A friend of mine in Northern Minnesota has a Pre 1998 2nd Gen Ram with a 360 V8 that he wants to sell. It doesn't have a transmission but all I'm worried about is the engine. Since I only have the 318, I was thinking about buying it, overhauling it, and upgrading anything I can think of that I'd want to do to the engine, STROKER KIT! After I'd be done, I'd just drop it in, I'd probably have to change the transmission as well...What do you guys think?

 

If you've got the cash, go for it.
Only thing is the PCM, those don't exactly match up. The 360 would run lean with the 318 PCM, but since you're doing a stroker you would need the PCM reflashed anyway.

 

Anything I should be looking for in particular?

 

Some of the sensors on the intake of the pre-98's are different and so is the flywheel and torque convertor.

 

The harmanic balancer is different also.

 

^But he's going to be entirely replacing the engine, so it would be sensors, flywheel, torque convertor.

 

Get a horse!

 

^^^ Just has to make sure he 360 HB is used and not the 318.

 

Bear in mind, stroker builds are NOT cheap..... I think Matty had around 5 grand in his, and he wasn't done yet.

The basic engines are exactly the same, some of the peripherals are different.... use the stuff on your truck now, and you will be fine. If you build your 408 internally balanced, you won't need to change the torque converter (right away) either. Keep in mind though, that the added power will eat the stock trans for lunch.

 

Auto's use flex plates, manuals use flywheels.