i am getting to the point where my truck will probably be coming off the road for the most part, and getting built up to do everything right..

i need something a bit more peppy, more power.

i have a few options, but i want to know what you guys think.

rebuild the current 318
build up to a 408( which is more of a project cause i dont ave anywhere to bore)
find a 440 and swap that in

what would you guys think to do a 488 v10.. allison swap..

keep in mind guys, i have a mud truck, the heavier the motor, the more i sink..



what do you guys think of the 390 stroker, 318 bored and stroked...

 

You could also simply put a 360 in and do some mods to it.

 

well the 360 doesnt make much more power then the 318, and the 318 revs higher..

but i need somethin..

what can i do to a 360? then i have to find a 360 and rebuild it... rather then just rebuild mine..

 

I guess it's the age old ? of how much money you have and what you are looking for. 360 does have a little more torqued than a 318, which unless I'm missing something, would be better for a mud truck rather than the equally little difference in higher revving.

 

For power, nothing beats the almighty cubic inch. You could mod the 318, but, do those same mods (for the same cost....) to the 360, and you end up with more power. And close to the same weight..... 408 even more so, but, there is a bunch of added cost to stroke it.

360's are a dime a dozen around here..... they can be had for a hundred bucks or so for just a core motor from the junkyard. All you really want is the shortblock anyway.... Do a cam, heads, intake, free flowing exhaust, bump compression, meaner injectors, and a custom tune, and you will get a good amount of power out of it. Not enough? For a little more than the cost of doing a stroker kit, SUPERCHARGE IT! Nothing wakes up a motor like forced induction.

 

Well I think your best bet is to look around for a 360 that you can work with, that way you can work on it while the truck is still useable( wont keep you from going out muddin)

take that 360 and clean it up and depending on funds turn it into a 408, a decent cam, better flowing heads and a tune will do allot to be able spin them meats, also dont forget your going to want a higher stall TC to match cam( can keep from this with a RV cam or something like it)

Yeah the 440 or V10 would give it a wow factor, but thats a bit of work and like you said uneeded weight

 

Build the 318 and stroke it to 340 or 390. Large bore, short stroke, high rpms. Perfect for a mud truck.

 

In my opinion, if you had the money and time to get all the bugs worked out, and you have a solid 318 block, id bore/stroke to 390. I've looked at the kits before. Others will say just get a 360 and do the same to a 408. Good idea, but then you inherit someone else's 360 and any problems that might come with it. But with your own 318, you know what issues it has, how it was used, etc... Just my thoughts on it since I have considered the same.

Through this out there - you could also put in a Cummins. It's been done before, and with pretty amazing results. Cost a **** ton more to do though. Just putting that on the table for you though.

 

ya see, i have thaught about the whole stroker 408 deal, but can you hold those at a general high rpm for a amount of time like i can my 318...

i found a guy wanting to sell me his old 360 from his 98 ram... says it was overheated and i can get it for a real good price..

think i may just get that motor, hone it, clean it up all the way... re-ring, new bearings and crank... put that fastman tb, little bit nicer cam.. and just run that... tune obviously..

now with me puttin a 360 in my truck i know ones internal, and ones external balanced or somethin like that... but if i plug all my sensors in, will my pcm run the differant motor?

 

Why not just do the same to your 318? Instead of taking the risk on an overheated engine.