I have a 2000 1500 318 and it has 250k miles on it. It keeps gettin weaker and weaker every day. If i do have to put a new motor in it does any one no if a 360 or somthing bigger would fit in it. i want to make it a Hoss but not to have terrible gas milage. (meaning like 9mpg or less). Also does any one no a place to get one at a good price? Thanks

 

A 360 will fit. You will need more than just the engine to make it work though. You'll need the computer and the wiring harness as well.

 

THe wires harnesses are the same so you wont have to replace that. You will just need the computer and a flexplate from a 360. The 318 and 360 are balanced differently so you have to use different flexplates for them.

 

I just did the entire exchange (318 to 360) and here is what you need and do not need.

Do not need:
New computer and wiring harness. It is a good odea though to take your truck in after you have completed the swap and have the dealer input the new VIN (replacing the 318 code with the 360 code). This will help your cold start (closed loop computer control) and idle until the engine gets warm enough to go into open-loop computer mode. This open loop mode is actually a learned mode where the computer learns as you drive. That is why you do not need a new computer as the 318 computer will learn what it needs to do.

Need:
360 crankshaft damper
360 flexplate

You need these two items because the 360 is externally balanced by them where the 318 is internally balanced by the crankshaft.

Everything else is just bolt on 318 to 360.

Good luck.

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[IMG]local://upfiles/35230/AA71C3EDDF6443B4B6F65F9A89AECD65.jpg[/IMG]

 

Sorta right. The computer will learn while in open-loop for a while, but open-loop isn't a "learning mode". It's just the normal mode of operation. The computer changes which sensors it listens to. When you go to WOT, it goes back into closes loop...when you let off, back to open loop.

I would also suggest going to a 360 PCM. The computers ARE different, and the 360 PCM WILL control the motor more efficiently. There are a few guys that have done the 360 swap on other Dodge forums, and have run into issues trying to use the 318 PCM.

 

hey turkey.. i need info on them wire holders you have coming from the vavle covers.. i love them and need them .. b/c zip ties are just not cutting it!!! and i assume you have the wires routed over the covers and back between the covers and mani' to the dist cap.

 

Ok the wire harness is a new one me. From what I have seen and have always been told they are the same harnesses. WHat is different about them?

 

That is the reason I mention having the dealership put your "New" VIN into the computer. WHen you replace the "Y" in your VIN with the "Z" the computer now realizes it is running a 360 and not a 318. This cost me $55 at the dealership. Much cheaper than over $200 at the junkyard. Click here to see how to read your VIN. http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/specs/VIN_decode.htm

As far as I can tell, having the VIN flashed into the computer has helped my truck run great and I have not had any issues with the computer being a 318 computer.

 

Here's the info on the wire holders:

Moroso Universal Loom Kit #72150.

!!!!!!!!!!! A word of caution!!! DO NOT TRY TO BEND THE METAL AT ALL. THE METAL IS VERY STRONG IN IT'S CURRENT SHAPE BUT BREAKS AT THE BEND IF YOU TRY TO ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF BEND. !!!!!!!!!!!!