1974 Dodge Ram timing problems

SHARI

MEMBER
1986 DODGE RAM

HI! We put a 1974 360 in a 1986 Dodge Ram 1/2 ton and are having problems with timing it. It sounds like its timed correcty but we cannnot find the mark on the harmonic balancer for some reason. It was there but now its missing.

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 10:51 AM

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RASMATAZ

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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 11:17 AM

SHARI

MEMBER
2 POSTS

:-) Heres the details. We have a 1986 Dodge Ram 4x4 that had a tired 318 in it. So, we put a rebuilt 1974 360 in it. Now it is running and it sounds like it is timed fine but we cannot see the mark on the harmonic balancer. It was there before it started and was just turning over but now that it is running it is not there. We have now heard from people that the truck may have a computer on it and we may need to ground a wire before timing it. Also that we may do some damage to the computer if the truck runs and it is not timed correctly (with a certain ground)
Is that better? :-)
Thanks in advance,
Shari

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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 1:11 PM

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,728 POSTS

Hi folks. You also have to consider that the 360 is an "externally-balanced" engine and the 318 is not. The external balancing weights are cast onto the vibration damper on front and welded to the torque converter on the rear. If you used the truck's original torque converter, you're going to have a constant vibration that can't be solved.

If you have the five-pin electronic ignition module, (with four pins in the connector), you do not have a computer.

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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 3:58 PM