I have a 2000 Dodge ram 4x4 5.9 gas with an automatic. The engine has 240,000 miles on it and has a blown head gasket. I have a 94 dodge 318 out of an 1500 with only 120,000 miles. i was wondering if i could just pull the 360 out and install the 318 engine in. Is there anything major that i would have to buy or will the the 2000 trans not bolt up to the 94?

 

It will work, if you swap the intake as well, the question becomes, why would you want to? You are still going to have a high mileage motor, that is smaller than what you are running now..... Find another low mileage 360. Anything from 93 to 2002 will work, just make sure you use the flexplate from your current motor.

Welcome to DF.

 

The reason I want to put the 318 in the truck is because I already have it from a previous truck. I just didn't know if the wiring and everything would hook up to that engine to keep the Pcm happy.

 

You will want the intake, and all of the sensors from the original motor. While the intake is off, you should also check the plenum gasket. If you actually want to leave the 318 in there for a while, you should change the timing chain/gears before installation... (the chain stretches really bad.....) Also, if you intend to leave it in there for any appreciable length of time, you will want to have the PCM flashed for the smaller engine......

If you do any towing with your truck, I don't think you are going to be very happy with the smaller motor...... although, depending on the condition of the original, real possibility the 318 will actually have more power than the old, tired, 360....

 

im not too worried about being dissappointed with the 318. it was a really strong motor. this 360 in this truck is just whooped and i dont really want to spend any more money than i have to on a wood hauler/farm truck. it just get used and abused.

I guess i will have to get started on the swap then. i was just concerned the flywheel off the truck wouldnt bolt on the older motor.

 

You can't use the 360 flywheel on the 318, the 360 is externally balanced, 318 is internal balance. Put the 360 flywheel on the 318, and it will shake itself apart in pretty short order.

 

My past 2 trucks had the 5.2 and now my current truck has the 5.9. I won't lie. I actually liked the 5.2s. I averaged 14-15mpg and they pulled anything and everything I hooked to them. Even my first truck that had over 250,000 on it. It screamed like no other but it always did the job.

Now comparing my trucks to each other is pretty much apples to oranges since my current truck is undergeared for the tire size. Depending on what you use your truck for I wouldn't hesitate to swap that 5.2 into there, IMO, they're good engines.