Rebuild I guess.
 

I have a 99 Ram with the 5.2L V8. I've been having problems with it and had decided to sell it. Now I've decided to rebuild it, I've been looking for a project and would appreciate some help. I'll be starting with the engine. I'm looking to up the horsepower. I'm just not sure where to start. So if I could get some ideas of parts to exchange, or what to use, or where to go, or where to find stuff, that would help alot. If anyone has worked on something like this and can help set me in the right direction I would be very thankful.

If you're going to go through the rebuild process, and don't care about a few MPGs...use a 360 as a platform for a rebuild. Virgin donor motors are cheap and easy to find and will cost the same to rebuild. This also allows you to build the engine while the truck drives around with the 318 and you don't lose the usability.

That alone will bump your power considerably. I would bore it, increase the SCR a little bit, go with a slightly more aggressive cam, and a computer custom tune by Hemifever.

That will keep it simple and affordable. If you start getting into the heads more than checking for cracks you'll start to see a lot of money leaving quickly. Stock heads will support a warmed up 360 so long as they are not cracked. Don't bother with larger valves unless you plan on high RPM aggressive track style driving. The larger valves won't help your low end power or torque.

Plus, keeping it mildly near stock, your transmission and drive train will survive...which also saves you money in the long run.

So will the 360 platform just bolt back up to the trans and everything? And what do you think about changing the intake? If I stay with the 318 can I just do the same upgrades we talked about for the 360?

Yep it's all interchange. Same intake.

Does that thing have a Hemi?

No it does not.

If the heads come off I would strongly recommend at least considering some new clearwater or odessa heads. You can get either stock replacements or you can get bigger valves for just a little more. Even the stock replacements are better all around than the crappy stock heads.

Combine new heads and a cam and you can see some serious gains while still maintaining dependability.

Last time i checked the clearwater heads were about 600 bucks for a pair.

i'm not sure but there may be some differences between 318 to 360, including flexplate, torque converter, harmonic balancer. Also you might/might not need to reflash the PCM for more fuel for the 360. 360 will handle the larger 52mm throttle body where 318 maxes out about 50mm.

all differences between the 318 and the 360 are all internal i believe the heads intake and exhaust manifolds are all interchangeable the 360 has beefer crank rods


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Thanks for all the help.