to know. I did the flywheel and balancer. I will look around tomarrow for good prices on the pcm. Hope that does it. I will keep everyone posted. Thanks again, Brain