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PoolShark
Dodge Dakota
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10/26/2002
20:57:39
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 Subject: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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Hey guys, I've been around this forum for about a week now. I've had my '92 CC 4x4 5.2L since 1997. I bought her with about 109k and now she's got about 177k. I remember the day I test drove it. I was sitting at a red light, it changed to green and I ACCIDENTALY spun the tires by giving it just a little too much gas. That was an eye opener to me and I bought it.
Lately, she just doesn't have the power she used to. So I figured, the powerplant needs more power. :) I've been a tech at a dealership for a few years and have a degree in auto technology, ase master certified...all that stuff. I just need some help with performance modifications, since I don't know much about V8s. (I work for a Saturn dealership)
I put dual exhaust on the truck a couple years ago, but that's the only performance mod that I've done so far. I have a Mopar Performance roller cam and lifters coming in the mail.
I've seen you guys talking about one of the cams actually taking hp down if you don't have enough air coming through. The cam that I ordered was the P5249549. (http://www.mopar.com/m_perf_parts_product_part.jsp?categoryID=10006&itemID=158) Is this the one that you guys are referring to?
I'm interested in getting some roller rockers if I can find a decent deal. The stock ones are 1.6 right? So I'm looking for 1.7s? I'll probably get the black wrinkle Mopar Performance valve covers.
I'll be boring it out .030 and putting new pistons, but I need a good recommendation. I had one other person recommend Keith Black, but there's a couple different styles I think, and also with different compression ratio changes. What should I try to stick with?
Is there anything else that I should do while I have it apart?
I will be getting a Mopar Performance ECU also.
I pulled the hood and started taking some preliminary stuff apart today, I'll try to get the engine out this next week.
Thanks for any/all replies and help.
PoolShark
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sandman
Dodge Dakota
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10/26/2002
22:09:48
|  RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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If you are going to put a performance cam in you should also put a decent intake manifold on. Depending on the cost of the manifold you might just want to send your stock one out to be flow honed. You might also consider JE Pistons. I have used them alot and have always had great results and good customer service.It all depends on how much power you plan to make!! If it were me I would sit down and work the HP math. Figure out what rpm range you will be playing with and bore, stroke, compresion ratio. Then just work the numbers to compute air flow needs. This will tell you if you need bigger TB or better intake manifold...... If this were me I would but my money in heads, intake and cam. I would probably use a 270 roller cam, Eddelbrock or Air Research heads and a good manifold. I would use either JE pistons if I wanted Forged or Keith Black if Hypernetic(sp). I would stay around 10.5:1 . I would get a nice set of Crower roller rockers in standard ratio. You should be able to get 370 HP on a carberated set up with mid grade gas at about 420 LB-Ft torq. at about 4200 RPM's. These are just a rough guess because I mostly work on Chevy V8 and I do not know the limits of the Mopar ECM. I built a long rod 350 with the same basic set up and was able to get 412HP@5700RPM and 429 Lb-ft@ 4000 and 4300 these numbers came from an engine dyno at flywheel not the rear wheels. If any one wants a parts list I can give them one for the small block chevy. It is a realy sweet build up.
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kwik95dak
Dodge Dakota
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10/27/2002
23:32:40
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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stroke out the motor to a 350 from http://www.speedomotive.com/ they have a kit for the 318! i would recommend decking the block and port and polish the heads. an m-1 intake and 50 or 52mm tb. the list goes on and on. email me if u have any more questions.
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PoolShark
Dodge Dakota
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10/28/2002
23:30:21
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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Thanks for the replies so far!!
sandman, I'd like to stay away from new heads ($$). As for working with HP math, rpm range, bore, stroke, compression ratio, and air flow needs... Yeah, maybe you didn't notice I was a Saturn tech, not for Jack Rousch Racing Team. :) I have NO idea to figure out that exactly what I need. I did get a copy of Desktop Dyno 2000 though, but I need to know some more factory specifications before I can accurately use it.
kwik95dak, Stroke it!?!? I laughed at first, then I really thought about it and went to the site to see how expensive the kit would be but never found the kit. ??
With the cam upgrade, I'll be needing more air and fuel. I've seen a lot of talk about the M-1 intake. Is it worth it? Do I need to do other modifications to make it work with my '92 5.2L? What are my options with the Throttle Body? What's the current CFM rating for the factory TB? Can I get it modified cheaply and make it that much better? Or would it be more cost-efficient to get a new one and how big/how much cfm do I need? Also, whould I be concidering new injectors? I think so, these old ones have 177k on them!! Recommendations?
