Hi all,

I have been looking for a tow rig that I may eventually turn into a donor rig for my fj55 if I dont' go CTD with it.

I have a chance to get a 70 flatbed 1 ton duelly with a 383 for $1200. I am curious how it compares to the 360 and the 318.
I know that no v8 is gonna get 28mpg but I will be using it for towing a trailer long distances so fuel effiency, reliability, and part availibility are my big questions. (I know I should get a diesel but this thing is in my price range)

Also will a TC bolt to the back of the 727 trans from a 2wd or is it a separate version that is in the 4wds?

Thanks
E

the tail housings on the 727s are different from 2wd to 4wd, but can be swapped between them. as far as the 383 vs 318/360, i think thats a no brainer. big block vs small block, hmmm. parts are a little more rare for the 383, but not much so. and if it blows, a 400 or 440 will fit.

Duane

definately no brainer, more power or less power?

im going with...no brainer for $500 alex....

fuel efficiency is goin to be a problem any way you go...its not that big a difference between the 3....at least not to me...

Yeah, I've built more 383s than anything. They make ridiculous power for their size, wind up nice and tight, and are just a good all around engine. 318s are good little engines, and are pretty powerful for their size, but are overmatched in towing situations. The 360 is a disappointment in most cases. I only had one 360 that I could be proud of and that was a newer 360 Mag crate engine, that got re-short blocked and put out about 400 HP. Otherwise in most configurations it costs too much to get anything impressive out of them. The 383 on the other hand has gobs of torque stock, and with the usual mods of intake, headers, cam, and shiny chrome valve covers you can have a good multipurpose engine. I have a 383 in my 74' W100 and it will pull a lot of climbs at idle with 3.55 gears in low range. I don't know if I'd buy a whole truck to get a 383, though. I can normally get them locally for about$75 non running, and $100-$200 running for a basic 2bbl engine. Almost all 383s have forged cranks, and "906" heads so they are a good buy with a lot of potential. I've have 383's that ran better than a lot of 440s. We had a theory on the MoparChat board years ago about bore to stroke ratio, but that's another story...

Actually in that truck, the tranny might be the same a the 4wd version as they used a divorced case NP205 until 74, then the divorced 205 was an option over the 203 until 79.

As far as reliability, get an ECU and upgrade from points to electronic pickup in the distributor, carry a spare ballast resistor and fuel pump and filter with you and it will be more reliable than some of today's vehicles. They are pretty simple actually, not much to go wrong. Might upgrade to a high volume oil pump if you plan on long trips with the 383 wound up. IMO, I would find a thermoquad carb for a BB and run that for economy and power...a stock BB thermoquad can flow over 1000cfm and is still a spread bore. The 727 is a fairly stout and reliable piece...and can be built for cheap.

That 70 dumptruck might have 4.88s, even a 318 will pull pretty good with that. A BB will make more power in stock for...hands down. But with 4.88s, it is really a wash...yeah, it will get up faster, but how fast can you really go with 4.88s.

And, with 4.88s, mpg isn't really going to change much...you might actually get better mileage (not much) with the BB because it isn't working as hard to move the truck. I swapped a 440 for a 318 in a ramcharger...went from 12mpg to 17mpg just doing that swap. I would figure on around 10mpg tops with that truck empty...maybe around 8mpg or so towing.

steved

^^great post...

As said, very good motor. My buddys dad had one in his w-300. If I remember right it got 9 mpg regardless of the load.

Worried about fuel milage? I tow with a '96 318 powered ram. I get 8 mpg with the trailer.

The output shaft is 8" with the 4WD trans and 14" or 12" with the 2WD 727A. You have to disassemble the entire trans to change it out; you can't just swap the tailpiece. Mopar performance make a cast stroker crank for the small block. With a 4" stroke and the 040 overbore to 3.95", that 318 will displace 392. If you keep the small port heads with a mild bowl blend and back cut the valves, you are looking at a torque MONSTER with great low end response. Edelbrock Performer, 750 CFM carb, electronic dizzy and a high lift short duration cam will give you the ultimate gas tow motor. This beast would do better than a stock 383 and give better MPG because of the higher port velocities. For best bang for the buck, I'd recommend the 383 BB with the 727B tranny. The internals of both 727 versions are the same but the case is different.

It should be noted that the hard internals will swap from both versions of 727s, but they can be different. Most big block and truck 727s had more clutches, and a lot came with the Hemi kickdown lever. The valve body can also differ wildly, and some will not swap because of differences in the early and late style hydraulic passages.

If it were me, I'd build the 383, and try to find a way to get the late model fuel injection off of a 360 to work (Magnums)

It should be noted that the hard internals will swap from both versions of 727s, but they can be different. Most big block and truck 727s had more clutches, and a lot came with the Hemi kickdown lever. The valve body can also differ wildly, and some will not swap because of differences in the early and late style hydraulic passages.
Thanks, I didn't realize that.

Another thing to consider if you are towing with it, is the drum front brakes. I had a 64 D100, and towing with it was not fun. I never towed a whole lot with it (just a utility trailer a couple times and a car once), but the brakes were a very weak spot.

Thanks so much guys. Some really great info. Now that I think about it my dads new v8 dakota got <14 towing my car on a trailer. Great advice and info. I am plotting to put the 383 1st in the rankings. I will try to see if I can scrape up the cash before the thing gets sold. If not I will probably start looking for another 383. Brakes on this one probably wont be too big a deal, it will probably be a towing only rig and my trailer is tandem with brakes on both axles.
Thanks
E