need advise in a 318

which one (318) is the best to build. another question is being on a budget what can you do to get a decent amount of power eg, i want to rebuild it so my idea is bore .30, new cam (any sugestions), port the heads (depending on how much, and what to do), that kinda stuf, any ideas would be good.

here is one more, is there a 4spd auto, or 5 spd standard for a 318, i dont ever remember seing one.

thanks guys, as i say im new to mopar.


Alot of "What to do to a 318" is depedent of what you want out of it. As stated above, any 318 is a good 318 so long as it checks out. Of course, things like keeping the overbore to a min. and straight cylinders, uncracked heads, etc....... all add up to a better strating point.

Think of a 318 as a smaller bore 327 and build from there. The same basic princapals apply. Things of note that the MoPar has over a Chevy engine would be;

The abilty to use quicker lifting cams. The rate of which the 904 lifter can obtain in quickness of lift is greater than the smaller Chevy .842 lifter can get.

18* valves in the head offer an advantage over the 23* head. However, the actual flow is what counts.

The cave eat of MoPar engines are few. Weird things like wacky pushrod angles. (MoPar corrected this in there race blocks.)
Heads and intakes cost more, but then again, anytime you go up in performance, it costs more. And sometimes, you barley get more, LOL! That applies to every make of engine really.

Your 318 is internally balanced, Keith Black has a zero deck piston. I think it the 399 HyperUtechic. (SP!?!?!)
Head cc amount is important to the ratio.

What is the goal? E.T.?


MoPar does have a 4spd auto. Based off the 904 is the A-500. This may be difficult to install since it is longer, has a different location for it's mount and is beefier in the tail since the company took a standrd 904 and added on a overdrive unit. They basicly removed the tail section and installed the O.D. in it's place. You'll then need to shorten the driveshaft.

A 5spd manual is easiest to get in the form of a Tremec in a kit. There are various companys offering this conversion kit. It can get pricey, but! Everything is brand new. New pedals, linkages or Hyd. clutch lines, fly wheels etc.... everything new. Even the trans mount. New new new.

Click here for 1 such company; http://www.keislerauto.com/