What is the standard rocker ratio for the '92 5.2L? 1.6? What would happen if I go up to 1.7? Would it really be worth moving from regular rockers to roller rockers if I keep the same ratio?
I've been doing as much reading as I possibly can in these forums (even been doing searches in old threads here), other performance sites, etc...slowly getting information. I really appreciate the posts!!
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kwik95dak
Dodge Dakota
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10/29/2002
00:28:38
|  RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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here is the direct link to it: http://www.speedomotive.com/MOPAR%20318-350%20STROKER.htm
hope this helps.
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PoolShark
Dodge Dakota
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10/29/2002
18:15:24
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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Oh yeah, thanks...not sure how I missed it! I got a bunch of stuff plugged into Desktop Dyno, I'm using that to help me out since I have no idea what type of effect some of this stuff will do. It doesn't look like it would really make much of a performance difference. Just a little bit more torque, approx $100 per 1 ft/lb.
Doesn't anyone like me?!?!? No one is answering my questions! :(
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POWER HUNGRY
Dodge Dakota
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10/30/2002
22:19:39
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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Poolshark,
www.Hughesengines.com has a lot of info for 5.2's. They say they have the fastest lifting cams out, I heard mixed results about the mpp cam. The quicker the lift rate the wider the powerband and high hp without loss of TQ. They also offer a stroker kit that bumps the displacement to 390 ci. They sell the KB pistons which are in the middle of stock to forged piston range good to 125 of nos. If your thinking of 6000+ rpm's/175+ of nos/ 16+ lbs of boost go with forged pistons. JE, ROSS are the main companies while Hughes aslo offers Diamond racing forged pistons in thier stroker kits. Compression ratios 9:1-9.5:1 for NA/light forced induction engine depending on the cam(larger the duration at .050 the higher the CR.). As for the 1.7RRs, My crower catalog says there good for up to 20hp on the v8s. I wouldn't get them if your thinking about getting a cam with over .500 lift with 1.6rr. I would consider going to roller rockers a must for reliability when cam lift goes past .490 lift and rpms normally over 5200. Other nice cams are from COMP CAMS. They can be found and descriptions of what the cams are capable of, at www.krcperformance.com. Info on your Throttle Body Questions can be found at these two web sites. They say 50mm units are good for mild v8s and 52mm are better for street/strip engines with cam/head work with upper rpm power in mind.
An article on the high performance computer says it is good for a max improvement of 24hp and 25 ft-lbs. These are increases at max hp/Tq. The increase is provided between 1600-5200 rpm's. 92+ octane fuel will have to be used and a 180 thermostat will help prevent detonation. I hear that the 2bbl M-1 has a nice top-end increase with mixed results when it comes to low-end losses. I also hear that the intake insert know as the turtle will help keep up low-end power.
You didn't say what gears you have, but if you have 30-31 inch tall tires I would get 4.10. If you have a lift with 33" I would go to 4.56s to get things moving fast off the line. A shift kit and higher than stock stall converter would wake things up(KRC site has info). The gears+shift kit+ stall converter could feel like an added 25hp.
For the cylinder head questions you could check out the above sites. Stock heads in good condition can be ported for a 350hp motor. The higher the increase you want, the better r/t or aluminum MPP heads are.
If you want 375+ horse, building the motor for a supercharger/nitrous is the only way to go.
Good luck
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EBL
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2002
16:55:41
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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I am in the same boat as you are. I have a '92 CC with the 318. The miles have me looking at replacement also.
I looked at the prices of rebuild kits and the costs of machiene work. IMO, building the 318 looks to be more expensive than droping in a 360 from a junkyard. I scoffed at the idea until I started adding up costs.
I did a search on junkyarddog.com a few days ago. I can pick up a 360 with between 30k and 50k miles for around $1000. Complete from intake manifold to the exhaust manifold. If you find one from 93 to 95, it will be a direct swap. All you will need is a computer.
Email me at Eaten_By_Limestone@yahoo.com and I will be happy to share my research with you. I don't want to use up any more webspace than necessary.
Matt
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rtdkota
R/T
10/31/2002
17:33:47
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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"
If you want 375+ horse, building the motor for a supercharger/nitrous is the only way to go.
