how can i get 400hp out of a 318?

dodge freak said
I know, you think if it was so easy the factories would had stroke the engines years ago and skip building big block engines. What did the factories do, they built the engines for rpm's with forged cranks and pistons. Ford had the 302, Chevy had the 327 and Mopar had the 340, all built to handle rpm's.

U need good heads, ported for sure. Maybe the RHS? forget the small port heads the engine needs to breath.

I would try for 10 to 1 compression and a solid cam for rpm's Comp Magnum 280 has been around for ages and works well. With a high stall converter it drive around town just fine.

You're missing the point on the issue of strokers -

The point of choosing the stroker route is simply to arrive at a more versatile and less temperamental SB engine for a target HP..........so your comments are irrelevant.

The OP didn't specify what type of "duty" the engine was going to see -Or did I miss that?:scratch:

I'm guessing most engine builders would know from running a three speed trans auto on the street - anything you can do to lower converter stall, compression, increase torque at a given RPM and smooth out cam lope is a win on a hot stinking day in Arizona in work day traffic.

However - I'll play the game.............If it's a race car - go nuts.....I recommend the short stroke, steel crank, Carillo roads, 13:1 comp and Avgas and ported 360 / RHS heads and 1 &7/8 TTIs. LOL!!!

You still could build a strong running 318 that can take on these "400 hp" new cars today. But yeah nasty cam, heads and gears in the 4 range is needed.

I agree on the "nasty cam" - thats why I suggested a stroker build.....I won't mention "4+" gears because thats irrelevant to the target HP. :toothy1: