Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: ChallengerGary]
#2341152
07/21/17 08:46 PM
07/21/17 08:46 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,306 Laveen, Arizona
GTSDart340
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,306
Laveen, Arizona
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5.9 Magnums are cheap and easy to find. Plus they last a long time.
1949 International KB-2 "Mater" - 302/T5
1968 Dodge Dart GTS "The Drat" - 340/727
2006 Dodge Magnum R/T - Hemi
2016 Dodge Durango Limited - 3.6
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: ChallengerGary]
#2341201
07/21/17 10:32 PM
07/21/17 10:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,664 IN
ahy
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,664
IN
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Bought my 16 year old son a 1989 Ramcharger a couple of weeks ago. He killed the 318 in less than a week. Overheated on the highway and then developed a wicked knock. Can't necessarily fault him since we have no idea on the actual mileage etc on the truck.
Now, I have to decide to either:
A) rebuild the 318 (been quoted $1500 for rebuild with new pistons, stock sized cam, a valve job, new rings and bearings)
A $1,500 rebuild is... well... a $1,500 rebuild. If the guy who offered it is trusted and experienced may be OK. How about the carb, distributor belts, hoses ect? It may turn out to be a $2,500 rebuild if the basic engine is reasonably OK to start with
B) I have a buddy with a 340 he puled out of a car 20+ years ago that I know for a fact ran really well before he scrapped the car. He has offered me that engine for $1500 "or so" That was 20 years ago... how about today?
C) Find a 318 or 360 Magnum motor to swap in a good option if you can find a good one
D) not really an option due to finances but my son wants to put int a newer 5.7 Hemi A bit of a science project... how is the rest of the truck? Also expensive.
E) scrap the truck and find him something else How is the rest of the truck? May be a good option as well.
Thoughts? Comments added. How much of a project do you want and how is the rest of the truck?
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: ChallengerGary]
#2341763
07/23/17 12:26 AM
07/23/17 12:26 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,228 Colleyville
3hundred
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,228
Colleyville
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Swap in a magnum, either one, had both, don't have a serious preference 318 or 360, both very good. Have the 5.7, very expensive but LOTS of fun, maybe too much fun. 2ยข
Robert
'68 Fury Convertible '69 300 Convertible '15 Durango 5.7 Hemi '16 300 S Hemi
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: ChallengerGary]
#2342332
07/24/17 11:11 AM
07/24/17 11:11 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,920 Richmond, Indiana
19swinger70
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,920
Richmond, Indiana
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I would think you could find a used, running 318 or 360 locally. Since its for a new driver, I'd get one for a couple hundred bucks and throw it in. Make him do the work while you watch. My dad did that to me - and 25 years later, I am still playing with cars.
1970 340 swinger. sublime 1967 barracuda fastback BB 55 Plymouth Project
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: ric3xrt]
#2343906
07/26/17 09:15 PM
07/26/17 09:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
dogdays
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
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I do not agree. Every kid wrecks his or her first car. The truck needs a 318.
Go to where there are retirees (I know, hard to find down there) and buy a Fifth Avenue, preferably with the hydraulic roller cam, meaning '86 or newer, maybe '85 will have it. My Mom's Fifth had a little over 100K and you could still see the honing marks in the cylinders. I could have reused the bearings, they were all very good. Dress the engine with the stuff from the RC.
The later model two barrel 318s are more efficient than earlier ones, better chamber. I mean the ones in the Fifth Avenues.
Add dual exhaust from the manifolds but nothing else until he's been driving it for a while. He'll have to live with the 2-barrel carb. The Fifth Avenue's exhaust manifolds have 360-sized ports so no need to change, if they fit in the chassis.
The 318 is known among car people as the engine that is too tough to die. So this kid must be super talented. Don't give him anything you aren't willing to have come back as scrap. No 340s and no Hemis. You'll live to regret either of those.
Replacing in kind is the quickest and least likely to result in a dead RC gracing your driveway for the next four years.
R.
Last edited by dogdays; 07/26/17 09:16 PM.
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: vdubee]
#2346102
07/31/17 10:13 AM
07/31/17 10:13 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,143 Port Saint Lucie, FL
ChallengerGary
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,143
Port Saint Lucie, FL
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Are you getting rid of the TBI? Not sure. I want to keep it as cheap as possible, so I will probably keep it. Thoughts? I found a 1990 318 TBI locally that I can get for $250. Guy says it ran great and was in his RC as a daily driver but he got a wicked good deal on a built 360 so he swapped it out. I figure I can do timing gear & chain, water pump, gaskets, and freeze plugs on it for around $100 and get him back on the road.
