1. Consult a factory service manual: A factory service manual for a 1984 Dodge with a 318 engine will provide the correct torque specifications for your specific vehicle. This is the most reliable source.
2. Check the water pump itself: Some water pumps have the torque specifications printed on them or on the packaging.
3. Use a general guideline (with caution): If you can't find the specific spec, a *general* guideline for water pump bolts on engines of that era might be in the range of 15-20 ft-lbs. However, this is just a rough estimate and could be significantly off. Using this guideline without verifying with a service manual could lead to over-tightening (damaging the pump or engine block) or under-tightening (resulting in leaks).
It's crucial to use the correct torque specification. Using too much torque can easily strip the threads or crack the engine block. Using too little torque will cause leaks. Prioritize finding the correct spec from a factory manual.