318 EFI and carb

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dICKj

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What year did Dodge stop using carburetors on 318s and switch to EFI? Can the later EFI engine be converted to carburetor by swapping the intake from the earlier 318? I need an easy fix for a smoking 1974 Duster.

DickJ
 
The "quick fix" is tuning your carb so that its not running so rich that it spews oil out of the tailpipe
 
The answer to your question is “yes”....... it’s no problem to convert a later EFI LA 318 for use with a carb to put in a 74 Duster.
 
What year did Dodge stop using carburetors on 318s and switch to EFI? Can the later EFI engine be converted to carburetor by swapping the intake from the earlier 318? I need an easy fix for a smoking 1974 Duster.

DickJ
They started using TBI in '88, and that lasted until '91) when they introduced the Magnum series with MPI.
To run a carb on the TBI motors, you need to swap the manifold, carb, throttle cable and linkages; and the distributor.
 
running gas rich emits oil out the taailpipe???
go figure
or as Spock would say
Thaat does not compute
 
I'm still confused.......you have a '74 Duster with a later EFI engine (throttle body or MPI?) and it's running with whatever setup the engine came with, and it's running so rich it's pumping out black smoke? How do you have the injection setup hooked up? Do you have all the sensors, fuel pump, etc from the engine's donor vehicle in YOUR vehicle now?
 
I think he is wanting to know if you can take an EFI engine such as a magnum 5.2 and convert it to carbureted.

Yes you can. You need a carbureted intake that fits the heads your running. Some have dual bolt poo patterns to fit magnum heads or LA heads. You need a distributor with a vacuum advance, just reuse your old one off your original engine if is a small block. Magnum engines dont have a mechanical fuel pump eccentric. I think people run electric fuel boost pumps to the carb.
 
I guess we need to know what's causing the smoke, and if he's asking about an engine swap..... and year of donor.
 
yes he wants to swap in a later readily available efi motor as his la is smoking. he also wants to know if you can swap to carb on the later efi motors to suit his 74 duster.
 
The TBI engine is a direct swap, the magnum 318 needs a 360 oil pan and a special intake manifold
 
Are 5.9M pans the same as 360LA?

Yes, you can interchange, you just have to get the pan gasket right, I don't think you can use a one piece gasket like comes on a magnum on an LA pan but its been a while. We might have used it but had to use an old style front seal IIRC by cutting it up,
 
I wish I'd taken photos. The difference in the pan/ timing cover seems to be the difference. An LA pan leaves a gap at the corners where it meets the timing cover area. I just "pumped mine" full of sealer. "I guess" I'll find out if it leaks if I live long enough to run it. Years ago, I routinely emitted the front/ rear pan seals and just layed a big bead of RTV
 
I heard the 5.2 a d 5.9 Magnum 1 piece pan gasket 'fits' a 360 LA but doeant seal real well. That would explain the same pan posts.
 
I am converting my 88 D150 to carburetor, because there is NO performance option using the EFI. It works fine to get to work. It does nothing to go fast.
To do this, you need a carb, intake, distributor (your old one or any stand alone/ready to run is the easiest option, your old one will work)
In your case the fuel pump and auto kickdown (if auto) should work just fine.
In my case mods must be made to the trans and fuel pump/regulator to make it work “analog”.
 
Also on the TBI 318 it probably has a long snout cam but no fuel pump eccentric so you'd need to pull the timing cover and then install one from your old engine.
 
Also on the TBI 318 it probably has a long snout cam but no fuel pump eccentric so you'd need to pull the timing cover and then install one from your old engine.
Great point! The TBI motors are roller cam, I am told they are a short cam, but I have not seen this for myself.
An electric pump or perhaps cam eccentric is in his future for sure
 
Great point! The TBI motors are roller cam, I am told they are a short cam, but I have not seen this for myself.
An electric pump or perhaps cam eccentric is in his future for sure
I had an 89 TBI 318 in my Duster for a short time and it had a long snout cam but didn't have an eccentric. I also swapped a magnum engine into the 71 demon and we used an aftermarket long snout cam and put an eccentric on that. Otherwise I think Hughes has a kit for a short snout.
 
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