is there any difference in the 70's trucks and the 80's trucks motors(slant 6 and the 318) for gas and reliablity of the motors,trans etc.is the front brakes disc brakes?also has the gas tank for these trucks always been ubder the bed?when did dodge change the tail lights thanks
Fnix
06-15-2008, 07:14 PM
I know some of the 318's are cast iron blocks. I hear all the time how sturdy slant 6 and 318 are.
ramitupurs84
06-15-2008, 10:38 PM
Umm well big difference between the 6 and 318. Now compatively 318 to the 360, your better off with the 318. For weight wise. I agree with the above. I guess it depends what your driving. I would rather have a slant 6 in a truck then a RC. I think there might be better castings in the 70's not sure. You can build up a slant 6, and it would be cheaper to run. Someone on another site said they heard of reports of Dusters breaking mid 20's mpg with a slant 6...
Speed Dragon
06-16-2008, 11:06 AM
All Dodge engines have cast iron blocks, with a very few exceptions. There is no weight difference to speak of between the 360 and 318, both are smallblocks. Slant 6 will get a bit better mileage than the older 318's, although I did get 18mpg on the highway w/ my original '72 318. A lot depends on the gearing. Late 80's 318's get better mileage due to swirlport heads and more compression. S6 w/ a 2bbl will pull pretty much as much as a 318 will, just not as fast.
Fnix
06-16-2008, 12:11 PM
There is no weight difference to speak of between the 360 and 318, both are smallblocks..
The 360 just has different bores correct?
B-300
06-16-2008, 01:01 PM
The V-8 blocks are thicker thru '74. On the 360 the is was done so the same basic casting could be used for the 340 which had the largest of the LA engines.... The later blocks also warmup faster for less emissions.
The bore and stroke of the 360 is larger than the 318.
In '85 the 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks+vans went to different brake rotors... 5 on 5-1/2" rather than 5 on 4-1/2" bolt circle. The spindles and bearings are probably different but the pads are the same.
dolfans
06-16-2008, 03:34 PM
some of the things i was wanting to know was about the mpg any different on a 1974 truck compard to a 1984 truck that is the same wheel base,motor etc.i found a 1973 d100 adventure with a 1983 motor(318)auto.what i dont like about it is the tank is behind the seat
Speed Dragon
06-19-2008, 01:28 AM
The 360 just has different bores correct? The V-8 blocks are thicker thru '74. On the 360 the is was done so the same basic casting could be used for the 340 which had the largest of the LA engines....
Yes the 360 has a larger bore than the 318, 4.00" vs 3.91" on the 318, but smaller than the 340's 4.040". The 273 had a bore of 3.63".
The 360 block is the same basic block as the 273/318/340, however the crank main journal diameter is larger than the others. Also the crank stroke is different, 3.58" vs 3.31" for the others.
B-300
06-19-2008, 01:05 PM
Well obviuosly some parts are different or they would all have 318 cast in the side.... The casting core of the 340 and early 360's is the same, the external core is different along with the machining of the bores and crankshaft bearing area to the dimensions indicated.... I was try to convey that early 360's have a thick block and warmup slow but can be bored out more because of this.
Speed Dragon
06-20-2008, 07:47 AM
Ahh, I gotcha. Yeah the older blocks are definitely better for boring.
