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Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger #2341122
07/21/17 07:46 PM
07/21/17 07:46 PM
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Port Saint Lucie, FL
ChallengerGary Offline OP
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ChallengerGary  Offline OP
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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)

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"

C) Find a 318 or 360 Magnum motor to swap in

D) not really an option due to finances but my son wants to put int a newer 5.7 Hemi

E) scrap the truck and find him something else

Thoughts?

Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: ChallengerGary] #2341133
07/21/17 08:13 PM
07/21/17 08:13 PM
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Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
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340 with the correct flywheel and a wood block under the gas pedal to keep a fast young foot under control.

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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Laveen, Arizona
GTSDart340 Offline
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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
Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: ChallengerGary] #2341184
07/21/17 10:05 PM
07/21/17 10:05 PM
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Wichita, KS
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tmef Offline
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I would fix it the easiest and cheapest way, find a used 318 and put it in. I would have given you one two weeks ago if you were closer. But its in engine heaven now. My next choice would be a 5.2 Magnum, but that would only be after absolutely no 318 LA's were out there.

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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IN
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ahy Offline
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Originally Posted By ChallengerGary
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?

Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: ChallengerGary] #2341202
07/21/17 10:32 PM
07/21/17 10:32 PM
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Freeport IL USA
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First question is, will the kid have some skin in the swap? His lead foot will never get any lighter if all he has to do is blow them up.

Him and I would do an LA 318 or a 5.2 Mag. If your keeping the carb, look for an LA 318. Gene

Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: ChallengerGary] #2341436
07/22/17 12:54 PM
07/22/17 12:54 PM
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ILLINOIS
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volaredon Offline
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ILLINOIS
florida? Scrap a ramcharger? Up here in the rust belt that would be most likely... but down there where theres no snow so therefore no salt or brine on the road? Blown up or not, send it to me here in Illinois. I'll take care of the engine. and drive the He11 out of it.

Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: volaredon] #2341483
07/22/17 02:42 PM
07/22/17 02:42 PM
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Chilliwack B.C. Canada
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RUNCHARGER Offline
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$100 JY 318 and he does the work.


Sheldon
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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Colleyville
3hundred Offline
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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
Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: ChallengerGary] #2342326
07/24/17 11:00 AM
07/24/17 11:00 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,143
Port Saint Lucie, FL
ChallengerGary Offline OP
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The body on the RC is darn close to perfect. The only rust is behind the passenger rear wheel well and is less than the size of a dollar bill.

We have decided not to scrap it since it is so clean and he really wants it due to its uniqueness around here.

I may look in the local scrap yards first before going the 340 route.

Hemi swap is out due to costs and scope of the project. School starts again in about 3-4 weeks and, frankly, I was looking forward to no longer being the morning taxi as I have been for the past 16+ years (including taking his older brother to school everyday from age 3...).

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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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
Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: ChallengerGary] #2342338
07/24/17 11:19 AM
07/24/17 11:19 AM
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Port Saint Lucie, FL
ChallengerGary Offline OP
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He's already pulled the interior apart and is cleaning and painting whatever needs it plus looking for new seats.

IMG_20170629_143107777.jpg
Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: ChallengerGary] #2342434
07/24/17 02:39 PM
07/24/17 02:39 PM
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Trumbauersville PA
ric3xrt Offline
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Go 5.7 , spend the cash now and be done with it.
http://bouchillonperformance.com/inc/sdetail/669/742


Truth has no agenda, but those with an agenda make their own truth.
Some of us are so open minded they only see their View



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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dogdays Offline
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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.
Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: ChallengerGary] #2344135
07/27/17 10:26 AM
07/27/17 10:26 AM
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Florida
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I have a running 91 318 you can have free minus the whiplash roller cam in it. it goes in my other 318 next.

need headers?

got all the hydro clutch stuff with a 4 speed or a nv4500 5 speed for it.

nice 8 3/4 that bolts in as well.

even have a set of wheel tubs if he wants to shackle flip & tub it for some fattys.

I agree with your son.. not many running around here in my part of FL.

I am looking to make a 2x gasser out of a 4x4 RC (or W150) so it has a tube axle and leafs up front.

I say go for it! at his age and having something that old is a good start to having a hot rod in his mid life.

Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: ChallengerGary] #2344199
07/27/17 11:43 AM
07/27/17 11:43 AM
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Louisiana
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vdubee Offline
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Are you getting rid of the TBI?

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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Port Saint Lucie, FL
ChallengerGary Offline OP
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Originally Posted By vdubee
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.

Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: ChallengerGary] #2346146
07/31/17 12:09 PM
07/31/17 12:09 PM
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Port Saint Lucie, FL
ChallengerGary Offline OP
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Hey Scratchinfortraction - what kind of headers do you recommend? I know you have put together a bunch of D100's and am thinking that is the one performance mod I will do while the engine is being swapped...

Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: ChallengerGary] #2346147
07/31/17 12:12 PM
07/31/17 12:12 PM
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Port Saint Lucie, FL
ChallengerGary Offline OP
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BTW - what is a whiplash cam?

Re: Trying to decide engine option on Ramcharger [Re: ChallengerGary] #2376284
09/25/17 10:30 AM
09/25/17 10:30 AM
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Port Saint Lucie, FL
ChallengerGary Offline OP
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Update - ended up finding a rebuilt 318 that had some performance upgrades done to it. Supposedly, it ran great in a 71 Dart. Mild cam, 30 over, 1970 340 heads and intake.

Finally started taking the old engine out yesterday (instead of watching the NFL). Hope to have it back on the road by the end of the week for my son. Ordering headers for it this am and should have them here by Wednesday.

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