I just checked my 94 Dakota that I use as a daily winter driver and the pan is about 3" smaller, it would have worked great and I probably could have gotten the engine in with out cutting the firewall ??? I already got he motor mounts welded up so this time I will leave it but next time I will pursue the 318 pan .I am curious to see how close it would be . I am also looking for header options that dump closer to the back cylinders maybe just like the Dakota factory eghaust ?? Any photos of an install would be great . Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
That's good to to know. Like I said didn't want to cut that much firewall out of my truck. I was fortunate enough to find a Shelby Dakota in the junk yard. I got the pan and special cross member to move the engine forward. If you are thinking of stock exhaust manifolds try to find 1992 magnum manifolds. They are better flowing than the later ones. And they will fit your 360. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Looks good! I think it sits just right, as a point of interest the pans are not interchangeable between the 318 and 360. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Ok that's good info about the oil pan . I still haven't done anything with my torque converter issue with the 360 being an external balanced engine and the A500 od transmission with out , it looks like the only option I have is the B&M pie shaped flex plate anyone got any suggestions. this picture is incorrect it's more like this I hope it will work . And if the transmission or torque converter fails then I can change them and not have to worry about the 360 balance issue ?? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I've got the same flex plate I using on my wife's desoto. I found it in a junk yard for $10. Around here I can buy a brand new torque converter for $120 and a new flex plate is 80 some odd bucks. So its like 6 in one, half dozen in the other. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I looked at the pictures of the front end, it sits pretty low, the bottom of your bumper is going to be s****ped up. I wouldn't want it much lower, I think I'd add the weight and see where your at. You can mount the bumper up a little, so the bottom is the same level as the bottom of the nose sheet metal. Also, lowering the rear end will raise the nose a little. If you spring for the B&M flex plate, any future torque converters will also have to be of the non balanced 318 style. The flex plate adjusts for the weights on the torque converters, making them no longer needed for the 360. If you ever put a 318 back in there, you will have to use your original flex plate. Another couple of options are: buy the torque converter for the 360 in the OD trans, or add the 360 weights to your current torque converter. The weights or the B & M flex plate are for motor balance, and have nothing to do with the transmission. 318 and 360 motors are balanced differently, Mopar choose to make up the differences in the balancing of the motors in the form of weights spot welded to the torque converters and special front motor harmonic balancers. The converter has to be correct for the trans. Gene
All the transmission shops want to add the weight to the torque converter but if I make any performance modifications to the engine then I will have to change the torque converter ? Found some headers that might work they fit 318 magnum they should work in my application . Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I've done a whole lot of performance upgrades to Mopars through the years without changing a torque converter, but most were not radical. You can make a pretty stout running 360 on a standard torque converter, unless your planning on driving a 1/4 mile at a time, and .02 seconds makes a difference. Most modified torque converters I've seen cause a lot of issues when confronted with normal street driving. Are you going to cruise and hot rod a little, or you going to do serious racing? Gene
Really like your panel. I had a 48 that I sold last year. It was already on a S-10 frame when I got it. I did swapout the Chevy runing gear for a Mopar 360 and 727 trans. Good luck on the rest of your build. Looks like you have a great start and plan. Here is a quick pic of my old one.
I followed the Harley Panel you built that was one nice looking truck ,you did a nice job of putting it together . A picture of your truck is in my inspirational album and it pops up on my screen saver and taunt s me with what mine could look like ?? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
50dodge4x4 I only want to cruise with it and my wife will use it as her grocery getter ,I will try to pull our vintage camper with it I was using my 52 stock Fargo but the 6cyl doesn't like it. I think the 369 with OD will be better for this job. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Can anyone tell me if Magnum headers fit my 1976 360 engine the eghaust manifold I have exit down in the centre and I need them to exit back farther back . i found these but they are for magnum engine . Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Thanks Fargo. I means alot to me that someone likes my work. I am sure yours will turn out as good if not better. I put a lot of work in my truck and there were times that I lost faith that I could do it. Just keep your head down and it will be finished before you know it. Then you can lean back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. I will keep up with this thread. Mopar to ya!
