What engine would you build for a Ramcharger?
- Thread starter gliderider06
- Start date
-
That '88 318 would be easier on fuel idling, I'll give ya that.
12 valve, P Pump Cummins
Wyrmrider
Well-Known Member
not only roller cam but should have 302 heads
I'd go custom pistons unless that ping eliminator idea works
I'd go custom pistons unless that ping eliminator idea works
There is another option here, but I wasn’t going to mention it because it’s impractical on the piston end. IIRC, had mentioned the 360 possibly needed turning. I haven’t done the math/parts searching, but a full rebuild of the 318 roller with the 360 crank makes a 350 cubic inch small block. It used to be a Speed-O-Motive kit (Remember them?). But I think it’s out of the bounds of practicality for this application. I must say that is a nice looking ramcharger, though! I really like those years. I have a buddy that had an 85 with a set of early eighties New Yorker fifth avenue leather bucket power seats we had rigged up in it and 1500 watts of stereo equipment. 89 van roller 318 with an Edelbrock performer and a quadrajet. It loved gasoline like few other vehicles I’ve seen but was a barrel of fun.
Last edited:
AJ/FormS
68 Formua-S fastback clone 367/A833/GVod/3.55s
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2014
- Messages
- 24,870
- Reaction score
- 12,217
Here's my take on mileage.
It takes a certain amount of power to cruise at a certain speed, and it don't matter how many cubes you got(within reason) if you get the Afr set right, any engine will get it done.
Now the getting to cruise rpm, and more specifically, what the cruise rpm is, is where the fuel gets used.
So with a small engine, it is easily possible to spend a lotta time and use a lotta throttle to get to that cruise rpm, whereas a bigger engine can use a lot less throttle, with the came gears, to get to cruise rpm....... and that is where the opportunity for saving fuel comes in; namely the bigger engine with the more hiway-friendly gears, loafing along, instead of buzzzzzing.
So that takes care of cruising
Now as to city mileage; Here again a big engine with say small gears in the back, may use the same amount of fuel or less as a smaller engine with same gears, cuz the smaller engine has to work harder or longer.
So it becomes a balancing act, and it all hinges on the low-rpm torque output, (which hinges on the pressure and volume) and the load (which hinges on the rear gears and applied throttle).
My take is this;
it is better to have cubes, lots of cylinder pressure, and low number rear gears,and drive with a light foot;
than to have less cubes, feeble pressure, a hi-stall, and higher number rear gears, because
that small engine will more often than not, be floored to get moving.
And where is the fuel economy in that........
In proof of that thinking, I offer my 367 at nearly 11/1 Scr (aluminum heads)and making ~180psi, that with a 223/230/110 cam went 106 in the quarter, yet with a 1.97 final drive (double overdrive) regularly made it into the 20s mpg in combined city/hiway, and one time in a point-to point over a full days driving,with a dedicated carb,posted 32mpgs.
There is no way I would put a 318 into that RamCharger for anything but straight hiway use, and it sure as heck would get the pressure pumped up. Jus saying; I wouldn't do it, is all. Shoot, it's hard enough getting a smogger-teen into the 20s at 3200 pounds, much less a RamCharger automatic, with nose-bleed tires on it.
For economy, get a Sprint or Geo, or a Rabbit or a Jetta, or a 323Mazda, or just about any 4-banger.
If you just gotta have economy the best answer is an overdrive.That'll tame your big engine.
Jus saying
It takes a certain amount of power to cruise at a certain speed, and it don't matter how many cubes you got(within reason) if you get the Afr set right, any engine will get it done.
Now the getting to cruise rpm, and more specifically, what the cruise rpm is, is where the fuel gets used.
So with a small engine, it is easily possible to spend a lotta time and use a lotta throttle to get to that cruise rpm, whereas a bigger engine can use a lot less throttle, with the came gears, to get to cruise rpm....... and that is where the opportunity for saving fuel comes in; namely the bigger engine with the more hiway-friendly gears, loafing along, instead of buzzzzzing.
So that takes care of cruising
Now as to city mileage; Here again a big engine with say small gears in the back, may use the same amount of fuel or less as a smaller engine with same gears, cuz the smaller engine has to work harder or longer.
So it becomes a balancing act, and it all hinges on the low-rpm torque output, (which hinges on the pressure and volume) and the load (which hinges on the rear gears and applied throttle).
My take is this;
it is better to have cubes, lots of cylinder pressure, and low number rear gears,and drive with a light foot;
than to have less cubes, feeble pressure, a hi-stall, and higher number rear gears, because
that small engine will more often than not, be floored to get moving.
And where is the fuel economy in that........
In proof of that thinking, I offer my 367 at nearly 11/1 Scr (aluminum heads)and making ~180psi, that with a 223/230/110 cam went 106 in the quarter, yet with a 1.97 final drive (double overdrive) regularly made it into the 20s mpg in combined city/hiway, and one time in a point-to point over a full days driving,with a dedicated carb,posted 32mpgs.
There is no way I would put a 318 into that RamCharger for anything but straight hiway use, and it sure as heck would get the pressure pumped up. Jus saying; I wouldn't do it, is all. Shoot, it's hard enough getting a smogger-teen into the 20s at 3200 pounds, much less a RamCharger automatic, with nose-bleed tires on it.
For economy, get a Sprint or Geo, or a Rabbit or a Jetta, or a 323Mazda, or just about any 4-banger.
If you just gotta have economy the best answer is an overdrive.That'll tame your big engine.
Jus saying
Wyrmrider
Well-Known Member
Agree 100% aj but here cheap is a factor
BTW you have less pumping loss with a small motor with the throttle open than a big engine on part throttle
so what's optimum here with all that highway driving and the rest city and no real interest in mud bogging or other performance?
