Options for Replacing Slant 6 in 65 Dart
WHy is a 360 for street strip and 318 for street? Makes no sense.
It does to a degree.
Because the 340 took the thunder away from the 318 as the only performance engine for small blocks. MoPar/Chrysler never got behind the 318 as a engine that could perform. It was a basic people mover engine.
Getting a 318 into the mid 12's isn't to hard, just so much easier and street freindly with a larger engine. Until recently, no one really made a performance piston for a 318. KB makes a few that are resonable in cost, but still more expensive than the larger engines.
On the cheap, after a bottom end rebuild with high compresion pistons, it's just a big cam, gear, converter away with 360 heads and a capable intake and 750 carb with headers.
And engine like this (Quicker than 13's or low 12's) will need more cam, converter, gear than a 340 or 360. This equals a less street freindly engine. And it's down on power next to a similar or less built 360. With it's longer stroke producing more torque, it makes life easier.
Building a 318 because you want to, want to be different, because you have it, whatever.... is fine. But if you have the extra money to seek out and get a 360 at whatever cost in addition, instead of building what you have, is a better bet than being down 22 or 42 cubes next to the 340 or 360.
