Revamping old engine

[Astrodokk]

My Mopar 360 is stock and I'm thinking of souping it up with ceramic coated headers and dual exhaust. Probably will also convert to 4 barrel as well, which means a different intake manifold. If I have to rebuild the engine in the future, I'll install a hotter camshaft at that time.
Here's how it looks currently: And yes, that's a Berber carpet!

[Manitou]

Sick Berber bro! (That might be the first time anyone has ever said that).
You might be more old school than me, but I would look into
https://www.affordable-fuel-injection.c ... -33-1.html
It's a little over a grand for the TBI version, but god I hate carbs. Cold starts.. Hot starts.. Altitude issues.. I'm over them. Should net you a mpg or 3 too.

[Astrodokk]

Hmm, never thought about that. Come to think of it, my Jeep CJ7 had a fuel injection conversion on the straight six. So far the carb is doing fine. Don't know if I want to go that much overboard with mods unless something major goes wrong, then I can upgrade. Thanks for the link.

[Concourse]

Fuel injection is a good idea. Dodge/Chrysler made 318 V8's for many years including fuel injected ones. If you get to the point of an engine rebuild and have to pull the engine anyway you might find a used late model fuel injected engine for similar money to rebuiling the old engine.

The power to weight ratio of a small block to an RV is significant enough that little things like dual exhaust or headers aren't going to do much except cost money and create noise. Gas mileage and driveability would be more improved with the aforementioned fuel injecton or an overdrive gearbox. A bigger or more powerful modern engine can help with mileage too even though that sounds odd. I have a 2004 Chinook with a 6.8L V10 and 305 horsepower (stock). It's barely turning because it has the power to move the weight. On hills it isn't wound out like a smaller 5.4L V8 would be so the bigger V10 is actually using less gas. I got 12mpg average on a cost to cost trip last year which included the Rockies.

[Astrodokk]

I've been driving and enjoying my rig so much that I haven't noticed the oil pressure gauge until this evening. It read LOW all the way at the bottom, so I turned around and parked it. Won't check the dip stick until daylight and will add oil, but if this thing is burning it fast, I may consider that fuel injected option.
What year of a late model FI engine can I go with (from what car?) I assume it has to fit the motor mounts and space under the doghouse. I suppose it would be a 360 FI V8 or a 440 FI?

[chinook440]

If your engine isn,t showing signs of low oil pressure = ticking or knocking etc. you need to verify the accuracy of the factory gauge before doing anything else.

They often read on the low side , sometimes a new sending will help but before you start throwing parts at it you should

Hook up a know good mechanical gauge to the oil psi port. to verify the actual pressure.

Swapping to a fuel injected engine could be a fun project but if you can,t do it yourself be prepared to spend big $$$.

A 318 or 360 "MAGNUM" from a second generation ram truck/van will physically bolt right in and be a nice upgrade....But you will have to wire it all up correctly and install a high psi electric fuel pump and lines. this company can help in that department. http://www.hotwireauto.com/?page=sales-dcx

I myself don,t have any problems running a lowly carburetor .

2 things that help most in that dept.are

run a New , not rebuilt carb.

Remove the factory mechanical engine mounted fuel pump and install a good electric" low psi carb friendly" fuel pump back near the fuel tank. carter p4070 is a good one.

[Astrodokk]

Well, I decided to take the dog house off to see if the oil pressure sending unit is dead, and I saw that the wire that goes on top of it was disconnected. I don't know how that happened, but I tightened it more so it won't slip off again. Apparently this is an electronic unit, which I like, because I don't have to have an oil tube running to the dash gauge like I did with my SBC 350.
So, I will continue to enjoy my rig for as long as it lasts!

[Manitou]

Nice!
Gotta love when it's as easy as that

[Astrodokk]

Hey everyone!
Been enjoying the rig but seems now it's burning a little more oil than before. Also, runs rough occasionally. Maybe it's the fuel filter, so that will be changed first. If no change with rough run, then I'm going to replace the fuel pump with new or with electronic fuel pump, or even go as far as using this EFI conversion kit:

http://www.jegs.com/i/Holley/510/550-20 ... tabpanel-6

The one quoted in a previous thread is more expensive. How does this one look?

[Manitou]

The affoardable efi place is considerably less expensive from what I see.