Jeep powered pick up?

[cbreiter]

I have an '86 Dodge Ram 1/2 ton. It's got the 318 with a 727 torque-flight auto tranny. Rear end is a 9 1/4" with 3.08 gears (it originally had 2.95's, and was an 8 1/4"). The motor is starting to need s rebuild, and the carb (2 barrel holly) is less than ideal most of the time, with the crappy gas around it requires cleaning if it sits for 2 weeks. I was wondering if a 4.0 litre would be a good swap? Is there any adapters to mate it to my tranny, or special motor mounts? I have a parts '94 XJ with a 4.0 and an auto tranny. I just thought it might be a worthwhile swap. Has anyone attempted this before?

[yellaheep]

Just putting a 4.0 engine in it is one thing....... but are you also wanting it to be fuel injected?  That's a whole 'nuther situation.

 

I say keep the 5.2, rebuild it, get a rebuilt carb or, better yet, a mild cam, Edelbrock 4bbl intake and carb set and a GOOD fuel filtration system.

[Blue XJ]

I would get a new intake and carb for it, would be much cheaper and easier than swapping in a fuel injected 4.0.    I have a quadrajet on one car, once it is fine tuned, it works perfectly, and I have a Holley from the 60's on another, which also gives me no issues.  Both of these cars sit 350+ days a year and get maybe 500 miles on them a year.

[dasbulliwagen]

Non ethanol fuel and fuel stabilizer would help out too especially if it sits a lot.

[mnkyboy]

All that comes to mind is, anemic.

[Tommy]

If I was going to go to all the trouble to swap something I would go ls 5.3/4l60. I can't see doing all that work for a 4.0.

[cbreiter]

It was just an idea seeing as how I have the 4.0 sitting around. I just thought the 4.0 would bump my power and fuel economy up, and yes, I'd want to stay with the fuel injection. I do put fuel stabilizer in, but it seems like the car. Still has issues, I also run two fuel filters on it. I actually would prefer to use my comanche for my main truck, but I don't know it would handle my 200 gallon water tank. I really do appreciate the input on this though!

[cbreiter]

Oh, and the only non ethanol fuel available in my area is premium fuel, which is quite a bit more per litre. I know quadrajets are great! I have one on my 5.0 firebird, and I get 30+ mpg (Canadian gallons). Makes me think twice about putting the 383 stroker I've been building for it into it.

[hick92]

What year firebird

[cbreiter]

It's an '83 with a 305, 4 barrel, 700r4 auto tranny, and a 3.45 posi rear end, oh has t-tops too

[Minuit]

:drool:

[cbreiter]

I'm missing a few parts to make the car complete, but it's getting there

[hick92]

Nice always loved 3rd gens been thinking of getting one really like the z28's

[cbreiter]

They are nice, but can eat up a lot of money in a hurry, lol. The pop up lights look nice, but can be major pain to fix. Leaky t-tops is usually the nature of the beast until you replace the weather stripping too. If you're looking at one, make sure the steering box doesn't rock too much, it's a weak point in these cars. If driven too hard the frame fatigues there and will flex a lot. Some of the cars had extra bracing to fix that, but others didn't.

[Pete M]

Z-28s don't that headlight issue :D  I agree on the leaky t-tops though. and be careful about saggy doors.

 

my father has a nice 83 Z28 HO.  great little toy. :yes:

 

 

I agree with the others and would just replace the carb.  when it comes to hauling, more cubic inches is better.  I'm going to go with my standard phrase: just because it's a good deal, doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea.

[hick92]

Yeah saggy doors are a problem but they weigh over 100lbs

[cbreiter]

Alright. I'll see if I can get a better carb for it. And yes those doors are massive

[Incommando]

All that comes to mind is, anemic.

You might be surprised. An HO 4.0 has 45 more horsepower (190-145) while only giving up 15 in TQ ( 225-240) when compared to that 318.

[mnkyboy]

I don't think its gonna suprise anyone without some work.

4.0l HO with an auto in a full size truck with 3.08 gears would be a dog.

[cbreiter]

It probably wouldn't help that I run 31's on the truck either, at least for making it less of a dog anyway.

[gogmorgo]

It was just an idea seeing as how I have the 4.0 sitting around.

 

  :peek: Would perhaps be interested in knowing more about this thing you have sitting around... You would perhaps be wiling to part with it? 

[cbreiter]

What do you want to know about it? PM me for more details.

[Incommando]

I don't think its gonna suprise anyone without some work.

4.0l HO with an auto in a full size truck with 3.08 gears would be a dog.

That may well be. But with 45 more HP and only giving up 15 #/' (lb-ft-thanks gogmorgo) of tq it appears that the truck may be less of a dog with a 4.0/ AW4 4 speed auto then it was with the factory 318/727 3 speed auto as swapping in the jeep tranny makes more sense than trying to adapt the Mopar patterned 727.

[gogmorgo]

Nit-picking here, but #/' is a totally inappropriate way to represent lb-ft. It's a multiplication, not a division.

...Yeah I've got problems...

[Incommando]

Nit-picking here, but #/' is a totally inappropriate way to represent lb-ft. It's a multiplication, not a division.

...Yeah I've got problems...

i will try to remember that.