1989 Dodge Ramcharger engine swap

Tiny
SUNNY12888
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 DODGE RAMCHARGER
1989 Dodge Ramcharger V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic

I am woundering if I can put a 440 in place of a 318.
it is a 4 wheel drive so I dont know if the bell housing would mont up.
Saturday, December 5th, 2009 AT 5:55 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
Nope; won't bolt up. There are three bell housing designs. One for the six cylinders, one for the small block V-8 (273, 318, 340, 360), and one for the big block V-8 (361, 383, 400, 413, 426 wedge, 426 hemi, 440).

The engine mounts are different too. The 440 will need a larger radiator and different wiring harness.

If you install the 440, you'll need the right transmission which will be the heavy duty 727. If you have a 727 now behind your 318, the transmission swap will be a direct replacement. If you have the smaller 904 which is often used with 318s in cars, the swap will still be easy as the mounts and linkages are all the same, but the output shaft is larger in the 727 so you'll need a different front yoke for the drive shaft. I'm guessing you already have the 727 since you have a transfer case. I don't recall ever seeing a transfer case behind a 904.

Caradiodoc
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 AT 4:48 AM

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