Dodge Magnum 360 w/Carb Idea...

[poppatello]

I have a line on a 91 Dodge Magnum 360 that was rebuilt and bored .30 over. Has new pistons and the crank was trimmed to .10mm. I'm not sure what cam is in it but I am told it is new and not stock. Other then the crank and piston the block is not together. He has everything needed to complete. I have done some research on this and info is a bit sketchy on this mod. Main reason is I haven't found anywhere someone did this and changed the intake for a carb set up. The guy didn't have the funds to get the EFI set up as he got the motor with out it. Since I am now currently running a 4 banger with 4.5" lift and 35" tires I need more power. Speed isn't too bad. Just can't use 4th gear anymore and the engine is now giving me major blow by. Shame too as it only has 34,000 miles on her. Anyhow, I've looked high and low for a diesel swap. I looked for a 4bt, 4bd1t and even looked @ the Chevy 6.2's and was turned away from that last idea. I also considered taking a 4.0 and stroking it to a 4.6 and using the EFI. But I got an email from this guy who has this motor and I can get it for a good price. I planned to changed the tranny anyhow but I don't want to do this swap and have to do a duel drive shift deal (meaning have two shafts going to one diff). I currently have the 300 Transfer Case and I am not opposed to changing that as well. I want to use a manual tranny though. What trannys can I use for this motor?


I'm thinking I can use this swap, do away with the clutch fan and install an electric fan (using a bigger radiator of course), swap in a tranny that will mate up to the late model 360 and reuse my 300 Transfer Case . Install headers and run duel pipes. Get a good carb and hook up maybe two or three wires. Does this sound right? Anything else I am missing? Do I need to change my clutch set up?

I'm just trying to figure out my cost so I can figure out my plans in step...

 

[mylittlecj5]

I see this swap come up quite a bit, and my vote is to nix the idea.
I have a '99 Dodge 360 Magnum engine in my Durango, and it is a great engine. But that doesn't mean its a good swap candidate (OK with lots of $$ anything is possible...) People read in the trade mags that it was done once, and everyone wants one...

I'd recommend a 4.3L Chevy V-6. Its a much better engine for a swap and much easier, as all the work has been engineered already.

 

[poppatello]

Well I would still have to do everything to fit the 4.3 as I would the 360. Motor mounts, Transmission adapter, and even a rebuild if I don't know the history of the motor. I do have a line on a 1996 Chevy 4.3 CPI V6. It is complete with a painless wiring harness, longtube headers, and all accessories. It is bolted to a GM Turbo 400 and I also am including a Chevy drivers drop np241. But I would think you can get more power from the 360. I don't really care either way. I've never even looked @ the 4.3 swap and even know if it's been done with a Cj. I know a lot of 350 swaps though. Just trying to be a little different. I don't want to do something that hasn't been done though. LOL, I am no lab rat.

I did get some more info tonight. The motor was rebuilt for low end torque. Cam is not stock but he isn't sure what they are. He does have the rebuilt paperwork but has to find it. Heads have been redone and stock. Comes with headers as well. I will look into the 4.3 setup though. Thanks for the tip...

 

[mylittlecj5]

You'd be the lab rat trying to do the Dodge 360. its NOT the same as a AMC 360...I don't know of anyone who has put a Dodge 360 in, other than a mention in a magazine... Now, the 4.3L swap has been around for many years, everything has been worked out to make it work. You just have to look for the info. My buddy has one for sale right now that was going into his CJ5 , and he dug up many articles on them...

 

[poppatello]

What about this? Same as the Jeep AMC 304 ???


1971 AMC 304 V8 engine - complete, running, low miles

 

[mylittlecj5]

Yep thats the same engine as a Jeep. But if it were me, I'd hold out for a AMC 360. Bolts in the exact same way/place, and is a little better engine in my mind...
I just bought a whole donor truck with a 360 for $500...I'll sell the parts off it and make $$ and still have the engine...

 

[poppatello]

This would work? I can get the 44's and covert my axles over and it already has the gears I need. I currently have 3.54's running 35" tires...


1979 Jeep Cherokee Cheif

 

[mylittlecj5]

That is the 2 door version of the truck I have. They are the narrow track, so they will work under a CJ a little better than the wide tracks.
It has the centered Dana 44 rear, which is the one you want as well. Double check what side the front diff drops on, just to be sure.

 

[poppatello]

Hmm, forgot about that. I really don't want to go to narrow track axles...