Alrighty, I am just wanting to know if I should rebuild the carb on the 318 or buy a new one...
Or is it worth finding a new intake and upgrading to a 4bbl?
The truck is a 250 so I worry that trying to mod the 318 is a lost cause. I don't have the money for a new motor in her, but I just can't imagine not having a little fun in the truck (I am 17).
So basically I guess I just want to know if the 318 is to small a motor to get the 250 running like a "song" as old Mr. Cash put it in "One Piece At A Time...
volaredon
05-13-2009, 09:09 PM
Hell NO its not "too small"; a D 250 doesnt weigh much more than a same year D 150; there ARE lots of things that can be done to wake up a 318; get the electrical mess straightened out 1st THEN worry about upgrades!!!! It dont sound like you are gonna really be using the truck as a "work truck" so that 318 will be fine for your needs; I posted what I did to my 83 D 250 in one of your other threads; BIG difference!!! but no worse on MPG than before. Hope to make it better with some tuning/tweaking.
85_d250
05-13-2009, 09:14 PM
well here are the mods im thinking...
LT headers
upgrade to 4bbl
full MSD ignition
RV cam? maybe
4.10gears (3.92 now I think?)
another thing im not trying to sound retarded here but how loud is the truck going to be when it gets running again?...since it was sitting for that two weeks...to get my mind off the electrical problems i figured id mess with something else on her to sooth the pain...so exhaust currently dumps after mani
volaredon
05-13-2009, 09:29 PM
should not be any louder than it was when you last heard it; on the gearing you'll be SORRY on going to 4:10s unless you NEED them for towing/hauling HEAVY loads most of the time; the engine will be spinning faster for a given road speed; meaning probably thirstier; (being 17 that won't be good on your wallet) I have 3.55s on mine and would like 3.23s or even 3.08s being that our trucks were built before Dodge came out with OD; on the cam be careful there; you can't just go throw "any" old cam in there; you could make it run worse than it does now; that's alot of work to have to maybe "redo" it because you guessed wrong;
which 3/4 ton is yours (whats the GVW on the door) in '83 there were 3 "3/4 tons" offered; mine's the middle-duty one; 7500# GVW; the lighter 3/4 still had 8 lugs bot a 9-1/4 rear end the heavier 2 versions had the Dana 60. springs, ball joints, etc are different between the mid and the heaviest version; (I think the "heavy" 3/4 was ~8400 GVW or so) the lighter one was like 6800; the heaviest "1/2 ton" (D 150) was like a 6100 GVW
(gross veh weight; weight of passengers, the truck itself, fuel, AND whatever load is in the bed)
86_custom
05-13-2009, 09:30 PM
Man I've been there, get it running, stopping, steering and reliable before you consider upgrades. And if the exhaust just dumps after the manifold you will like it for 10 minutes. Nice mufflers and dump it after the cab
85_d250
05-13-2009, 09:47 PM
which 3/4 ton is yours (whats the GVW on the door) in '83 there were 3 "3/4 tons" offered
I don't know if you are talking to me or Volaredon, but if your talking to me I have a 85 not a 83.
you will like it for 10 minutes
I don't know, might be true but I have to keep the sound of the lawnmowers some call "Civics" out of the cab somehow.
volaredon
05-13-2009, 10:33 PM
I don't know if you are talking to me or Volaredon, but if your talking to me I have a 85 not a 83.
Volaredon here; I know your truck is an 85, MINE is an 83. Not much difference between an 83 and an 85, D 250!
I'm the one that ws asking about how "heavy" of a truck you had. Some of the info I asked about, was from (faint) memory and taken from (1) my truck's doorjamb and (2) my '83 factory service manual(which is not in front of me at the moment); as far as the 3 different "3/4 tons"; I'm sure the 85 version would be close if not identical there..
on axle ratio if my rear ever goes out I'm going rear end shopping at junkyards looking under 727 equipped (non OD) Dodge trucks; as those are the most likely to have the rear gears I'd be wanting; but if my rear stays intact in my truck; I am not going through the work just to change gears.
Speed Dragon
05-14-2009, 03:05 AM
Your list of mods sounds good, the 4:10's are a bit much for a daily but if you're just using it as a fun truck then go ahead, it will definitely be fun :) Open exhaust is cool... for about 10 mins as said lol, I drove mine the last time I had it on the road w/ open exhaust dumping under the cab. Don't plan on doing it again ;) I like good exhaust sound, but I also like to hear my stereo and my phone when it rings.
bherder
05-14-2009, 09:32 AM
I was gonna put a phone in my truck once ... But I couldn't find more than about 3 miles worth of cord...
85_d250
05-14-2009, 09:37 AM
I was gonna put a phone in my truck once ... But I couldn't find more than about 3 miles worth of cord...
:thatfunny
Speed Dragon
05-14-2009, 08:14 PM
I was gonna put a phone in my truck once ... But I couldn't find more than about 3 miles worth of cord...
Cell phone, old timer, cell phone ;)
:thatfunny
charlie1935
05-14-2009, 08:30 PM
With the government wanting us to drive electric cars maybe we should start making real loooooooooooooooooooooooooong extension cords< Bruce. :D
