318 build
ok i have a recently rebuilt 318 its mostly stock it has a rv cam i it now, i wanna tear it down and redo it with a new cam and few other things but i have a few question that need answers first. so first off the bat is i have heard people say i can put a 360 crank in it with no machining i think thats wrong but im not sure, if a cant what would i have to do if a can what would be the the pros and cons "i mean opinions not performance facts"
You would have to machine the crank main journals down to match the 273/318/340 size mains. This is expensive and time consuming and can possibly weaken the crank, so I’d look into an aftermarket crank fresh and ready to go. Look into Eagle or Scat.
I’d just do the 4.0 crank. Everything for it is EZ to get.
The next con is pistons are NOT on the shelf and would more likely be custom made. IF you can’t find a “Off the shelf” piston, then a custom job could be an easy $1,000 price tag.
Balancing costs could be high on top of it.
next up i want to put a slightly more radical cam in it but not to uncontrollable as its an automatic and i want a smooth idle for trafic and parades so any and all recomendations are great and links to places i can read more on the cam would be nice.
A choppy cam is normally on a low LCA of 110 or less. A typical muscle car is on a 110, a radical or very mean sounding engine is probably on a 108, a race sounding engine could very well be on a 106.
Now just the reverse happens when you widen the LCA. A 112 is easier sounding and driving. A 114 is smooth as stock since a lot of stock cams are on a 114.
The con to this smoother idle, less power.
moving on i would like to go with a electric fan thats pretty easy i guess my only question is what brand of electric water pump should i run with?, again all opinions and and links to more specifications are welcome and appriecated.
IMO, I seriously suggest sticking with a viscous mechanical fan and shroud.
my goal is to have just my alternator running off the crank, that leads me to my next question is there a way to run a serpentine on my alternator instead of the v-belt i only want that because i like the looks of the flat belt also pros and cons if a can do that.
MARCH pulleys. Zero draw back. I run them. Good stuff.
now for tappets and rockers what should i do because i have no idea about performance ones so im kinda stumbling along in that area, i have done lots of rebuilds but they where all stock builds.
so thats it for now thanks in advance ladies and gents
Thomas
Stick with the cam manufacturers tappets.