360 Heads on my 318?

-
MightyMopar

MightyMopar

Member
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
I was offered some 360 heads by a friend and i am just wondering what i would have to do to put them on my 318. I already have an edelbrock performer 318/360 intake and the engine has an unkown cam installed by the the previous owner. Is there any serious modifications i would have to make or would i be better off just staying with my 318 heads. i guess i should also mention i have a burnt valve so im going to be pullling the heads off either way.
 
Alot depends on the build. What it is used for. I've run mid 14's with a 318 head in the past. The 360 head has a larger chamber and will reduce you ratio alot. Not a great idea.

What is the goal of the engine/car?
 
any add on's? A cam? Headers? Anything?
 
Headman headers
edelbrock 318/360 intake
750cfm carb (Too big for the engine in my opinion)
It has a cam but it was installed by the previous owner and im not sure what it is judging by the stickers under the hood all i know is its a Crane cam
 
Theres really not enuff info here and the cam is a big part of it along with gear ratio.

With this going on, IMO, I think 360 valves in the 318 head bowl ported would be a very good way to go about matters. The 360 head can move alot of air, but it will take a bunch of RPM to do it.
 
mightymopar said:
i was offered some 360 heads by a friend and i am just wondering what i would have to do to put them on my 318. I already have an edelbrock performer 318/360 intake and the engine has an unkown cam installed by the the previous owner. Is there any serious modifications i would have to make or would i be better off just staying with my 318 heads. I guess i should also mention i have a burnt valve so im going to be pullling the heads off either way.
Click to expand...


i had a 318 with 360 heads on it yrs ago. It was in a 65 cuda 4 speed. Big cam and 10 - 1 comp. Fastest car i ever had and i've had a few up till then. No big deal. Just bigger valves. Of course it would be nice to know exactly what else you had in the motor .
 
Ok thank you for your help i think i will stay with my 318 heads unfortunatly i cant contact the previous owner to find out the cam size and i was only looking into the 360 heads because i was offered some.
 
What is the vacuum at idle and what is your idle rpm. Big cam would be great since the 360 heads like rpm's. 3.55 gears or better-like 4.10 would be best. Your bottom end needs to be in good shape for 6,500 rpm's.
 
mightymopar said:
ok thank you for your help i think i will stay with my 318 heads unfortunatly i cant contact the previous owner to find out the cam size and i was only looking into the 360 heads because i was offered some.
Click to expand...
get em. Spare set or extra cash later
 
MOUSE said:
get em. Spare set or extra cash later
Click to expand...

Hellllll, ya!!!!!!!!!

The 360 head on top cab be really just OK and fine. Alot is dependent on the set up and such.
 
a couple things..

If you want to run the small valve 360 heads, you're gonna wanna cc'em and most likely mill them down [to about 60 cc's] which is no problem really, unless you can't afford $75 for the cc kit off of ebay.

the runners in 360 head are a lil big and would be mostly beneficial above 2500 rpm, which is no big if you have 3.55+ gears and a cam 256+* duration.
The thing that is hurt you in this is that 750 carb, even with the heads, it is too big to help the bottom end.

I think with a 600 cfm carb, high initial timing [20-26*] , milled 360 '60-63 cc' 360 heads and that small runner performer intake, the 318 w/360 heads would work fine and make a lot more mid range and top end than any 318 head in stock form.

it all about compensating with careful parts selection and GOOD TUNE.

I will add...if the heads need building...consider the rest of the motors condition, cause you might find it better off to do a full build and a 360 instead
 
IMO, unless you're 318 has quite a few mods, the 750 is a bit much carb and is probably really hurting you on the low end.

The 360 heads are fine to use on a 318, but what you gain in flow will be offset by lower compression. A 318 with 360 heads can run VERY well if the heads are shaved appropriately.

My friend ran a set of unmilled 360 heads on his 318 and it killed the low end. Ironically, the police 318 engines used the intake and heads from the 360 starting in 1978.
 
Go with the 360 heads but add taller pistons to make up for the larger chamber area. Go to hughes engines, they have info on certain pistons for different heads what the compression will be. Also, the 340/360 heads have taller runners, you should have a 340/360 intake so you don't have a mixed application
hope this helps
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top