BTW you have less pumping loss with a small motor with the throttle open than a big engine on part throttle
so what's optimum here with all that highway driving and the rest city and no real interest in mud bogging or other performance?
Either V8 which ever winds up being the cheaper. Its a 1/2 ton commuter truck.
Overdrive wouldn’t be too expensive with a swap to an NV4500. It would also only use half the power of the present 727 automatic. Ratios are 5.61 first (pull stuck vehicles out like nothing), 3.04:1 second, 1.67 third direct fourth and a .74:1 overdrive fifth. 3.21 magically becomes 2.38:1, for a cruise RPM of 1550 at 60. Very close to the meat and potatoes zone of where that Baja Beast cam would be pulling maximum cruise vacuum at.
If I had the two to choose from, no way does the 318 get picked over the 360. Cubes win out every time. I don't care about a roller schmoller whatever it is. That 360 would out pull that 318 comin and goin and never even have to think about detonation.
Especially in 4500 plus pounds of SUV!
Guess it depends on what you are pulling. Thought it is to be a highway drive to work truck.
I admit, over the decades I have had mostly Big blocks, and I much rather had a 383 over a 440, I rather have a B body over an E body, and I rather have a 318 over a 360 unless i can have a 340!!!! I even like the little 273, but I admit I am strange. lol
I admit, over the decades I have had mostly Big blocks, and I much rather had a 383 over a 440, I rather have a B body over an E body, and I rather have a 318 over a 360 unless i can have a 340!!!! I even like the little 273, but I admit I am strange. lol
Your right since he pulls a D7 on a trailer behind him to work each day he probably should have the Cummings in it.
I thought this was about him having a little more power and getting some mileage going to and from work.
Sure, but IMO, the 318 won't get much if any better mileage than the 360 simply because of the weight and power difference. The 318 will be using a bigger percentage of its available power.
gzig5
Well-Known Member
The 318 roller with a 4" crank and a Sniper or FITech on top.
AJ/FormS
68 Formua-S fastback clone 367/A833/GVod/3.55s
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2014
- Messages
- 24,870
- Reaction score
- 12,217
While on that bizarrity, how about a 273 with staged turbos.
AJ/FormS
68 Formua-S fastback clone 367/A833/GVod/3.55s
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2014
- Messages
- 24,870
- Reaction score
- 12,217
I vote aluminum heads, 185psi pressure,very tightQ, and a teensey weensey carb. Runs on 87E10 for 100,000 miles and in the long-run you'll save so much gas money,you'll finally be able to afford to get married.
Or
The cost of the fuel difference and the difference in fuel economy of hi-pressure 360 versus smogger-teen, will pay for the heads, the pistons and all the machining.
Ok wait, did I say that out loud? Do the math for yourself.
lo-pressure 318; 100,000 miles at 13 mpg is 7692 gallons of 89@ 4.55Usd per USg is $35,000USd. versus
hi-pressure 360; 100,000 miles at 18 mpg is 5555 gallons of 87 @4.30USd per USg is $24,000USd
That's $11,000USd saved.
So why did I bump the smoggerteen to 89 gas? Cuz I think I know what you are gonna do to it in a feeble attempt to up the torque on it, and you are immediately gonna hit detonation.And your cure will be 89 or perhaps even 91 gas.
Don't pay attention to the actual numbers, cuz yours will be different; just look at the mpg difference. And in the meantime, the 360 will deliver more torque and power when you need it.
And even if the savings is only half, that still comes to $5500, so get married already.... lol
BTW;
What if the cost of fuel skyrockets in the next couple of years? You'll be glad to be burning the cheapest gas available.
Rather; you'll be glad your engine is able to.
Or
The cost of the fuel difference and the difference in fuel economy of hi-pressure 360 versus smogger-teen, will pay for the heads, the pistons and all the machining.
Ok wait, did I say that out loud? Do the math for yourself.
lo-pressure 318; 100,000 miles at 13 mpg is 7692 gallons of 89@ 4.55Usd per USg is $35,000USd. versus
hi-pressure 360; 100,000 miles at 18 mpg is 5555 gallons of 87 @4.30USd per USg is $24,000USd
That's $11,000USd saved.
So why did I bump the smoggerteen to 89 gas? Cuz I think I know what you are gonna do to it in a feeble attempt to up the torque on it, and you are immediately gonna hit detonation.And your cure will be 89 or perhaps even 91 gas.
Don't pay attention to the actual numbers, cuz yours will be different; just look at the mpg difference. And in the meantime, the 360 will deliver more torque and power when you need it.
And even if the savings is only half, that still comes to $5500, so get married already.... lol
BTW;
What if the cost of fuel skyrockets in the next couple of years? You'll be glad to be burning the cheapest gas available.
Rather; you'll be glad your engine is able to.
Last edited:
Thanks for all the replies. I have a 2 yr old boy running around, commanding most of my time.
To clarify on milage, in the past I was on a quest to get as close as possible to the milage in my 2018 Ram. 18ish. That is my goal and I came close to it with the ignition and exhaust mods I had done. I currently average 14-15. With the new motor, I want to maintain or improve it. I do, like the idea of the sniper ego, but later on down the road.
To clarify on milage, in the past I was on a quest to get as close as possible to the milage in my 2018 Ram. 18ish. That is my goal and I came close to it with the ignition and exhaust mods I had done. I currently average 14-15. With the new motor, I want to maintain or improve it. I do, like the idea of the sniper ego, but later on down the road.
Hallzy
Well-Known Member
-
