I need some input. I have a 2000 Ram 1500.Auto trans w/318. It really has no power. If I were to change the motor what should I go with? And would I have to change the transmission? Wiring harness?
Thanks for any help! Rick

 

Could have the death flash on it, bad cat, in need of a tune up. These are preatty strong engines with good power.

 

what exactly is the death flash?

 

back in the day people complained that the enigne would ping under high loads so dodge made a flash for the pcm that retarded the timing and stopped the pinging but lost alot of power.

 

so what do I do about the lost power.....uses alot of gas too.....was tuned about 3 months ago.

 

It was mainly for the plenum leak. Instead of fixing the leak they reflashed the PCM so that your truck wouldn't blow the plenum.

 

being tuned and getting a tune up is different:

Tuned: Using a programmer to load a tune for a specific octane. Recommend using a 180* thermostat and doing the plenum fix from www.hughesengines or APS

Tune up: Replacing spark plugs, cap, rotor and sometimes spark plug wires.

Completely different. If you just got a new catalytic converter (magnaflow hi flow about $120), a SCT Tuner from hemifever ($275) and did the plenum leak kit ($135 from www.hughesengines.com ) then you will like how the power is.

Way less than a new engine install. Then you can go for headers and 1.7 roller rockers later down the road.

 

Look for some of my posts where I have pictures of my Ram towing my trailer. That will tell you if the 318 is underpowered (which it isn't).

 

i bet his plenum is shot with teh deathflash.....every 5.2 5.9 magnum engine will have this problem...theres no way to get around it...

my dad had a 96 318 2wd, and he hauled a 32 foot camper with no problems at all....5.2 is a great and reliable motor

 

ya 5.2 is a awesome motor , more realible than the 360.

wake up the motor with the sct tuner, any tuner will erase the deathflash weather it be superchips or whatever

i know mine has a death flash and makes a DAY & NIGHT diffrence in power