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318 or 360 visual differences? What do I have?

32K views 27 replies 9 participants last post by  76dodgeboy 
#1 ·
Bought an 84 ramcharger this weekend.  I know for sure it is not a big block, but what r some things i can do to tell the if its a 360..  Im new to all of this however im handy!

i already have a performance intake and a 4 barrel carb to go with it as well..

any info would b appreciated.  Ill post up some pix asap!

thanks
 
#2 ·
Look on the block on the driver's side and you should see the engine size in numbers about 1" tall.  Alternatively it will also be stamped on the ID pad that is on the front of the engine block, just below the head, right behind the power steering pump.
 
#3 ·
Elwenil said:
Look on the block on the driver's side and you should see the engine size in numbers about 1" tall. Alternatively it will also be stamped on the ID pad that is on the front of the engine block, just below the head, right behind the power steering pump.
thanks alot..i will do that..it has some build up in the engine bay that needs to b cleaned out, however it runs very smooth.

LET THE WORK BEGIN!
 
#6 ·
thaks guys..i believe it had the slant six and is not original..it was suppose to be a 440 but when i went to take a look i definately knew it was not a big block..

hopefully i can figure it out..like i said i will tro to post some pix as the project begins
 
#8 ·
Well there's a huge diffence between a v8 and a slant 6.
 
#10 ·
still lookin into it..cant seem to find the numbers although it wasnt a priority last night..

did get the plugs and wires changed..now we have found other issues taht i stated in another post..

FML..I LOVE OLD VEHICLES lol..CUT CHOP WELD!!!
 
#12 ·
MidnightExpress78 said:
I highly doubt it, unless he bough it from ChrisKD.... ;)

But even so if he did it would be a waste of a 340.... ;D
340s used to be real cheap. And the vast majority of vehicles that came with them used to be in junkyards or parted out. Plenty of old trucks, Dusters, etc. ended up with 340s. Good 280hp motor as-is sitting right in a Duster.

I like to climb into the wheelwell. Once you can see the freeze plugs on the block you are in business. The #s are right near there.
 
#13 ·
MidnightExpress78 said:
I highly doubt it, unless he bough it from ChrisKD.... ;)

But even so if he did it would be a waste of a 340.... ;D
I don't sell my 340's :p

Actually, the 340 runs about the same as a 318 when installed in a truck. Only the 340 cranks out just as much torque (in stock form) as a 360 and revs alot higher and faster than a 318 or 360.

In a car, now that's another story. The 340 will spank just about any other engine out there, off the line and top end. A modded 340 is something to Respect and Fear.

asg13... Here's where you'll find your numbers :

Driver's Side of the Engine Block, near the Starter



Driver's Side Front of the Engine, directly under the Head, it may be hard to see.

 
#14 ·
ChrisKD said:
I don't sell my 340's :p

Actually, the 340 runs about the same as a 318 when installed in a truck. Only the 340 cranks out just as much torque (in stock form) as a 360 and revs alot higher and faster than a 318 or 360.
Stock they rev pretty fast but with a smaller cam they are an awesome street torque motor. Never low enough compression, never small enough valves, never small enough carb, never too little carb as to be a dog.

ChrisKD said:
In a car, now that's another story. The 340 will spank just about any other engine out there, off the line and top end. A modded 340 is something to Respect and Fear.
In a truck it'd run much better than a stock 318 too. Lots more power and torque in reach with a good running 340 and no need to wind it to get there. Bigger bores, more head flow, bigger carb, and more compression does make for a torquier motor even with the same stroke.
 
G
#15 ·
ChrisKD said:
I don't sell my 340's :p

Actually, the 340 runs about the same as a 318 when installed in a truck. Only the 340 cranks out just as much torque (in stock form) as a 360 and revs alot higher and faster than a 318 or 360.

In a car, now that's another story. The 340 will spank just about any other engine out there, off the line and top end. A modded 340 is something to Respect and Fear.

asg13... Here's where you'll find your numbers :

Driver's Side of the Engine Block, near the Starter



Driver's Side Front of the Engine, directly under the Head, it may be hard to see.

