Dodge Magnum V8 (318/360)

[olschoolkid]

Hello everybody. I was wondering what would be a good source for a Dodge Magnum V8. I recently bought the Ram VTS kit, but I want to build it as a regular Ram 1500. I'm looking for a 318/360.

Edited March 7, 2023 by olschoolkid

[Oldmopars]

This one has a decent stock 318/360. You may even try a trade of the engine you have for one. 

[Shark]

I believe the mid 70's Dodge Dart that has been reissued several times comes with a 318. Least that's what my friend who talked me out of mine said.

[Mark]

15 hours ago, Oldmopars said:

This one has a decent stock 318/360. You may even try a trade of the engine you have for one. 

The pickup has a B-series engine (distributor at the front).

[asfastasu]

Nobody offers a Magnum 318/360 in kit form except Tamiya. Go figure. I think in this kit. And even at that, it's kinda goofy looking.

[Tabbysdaddy]

This is the engine in the Lil Red Express kit, I would think it's the same one in the longbed kit. I put a slant six in mine.

[Oldmopars]

10 hours ago, Mark said:

The pickup has a B-series engine (distributor at the front).

You are right, I had forgotten that. I started mine, but got frustrated and put it back in the box. 

[olschoolkid]

Thank you all for your input. I realized I have an engine from a Dodge van in my parts box I can use.

[1972coronet]

The LA Engine Series of 1964 - c.1991 is completely different than the c.1991 - c.2002 [?] Magnum series , sharing only displacements (318/5.2 and 360/5.9). 

The engine in the MPC Dodge Pickups is a 'generic' B/RB engine (350/361/383/400 and 413/426-W/440 [RB]) irrespective of the Little Red Express being advertised as a '360'.
Likewise, the 'generic' LA engine (273/318/340/360) in the MPC Duster, Demon, Dart Sport, B-Van, Volare is a poor representation - it's undersized, more like 1/28 scale - of the small block.

I'm unaware of any Magnum-series (318 & 360) engine in any kit. One could use the 340 in the AMT 1971 Duster 340 as a starting point (basically, engine block, and maybe heads) for a 318/360 Magnum, with lots of scratch building involved ("Beer Barrel" intake, correct rocker arm covers, exhaust manifolds).

Then there's the A-518/A-618 Torqueflite transmission (in es., A-727 with overdrive 'tail housing') for complete accuracy.

[asfastasu]

Like I said, there is a Magnum offered by Tamiya, but, it's not very good. The valve covers are about the only thing resembling a Magnum, maybe the airhat, maybe if you squint hard enough.......

Edited March 10, 2023 by asfastasu

[1972coronet]

37 minutes ago, asfastasu said:

Magnum offered by Tamiya, but, it's not very good. The valve covers are about the only thing resembling a Magnum, maybe the airhat, maybe if you squint hard enough..

I saw your earlier post; thanks for following up with photos. It appears to be decent, or at least a better basis for the Magnum (intake manifold could use some scribing). 

Which transmission is behind it? It should be a 518. 

Edited March 10, 2023 by 1972coronet

[asfastasu]

I'm not sure of the transmission that is offered in the Tamiya. It's not my model, got the pics off of a Google search. I think the real transmission might be a 46re. That's what my 96 Ram had. I don't think the Tamiya kits can be had too cheaply, either.

Edited March 10, 2023 by asfastasu

[1972coronet]

3 minutes ago, asfastasu said:

I'm not sure of the transmission that is offered in the Tamiya [...] I think the real transmission might be a 46re. That's what my 96 Ram had. I don't think the Tamiya kits can be had too cheaply, either.

Funny thing about the nomenclature of U.S. models' auto transmissions : I still employ their now-ancient alpha-numeric identities ( 700-R4, AOD, 518-A, 904, 727, TH-400, etc., etc.) . In other words, 46-RE is what used to be called A-518-A (I believe that the A-618-A -- for 6 pinion plantery , used behind the later-year-before-Daimler-bollocks-Cummins -- is dubbed 48-RE).
Or, maybe I'm confusing the A-500 (904/998/999 with overdrive) with the A-518 assignment ? Or was the 43-RE ? 
That's why I employ their older nomenclature (haha).