318 and other SB Mopars, who has experiance with them?

[gettingreasy]

I just got a 318 out of a '68 Dodge Coronet and was wondering whats the hot ticket for these engines? I was thinking about building the "400 horse on the cheap" that Hot Rod did several months ago but would really appriciate some good first hand knowledge about them. My goal is to build it relativly stout and FINALLY gasserize my '62 Valient. So what are good cam choices, are my stock heads alright, what should be a good seat presure for the springs, what kinda pistons to use, etc. Thanks.
-Jesse

[tragic59]

Go to the tech-o-matic section and RE-read Fathack's post on this very subject.

You replied to it, so I assume you read it once already and either forgot about it, or couldn't find it.

Anyways, it's a good write-up. And pretty much anything he recommends for the 360 can be done to a 318...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB4&Number=219717&Forum=U BB4&Words=mopar&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0 &Limit=100&Old=1year&Main=167918&Search=true#Post2 19717

[gettingreasy]

Cool thanks I forgot all about it. If anyone else has some info I sure would appriciate it.
-Jesse

[tragic59]

Here's my 2 cents, for what little it's worth. If I was gonna make a gasser out of anything, I'd be looking for a big block. Period. Or a Hemi, I guess. If you want a DEPENDABLE driver with decent power, fuel efficiency and torque a 318 is a great choice. That's what I'm planning to run in my 41 Chrysler. But if you're building a "gasser", the big block is gonna give you the attitude and power you're probably looking for. Gassers, in my opinion, should not be tame. They should be out-fucking-rageous.

Here's a link for a running truck for sale in the bay area for $250. That's low money for a running motor and tranny. And it's a 400ci BB, which is what guys make strokers out of by putting in cranks out of 440's, so you could buy it cheap, run it as is for a while and then stroke it and really scream.

http://www.craigslist.org/pen/car/38792055.html

Here's a complete 440 that needs a rebuild, but it's only $100...

http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/39329222.html

[tragic59]

Another cheap 383

http://www.craigslist.org/nby/car/39178333.html

[tragic59]

No matter how much massaging you do, you'll never get a 318 to do this:

[tragic59]

Another cheap 400

http://www.craigslist.org/nby/car/39279382.html

[RileyRacing]

Hacks post is a great source of info. I got a coupla 360's, and in my experience, they wake up pretty well with just a good cam, intake and carb. One has a performer package, it's in a truck, and it scoots pretty well. If ya want, pm me for info on the other one, it's mod-ed a little more, but nothing radical.

It's way cooler than an SBC too. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jay

[tragic59]

Rocket, what year is your truck?

[gettingreasy]

Belive me I would love a Big Block but can't afford one or the parts. To do a full/complete rebuild and hop up would be twice as much for a B/RB than for the LA. Ya it would make awsome power but the LA would all so bolt right in with very FEW mods, were as the B would require shit that I can't do because of cash/time restraints.
-Jesse

[SinisterCustom]

In Moparland, big blocks really ain't more money to build than small blocks. If you really wanna build it though, a good resource is the Mopar Engines book from Mopar Performance available at the dealership. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[tragic59]

Not only are big blocks not more money to build than small blocks, but a STOCK big block is gonna put out 350-395 horsepower without doing a single thing to it. Assuming it's already a runner with a 4bbl carb. That's stock from the factory. With a small block, you're gonna have to build it to see those numbers.

And I have no idea what they cost, as I've never priced one, but they sell BOLT-IN kits that allow you to put a B or RB motor where your LA used to be.

I hope I don't sound like I'm against a small block chrysler, because that's not the case. I love the motors. Especially the 318. Excellent reliability, decent power, easy to work on and easy to find parts for.

I just think you would be happier in the long term if you spent your money on a cheap, running big block and a motor mount kit than hopping up the 318. Alot more potential in the gasser realm with the big block...

But to answer your question as to what you can do to liven it up, I say go with the Hot Rod magazine build up recipe and add electronic ignition, if they didn't include it. I read the article, but can't recall what ignition they ran.