WTF happened to the dip stick? :eek:

did someone try to mig weld it in place? :eek:
 
#16 ·
MidnightExpress78 said:
WTF happened to the dip stick? :eek:

did someone try to mig weld it in place? :eek:
That's called grease, it's a natural byproduct of chrysler engines :p The dipstick is getting replaced with a different one, that one is actually for a 318 truck engine.
 
#20 ·
another easy way without crawling all under the truck to look on the block for #'s is the harmonic ballancer on the 318 it has the skinney ballancer about 1" thick because of it being internally ballanced and the 360 is externally ballanced and alot wider and bulky looking ballancer because of the extra weight. the 318 ballancer and the steel crank 340 is the same ballancer, and you probably already know this but all the big blocks have the distributors in the front of the motor, I had a guy the other day at the parts house tell me he had a big block in his truck and showed it to me and he had owned it for two years and was so proud of it, I didn't have the heart to tell him it was a 360, but it was a nice truck either way.
 
#21 ·
holeshot said:
another easy way without crawling all under the truck to look on the block for #'s is the harmonic ballancer on the 318 it has the skinney ballancer about 1" thick because of it being internally ballanced and the 360 is externally ballanced and alot wider and bulky looking ballancer because of the extra weight. the 318 ballancer and the steel crank 340 is the same ballancer, and you probably already know this but all the big blocks have the distributors in the front of the motor, I had a guy the other day at the parts house tell me he had a big block in his truck and showed it to me and he had owned it for two years and was so proud of it, I didn't have the heart to tell him it was a 360, but it was a nice truck either way.
if the only other block he's seen before was a 4 banger it would qualify as a big"ger" block right?
 
#22 ·
The balancer is not always different.  Some are the same thickness on the outside and are just undercut on the backside for the different balance.
 
#23 ·
holeshot said:
another easy way without crawling all under the truck to look on the block for #'s is the harmonic ballancer on the 318 it has the skinney ballancer about 1" thick because of it being internally ballanced and the 360 is externally ballanced and alot wider and bulky looking ballancer because of the extra weight. the 318 ballancer and the steel crank 340 is the same ballancer, and you probably already know this but all the big blocks have the distributors in the front of the motor, I had a guy the other day at the parts house tell me he had a big block in his truck and showed it to me and he had owned it for two years and was so proud of it, I didn't have the heart to tell him it was a 360, but it was a nice truck either way.
Need to crawl under the truck. The block don't lie. The balancer can be swapped around all sorts of weird but the block is not going to be issuing fairy tales.
 
#24 ·
I'm not disagreeing the sure way to tell what motor, year, Day and time it was built is to look on the side of the motor and when I check #'s on a muscle car I check rad. suport, frame rails too but I didn't think we were talking Barrett Jackson here, Just a truck to see what motor he has not #'s matching. if you can get under it and see it good. I think everyone should crawl under there truck once and while anyway, I look at the vin# and the sticker under hood if its still there and if it says 318 and If it had the skinny balancer on it I would be satisfied its a 318, and if it had the bigger external balancer its a 360 or a cast crank 340. The ballancer has to be bigger or thicker somewhere it can't be the same Identical ballancer, If that was the case Dodge would have used just one for all the motors Intern.and Extern. and you know the 360 bal. looks different depending on the year weather it was back cut or front cut with added on weights for ballancing.  But anyway thats my 2 cents
 
#25 ·
thanks for all the info..i can see this site is going to be very helpful..

I have still not found out what i have..The motor is to covered in grease at the moment and I have been adressing other issues.

Hopefully i will find out soon..just not a top priority at the moment..  It runs well..so thats a plus!
 
G
#26 ·
ChrisKD said:
That's called grease, it's a natural byproduct of chrysler engines :p The dipstick is getting replaced with a different one, that one is actually for a 318 truck engine.
When i think of Grease i think of SOLID BLACK, not SHINY SILVER, and it looked like a weld when ever i first saw it.... :p
 
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