trying to get some information together to possibly install a junkyard 318 in place of my V-6, just wondering, what year was first year for 318 engine? I know shelby put a 318 in the trucks in 1989 but it was a limited run. Also what was first year for serpentine belts in Dakotas? And while I'm at what all will I have to have besides motormounts for this V-6 to V-8 swap?
thanks
Ben

 

I think it was actually like 1988-1989. They put the first ones in special edition Shelby models. It was the first generation body. They were around 180 HP, so not as strong as the Magnum motors.

 

was that the shelby convertable truck year(s)?? i thought they were awesome.

 

Yeah, that was around those years. it was a gen 1 Dakota though.

 

If I remember it, I think it was the 92 models that were the first generation Dakotas to have the Magnum 5.2's rated at 220 HP

 

As regular production, yes. The first were a special edition though.

 

http://www.allpar.com/model/ram/ram-history.html

Look at the 3rd paragraph from the bottom. the paragraph starts with soemthing about the "mid-1980's".

 

They were talking about the introduction of the Dakota. The Dakota started production in 1986 as a 1987 model year Dakota. I think the first production 318 was in 1992, and the engine was rated a 220 or 230 hp, I can't quite remember.

 

I thought the magnum 318 first appeared in the 92 Dakotas. I had a 93' model year built in mid 92' that had a magnum v6 and I remember wishing for the 318.

 

I just read something on the internet about the 91 Dakota being the first year to have the 318, and the 92 the first year for the magnum version.