318 Engine Help!

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
RangerRock

RangerRock

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,985
OK guys as I have posted in the real car thread and my audio help I have a 89' Dodge Ramcharger, 2WD, with a 318 (TBI). I had to change the valve cover gaskets since they were leaking a good bit and hated the smell of burnt oil. Anyways I got them changed but now it won't run right, it starts up when it is fine cold but after about 2-3 mins it won't idle right, rough and then it cuts off and it will continue until it cools back down to outside temperature.

Any help would be appreciated.....

Thanks
 
Sounds like some kinda of choke issue. Like it's not backing off after the engine has warmed up. It didnt do it before you worked on it?
 
No it didn't, if it did it was very slightly and I didn;t know...

I will go try to get a video of it....
 
Are you sure that the valve cover breathers are breathing. A shot in the dark but it could be building to much pressure in the valve covers which could have caused your leaks in the first place but they could be leaking threw the valves if there's to much pressure and will cause you to blow your new gaskets.
 
The gaskets weren't blown, just leaking for some reason, not sure but they are fine now for what time it has been running. I know the silver thing on the left cover has a hose that runs to the air filter, it is clean because I see the smoke that comes out of it.....

I have a video coming up once it uploads
 
How are the spark plug wires. When removing and reinstalling the covers did you move the Plug wires around. You could be arking out somewhere. Move them around when the truck is running, see if it changes pitch or the way it runs. If so replace them.

There could be so many different things that affect it. We will just have to do some problem solving.
 
Yes we removed the wires off the plugs......

I will check them later, been going back and forth all day, lol.
 
If the wires were hooked up wrong it would misfire under throttle though right?
 
Sounds like a backfire due to the plugs being wrong to me. It could also be a vacuum leak causing the electronics to "wig" out. Also as far as the leaking goes welcome to the wonderful world of Dodge. I have built a couple high HP 318's, and the only way to keep the valve covers from leaking is to use a cork gasket,and a bead of black RTV on both sides to glue them on.
 
HPI_Savage25 said:
If the wires were hooked up wrong it would misfire under throttle though right?
Click to expand...

depends on what cylinders are crossed. If the 2 cyclinders that are crossed are 180 deg out (1 piston at tdc, 1 piston at bdc) the engine would misfire all the time. In this case it could be 2 cylinders where the pistons are close to the same position as each other. Listening to the video, to me it sounds like a cylinder is firing very late causing that backfire sound. When the motor speeds up the timing is retarded slightly as engine speed increases so the cylinder fires at the correct time which is why it runs better when the engine rpm's increase, and dies when you let off the gas. Hope this helps you out.
 
I do not think the wires are wrong though because we laid them out in the exact order and dad watched them pretty much the entire time until we put them back.....

I did notice a inlet the was open on the back side of the throttle body but I can't find ANYTHING that was hooked up to it.....

I will keep you guys updated
 
BTW allan what backfire sound are you talking about?

If it is the rattleing it is my mufflers....lol they need replacing bad
 
LOL. Those were your mufflers?? yeah I would say they need to be replaced. When I first heard the video it sounded like a popping sound.
 
Yeah that popping sound is my mufflers.......:lmao: !!!!

I just want to get it running right before I get new ones.....although it gets aggravating listening to them when I try to let it run.....much less go down the road.
 
i would definatly agree with the vacuum leak. it sounds like the timing may be a bit off too. did you guys bump the distributor while you were doing the gaskets? if so you may want to get a timing light and try to get it to stay running long enough, at 2k rpm? i think....to check the timing.
 
well i have had alot of time working on mopar engines while building a few drag car motors while growing up everyone has some pretty good information with the vacume leak, Spark plug wire being crossed, Or with the timing to me i belive that your timing is off. With the way it is running it sounds like you will need to advance your timing a couple of degrees get yourself a timing light if you do not have one you can usually rent them from a autozone or advanced autoparts. I am posting a web site with the diagram for spark plug wire place ment and also a web site on proper timing and it has some good information on what you are looking and listening to while adjusting timing i hope this information helps. Also check your spark plug gap.

http://autorepair.about.com/library/firing_orders/bl-fo-3804.htm
http://www.sweptline.com/tech/engine2.html
 
Thanks for all the help guys....

I came home today with a note left by my dad, he said he worked on it, and replaced 2 fuel lines.....not sure which ones but it runs like a champ now!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

Total: 676 (members: 1, guests: 675)
Back
Top