[Colossus_Ram]

I have a '90RC with the 360 TBI. I was wondering if anyone out there has swapped out their TBI setup or an MPI say for example from a 93 or later Dodge Magnum.

I noticed in the Mopar Catalog that they sell a 360 MPI crate motor for 93 and later dodges, but it doesn't say why I can't swap it into my '90. Has anyone done this swap before? If so how did you do it and what parts from your TBI did you keep (if any) and what did you have to get rid of.

I called around to several places, for example I called the Mopar Performance hot line and they didn't seem to know if the swap could be made. A couple of guys said "No I can't do it". One guy said "You can do anything if you have the money". But offered no further help. I even visited a couple of Dodge dealerships and spoke to their mechanics and they said for me to call the Mopar hotline. :\'( Anyway I would appreciate any help with this.

 

[Ramchargin88]

Yeah you can do it but it's more involved than just swapping the topside of the engine or dropping in the crate motor. You'll need a fuel tank or at least the fuel pump from an MPFI truck. The crate motor might be your better bet, since you'll have to replace the heads, intake, and cam from your TBI engine to work with the appropriate Magnum stuff.

 

[Colossus_Ram]

So if I go with the crate motor all I need is to replace the fuel pump. What about any other electric parts to make this thing work?

 

[Guest]

You could use the Holley Commander setup, weld bungs into an LA intake for the injectors, or do the bungs, plug the Magnum PCM and engine harness to the engine, and tie into the battery (like several have done with 60's/70's Mopars), or swap in the whole Magnum topside and MPI setup, or the whole Magnum engine and MPI deal. I keep seeing it said that you need a new fuel tank/pump for Magnums. True, for the increased fuel pressure, but an external inline pump like the Holley Commander unit will do the same thing, and the excess fuel can be routed back to the tank just as the stock system does in your '90 model.
If you got the whole crate engine, I'd just add the Holley electric pump and be done with it.

 

[rampar410]

can i have your tbi body? quinn

 

[Colossus_Ram]

I just need to make sure that I have everything I need before I start this swap. I was looking at the entire crate engine and it appears to have everything I need except for the fuel pump. I'd hate to buy this engine and then start the install just to find out that I need another part that's going require some major hassel to make this work. I'd like to know up front everything I'll need to do this engine swap and it's sort of hard gathering the correct info.

The main reason I'm doing this swap is because now days it seems like all the aftermarket performance parts are geared towards carbs or mpi. I've been looking around for different ways to up my HP on my 360 TBI, but they're arent that many. I've looked at swapping in different heads, but Mopar doesn't make an aftermarket head for my TBI, at least that's what they told me. I know GM now offers a kit to allow owners of thier 350 TBI setup to use vortec heads. I wish Mopar would offer more for us TBI owners, but it all comes down to supply and demand.

 

[Colossus_Ram]

I've heard many people recommend switching gear ratios to take better advantage of your engines hp, but no matter what gear ratio you put in; 195hp is still 195hp. Which I believe is what the stock 360's were rated at. Nowdays 195hp isn't very impressive for a V8 of this caliber, cars with V6's are putting out more hp than this. I would like to make the most of my 360's potential and it seems like the Magnum 360's are the way to go. I have a Mopar performance book for Magnum engines and they showed ways to boost the 360 Magnum up to around 345 horses. That's right around where the new Hemi is. I don't know if I'll ever get my engine to make that much HP, but it's nice to know that the tools to make this happen are there for me to use.

 

[AZ-Trailduster]

hey dude, before you buy the engine...get me a part number and i can get you my employee pricing from Lou Grubb.
and i'll buy your current 360 with the tbi setup after the swap if you are interested in getting rid of it. I'm looking for a good 360 to build a stroker and the stock tbi system for my engine now.

If you swap in the Magnum crate engine with the MPI manifold (i'm not seeing a complete engine with all the injectors and crap on it) you are gonna need to rob the goodies off another 92+ magnum 360, but you'll want to bump up the injectors to keep that engine from starving of fuel. You are also going to need an engine harness and PCM from a truck equipped with the magnum mpfi engine. Or, you could use the megasquirt computer and save yourself alot of wiring and headaches. But it will take a little bit longer to get configured but it'll be way worth it. Let me know if/when you plan on getting started on this, i'll cruise up and give you a hand.

I considered swapping in a magnum crate engine into my truck, but this thing has gotta pass emissions every year

 

[GunPilot]

I've looked at swapping in different heads, but Mopar doesn't make an aftermarket head for my TBI, at least that's what they told me.

They told you wrong. Any LA head will fit your '90 360, as long as it's non-Magnum, and even those will too, with mods. But you can use Edelbrock aluminum, Hughes, Mancini, or whatever your wallet allows under that TBI manifold.

One course of action available to you is to swap the MPFI manifold and Magnum heads off a suitable donor (see Bill55AZ ) add a fuel pump and a MS unit and you're there. Of course, it's not a one or two day project, but its straightforward and can be done with available information.

