True the 12 valve motors are simple, but you are wrong by saying it would be an easy swap.
In order to do a correct Gas to diesel swap here are a few concerns that need to be addresses.
1. Frame Reinforcement. (To handle the extra weight)
2. Front suspension upgrade (to handle the extra weight)
3. Total transmission swap
4. Dash swap
5. Wiring harness swap
6. either cut a hole in your floor, or keep auto tranny

This is not by any means every single issue involved with a swap like this. Sure, if you can find a correct donor truck that a lot of it is still in good condition, it wouldn't be too bad. The way I see it, you can do a full swap like that, but by the time you invest all the money needed for the swap, you would be money ahead to just buy a 2500 ram with the diesel motor in it.

To the OP: Keeping the 360 in storage sounds like a good idea to me. That way you could build it little by little, and you wont see that big of hit in your wallet at one time. Just make sure that the 5.9 that you have is out of the same year truck, would make things a lot easier when it came time for a swap.
Or another option, take the money that you would spend on rebuilding the 5.9, and open a saving account. That way you have the money on hand if and when you have issues later down the road.

 

The real question is. How much money do you have? Pay check to pay check or debt free and savings?

 

12345678

 

the roll cage for the motor would be pretty cool. check out some of the ones on this site.

http://s453.photobucket.com/albums/q...N/JULY%202006/

http://www.ncmudracing.com/apps/phot...otoid=26279808

http://www.ncmudracing.com/apps/phot...otoid=26768212

http://www.ncmudracing.com/apps/phot...otoid=24333510

but if you're saving it for when yours goes belly up then it would be nice to have it out of a truck to fix it up and get it ready to go in. i think it'd definately be worth saving, especially since you have the storage space and the installation know how to get it into your truck.

 

my opions 5.9 is more power, so i would build it slowly while its out of the truck, and use your 5.2 till the 5.9 is ready , and when the 5.2 goes to sh*t throw in the 360 and be a happy man

 

Thanks for the input, y'all. I kinda think I'm in love with the 318, however; I wish I could find someone with a fried 318 and swap them. 318's seem to be kinda rare. Oh well. And for the record, if I was doing a Cummins swap, I'd go all the way and drop in a 24 valve!! Oh yeah, baby!! Hey, do they/ can they make a 4.00" stroke crank for a 318 with an output shaft the size of the 360?

 

I like the rims on you truck, johnny. Where'd you get those?

 

v-10 with blower 8-71 driven 12% over

use cast iron engine early models

forged crank and eagle rods arp bolts

34"headers

well everyone else is dreaming

 

id like ya to do it to the 318 id like to see how that turns out

 

318s Kick ***!!!!