I have a 98 ram 1500 with the 318. Im swapping another 318 into it out of the same year truck. to my knowledge the motor is all stock. I was wondering what the biggest cam would be that I could run in that without having to do head work or breaking my wallet? and also I bought a polar bear full front grille guard off a guy and I didn't get any mounts with it. any ideas where I can get some?

 

Who makes the grille guard? Are they still in business? Give 'em a call.

Max lift on the cam is .480. There are some good ones out there to be had.

 

ive been thinking about camming my 318 as well. so how much of a difference would that lift difference make. idle, mpg and power.

 

Depending on just which cam you choose...... I am going to assume something 'better' than stock.... RV cam or some such. Better bottom end, bit more mid range, nothing up top. (not like our engines have anything there anyway), MPG will initially be less. (as you will constantly being saying "WOW" to yourself when you step on the gas.) Once you get used to it, probably about the same, could be a little worse, or better..... throw of the dice. Idle should be nice and smooth with a cam designed for Idle to 5000 or so. Power? Better than stock...... with some complimentary mods, you can make it quite a bit better. (headers, TB work, tuner)

 

the grille guard brand is polar bear. and I don't have the slightest clue if they are still in business. I can find the same ones on the internet just not the mounting brackets. and thanks. do you have any certain cam in mind that would be best?

 

and should I put a double roller timing chain in as well?

 

double roller - yes
what cam? depends on how much work, and therefore money, you are willing to do.

Do you even know what shape the engine is in? Hows the compression?

 

I just put a crane 2020 with double roller in my 360 magnum,you might be able to go up to the crane 2030 without any head modifications,i will say this the 2020 gave that engine a ton of low and midrange torque!!and still idles smooth(pcm friendly) the 2030 will move that range up a little more,just depends on what you want out of the engine..

 

I have no clue what cam im going to get I just know im going to try going maximum lift with it stock. i have no clue what the compression is like in it but i know its a clean motor and it runs good. it has about 130,000 miles on it. and i just want some more *** behind it. the motor im taking out of it is the one im dumping money into. that's why im trying to do just a few things to this one for a cheap price. and when i get the cam do i need to get lifters and all that good stuff too or can i just order the cam itself?

 

I'd recommend you get new lifters too. At 130,000 miles I bet want new ones. I'm sure you'd hate to install a new cam, get it back together and get a lifter tick or something like that. Summit Racing sells them, along with Hughe's Engines.