I had an '89 power ram with the 318. I dont think they had lockup converters or overdrive trannys for the automaticks anyway. I lost the coverter and put true duals on it. It helped some. They are just low compression low HP motors. I was planning on putting in a warm 360 with a carb and my son totaled it. I loved my Dodge. TO get more from it you would need a cam and a carb. They are imposible to chip. Steeper gears would help. Mine was a 323 front and back.