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swapping tbi motors, 318-360

2396 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  SeahawkDodge
I recently blew my 318, and i'm looking to put in a 360. The truck was 88, so obviously to keep tbi, which i do, i will have to go with an 89 360. Other than the weighted flexpate to balance it, and the 89 SMEC, what else do i need? Is the actual throttle body the same? Intake?, motor mounts? ignition? Transmission? (torqueflite 8)
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ramcharger_blue02 said:
I recently blew my 318, and i'm looking to put in a 360. The truck was 88, so obviously to keep tbi, which i do, i will have to go with an 89 360. Other than the weighted flexpate to balance it, and the 89 SMEC, what else do i need? Is the actual throttle body the same? Intake?, motor mounts? ignition? Transmission? (torqueflite 8)
Well, you could get it to work with the 318 stuff, but it will be at less than it's full potential. The 360 TBI is larger, and has higher flow injectors, but your wiring should match up. Use the distributor from the donor vehicle that you get your computer from.
dodge8564 said:
ramcharger_blue02 said:
Well, you could get it to work with the 318 stuff, but it will be at less than it's full potential. The 360 TBI is larger, and has higher flow injectors, but your wiring should match up. Use the distributor from the donor vehicle that you get your computer from.
The only difference between the 318 TBI and the 360 is injector size. The TB is exactly the same. As far as computer goes, you can get a 360 computer and plug it right in, along with the bigger injectors and you should be set to go. All the wiring is the same. Also the dist. is the same as well.

Mike
Okay, so one of you says I need the Distributor from the 360, one says I don't. Who here is right? Also, i thought the injectors were the same, just the 360 computer opened them up more. I guess i was wrong...
ramcharger_blue02 said:
Okay, so one of you says I need the Distributor from the 360, one says I don't. Who here is right? Also, i thought the injectors were the same, just the 360 computer opened them up more. I guess i was wrong...
The only reason you would need the distributor from the donor is that they changed the distributor in mid 89. If your computer is from an 88 and the distributor is from a 90, then it won't work.
The injectors are smaller on the 318.
I do believe the TB on the 360 is larger. All of the connections are the same, but the 318 TB is the smaller 2bbl 500 (or so) cfm. The 360 TB is 670 cfm.
I could be wrong, but I don't think so.
The 360 intake has bigger ports to match the bigger port 360 heads. The throttle bodies are different as already stated, but they use the same TPS, MAP, ISC motor and regulator etc.
I bought an 89 RC that had a rebuilt 360 installed to replace the stock 318. The previous owner says he used the original intake and EFI system. The truck runs good but since I've owned it (1 year) I've always felt it was lacking power, it just doesn't seem to have that getty up that I felt a 360 should have. I thought it was the 3:23 gears but after reading these post, it might be the wrong intake and EFI. What do you guys think?

Blueraven
blueraven said:
I bought an 89 RC that had a rebuilt 360 installed to replace the stock 318. The previous owner says he used the original intake and EFI system. The truck runs good but since I've owned it (1 year) I've always felt it was lacking power, it just doesn't seem to have that getty up that I felt a 360 should have. I thought it was the 3:23 gears but after reading these post, it might be the wrong intake and EFI. What do you guys think?

Blueraven
Could be a combination of things. What size tires are you running? Is your tranny an OD?
All you need to do is get a 360 computer and throttle body, then swap them out. Good times, good times ;D
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