Hello I have inherited a dump truck that was a 1985 Dodge d350

However the engine has many problems and I want to do a swap with a newer engine

I'm having trouble finding a compatible engine block that will fit the chassis does anyone know if any of the newer engines would be compatible?

I'm hoping that I can use a dodge 1500 engine
Any thoughts?

 

Gas or diesel?

 

What transmission? Manual? Automatic? You can put everything from a 318 to 440 in it. The body was designed when big blocks were available. You can go with a carburetor and electronic ignition. You will have to figure in balancing as the 318 and 360 were balanced different and even the 360's were not all balanced the same. The engines in the 1500, 2500 and 3500 are pretty much all the same per year. If you find a wrecked 2500 that has the engine you want, it won't matter that it's not a 1500.

 

It's automatic

Which years of the dodge ram 1500 or 2500 would fit?

 

I think that's a great idea to have an electronic fuel injection system so I definitely want to get a newer engine but don't want to fabricate too much .

Not sure if the bolt patterns match the newer models

 

If you went with a magnum engine (the newer models, essentially 92 and up) you would also need the trans, as there is a cutout for the crank sensor, that the older transmissions won't have. So, engine, trans, t-case (if you are 4x4 but, I don't the the "D" trucks were....) wiring harness, and PCM. You want to go with OBDII, so, 96 or 97 model years are going to be your best bet. The newer trans will be a 4spd unit, so, will have to shorten the rear driveshaft as well. Verify spline counts are the same though.....

 

I think the transmission bolt patterns will be the same. With fuel injection, there are two types that were used. In 1988, TBI injection came in. It basically replaced the carburetor with fuel injection and a basic computer. If you get up to the later ones, the Magnum engines, you get multiport injection and a LOT of computer controls. The pre-magnum injection shouldn't be too bad but the later ones you might have a lot of fabrication or will need a wrecked truck for parts on all the harnesses.

Unless you're going for a show truck and not just getting yours going, I'd pass on the Magnum engines. There's a LOT of extra work. I could probably do it but I just don't think it's worth the trouble, time and most important, money, to convert to a later engine.

What I would suggest is to find an older 360 that runs decent. Go through it with a new timing chain, fresh oil pump, new expansion plugs and so on, then drop it in. That's if the engine you have really is in bad shape. It might just need some work. Timing chains usually last around 120-150,000 miles on those vintage engines. If the timing chain has jumped, all you need is a new set and the engine will wake back up.