The pre-98 Magnum 360 has 15 less HP while the 98-03 is placed in a separate generation with an additional 15HP...what makes this? For my swap I would rather obviously go with a 98-03 but if that extra HP can be easily gained on a 96 I would rather do that, this way I can use a 96 PCM since the wiring harness is from 96 that I am using (and sensors etc).

 

I don't know, butI like the sig!

 

maybe it is just the way they are tuned. don't most tuners only work on 98 and newer rams?

 

96 is OBDII compliant. First year. Wonder if it is kegger design Is that the year the kegger changed and baffle removed maybe?

 

i know 96 was the first year of obd2 and that hemi fever can pretty much program anything 96 and newer but don't pretty much every other tuner company only make tunes for 98 and newer? wouldn't that mean there is something different on the 98 and newer systems?

 

That's why I was thinking intake. I believe block is the same. Sensors on intake are different at some point, but don't recall the break point in year model. So could be a PCM programming thing with additional sensors.

 

ya. i would think the same thing. engine stayed the same but something small changed. kind of like the 92-93 318 have 10HP more than than the 94-01 318's but the 94-01 318's have 15ft lbs more torque than the 92-93 318's.

 

Fwiw

C/P from dodgeram.org

There are several families of PCM's that were developed to meet EPA regulations. These various versions are not interchangeable.

1994 and 1995PCM's are OBD compliant.
1996 and 1997 PCM's meet OBD II specifications.
1998 and later PCM's meet OBD III specifications.

 

96 intake still had the divider, and some even had provisions for EGR, just had a block-off plate instead of the valve.

97 still had the divider, but, no provisions for EGR.

98 and up, no divider.

Only sensor change I am aware of occurred on 98 or 99 trucks, with the elimination of the single wire sensor for engine temp. (single wire used to drive the gauge. now, the PCM drives all the instruments.)

OBDIII isn't out yet, and has some serious hurdles to get over before being rolled out. One of the chief complaints is that OBDIII vehicles will TRANSMIT various data to either satellite uplinks, or roadside data collection systems. Things like vehicle speed, malfunction codes, and such..... Big Brother WILL be watching....

 

If 98-03 was OBD3 than the PCMs would not work on a 96 Dakota wiring harness, I'm not even sure if an OBD2 Ram PCM would work on an OBD1 Dakota harness so I'm sticking with the 96 Dakota harness...I'm asking 360 Mag questions here because there are more of you in the Ram section.

I do NOT like the sounds of this, I'm already dealing with BB for other things...they do fking exist. Good thing I'm building up an OBDII summer truck and keeping my OBD1 for winter.

Obviously if they did it, no divider and EGR are for the better and that is what I should shoot for IF a 98-03 OBDII PCM will work on an 96 Dakota harness. If the block I find has really low mileage and is a 94-97 I can always get the 98+ PCM and intake so I have all the modernized 360 Magnum upgrades.