318 Head Opinions

As for cost maybe I got lucky.I think it was partly being patient and waiting for the deals.

Rebuilt mags;$500 complete with new springs/seals/valvetrain/rockers etc, valve job and milled!
M1 intake off ebay;$105
Head bolts;$55
Mag valve covers;$15(not essential,but I like em)
MP pushrods;$65
Porting templates;$15(again not essential,but I wanted em!)
Cam and lifters have yet to be purchased..
Grand total;$755

I know guys who have more than this in thier la heads alone trying to get the same breathing.Yes they will achieve higher peak numbers,but never the same under the curve.Hemi guys can relate to what Im talking about.It's the reason chevie lost time and time again..

And thats the beauty of the mag.It's not a hi flow head.The ports arent huge.It's a hi velocity head.Works better down low than the la and better than the 302 up md -hi.Plus the exhaust ports are much better.Relates to better scavenging and more vacuum,thus better mileage.The heart shaped chamber is more compatible with todays fuel and resists pinging.Better efficiency for more complete burning.They also seem happier with less total timing advance.

I also would suggest that if there are guys who have killed the bottom end torque on a teen using mags;be more conservative with your cam selection.A teen reacts different than a 360 to the same cam.It "sees" more cam due to less displacement. Also, most bigger cams sacrifice bottom end torque for hi end power.Not to mention need much lower gears and loose convertors.So a cam with .480 lift in a teen is quite a large cam,but not so with a 360.The smaller bore may contribute to this.So for a teen,less is more.

I also wonder why no one uses offset grinding to bring compression up anymore?This is an old timers trick.Kind of kills 2 birds with one stone as the stock pistons can be reused,thus balancing is not essential(allthough I'll still do it).Just be sure to check piston/valve clearance!

I'll get off my soapbox now...