^ He's sorta right.....

 

Don't pull the motor just yet...... mark the torque converter, and the flex plate, to 'index' them. Then, remove all the bolt, give the torque converter a quarter turn, and bolt it back up, see if all the bolts line up. Try that at least three times before you yank the motor. It might be just that simple.

Now, something else to consider.... If you are using the flexplate off the 360..... You may have to yank the engine anyway. 318 is internally balanced, 360 is externally balanced. 360 flexplate on the smaller engine IS going to give you some vibration...... I think you need to pull the motor in any event. But, before swapping plates, and dropping it back in, make sure the torque converter will bolt up to it..... might need to change that as well.

 

I have the transmission and torque convertor from the Jeep, I might have to swap out the convertor, that is if it will work with the transmission that is in the truck,

 

Not sure if it will swap, I think the Jeep uses the 44re?

 

I was looking at a on-line parts house and it appears the 94 Ram 1500 with a 318 and a 96 Ram 1500 with a 360 use the same flex plate, so it looks like I will have to pull the engine and swap out the plates. Good thing I have only the mounts and 2 bell housing bolts to undo.

 

erm, that doesn't seem quite right....... but, if that is what the part numbers show.....

Advance shows the same number for those two options as well.. which forces me to assume that it is the torque converter that still has the weights on it for 96 360.... Strange.... I had thought they changed in 96 to flex plate having the weights, and the t/c being interchangeable... no huh?

Which means...... you need to change the t/c as well.

 

The transmission in the truck was overhauled recently, so I was planning on pulling the plate off the 360 and installing it on the 318, since the parts manual shows them to be the same for the Dodge, but not for the Jeep 318.

The story behind the truck was a friend recently put over 4k into the truck before selling it to a nephew, who managed to spin a couple of rod bearings, as well as backing into a pole, he then figured since it was not running, he did not have to pay on it. Well, my friend took it back and I picked it up for the cost of a rifle and pistol from my collection. I have replaced the carpet, repaired the upholstery, replaced the center console, added cup holders for the rear seats, replaced the cup holder in the dash and the ashtray, and the overhead console. I was planning on turning the truck when I was done and gotten all the bugs worked out, as I all ready have a 87 W-150 4x4, a 85 El Camino, and a Honda Goldwing, so I really do not need another truck.