Crate Engines
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From: Oregon
Crate Engines
So I have a '97 ram 1500 with a 5.2L 318 that has way too many miles on it..(208k) It runs okay right now, but im trying to decide which is the best route to go, rebuild or crate engine? maybe somthing bigger like a chevy 350, or a 360. Anyone have any experince with swapping a engine in a 2nd gen ram?
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From: Clayton MI
360 has the advantage of being a direct bolt in. Just need to update the PCM for the larger cubes.
SBC has the advantage of HUGE aftermarket support...... You could prolly do one of these, and a 4L80E, and have a pretty much indestructible drivetrain. (not cheap though....)
Crate engines are simple and easy. You can even custom order them with meaner cams, higher compression, better heads, etc. You pay for that though.....
Rebuild, you can do whatever you want/can afford, and know exactly what parts you have in your engine. In combination with going to the larger displacement, you can potentially pick up a LOT more power this way.....
What it really comes down to though is, how much do you want to spend, what are you really looking for out of your truck, and how much downtime can you afford?
SBC has the advantage of HUGE aftermarket support...... You could prolly do one of these, and a 4L80E, and have a pretty much indestructible drivetrain. (not cheap though....)
Crate engines are simple and easy. You can even custom order them with meaner cams, higher compression, better heads, etc. You pay for that though.....
Rebuild, you can do whatever you want/can afford, and know exactly what parts you have in your engine. In combination with going to the larger displacement, you can potentially pick up a LOT more power this way.....
What it really comes down to though is, how much do you want to spend, what are you really looking for out of your truck, and how much downtime can you afford?
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From: Oregon
Well curently this is my daily driver (to and from highschool) but I plan on spending around $3k on a motor? But I want this thing to be a mean offroad/hauling machine. I was also thinking a chevy 350.
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From: Clayton MI
Would be a lotta coin.... but, you wouldn't find anything better. 
Don't think that would fit in the budget though. 
Swapping to another manufacturers motor probably wouldn't either. For the three grand you wanna spend, I would take a look at some of the aftermarket engine manufacturers. You could get a rather nice motor for that kind of money, pick up a few peripherals to help it out, (headers, and better y-pipe) stay within budget, and have a nice engine.
Then, you could start saving money for that trans rebuild.
Don't think that would fit in the budget though. Swapping to another manufacturers motor probably wouldn't either. For the three grand you wanna spend, I would take a look at some of the aftermarket engine manufacturers. You could get a rather nice motor for that kind of money, pick up a few peripherals to help it out, (headers, and better y-pipe) stay within budget, and have a nice engine.
Then, you could start saving money for that trans rebuild.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Clayton MI
Friend of mine probably still has his 440 out of his 70 Challenger..... Dual Fours, phat cam, conservatively rated at 600 horseys. Has less than 200 miles on it.
Has less than 200 miles on it.