A friend has a 1995 Dakota 4WD with a 318 magnum and manual transmission. The engine is getting tired and I am helping him with options (he is in CA).
1) Should we rebuild/build the 318 magnum or swap in a 360 magnum?
2) If building the 318 magnum, what improvements do you suggest?
3) If swapping in a 360 magnum, what issues are we going to run into (motor mounts, flywheel/clutch/pilot bearing issues, computer, etc)???
4) Building a stroker. Nothing wild, just more cubes to get more power/torque...around 350-360 cubes.
Usage Info: Not a race truck. Truck will be used for lite hauling (off-road motorcycles and misc., a little bit of off-roading and mostly as a transportation vehicle. He wants more power and torque. Since he only wants to build a 305-360 cubic inch stroker 318, I told him it would be cheaper to swap in a 360 magnum. We have to keep it "smog legal" (sort of for CA). Anyone do this swap???
We were thinking of some porting on the heads and intake, installing a larger throttle body, slightly bigger cam (recommendations?) and maybe swapping heads), smog legal headers, bigger exhaust through the catalytic converter, etc.
Thanks in advance for your ideas!!!

The Magnum engine is held back by the "beer barrel" intake. If rebuilding the 5.2, use of a 4" crank will get around 390 cubic inches, makes more sense to me than going with a 3.58" stroke. But the 5.9 will get to 366 with a cleanup bore. Depends on what you can find. Either way, the intake limits. Putting a bigger motor under it moves the torque curve down.

If you have to pass emissions, pay attention to camshaft compatibility. There are a few companies out there who have specialized in Mag motors, better ask them.

If it were me, I'd look for the 5.9. If I couldn't find a decent one, the 5.2 would get a 4" crank. I am not sure about the heads' porting capacities, again better ask. There is a very expensive M1 MPFI single plane intake that MAY have a CARB exemption, maybe not. If not, then cutting the runners shorter inside the beer barrel (Hughes Engines) can increase the power curve.

R.

Thanks for the info.

Will the 360 bolt in place of the 318, or are there differences to the motor mounts, like on the 318/360 LA swap?

It'll all be balanced and have the correct flywheel for the 360.

My friend was thinking not going really big on the cubes for a stroker, as the 318 can go to about 390 cid, and the 360 over 400 cid.

The truck is going to be used mostly on the street and a little off-roaading, as well as hauling/light towing.

I am not sure about 5.2/5.9 differences in motor mounts, someone else does.
When talking about Magnum motors, don't call the 5.9Mag a 360! It has a different factory imbalance than the 360. Something like 4 oz-in difference, which you'll certainly feel if you get the wrong one.

R.

Thanks for the info.

Will the 360 bolt in place of the 318, or are there differences to the motor mounts, like on the 318/360 LA swap?

It'll all be balanced and have the correct flywheel for the 360.

My friend was thinking not going really big on the cubes for a stroker, as the 318 can go to about 390 cid, and the 360 over 400 cid so I think a 360 Mangnum engine swap will be the most cost effective.

The truck is going to be used mostly on the street and a little off-roaading, as well as hauling/light towing.