LA 318 to Magnum 360 swap
I made the decision to go with a Magnum 360 to replace the LA 318 in my 73 Dart. It was half price day at Pick N Pull so I was able to get the motor for $122. out the door.
When you buy a motor from Pick N pull you're not able to start if to hear how it sounds. You cant even have a battery out there to try and do a compression check. The millage of the 2001 Ram I pulled it from was unknown because the instrument cluster was gone. I did pull the intake manifold and valve cover and I didn't see much to any sludge. I also pulled the oil pan and everything looked good. The was no metal in the bottom of the pan or in the oil pick up tube screen. I could still see cross-hatching on the cylinder walls.
Due to budget restrictions I don't want to change the cam or heads. I really don't want to pull the heads unless I have to.
I think I'll do a leak down test and see where that takes me.
What else should I do to ensure I have a good motor before I drop it in the Dart?
From what I've read I know that I'll have to make the following changes.
360 car pan
360 car engine mount or possibly modify the ones from the 318
check header clearance against the block
I plan on using my LA pulley's, water pump and timing cover. I'm going to switch to an electric fuel pump. I'm not sure if I need a new harmonic balancer or not.
Intake manifold that fits the Magnum heads.
Magnum 360 flex plate and the converter off the 318.
What else am I missing?
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I made the decision to go with a Magnum 360 to replace the LA 318 in my 73 Dart. It was half price day at Pick N Pull so I was able to get the motor for $122. out the door.
When you buy a motor from Pick N pull you're not able to start if to hear how it sounds. You cant even have a battery out there to try and do a compression check. The millage of the 2001 Ram I pulled it from was unknown because the instrument cluster was gone. I did pull the intake manifold and valve cover and I didn't see much to any sludge. I also pulled the oil pan and everything looked good. The was no metal in the bottom of the pan or in the oil pick up tube screen. I could still see cross-hatching on the cylinder walls.
Due to budget restrictions I don't want to change the cam or heads. I really don't want to pull the heads unless I have to.
I think I'll do a leak down test and see where that takes me.
What else should I do to ensure I have a good motor before I drop it in the Dart?
From what I've read I know that I'll have to make the following changes.
360 car pan
360 car engine mount or possibly modify the ones from the 318
check header clearance against the block
I plan on using my LA pulley's, water pump and timing cover. I'm going to switch to an electric fuel pump. I'm not sure if I need a new harmonic balancer or not.
Intake manifold that fits the Magnum heads.
Magnum 360 flex plate and the converter off the 318.
What else am I missing?
[/URL][/IMG]