Hello since i banged up my truck recently and had to buy a new one i had to go from the 360 to 318 so i have some questions.

I know people who have the 318 and say its a dog, is this true?

I heard someone say that the power difference between a 360 and 318 and notable but the gas millage is not, that seems like an unfair trade off, true?

What about sound? If i take my exhaust system off my 360 and put it on the 318 is it going to sound quieter?

Thats about all i can think of for now but if anyone has their own difference they would like to add that i didn't mention i'd love to hear them. Before anyone asks let me just say my engine took damage in the crash which is why im not considering taking the engine. Oh let me also add that i only put a down payment on the truck i dont have it home yet which is why im not just conducting tests myself by driving, i did test drive it but doesn't seem like enough to notice anything yet.

Thanks in advanced.

 

i got a 318, i've never drove a 360 but i don't think mines a dog even with a blown plenum gasket. just fix that and you should be good. sound should be the same. and i believe i heard one time that if you put the same mods on the 360 and the 318 the 318 actually gains more power. but who knows i've killed alotta brain cells haha

 

I love my 318. Just get a 50mm TB, 14X3 air cleaner, good exhaust, hi flo cat, and do the plenum fix as well as a proper tune up and you will not be disappointed in power. The only time I ever noticed a difference between my 318 and a buddies 360 is with a trailer hooked up.

 

my 1996 closely rivals my 2001.

My 1996 had everything my 2001 has in the sig MINUS the 1.7RRs. (1996 had the mopar PCM and the 2001 has the SCT)

BUT

My 1996 had a blown plenum. However, my 1996 also had headers and a gutted cat. Compared to stock manifolds and 3 cats on my 2001.

my 2001 gets 12 MPG average, and my 1996 got 16 MPG average.

 

Having driven them both, I don't feel that the two motors make that much of a difference in a truck that weighs as much as ours do.

Just note that when/if you build the motor up, you can't get the same power as you can with the 360. Also note that you'll see a lot of the older 5.2s running around with about 1/2 the issues compared to the 5.9. (People are going to flame me for that one)

 

my dad had a 96 1500 2wd 5.2L long bed, i drove it from Maine to MA (284 miles) on a half a tank believe it or not. and it has a BAD plenum (air filter has some oil on it)

ran like a champ, not much difference power wise between that, and my 360...

could roast the tires on it easily

he bought it in 97 with 25K, and up to 118K when he sold it (9 months ago), he always hauled his 32 foot camper without a problem...

the 5.2's are actually a more reliable motor than the 360....i think you'll be happy with a 5.2...

 

I can melt my 33's with my stock 3.55 gears, IIRC the 360 only has a little bit more toqure and only a couple more hp.

 

Yeah, suckerin Cali cars.

"Death flash" tuned, the 318 and 360 have very little differences in power. However, mine felt more powerful than my Dakota with the 318 that I had before this, and the 360's "death flash" is more detuned than the 318's "death flash".

The 318 is a great engine. So is the 360. The 318 seems to be a bit more reliable, or so others claim, but the 360 has a lot more possibilities for power.

 

my 318 was a pig compared to my 360 it did have a blown plenum thou and wasnt modified..and when i dropped my 360 it was a cammed crate motor done nice..and i tossed some header's on and gutted the cat..and also threw an intake on..yea now that i think of it..its not much of a comparison..

 

The 318 isn't really a dog, but it does feel like a little less torque than the 360. With the right tire/gear combo the 318 is pretty powerful.
The exhaust seems to be a little deeper and faster on the 360 because the 360 has a little more lift on the valves.
The gas mileage is the same on both motors.