I saw one with 114,000 miles with a 5.2 4x4 extended cab. Says its got a rebuilt tranny with papers to prove it. Looks really good but............. My question is how strong and reliable is a 5.2 (318)? What do you all think, ive always been told the trannys are weak.
The old 318's are a lot like 302 Fords....tuff, dependable engines. Not sure about the newer ones, never had experience with one....
My friend has a 318 in his Dodge, and he had one in his previous truck too. He has had very good luck with them and he loves them.
I have one, a 1998, and so far it seems to be a dependable and solid power plant. But, it isn't a speed demon, and gets about 16mpg city and about 18mpg on the highway. It is a comfortable truck, and I like it.
My grandpa had an '81 Ram with one in it, had 367k and still ran fine when the truck was crushed last year. It smoked, but fired right up and ran smooth. Rest of the truck was falling apart.
Buddie of mine has a 2000, same style I think. He's on his 5th rear end (currently looking for one), about 6 water pumps, dash is exploded from sun. It's a work horse when not waiting for rear ends. Has about 150k miles.
I have tortured a 318 magnum that was in an '86 Dakota. I towed a 26' Coachman all over the midwest, plowed snow with it, dragged a section of steel I-beam for years around the sand roads (works like a road grader to fill in the washed out spots) at our hunting spot. After 170,000 miles the body on the truck was turning to junk, but that engine and transmission were still going strong. I think the 318 is a bright spot in the Mopar catalog of engines.
Mine does, but you can get a dash cap for it. Have to do that soon. They break right above the passenger air bag. Strange......
