You sure have made a vast improvement in the dart in a short time! Very nice work so far.
About the only thing I wouldn't have done is to use that glass fuel filter. I bought one years ago, thinking the see thru feature was a good idea.
And then somebody told me to open it up and see how restrictive those things are. They have four holes about 1/8" in daimater for all the fuel to pass through, it's actually possible that it might heat the fuel up due to the restriction.
It's not really likely that a stock 318 with a carter BBD is going to need that much fuel flow, but there's another point...it's easier than you think to accidentally break the glass fuel bowl! I wish I could say I don't know that from personal experience! And if someone tries to sell you one of those ProFuel fuel pressure regulators, run away screaming! They are restrictive junk also.
A really cheap upgrade for the carb, is simply to spec one for an earlier (late 60's) 318. it will be jetted just a little richer, and won't have all that EGR crap on it. I usually removed the charcoal canister and plugged the return line off, with no ill effects, but.....
You can get a fuel filter with a 3rd nipple, and plumb this into the return line, giving you a recirculating fuel system, which would help eliminate vapor lock problems. It helps by constantly returning some fuel to the tank, and helps cool the fuel. These filters are found on mid 70's land yachts, like a 74 with a 400 or 440.
I also started adding an electric fuel pump at the rear of my cars, when alcohol gas started being common, and never had any more problems due to heat soak or vapor lock. Need not be some high dollar pump either, a parts store "helper pump" works great on a stock engine. Made starting much easier, as it almost instantly supplied fuel to the front of the car, so you didn't have to crank it forever to build up prime.
If the timing chain ever craps out, and the rest of the engine is in good shape, buy either a double roller chain like the 340's had, or at least an all steel single tooth version. Once grandma's 318 get some miles on it, and then a young driver starts beating on it,8) those plastic teeth on a stock chain will soon shed, and wind up in your oil pump pickup screen, and bad things happen!
I wish I hadn't experienced that one first hand, either!
As far as engine appearance goes, I'd remove the carb, and any of the accessories that are easily removed, mask what can't be, and spray bomb it with some original Chrysler blue. And then add the nice goodies. Just that will make the old 318 look a lot better, than new acessories un an unpainted block. Same thing I did back when I was young and on a real tight budget.
Enough for now, if I can be of any assistance, please let me know!
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alan627b