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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
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5/27/2004
09:32:18

Subject: 92 318 performance mods (high mileage)
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Just looking for some advice. I have a 92 CC 2wd 318 auto. Had it since new, now has 183k miles on it. I have the belly pan gasket leak, so I am considering swapping the manifold with the drop in MPI M1. Is it worth it to start messing around with performance parts this late? The engine still pulls strong, and has never had any serious problems. Regular oil changes, plug changes, etc. A lot of the auxillary equipment has been replaced at one point or another, but no performance work at all. Essentially still stock.

I am considering keeping the truck running for as long as possible. Should the engine die I will probably drop a Magnum 360 in. Nothing fancy, just a straight replacement.

My exhaust is also due to be replaced. New cat last year due to emissions (it was the original). The muffler is pretty much wore out, so I thought about replacing it with a cat back system, either Gibson or the Flowmaster 70. Not really interested in loud trucks, but any performance gains would be appreciated.

By putting a MPI manifold, cat back exhaust, possibly a 50mm TB, Mopar PCM and K&N filter on it, would I expect any problems on such a high mileage engine? I know some of the stuff will swap out to a 360, but not all. Depending on my money situation when an engine swap becomes inevitable, I may have to go with a reman 318, since I can get it installed for $2150 out the door. I would probably be looking at $1-1500 more on a 360, unless I looked at junkyard parts.



01Motorsport
Dodge Dakota
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5/27/2004
20:57:03

RE: 92 318 performance mods (high mileage)
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I would say keep 'er going! I've been there/ done that. My '92 5.2 RC 3:55 would still be running if a woman in a '95 T-Bird hadn't killed it in 2001. The truck was bought new, had 3K oil changes, etc. At 160K, the PCM was acting up, so in went a Mopar Performance 25HP unit. I simply ran a K&N drop-in with the intake tube deflector plate removed, Catco hi-flow cat, Flowmaster 70 with 2 1/4" duals through 4" tips exiting through the bumper, and Bosch Platinum +4 plugs. The thing was a blast to drive, and got 17.5 mpg all the time. The GenII's were the lightest weight Daks, and the '92-'93's the fastest: 14.9 sec 1/4 mile bone stock with 3:92's. If mine didn't have 217K and wasn't so wadded up, I would still have it.



Kevin
Dodge Dakota
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5/28/2004
00:07:23

RE: 92 318 performance mods (high mileage)
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Thanks for the info. Looks like I will be picking up an M1 and fixing that leak in the next couple weeks. Hopefully I can get another 100k out of this engine, but you never know.



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