Good afternoon all. Brand new member here - looks like a great place to share my progress and pull in suggestions from fellow experts.

I'm beginning a restoration of a 1986 D350 truck. Factory 360 v8 and 727 trans. Single cab, long bed. My dad bought this truck almost new and I basically grew up with it - learned to drive in it...etc..

It still runs and drives today, albeit it leaks everything imaginable, and it appears I have a either an intake or head gasket leak as it recently began burning coolant. It also burns a bit of oil if you let it idle for an extended period. Compression is down a bit, but evenly so. Body is very good - no rust, interior is faded but intact and no major cracks.

For those of you still reading - I want to get this truck back to the way it was when it was new-ish. I'm not going for showroom condition, it will be a driver and truck that will still be used to get stuff from the hardware store. I'm aiming for the condition say a 5 year old car would be in today. This includes going through the motor and driveline, front end, bushing etc. Interior will have working A/C, cruise, and maybe even FM radio

So my first stop here I think is to freshen up the motor. Factory in 1986 I think it's rated around 180HP. If my research is correct the "pre smog" engines had HP around 250s or so. It doens't have to pass any emissions anymore as it is registered as an antique vehicle. Can someone throw out some suggestions on modifications or improvements to get the engine closer to 300HP. Most of the message boards focus on muscle car applications for these engines, but this is a truck - daily driver. With a budget focused on "the whole truck" I want to have some fun with the engine, but it ins't getting the a ton of money thrown at it...

Thanks in advance. I'll be keeping updated with pictures as I go. It will be slow as I work during the week, but should be able to tackle a small update every weekend!

welcome Jim....and let's see that Dodge!

Yeah, what he said

Welcome, Jim! I'm sure you're looking to spend as little as possible, but give us an idea of what you're willing to spend on the motor alone. You'll get plenty of responses...

Cool deal.

Call Porter Racing Heads in VT. Dwayne will set you up with aluminum heads and build specs to give a local shop to do the short block. Redoing your heads isn’t all that much cheaper than getting new stuff that will wake the thing up. Dwayne can also spec a cam to perfection.

Sounds good - I'll make sure to grab a couple pics when I get home!

As for the budget on the engine, honestly I'm not sure yet. I guess the point of my first post was to explain that my priority isn't building a 400HP muscle car engine.

So let's just say if you had $1000 bucks - what direction would you go? It's not mixing oil and water, the engine actually runs very quietly so I'm not aware of any mechanical "damage" other than just age / wear. Would that price range get me a reliable motor with say 100HP over stock?

Tentatively in my head - I had figured on lower end bearings and checking clearances, maybe re honing the cylinders, new rings, and probably a complete head job or new heads to get the compression ratio up a bit for power. I can throw a cam in there too as suggested. I have a fully rebuilt Q-Jet 4barrel sitting in a box. It's the OE carb for this truck - not sure if it will be enough or will I need something else for my plan. For this modest power gain, will headers and exhaust be necessary or can the stock exhaust run it?

Thanks!

Just my two cents, but best bucks down approach is find a good 5.9 magnum motor and install it. Use the exhaust manifolds that come with it. Get a crosswind intake and use your Qjet. If you are going to drive it much, I would also think about putting a 518 trans in it. It is a direct bolt in using a trans xmember from a 90-93 D150 that came with that trans. These are the two best bucks down improvements you could make for
power and economy. For about $150 more you can get a reground cam for the 5.9 as well.

I would agree on the magnum and O/D trans. I would use a 93 OBD I vehicle though and keep the fuel injection. That way you can have the O/D and lockup converter all automatically.

Trying to attach pictures but issues from the phone. I'll give it a go from work computer tomorrow.

I was considering the magnum option. How New can I go w/o having to do any major mods to the frame or mounts? I'll probably stick with the 727 for now, I can always do a trans swap later.

What kind of power do you get bone stock magnum 5.9 with an intake for a carb? I'd probably need to update the ignition system too. This one has the ballast resistor / melting "computer" one lol.

I could do the cam too really...if it would benefit over stock.

Bone stock 5.9 is about 300hp with headers, a little less with exh manifolds.
The 300hp crate engine Mopar sold is a stock 5.9 with a carb intake installed. I would not put in a motor without putting in at least a regrind cam as it makes a big difference.

Got some pics attached finally!

The magnum 5.9 will bolt up directly to the 727 - no necessary changes?

It's sounding like a better and better option - although I may be somewhat nostalgic to the original motor.

You will need to clearance the top of the bell housing for the crank sensor if you keep the injection. Otherwise it will bolt right up.

good looking project. If you're going with another engine, oil and bag the original engine and stash it in a safe place.

I had the same nostalgia thought about the 360 in my dad's old truck.
Then I realized he would have thought I was an idiot for spending more money for a lesser engine. I helped him build the engine before he passed away, but it was a basic rering as that was all that money allowed for at the time. We both knew that old 360 was still just a gutless smog motor. It is worth it for just the updated serpentine system and parts availability for the newer accessories. An obd1 change over using oem computer and wiring is not difficult, and you will find yourself wanting to drive it more with the modern touches.

What he said X2!