What are the top three modifications I can make to a carbureted 360 van to get rid of Dodge Disease, and increase horsepower and fuel efficiency? My trusty beast is aging but still runs great at 250000 miles. (except for the Dodge Disease (loads up rich) on cold starting) Its been rustcheked since young and the body and interior are good, so I'd like to keep it going maybe another 5 or 10 years.
Should I (or can I) put an aftermarket intake and injector on it instead of the carburetor? Is such a conversion available? Would that help much with mileage?
Dodgevanman
03-12-2008, 06:12 AM
Holley and Edelbrock make a TBI system for Mopar engines, but they are over a thousand dollars for the kits.
I recommend Edelbrock's Performer (p/n 2176) and 600cfm carburetor (p/n 1406). This will wake your 360 up. Adding a true dual exhaust system will help too.
Do you have emissions testing where you are?
B250_1985_360
03-14-2008, 01:47 PM
Thanks for that Nate! Tell me more about the TBI kits please - $1000 or more pays back fast if I can get an extra coupla miles per gallon. Hey anybody out there have any stories about carb to TBI conversions? Do shade tree mechanics have any problems with linkages etc? What is the hardest thing about such a conversion? Should I get a new intake while I'm at it?
Or, is a new carb and intake going to do the same thing for my mileage?
A new true dual exhaust is a good idea. BTW what is an H pipe? Thanks for all your help!
alloro
03-14-2008, 02:39 PM
$1,000 doesn't pay back as quick as you might think. Assuming that you do get a 2 mpg increase and that you are now averaging 15 mpg, it will take approximately 2,500 gallons of gas (100-125 fill-ups) just to break even.
B250_1985_360
03-15-2008, 11:32 PM
Yup that's true, but I would get more power, polute less, avoid wasting gas waiting while it loads up rich and raw gas comes out the exhaust on cold days (i'm in Canada) until it warms up (takes ten minutes), and avoid blowing out the muffler as it backfires when I do try to drive it cold. So I guess what I'm saying is the fuel savings plus more power plus permanently getting rid of Dodge Disease makes it attractive.
Heres a question: If I put the Edelbrock carburetor and manifold on it like Nate says, will it still get Dodge Disease? What causes that anyway? My old 318 had the same thing.
Dodgevanman
03-16-2008, 09:47 AM
Heres a question: If I put the Edelbrock carburetor and manifold on it like Nate says, will it still get Dodge Disease? What causes that anyway? My old 318 had the same thing.
Dodge Disease is caused by a malfunctioning choke thermostat most of the time. GM and Ford can catch this disease as well. This disease can be cured by the Edelbrock carburetor as it uses an electric choke rather than depending on exhaust heat to open.
BTW, an "H" pipe is the two pipes coming off the exhaust manifolds connected by a balance tube, hence the "H" shape. The balance tube balances the exhaust pressures between both sides. Not really a necessity in my opinion. Here's an example of an "H" pipe:
