1969 Barracuda Fastback
LA 318 engine:
Thanks to a member of this forum I found a year, actually date correct engine for my Barracuda. The car was built 7th January 1969 and the engine I got, was built on 24th Sep. 1968. Unfortunately, the shipping cost from California was higher than the cost of the engine. Since I have seen just pictures and a video, buying the engine was a bit of a gamble.
My biggest concern was the condition of the block. Luckily the bores cleared up at .030 over and no cracks so far.
What is a bit confusing, according to the book "How to rebuild your small block Mopar" by Taylor and Hofer, all 318 came with low compression flat top pistons - no valve reliefs.
By now I have seen 4 318 engines with valve reliefs in their pistons. One of those engines for sure has never been apart. So the 4 valve relief pistons were factory installed. Also on my engine, there were pistons with 4 valve reliefs and it was a std. bore block.
The sad thing, one of the heads is junk - it had cracks all over.
So, if anyone of you has one good cylinder head (68 - 71 casting #2843675), please feel free to contact me. Not asking for a Christmas present, I am paying!
The engine will be rebuilt by Kammer&Kammer in Dayton Ohio. Here are some pictures of the freshly hot tanked block: