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Author Topic: What to do with my 318?  (Read 1567 times)

Offline CowboyBob

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What to do with my 318?
« on: August 14, 2008, 03:10:18 am »
My 318 5.2L is 12+ years old now and has 212K miles.  It has sluggish performance when you mash the gas pedal, all of the pulleys on the serpentine belt squeak and now it seems to have vacuum problems.  The motor is bone stock and the ONLY thing ever replaced on it was a water pump 10k miles ago and the plenum gasket.  It started to loose compression and get bad MPG back in the winter and I put a can of engine restore in it and it seemed to fix the compression problem for now. Everything else on it is original. The truck is in great shape interior and exterior, my wife and I don't want to get rid of it so now what do I need to do?  I'm thinking about pulling the engine and rebuilding it.  I'm also going to change the timing belt while I have it out. 

What do you guys suggest I do with it while I have the engine out of the truck?  It is a daily driver and farm truck so I don't want to hot rod it.  I'm more concerned with MPGs than RPMs.

2001 RAM 2500, Hypertech Stage 3, Exhaust Brake, 90 Gallon Aux Tank, Dual Lift Pumps.

Offline dodgeram07

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Re: What to do with my 318?
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2008, 04:02:26 am »
with all those miles and everything stocki would say just a good old tume up. plugs, wires, cap, button..... timing chain would be nice.. and if your having the motor out rebuilding-new ring ect....  new oil pump to {check the cat( not clogged)}

Offline Tom Courtright

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Re: What to do with my 318?
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2008, 10:38:51 am »
i'd say a full rebuild is in store, do it well and you'll get another 200K out of the engine.
really its all you need.
unless it would be easier/cheaper to replace it with a newer 318 (sometimes it is)

it aint low till it scars asphalt

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Offline Buford445

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Re: What to do with my 318?
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2008, 09:48:46 pm »
Put a 360 in it , it will not help MPG but give you more POWER


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Offline Motorbrreath

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Re: What to do with my 318?
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2008, 10:14:19 pm »
yea sounds like a rebuild. Just make sure its done with good quality parts, and the time is taken. Might as well get the heads ported a little while they are out, get some more air flowing to the motor.


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Offline Tom Courtright

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Re: What to do with my 318?
« Reply #5 on: August 14, 2008, 11:31:45 pm »
hey why dont you put a 360 in the truck and put the 318 in a go cart....

it aint low till it scars asphalt

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Offline Cumminalong

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Re: What to do with my 318?
« Reply #6 on: August 14, 2008, 11:37:26 pm »
Pull it and rebuild it.

Have the cylinders honed to get rid of the scratches and digs, get some slightly oversized rings, basic tune up parts and gaskets and call it a day.

Offline Tommygunz

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Re: What to do with my 318?
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2008, 04:28:52 pm »
Yup, new bearings and honed cylinders.. get your heads refreshed and you should be golden, your looking at under a grand for a completely freshened motor...
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