Hey guys, I dont have much experience with dodge pretty much been a ford guy all my life. but I've recently finished rebuilding my 91 ford pick up and find my self bored with out a new project! So...

I have a buddy with a 96 dodge ram 1500 360 auto 4x4, its a nice truck but the head gasket is toast and I might get it off him for cheap or maybe just fix it for him, who knows

Normally I would just take the top end apart and replace the head gasket, but the thing is the truck has well over 300 000 km on it! so im thinking I might as well just drop a different engine with lower miles on it.

So my questions are, what are my options? should I look for the exact same engine? would it be possible to drop a 318 in it? if so what year range should I look for? I was able to track down a 2001 jeep grand cherokee with a 318 for parts for $600, would that fit? or would it be to much of a headache?

I'm looking for any and all insight so any comments, suggestions or tips would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!!

 

I would just do a new head gasket. I would never go from a 360 to a 318 but that's just me. Just do the head gasket and fix the plenum issue and you should have a good running truck. The next week link is the transmission

 

Yeah I was putting some thought into the tranny as well. the only thing im worried about is putting a new gasket in and then 5000 km's down the road having something else go because its a pretty beat up engine, then all the work would be pointless. and plus im pretty sure he drove it with the blown gasket for awhile and its been sitting for almost a year now. so who knows what else is wrong with it

 

If it were me I would also stay with the 360. I would also try and get another motor. A 318 is a great motor. I have one of both and love them both, but when you go from a 360 to a 318 you also have to change the PCM and the 318 is also internally balanced where as 360 is external

 

With 300,000 km, I would look at rebuilding top and bottom end.

 

You sure head gaskets are blown and not the plenum ?

 

I wondered. What are the symptome? Why do you suspect head gaskets? They are normally not prone to failure.

 

well I suspect the head gasket because I know he blew his water pump on a hockey road trip and was forced to drive home like that.. after the water pump was replaced he drove it for awhile only to discover lots of water in the crank case, after changing the oil and driving for a day or two there was water in the crank case again and the coolant was low.. so I dont think its a case of the gasket failing but more of a case of him frying it

 

Well......heads may be cracked or warped. Gaskets would not necessarily go unless they had room to move such as head warping! Sorry - gonna be costly.

 

Given that there was water in the crank case, I would be tempted to just replace the motor........ might find you got a rod knock one you get the top end fixed........