Viper21700
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2012
- Posts
- 136
- Reaction score
- 3
- Location
- Woodbridge VA
- Ram Year
- 1998
- Engine
- 98 CTD 12 Valve- Half the valves, twice the fun
Dave,
The 318 is a great motor. The only issue they had was sludge build up in the oil passages if you didnt stay on top of oil changes. They can be built to actually push more power than a 360, and they rev a heck of a lot faster than the 360. We did a head swap with a set of 360 R/T heads and it helped alot. Reliability wise, there is a reason dodge ran the magnum motors for so long, they last. The tranny should be an NV3500 5 speed, which is a fairly reliable transmission, and is actually a tranny that you as a jeep supplier should be fairly familiar with (the TJ's had either the AX-15, or the NV3500 depending on the year, and most of us YJ guys were pulling our AX-15s and swapping in the NV)
Areas to check- make sure hes running Champion Copper plugs, or champion truck plugs. Anything else will give you fits (dont buy into the V-power, multiple electrode garbage on dodge trucks) If if hasnt been replaced, go ahead and plan on replacing the bypass hose coming off the water pump. The plenum gasket, which is below the intake manifold is a must replace. Exhaust- they crack, not as much as a jeep's, but the cast iron manifolds like to crack at the collector, swap in a set of headers, youll love it.
Electrical- nothing major, except the rear axle speed sensor. They go frequently, just like on the 2500's
AND CHECK THE FRONT HUB BEARINGS AND BALL JOINTS!!! You dont want one of them to pop at 65!
The 318 is a great motor. The only issue they had was sludge build up in the oil passages if you didnt stay on top of oil changes. They can be built to actually push more power than a 360, and they rev a heck of a lot faster than the 360. We did a head swap with a set of 360 R/T heads and it helped alot. Reliability wise, there is a reason dodge ran the magnum motors for so long, they last. The tranny should be an NV3500 5 speed, which is a fairly reliable transmission, and is actually a tranny that you as a jeep supplier should be fairly familiar with (the TJ's had either the AX-15, or the NV3500 depending on the year, and most of us YJ guys were pulling our AX-15s and swapping in the NV)
Areas to check- make sure hes running Champion Copper plugs, or champion truck plugs. Anything else will give you fits (dont buy into the V-power, multiple electrode garbage on dodge trucks) If if hasnt been replaced, go ahead and plan on replacing the bypass hose coming off the water pump. The plenum gasket, which is below the intake manifold is a must replace. Exhaust- they crack, not as much as a jeep's, but the cast iron manifolds like to crack at the collector, swap in a set of headers, youll love it.
Electrical- nothing major, except the rear axle speed sensor. They go frequently, just like on the 2500's
AND CHECK THE FRONT HUB BEARINGS AND BALL JOINTS!!! You dont want one of them to pop at 65!