Whatever happened to the Mopar 318 engine?

[Sandman 4x4]

I owned the last of the Dakota 318,5.2lt V8’s. In a 2002 reg cab 4x4 Sport 5 sp, I ordered special with HD Tow package and payload of up to 6,500, plus 1,900 respectively. The Magnum was only rated at 210 hp, 240 lbs ft. But ran like a scalded cat! Especially on the beaches. With the 5 speed and short shifting I was able to get 17 city, 20 hwy at a steady 65. On a trip back to Mass from Ohio Armish country loaded with 15, 70 lbs picnic table kits, towing an closed UHAUL trailer loaded with another 75, I rolled over a Cat Scale at 11,290 lbs of my 12,000 lbs CGVWR. Getting an average of 10 mpg at 60/65 mph across rt 80, to 95. Never had to downshift on any long grades. Just 5th gear from exit to exit and stop to stop, once rolled up through the gears. Never used any oil in 140,000 trouble free engine miles, only brakes, hoses, belts and front ball joints. That was a great simple engine that had less than half the moving parts a 3.6 has, less power on paper, but with a heavy load/pull? The difference between running at 1,000-3,000 and 2,000-5,000 rpm’s. Between the 5.2 & 3.6!

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[Zachanadandy]

What is the source for fastestlaps.com?

The Mustang being 38 years older gives it a serious disadvantage. Comparing the Mustang to cars of it's era, it wasn't pathetic in any way.

Obviously it's not apples to apples, but 34 years or not the fact that a sports car with a v8 is slower than a 4cyl, 5k pound suv that is the most capable off road vehicle from the factory ever is pretty sad. A 392 does it in 3.4s which should be more comparable to v8 sports cars and it's on another planet from the fox body. Not sure where fastest laps gets their info but our 2019 JLUR would hit 60 in 6s flat according to the tazer when it was stock. Nobody gives enough credit to just how much better modern vehicles are thanks to modern powertrains, especially the current transmissions.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Obviously it's not apples to apples, but 34 years or not the fact that a sports car with a v8 is slower than a 4cyl, 5k pound suv that is the most capable off road vehicle from the factory ever is pretty sad. A 392 does it in 3.4s which should be more comparable to v8 sports cars and it's on another planet from the fox body. Not sure where fastest laps gets their info but our 2019 JLUR would hit 60 in 6s flat according to the tazer when it was stock. Nobody gives enough credit to just how much better modern vehicles are thanks to modern powertrains, especially the current transmissions.

You're taking away credit from the modern vehicles by saying it's sad a 38 year old Mustang can't outperform one.

It's not sad, it's evolution.

 

[Zachanadandy]

You're taking away credit from the modern vehicles by saying it's sad a 38 year old Mustang can't outperform one.

It's not sad, it's evolution.

I'd agree if we weren't comparing Jeeps to mustangs. Literally the thing that one was designed for and about the opposite end of what a Jeep is designed for the Jeep is better at. Again we aren't comparing modern sports cars to 30 year old ones. The most off road capable vehicles of today are better sports cars. Modern mini vans are better sports cars. That's like evolution if people were Apes 30 years ago instead of 30 million years.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I'd agree if we weren't comparing Jeeps to mustangs. Literally the thing that one was designed for and about the opposite end of what a Jeep is designed for the Jeep is better at. Again we aren't comparing modern sports cars to 30 year old ones. The most off road capable vehicles of today are better sports cars. Modern mini vans are better sports cars. That's like evolution if people were Apes 30 years ago instead of 30 million years.

Better sports cars? Mini vans? You're nuts.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Better sports cars? Mini vans? You're nuts.

Modern mini vans are faster than most 60s muscle cars and handle better too. Obviously they don't look as good or sound anywhere near as good. I'd never own one, but I've driven a few. Pretty much anything built before 2000 was under powered by modern standards.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I owned the last of the Dakota 318,5.2lt V8’s. In a 2002 reg cab 4x4 Sport 5 sp, I ordered special with HD Tow package and payload of up to 6,500, plus 1,900 respectively. The Magnum was only rated at 210 hp, 240 lbs ft. But ran like a scalded cat! Especially on the beaches. With the 5 speed and short shifting I was able to get 17 city, 20 hwy at a steady 65. On a trip back to Mass from Ohio Armish country loaded with 15, 70 lbs picnic table kits, towing an closed UHAUL trailer loaded with another 75, I rolled over a Cat Scale at 11,290 lbs of my 12,000 lbs CGVWR. Getting an average of 10 mpg at 60/65 mph across rt 80, to 95. Never had to downshift on any long grades. Just 5th gear from exit to exit and stop to stop, once rolled up through the gears. Never used any oil in 140,000 trouble free engine miles, only brakes, hoses, belts and front ball joints. That was a great simple engine that had less than half the moving parts a 3.6 has, less power on paper, but with a heavy load/pull? The difference between running at 1,000-3,000 and 2,000-5,000 rpm’s. Between the 5.2 & 3.6!

That 02 Dakota with the 5.2L had a 0-60 of 9.6s. Your scalded cat was 3 legged at best. As with most nostalgic memories we have a tendency to remember things far better than they actually were. I've towed over 8k pounds with the gladiator and I'll take the 3.6L over the 5.2L any day. Sure the rpms are higher to get the power out of it, but there's a lot more there than the old v8s at any rpm. Had no problem maintaining 65mph up tehachapi grade...at 6k rpms.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Modern mini vans are faster than most 60s muscle cars and handle better too. Obviously they don't look as good or sound anywhere near as good. I'd never own one, but I've driven a few. Pretty much anything built before 2000 was under powered by modern standards.

Ok, so we're comparing to 60s muscle cars now.

What about mini van vs fox body Mustang? Let's explore that.

 

[Stan H]

I say a better comparison is old Jeep Gladiator to new modern Gladiator

 

[Zachanadandy]

Ok, so we're comparing to 60s muscle cars now.

What about mini van vs fox body Mustang? Let's explore that.

In a drag race stock? My money's on the van. Handling is probably closer than any Mustang owner wants to admit too.

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