Good luck "
You can build a reliable, NA 360 for 375+ HP... Terry Herrin runs 335 rwhp on his 360 NA, or about 416-418 hp at the flywheel.
As far as cams go-- I sell Crower products, and am a test mule of sorts for different products for them... I am running a custom cam from them that works well-- plus I can get ANYTHING you want cam wise, from Crower. I have a cam spec request sheet on my website (for Crower).. Plus I work directly with their cam guy-- I have a requirement, I drive down to Crower sit at the counter and we go over it. I've posted my results elsewhere here, but if you are looking-- let me know-- I can help you out, plus save you money... I know what that's like, I gotta get me a 408 built for my next project.. OUCH!
Sam
www.socaldakota.com
RTDKOTA
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Scott
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2010
21:06:04
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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I have a 92 dodge dakota 5.2L and need to replace the thermostat. My chilton book says to drain the radiator, remove the alternator and drive belt. The book covers too many years and this seems too much. What should I do? How should I remove the thermostat? THANKS Scott
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Marty
Dodge Dakota
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1/26/2010
09:12:00
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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Gosh,you pulled up a old post!!Wonder if "Pool shark" did his mods!!Scott,just follow that top radiator hose back to the engine,where it connects at,under that "neck" is where the thermostat should be,you might be able to get at those two bolts without removing other things.BEWARE there should be a gasket under there,scrape off the old,install new (could use RVT,if your careful)
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RVT
Dodge Dakota
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1/26/2010
11:17:12
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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WTF is RVT ???????
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EBL
Dodge Dakota
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1/26/2010
11:48:30
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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RTV probably. liquid gasket.
The neck is pretty well buried. You may need to pull the
alternator or even the a/c to do it. Be careful not to cross
thread the bolts when you put them back in.
Put in a quality thermostat like RobertShaw so you don't have to
do it often.
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Marty
Dodge Dakota
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1/26/2010
12:02:11
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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WTF is RVT??!!Looks like you are..RVT!!
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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1/26/2010
12:03:04
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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I did not need to remove anything extra, i.e. altenator, on my '00 to remove the t-stat. Only thing I did do is put a dab of RTV in my socket when removing and re-installing those bolts.
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Bigbill 048
Dodge Dakota
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10/09/2010
19:32:25
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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Go to hughes engines and they have a tried and proven top end kit for the 5.2l that will put you into the horsepower range you are looking for.I have a 93 dakota that is bored and stroked to 390 ci.and put out 650 hores.
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Marty
Dodge Dakota
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10/12/2010
14:58:41
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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Kinda dont matter...RTV...RVT,most gearheads know what your talking about.(RTV..Real TV??)
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PoolShark
Dodge Dakota
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10/27/2010
23:03:48
| RE: '92 5.2L Engine Performance Rebuild
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Marty,
I just got an email notification that there was a post on this thread... from 8 YEARS AGO!
Quick run down. I pulled the engine and brought it in for boring and valve job. I not only had both heads cracked but also multiple cracks in the head??? I ended up getting a 318 short block from a Chrysler dealer on eBay. Got it to the shop, put the R/T cam in it along with MP roller rockers, the M1 intake, t-body from SoCall Performance (are they still around?), MP ECM, MSD ignition, MSD Blaster SS coil, ARP underdrive pulleys, and some other things. I can't remember it all since it was several years ago but I definitely spent more $$ than I ever expected. It ran like a dream, squacked the tires into 2nd gear. One night I replaced the u-joints and took er out for a test drive. Pulled out on a highway and smashed the throttle at around 20mph which is right about the max to still get it to drop it into 1st and pow, slam, slam, slam. THe rear most u-joint broke, driveshaft flopped all over, bent the transfer case output shaft and cracked the trans case half way around spewing atf all over. Towed it home to inspect. It sat for about 5 years until I finally sold the truck with no engine (had to keep the built 318 of course). I moved twice and then finally sold the 318 to a guy on eBay who picked it up with his Grand Cherokee with a 360 stroked to 409!
I ended up moving on and couple truck later am driving a '00 Silverado with 6" suspension and 3" body lifts with 36" Irok SuperSwappers. Not what people on this forum want to hear, but it's life.
So that's my story. I'm glad to see that this forum and its peeps are doing well!
-Mark
aka PoolShark
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oem software
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2012
02:42:06
| LKYNkiSdsqzMqkVizaa
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ftTS9I Not bad post, leave it at my bookmarks!....
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