Yes those headers will fit your 360. Those were probably for a later truck, but they will fit you engine. Sent from my MB886 using H.A.M.B. mobile app
You will be well served using a stock 360 converter. If you are buying a reman then ask for a pick-up version since you are towing. You might consider using a lock-up style if you plan on a lot of freeway miles. Be sure to also use a deep pan and an auxiliary cooler. .
Anyone know what axle ratio this might be it came out of my 51 panel , I have a car axle with 3:73 ? If I did my math correct . I want to put the gear set out of the car 3:73 into the panel axle and try to reduce my engine revs in my 52 pickup that is still running the original 218 ci and 3spd , I am wondering if the axle centre ***embly will drop right in . Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
This is the info off the axle that I counted the revolutions and came up with 3:73 but I think the stamping says 4:1 ?? , I could use some advise on this I think the car it came out of was 53-55 not sure , I cut the axle out at the s**** yard while the car was on death row . Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Got back to work on the panel , built a transmission bracket and finished welding up all the cab mount brackets , removed the shock bracket from the donor Dakota and fastened it , finished welding in the motor mount brackets . Might try to get started on the fire wall tomorrow . Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
finally got back at working on the panel truck , winter was so long and some warm weather finally showed up , all me and momma been doing is cruising and enjoying the warmer weather got my little VW out , has been raining the last couple of days so pulled the panel back into the shop and started working on it might have bought an other Dakota 2wd donor vehicle , so it will be getting stripped for parts , I have to shorten a steering column I have a none tilt that I can practise with then use the donors tilt one for good . Pulled the rims off another Dakota my panel is the newer 6 bolt might do the 5 bolt conversion or paint the centre of the rims a gun metal colour ?? Started working on the fire wall sheet metal , I will make a template and try and get the gas pedal bracket that I cut out of the donor dakota positioned so it doesn't feel weird . Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Nope, I don't think they will. On the older LA engines the Manifold bolts were in a straight line, on a Magnum they are staggered.
Exhaust manifolds for a Magnum and LA do interchange. We are running exhaust manifolds from a 70's Dodge truck on a '92 318 Magnum. Stock exhaust manifolds from a full size Dodge conversion van would probably also work for you. I put a 360 Magnum in a 56 Dodge panel truck last summer. I pulled the 360 from a 96 Dodge 3/4 ton van. I kept the stock manifolds on it and they dump out the back.
They must have changed sometime after '92 then. I have a set from a '95 that will not fit, the bolt holes are as I described above. I do know this to be true as I junked the '95 myself.
Started making a template for the firewall , cut the gas pedal bracket out of the Dakota firewall might try to use it as a template ,looks like it might fit with a little modification . Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Glad to see you back on it. I've been waiting to see something new. Keep up the good work. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Cool Build!! I'll be watching this !! I have a 55 dodge pick up and a 88 Dakota that I plan to mate!!
Well I am back at it again summer weather is gone and all my other projects are on hold (rebuilding vintage camper for the panel to tow) . got another Dakota donor truck this one wasn't in a fire and I took the steering column out of it and I am in the middle of shorting it 6.5" . i practised on the old donor none tilt column first and it's very simple to do I will use my trials from this to do the tilt column next Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Got the tilt column shortened 6.5 inches and it fits better I might have to cut some of the lower dash out so I can get it on a higher angle next project will be transfer the wiring And fuse box over ,transfer the AC system and mount the heater . Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Sweet... I don't drive through there often, but next year I'll have to start watching for it on the road.
got the column in and sitting in the correct spot , I was trying to not cut my dash but it looks like I will have to cut about 1/4 of an inch out so the steering wheel be higher , might wait till I get the actual seats installed that way I can get a feel for the driver seating position don't want to build it and not have it comfortable for the long cruises . Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Well I got the camper done so now it's time to get back at the tow vehicle , the camper was suppose to match the tow vehicle so I sent the Color choice to the guys on the photo shop site and they re painted the inspiration photo for me . i actually prefer the green over the previous red . Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The Jalopy Journal
