Help / Advice with Ramcharger 318 cid.

[amd4me]

I recently purchased a very very very nice ramcharger , it has the 318 in it.
The engine makes very little power and labors very hard going over the pass or even with 4 passeners. Mergeing with traffic is almost not possible.
I was jsut wondering how to safely and reliably get maybe 60 more hp out of this engine?
I also thought perhaps I could get an engine out of a newer dodge truck.
Some help would be great , thanks.

[David Coleman]

www.summitracing.com
www.jegs.com

318's have alot of potential. Of course you could drop a 360 in there.

[amd4me]

www.summitracing.com
www.jegs.com

318's have alot of potential. Of course you could drop a 360 in there.
I am aware of htese companies I need to know exactly what I need.

[speed bump]

Knowing what year it is would probably

then I would start with a hotter ignition.
New cap
new rotor
some silicone spark plug wires
new plugs
A high performance spark plug coil from summit or jegs( I reccomend something from MSD).

Then go for exhuast.
Headers if your on a tight budget get a painted set
http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=partdetail.asp&autofilter=1&part=WLK%2D85033&N=115+4294923429+4294839039+4294908110+4294907248&autoview=sku
If you have some more cash then go for a ceramic coated set you wont be sorry.
http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=partdetail.asp&autofilter=1&part=BIG%2D33500FLT&N=115+4294923429+4294839039+4294908110+4294907248&autoview=sku

Then probably a new catylic converter will help your trucks power and the enviornment.

After that fuel system at a minimum replace fuel filter
If it has a carb a rebuild might be good, might also consider a new intake manifold like an edelbrock performer.

If it is fuel injected absolute minimum is replace the O2 sensor and have the injectors tested and possibly replaced if they do so good.

Other than that Handy things to do include
Change your oil(duh)
get a transmission flush if its automatic
Change the coolant.
Blead the brakes and change the brake fluid.
Replace the thermostat.


If this all sounds weird its becuase we also need to know year of the ramcharger/ fuel system/ transmission/two wheel drive 4wd?

[amd4me]

Knowing what year it is would probably

then I would start with a hotter ignition.
New cap
new rotor
some silicone spark plug wires
new plugs
A high performance spark plug coil from summit or jegs( I reccomend something from MSD).

Then go for exhuast.
Headers if your on a tight budget get a painted set
http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=partdetail.asp&autofilter=1&part=WLK%2D85033&N=115+4294923429+4294839039+4294908110+4294907248&autoview=sku
If you have some more cash then go for a ceramic coated set you wont be sorry.
http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=partdetail.asp&autofilter=1&part=BIG%2D33500FLT&N=115+4294923429+4294839039+4294908110+4294907248&autoview=sku

Then probably a new catylic converter will help your trucks power and the enviornment.

After that fuel system at a minimum replace fuel filter
If it has a carb a rebuild might be good, might also consider a new intake manifold like an edelbrock performer.

If it is fuel injected absolute minimum is replace the O2 sensor and have the injectors tested and possibly replaced if they do so good.

Other than that Handy things to do include
Change your oil(duh)
get a transmission flush if its automatic
Change the coolant.
Blead the brakes and change the brake fluid.
Replace the thermostat.


If this all sounds weird its becuase we also need to know year of the ramcharger/ fuel system/ transmission/two wheel drive 4wd?
It's an 88 with 30 somethign thousand miles.

[speed bump]

Might be worth a trip into the Mopar performance part catalog for that. They make quite a few parts for this engine that no one else makes.

Probably at very least test the injectors, maybe look at a new throttle body definetly a new O2 sensor maybe a performance chip from someone like jet.

Also on your orginal question it might be worth finding a post 94 mangum 5.9l but then you would have to mod the wiring harness or buy the kit from mopar performance. You also need a couple of good hardcore weekends to make it work. So IF you have the 3t, time talent tools and the money to do it then it is worth it but on a budget work on your engine is probably cheaper.

[amd4me]

so if this was your car what would you do?
If you only had minor skills like mine?
for an extra 60 hp?

[David Coleman]

I am aware of htese companies I need to know exactly what I need.


xtremesystems forum is NOT the place to go for this. Find a MOPAR forum. Ask them. Most of the people even in this car forum are complete noobs when it comes to things like suggesting rebuild options for a small block mopar. I'm a car guy first and a computer guy second, so while I don't know much about MOPARs, I know you should find a MOPAR specific forum for better info.