I agree he 318 is a good engine and I have one sitting in the corner of the garage, but I wouldn't start there for a build. If I had no engine at all id be looking for a magnum 360 crate engine. ( there are things I dont like about 360, it would have to be changed to internal balance for instance...) I have always had 340s so I am biased, but I do acknowledge that the same things that can be done to a 340 can be done to a 318. Cam, pistons etc, how would one run 2.02s in a 318?, it would require an over bore, how far over can you take a 318 last I knew and by the book it was .040 over which makes it 4.031 or something like that.