Okay then, the sense of hope & romance I had that made me feel so great about buying a Ram with a V6 has evaporated. I have done some super tune up stuff, upgrades etc, and I am averaging 10mpg. Efmerunnin. I had a gen 1 Ram with a 318 & mud tires that got 13mpg. I am now convinced to swap to a V8 as $$$ allows. If I want to install a modern 360 or even a newer HEMI - what parts & special attention are needed for this? I am curious if any stuff from the V6 will stay, especially the wiring harness.

 

The automatic with the undersized engine is killing any potential MPG increase over a V8.

 

He's right. It doesn't help that the engine is pulling around a exceptionally heavy full-size truck. The difference between the V6 and V8 2Gen's, as far as mileage is concerned, it's almost non existent.

There's a thread on here somewhere, where a guy is attempting a HEMI swap into a 2nd Gen. IIRC, he's had a whole lot of problems. Search around, it's here somewhere.

 

Swapping to an engine it actually came with from the factory is a hell of a lot easier. Find a parts truck with a good motor, and the correct trans for your application. (2 or 4 wheel drive), buy the whole truck, swap what you need.

 

sell the V6, buy a V8 4wd, 00/01 off-road. you know you want one.

you'd need motor, transmission, injector wiring, computer.
by the time you buy a donor truck, swap all that crap out, you could have bought/sold/been driving for 2 months.

 

Dlvaughn you are likely right. I guess i don't know when to stop spending cash on this thing.