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: 19swinger70]
#2376297
09/25/17 10:45 AM
09/25/17 10:45 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,143 Port Saint Lucie, FL
ChallengerGary
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,143
Port Saint Lucie, FL
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I would think you could find a used, running 318 or 360 locally. Since its for a new driver, I'd get one for a couple hundred bucks and throw it in. Make him do the work while you watch. My dad did that to me - and 25 years later, I am still playing with cars. Doing just that! He is doing the bulk of the work together with his friend who is also 16. I am getting the new engine ready to drop in while they pull the old one. I know it is taking longer than if I were to turn the wrenches myself, but he is certainly getting some worthwhile experience in the process.
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: ChallengerGary]
#2376384
09/25/17 12:34 PM
09/25/17 12:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886 Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
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Ahh the good old days. That is probably how most of us got started. I didn't have a Dad to help. So here's a Fer ya Pops. My friends Dads were very helpful and supportive. He'll learn about responsibility, cooperation, and mechanics. Nice looking truck. Whats up with that bumper?
I have mechanical Aptitude. I can screw up anything.
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: ChallengerGary]
#2376448
09/25/17 01:58 PM
09/25/17 01:58 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,143 Port Saint Lucie, FL
ChallengerGary
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,143
Port Saint Lucie, FL
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Needs a new bumper for sure LOL Yeah, my Dad never helped me either when I was a kid, truthfully, he was not around at the time - he had taken a job out of state. And even if he had been there, he just wasn't into working on cars at all. I tore apart my first 1971 Challenger when I was the same age as my son. No help from Dad, No manual, No Internet (of course it was 1983 Al Gore hadn't invented it yet LOL), just a will to make my car better and faster Had help from my neighbors who were Chevelle junkies. After we get her back on the road, we are going to give her a nice fresh coat of paint (and a new front bumper at the same time). He also wants to add some 4th Gen Ram front seats to make the ride more comfortable.
Last edited by ChallengerGary; 09/25/17 01:59 PM.
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: ChallengerGary]
#2376505
09/25/17 03:17 PM
09/25/17 03:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886 Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
master
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master
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Lost and Spaced
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Sounds like a plan. Looking forward to the "after" pictures with some smiling faces. My first time around was a '66 Coronete 500. Running like crap. Took it to a shop. Still ran like crap. Figured I could do no worse. Found out the Library had books. Bought a cheap set of tools and I was off and running. Turned out to be bad points. Once I got a replacement for it, I tore it down to a bare body shell. Still have some parts laying around. That was like 1975. Learned a lot of things not to do. Neighborhood kids all helped each other out a lot in those days.
I have mechanical Aptitude. I can screw up anything.
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: ChallengerGary]
#2376938
09/26/17 02:24 AM
09/26/17 02:24 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 614 Id
mopeman
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 614
Id
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While you at it, you should find a 518 so the highway trips are easier on that newer motor.
Mopar or no car MoPar=Massivly Over Powered And Respected!
'93 W250 Ram '68 Charger '67 Coronet 500 my steet/strip rod-now a 6BBL!
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: ChallengerGary]
#2383129
10/06/17 09:15 PM
10/06/17 09:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886 Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
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Coming along very nicely.
I think your snafu is caused by the "Lite" beer. Always get the good stuff.
I have mechanical Aptitude. I can screw up anything.
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: ChallengerGary]
#2383869
10/08/17 02:03 PM
10/08/17 02:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,831 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
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Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,831
Central Florida
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I came in late on this one, but I think you have gone the right route. Dogdays idea was good too (318 out of '85 or newer..). I would NEVER have spent the money on the 5.7 route for a sixteen year old. AND, you're having him work on the truck. PERFECT! I like others here was working on cars before I could drive them and had a passion in me. I was born with it because no dad to instill it. Paid for my own '67 D150 ($150), rusted out POS, poly 318, 3 on the tree, sitting rotting in someone's back yard. Anyway, I'd still think that 340 you mentioned is a good buy if it was stored properly.
I'm so glad you didn't scrap the Ramcharger! Any year RC is a collectible. I'm working on getting my '79 Power Wagon short bed 360 back on the road btw. I'm in Melbourne Florida.
P.S. Isn't that just like Scratchinfortraction to offer up something free to help out! Good guy.
Facts are stubborn things.
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Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger
[Re: RodStRace]
#2384514
10/09/17 04:08 PM
10/09/17 04:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886 Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
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make sure that radiator is checked and/or replaced You can get a new radiator over the counter for a little over a hunert bux. I have one in each of my trucks. They are plastic and aluminum, but so are the modern cars. I see no reason not to use one unless you want a resto deal.
I have mechanical Aptitude. I can screw up anything.
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