It's doubtful your TBI computer will be suitable for an MPFI setup, as Nick mentioned. I will be glad to share any and all info I gather during my MS TBI project.

 

[Colossus_Ram]

I was wondering about that? For example in the Mopar Performance Catalog they offer an Aluminum "Commando" Cylinder head and it says for use on the pre-Magnum engines: 1967-91 318's, 1968-73 340's, and 1971-92 360's. However the Mopar Man on the phone said it wouldn't work because my 360 is TBI and the computer wouldn't allow for the swap. There may be truth to the computer bit, but he didn't even advise of a different computer I could use.

I looked at different heads by different companies such as Edelbrock, but most of the heads I saw only showed them being used on Carbureted engines. Is that because it won't work on my TBI or is the carburetor just the normal type of fuel system used?

 

[SeahawkDodge]

I was wondering about that? For example in the Mopar Performance Catalog they offer an Aluminum "Commando" Cylinder head and it says for use on the pre-Magnum engines: 1967-91 318's, 1968-73 340's, and 1971-92 360's. However the Mopar Man on the phone said it wouldn't work because my 360 is TBI and the computer wouldn't allow for the swap. There may be truth to the computer bit, but he didn't even advise of a different computer I could use.

I looked at different heads by different companies such as Edelbrock, but most of the heads I saw only showed them being used on Carbureted engines. Is that because it won't work on my TBI or is the carburetor just the normal type of fuel system used?

The computer and TBI system will not flow enough fuel to take advantage of most of those heads. Yes, the TBI manifold will bolt up to any of these aftermarket heads.
For an MPFI setup you will need either an aftermarket controller, or to adapt an OEM controller (GM 454 comes to mind) that will allow big injectors and performance mods.

 

[Dork]

I'm guessing a lot of the sensors are diferent from the TBI and MPI engines. Like mentioned, a complete donor would be quite handy. And take lots of notes and label stuff as you're dissassembling it.

 

[zapnca]

So if a donor is found...what about the 3 speed tranny opposed to the over drive. Wont this make it drink fuel like crazy?

 

[Colossus_Ram]

There seems to be so many things that I can and cannot do with the engine I have. I understand that with increasing engine performance I will need to make certaine changes, but some of them can make a person go crazy. It seems like many aftermarket companies don't even know that Dodge made a truck prior to 1994.

I can use this part with this one, but not with that engine. Or I can use that, but not with this type of engine, I need to buy one of these, but I can't use it on my engine because the one I have isn't the correct one. This company makes this part, but I need to swap out this device and get one from a different vehicle in order to use that part from that company that only makes this part for those engines....ARRGGGHHHH... :\'(


I CAN'T BREATH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM....

 

[Ram-Rod]

Colossus, I'm in the process of doing a MPFI swap except I'm going smaller instaed of larger.
still the same.
you will need quit a bit more on the electrical here is a link of a similar swap http://www.jpmagazine.com/howto/31818/
hope this helps LOL
Enjoy it .. I am
Rod

 

[Colossus_Ram]

Thanks for all the info and suggestions. I still plan on doing this swap in the not too distant future and I'll let you know how it goes.

Hey Ram-Rod let me know how your swap turns out.

 

[Ram-Rod]

I'll be trying to do a "How To" on it.
with the gas prices the way they are going I think others may have interest.
Ram-Rod Jr. is going to help me - his first time and our first father and son project
He's 15 and just now showing interest - I think the drivers permit has shifted his thinking
Rod

 

[rampar410]

i know all of these guys are far smarter than i am ..

my 410 in the 89 w/ the stock tbi will do any thing i want it to.am using a eddlb. 340 manifold w/ an adapter i made for the tbi . it dosent know it cant run the paint off of all of the chebys,it has out ran ....it dosent know it cant climb the hills w/ the okla rcs [ask them] it dosent know it cant spin all 4 tires.... all w/ 321 gears //with 33 & 35" 12.50 tires my 02
i still want your tbi to experiment w/ quinn

 

[cheve5]

Im sorry to bring old threads back to life. But im stuck with a swap like this one, the engine will only run for 5 secs. Donor car was a 97 cherokee and I have BCM and PCM well hooked up but w/out any other modules.
Fuel pressure constant at 50 psi by means of a holley submerged pump and a common fuel pressure regulator.
PCM has been tried with other vehicles and works well.

 

[83mcguyver]

Im sorry to bring old threads back to life. But im stuck with a swap like this one, the engine will only run for 5 secs. Donor car was a 97 cherokee and I have BCM and PCM well hooked up but w/out any other modules.
Fuel pressure constant at 50 psi by means of a holley submerged pump and a common fuel pressure regulator.
PCM has been tried with other vehicles and works well.

I had that problem too. You may have to tow it to a dealer and have them disable the Vehicle Theft Protection System.
It is integrated as a part of the BCM. If you have the keyless entry fob, you can disable it from there too. I haven't tried disabling it with the door locks, but it seems like that should too.
Good Luck!
-Rod