Performance Questions?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Bear0007

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2019
Posts
18
Reaction score
1
Location
Pennsylvania
Ram Year
2001
Engine
5.9 Cummins
Hello all, first time posting on this forum.
I recently picked up a 1989 318 and it’s a slug with the 3 speed trans. I was looking on some blog posts online and found some websites which say the 318 can make 300-400hp. From what I’ve gathered, I will need to bore out the engine 0.03 over, get new pistons, keep the heads (maybe port them?) add a new intake, headers, and exhaust. Is this all I would need? I would also like to keep the TBI if that’s at all possible. Also, would just the headers and exhaust make a decent improvement in power?
 

crazzywolfie

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2013
Posts
16,422
Reaction score
3,183
Location
under the truck
Ram Year
81 93
Engine
5.2
you won't be able to make 300hp and keep the TBI or at least not with the stock computer. you will need a tunable computer system and know how to tune it but will require lots of wiring. if you want to clean up the engine bay and build something that is not so sluggish you are probably better off going with an aftermarket TBI system. the stock system has way more extra wiring than needed which i think they corrected in 91.
 
OP
OP
B

Bear0007

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2019
Posts
18
Reaction score
1
Location
Pennsylvania
Ram Year
2001
Engine
5.9 Cummins
So if I added a cam, aftermarket tbi, headers and exhaust that would at least provide a noticeable improvement?
 

crazzywolfie

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2013
Posts
16,422
Reaction score
3,183
Location
under the truck
Ram Year
81 93
Engine
5.2
should but not exactly the cheapest route to go. you will also need the older electronic ignition that was used with carbs since the computer controls that with the 89.
 

crazzywolfie

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2013
Posts
16,422
Reaction score
3,183
Location
under the truck
Ram Year
81 93
Engine
5.2
there really is no cheap route if you want power out of these things. i also forgot that you will need external voltage regulator for alternator if you are ditching the factory TBI and likely a different intake manifold. there is a lot of expense that goes with converting to aftermarket TBI to make power.
 

crazzywolfie

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2013
Posts
16,422
Reaction score
3,183
Location
under the truck
Ram Year
81 93
Engine
5.2
a tiny bit but not likely much cheaper. you would almost need to make list of parts and see the costs for yourself. i would maybe guess there about a $400 difference between aftermarket TBI and carb. just stuff like the cam is usually about $300 because it should be a roller cam in 89. you will likely need different intake either way you go and same voltage regulator and ignition whether you go with carb or aftermarket TBI.
 
OP
OP
B

Bear0007

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2019
Posts
18
Reaction score
1
Location
Pennsylvania
Ram Year
2001
Engine
5.9 Cummins
Okay I’ll have to look into it. Thanks so much for your help!
 

reek

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2014
Posts
1,592
Reaction score
733
Location
Sacramento
Ram Year
2015 RAM 2500 CC 4x4, 72 D100, 73 D100, 01 RAM 2500 field truck
Engine
6.4 Hemi
If you have roller cams then consider a new set of "jegs" Magnum / retrofit heads BEFORE headers and exhaust. they're made by Enginequest CH318B. gives you magnum heads with bolt pattern of the LA block and intake. gets you higher flow 1.92 intake valves vs the LA heads. That will likely get you more noticeable breathing improvement than just headers and exhaust. Luckily Edelbrock makes an Airgap 4 barrel intake that bolts to LA heads. unfortunately even with stock ground cams left in place that'll run you about $250 for just the intake and about $1000 for a set of heads/valves/1.6 rockers.

rough estimate on power, the above changes might get you close the 300 hp range.

once you start changing to more aggressive cams, you'll need new pushrods, springs, etc.

btw: not all stock roller cams were the same. I believe the 1998 cams were the most aggressive stock grind Dodge put out. And here, I use the word aggressive with liberal optimism.
 
OP
OP
B

Bear0007

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2019
Posts
18
Reaction score
1
Location
Pennsylvania
Ram Year
2001
Engine
5.9 Cummins
I’m not terribly worried about price as long as it’s not going to be in the 10s of thousands range lol. About a grand isn’t terrible, I’ll have to take a look at those options too. Thank you
 

crazzywolfie

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2013
Posts
16,422
Reaction score
3,183
Location
under the truck
Ram Year
81 93
Engine
5.2
might almost be worth just looking at buying a magnum 318 and building it and swap it out when the time comes if you decide to go with magnum head. might even be worth looking into mpfi like what would have come on the magnum engine from the factory. if you are going to spend the money to keep TBI it may cost not much more to go MPFI. not sure if there is any self tuning MPFI systems but it may be worth looking into if you are going to spend all this money to keep it fuel injected. there are tons of options. when it comes to wanting to go fast nothing is cheap.
 
OP
OP
B

Bear0007

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2019
Posts
18
Reaction score
1
Location
Pennsylvania
Ram Year
2001
Engine
5.9 Cummins
I was debating if I wanted to do that. Are the mounts the same?
 

crazzywolfie

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2013
Posts
16,422
Reaction score
3,183
Location
under the truck
Ram Year
81 93
Engine
5.2
you may need to use spacers or washers since you have a 318 but yes it is easily done. the magnum engines use the 360 mounts which from my understanding a bit thinner but in the same locations and holes. they were offered in these vehicles for 2 years before completely changing for the 2nd gen trucks.
 

reek

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2014
Posts
1,592
Reaction score
733
Location
Sacramento
Ram Year
2015 RAM 2500 CC 4x4, 72 D100, 73 D100, 01 RAM 2500 field truck
Engine
6.4 Hemi
...when it comes to wanting to go fast nothing is cheap.

amen.

the motor mount thing seems to be inconsistent. I have a 318 and a 360. the motor mount brackets are identical to each other. both will fit on my magnum 5.9. the rubber isolator motor mounts themselves are also the same, in terms of fitment. That's my experience fussing in my shop. disclaimer, my 318 is from a 92 which I have since found out that's the 'transitional' year from LA to magnum so may not represent older 318s. however online, there are some that claim there is a subtle but workable difference when it comes to mounting a magnum with LA brackets.
 

crazzywolfie

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2013
Posts
16,422
Reaction score
3,183
Location
under the truck
Ram Year
81 93
Engine
5.2
i was not talking about the motor mounts. they used the same motor mounts for the ram vans for a long while after the trucks stopped using them. i am talking about the motor mount ears on the block. i believe the new magnum blocks used 360la ears which are a bit thinner but nothing a few washers couldn't fix.
 

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
194,925
Posts
2,864,171
Members
155,296
Latest member
VLG6963
Top