1986 Dodge B250 Camperwagon | Engine And Tranny Questions

Maybe change the rear end ratio? I doubt it'll hurt the mileage much more than a 360 or a hop up of your 318. Especially if you're going to a 4x4 conversion, you'll probably want it anyway. Just match your likely front axle ratio.

Jim

Thanks for the welcome. I will post a few pictures this weekend. I should have included a bit more detail as to what we are doing with our campervan and the mountains.

It will make it up all but the steepest on those it will actually stop. Also while on the highway it really is hard to keep it in 3rd gear as it constantly wants to kick down into 2nd because of the power issues.

The engine is running just like it should according to the mechanic who checked it out a few days ago. he checked spark, manifold (air flow), timing, and took it for a spin. He said it works as it should just doesn't have enough oomph for that van. I also took it to the transmission shop and it came back with a green light.

I have asked him also about just beefing up the 318 as it actually reacts very well to a after market combo of:

Mild cam Upgrade
4 barrel
Intake
Headers

Can boost it up close to an extra 100HP. But it is still missing that low end grunt and torque we need.

We need that because we spend most of our time way in the back country on some pretty white knuckle mountain roads. We need that torque on the climbs and we need some more hold on the big steep descents where relying just on brakes will burn em up.

We are also planning on putting a 4WD conversion into it in the near future so again more HP and torque will be needed.

So by the sounds of it there should be no problem bolting up a 360 to the current transmission. If we go with a 360 it will have a performance rebuild on it so we have more torque and HP.

Try a rebuilt distributor. It will do wonders to improve the power of your 318. That engine can make a lot of power, but it requires some things. Good spark is one key thing.

If you change to premium fuel, you can advance the timing a bit, and this will also make more power, but it will ping on 87 octane fuel, and get worse mileage when running retarded and lower octane fuel. Higher octane allows more advanced timing, and more power, thus slightly better MPG.

Check with a place like 'Clutches Unlimited' in Midway City, California, and see if they can rebuild your distributor. When you take it out, mark it's location, and point it the same position when you put it back. You would need a timing light to do this job correctly, or take it to a place that can rebuild it, and set the dwell and timing correctly. . .

The 318 can make lots of power. The 360" is only about 15% larger, but has more rotating mass, so really not a lot more power. The newer 5.9L can make over 300 HP, while a older 440 can not.

The 727 transmission can bolt up to the 318 or 360. But if you are looking at donor 440" engine from another motorhome (pre- 1979) you should also get the matching transmission, as the bell housing is probably a different bolt pattern. However the 727 is only a 3 speed, and not known for it's great gas mileage. If you have overdrive, it is not the 1970's version of the 727.

Yes a "RV Cam" will also produce more power, but it takes a lot to change it out, like removing the radiator, so you can remove the water pump, cam chain, and then slide the cam out of the engine, it is about 3' long, and must slide out forwards, through the space that your radiator occupies. .

You might find that rebuilding the distributor, and replacing worn or broken springs is all that you need.

Good luck,

Fred.

Welcome to the forum. I don't have the answers for your questions.
But, when you say it doesn't have the power to handle the mountains, will it not make it up the mountain? Or is it just slow because it's underpowered?
A lot of RV's go slow up mountains.

Is your 318 tuned and running properly?
Would it be more cost effective to do some modifications to the 318, headers, etc., to get a little more power?
RVing isn't a race. My 96 Southwind, 454, is no ball of fire going up mountains but, it always gets us where we're going.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Keep us updated.
Please, post a picture of your Camperwagon when you get a chance.