And seeing how it's gonna be a gasser, I don't think you should worry about the low end torque you'd need for a driver and just go with the single plane manifold, and carb spacer they used in that build. I mean, the proof is in the numbers they pulled. It should be a pretty easy recipe to follow, assuming you can get ahold of some of the mid-80's heads they used on that motor relatively cheaply and have the time, patience and ability to port them out yourself.

Good luck with the project, and keep us posted on your progress.

And remember, down the road, you can always pick up a 6-Pack set-up for that motor and really scream.

[Fat Hack]

If you're gonna build the 318 (Hell, I would! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif), don't be afraid to "build it stupid"!! The coolest thing about 318 Mopars is that they are very forgiving and tolerant, while remaining totally reliable!

It's hard to beat the "fun factor" that an overbuilt 318 provides...overcam the shit out of it, run too much carb and a gnarly intake, big tube headers and back it all with steep drag gearing and a loose converter (if running an auto). It'll be noisy, fun and cool!

I've got a small block Mopar (318!) powered coupe planned for someday in the semi-near future...the last 318 I built sounded purely evil, and was a total blast to run through the gears! Shame about the car it was in, though!

[Gotgas]

[ QUOTE ]
And I have no idea what they cost, as I've never priced one, but they sell BOLT-IN kits that allow you to put a B or RB motor where your LA used to be.

[/ QUOTE ]Not in a '62 Valiant. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hell, I bet it would be just as much work to get a small block in one. Those early Valiants have tiny engine compartments, especially in respect to width.

**shameless plug**

I have some 13:1 360 pistons and 1 3/4" A-body headers laying around if anyone wants to put together a hot small block. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif But yes, the gasser needs a big block. DO NOT put a 318 in that thing.

[29EHV8]

I've had tons of sbd in my time.All fast too.
Go to your mopar dealer and buy a camkit,either a 340 4 speed cam 484 or go big and put a 509/292 in it.Find some 340 X or J heads and build them or find some early 360 heads and build them.
I used to go get a 509/292 cam kit and put it in my 340 and beat every sbc lover in town.
PM bondoslinger and ask him a few ???s too.He has a 360 out of a christian school bus that hes never had the pan off of and he turns 12 second 1/4 mile times day in and day out.....
"A small block dodge is just a small block chevy with funny lookin rockers" Bob Glidden

[hell_fish_65]

There are a few options on heads for the 318. A set of aftermarket aluminum heads are super sweet, but not cheap. A set of late model 318 Magnum heads are great flowing, but must be either redrilled to bolt on a LA intake or buy a Mugnum intake. 318 heads from around 85 with a casting number ending with 302 are nice flowing, heartshaped valve swirl port heads. You can cut these some to raise compression and install larger valves. The last option is 360 heads, but be careful, depending on what you build up is, these may hurt power. The 400hp build up was with the 302 casting heads that had major porting done.
For intakes, a Edlebrock performer is the smallest instake you should use. If you plan on keeping A/C, this is about the only option.
Now, you can buy many kinds of cams and pistons. Hughs Cams are real good. You can also buy a stroker kit and boost the 318 to 349 all the way to 396.
A 360 is a good option as well since you can't tell by a quick look that its not a 318.
As for a big block, if you like corners, the BB become a little nose heavy. I perfer the SB, but thats just me. If I did a BB, I would go with a 400 with a 440 crank to get 426 CI. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Gotgas]

[ QUOTE ]
If I did a BB, I would go with a 400 with a 440 crank to get 426 CI. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]That's a 451. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif The B-block weighs about 65lbs less than the RB, too. This is a great stroker setup, and all you have to do is cut the 440 crank mains down to fit the 400 block.

Then get custom rods and pistons. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[hell_fish_65]

You use stock rods.

[gettingreasy]

I'm not saying that they are way more expensive to build but the extra money to buy the motor could go to good use "other" places like the tranny and such. The weight and fit issues are a HUGE effect, with a mild trim on excess shit the car will weigh in at 2800 lbs versus 2650 in stock trim w/ slant. This will still be my daily driver but I have a short comute so as long as 18 miles a day drive wont hurt it I'll be okay. And I have ruled out the straight axle so it will be a wanna be super stocker/modified production.
-Jesse

[Bondo Slinger]

Yup, what Shiny said. It don`t take much to make a small block scream.