3.9 liter V6 for Power Wagon or M37

[Gordon Maney]

I stumbled upon information reminding me of the V6 that was a shortened 318. Due to how short it is, I wonder if anyone has used it for a conversion in an early Dodge. It would not have as much power as a V8, but would certainly be better suited to low gears found on our trucks.

Have any of you thought about using one of these engines?

[Chewie]

I wondered for a while myself.

But I think that by the time you work out all the details, it's just as easy to swap in a V8. And we already know the V8's work.
I think the V6 would work well in a 2wd half ton. I put over 200K on my V6 Dakota with no trouble at all, except for the stupid fuel gage. And I pulled many an overloaded trailer with it, too. (Even bent the hitch frame pulling a dump trailer full of used shingles to the landfill.) The only reason I don't have it yet today is because it was a regular cab, and I have three kids...
Here is the main page for all three Magnum engines.

http://dodgeram.org/tech/gas/specs/index.html

You'd still have to realize that the V6 trannies were lighter duty than the V8 offerings, and would need to be upgraded for an older, heavier truck.

So by the time it's all done, the 5.2/5.9 swap just works better.

[Gordon Maney]

But I think that by the time you work out all the details, it's just as easy to swap in a V8. And we already know the V8's work.
I think the V6 would work well in a 2wd half ton. I put over 200K on my V6 Dakota with no trouble at all, except for the stupid fuel gage. And I pulled many an overloaded trailer with it, too. (Even bent the hitch frame pulling a dump trailer full of used shingles to the landfill.) The only reason I don't have it yet today is because it was a regular cab, and I have three kids...
Here are the charts for all three Magnum engines.

http://dodgeram.org/tech/gas/specs/figures/97v6_hpx.jpg
http://dodgeram.org/tech/gas/specs/f...97-52L_hpx.jpg
http://dodgeram.org/tech/gas/specs/f...97-59L_hpx.jpg

You'd still have to realize that the V6 trannies were lighter duty than the V8 offerings, and would need to be upgraded for an older, heavier truck.

So by the time it's all done, the 5.2/5.9 swap just works better.

All the links take me to a page that says forbidden..

[Chewie]

Hmmm.

Sorry about that. Here's the page that the graphs came from. Just click on the engine size to get the specs...


http://dodgeram.org/tech/gas/specs/index.html