318 4bbl Questions

[clhyer]

Howdy folks,
A little on the cold side today, so I thought I would spend a little time inside planning and (dangerously) thinkin'...
First, anyone have an LD4B they want to sell? What's a decent price if I can find one?
Next, a little more technical. Sometimes, the more I read the more confused I become. I have read just about every post on the forum that deals with 318 and 4bbl intakes as well as any link that they may lead to. I think I have a general grasp of the issue with using 360 heads and/or an intake manifold with larger ports for a 360. I guess my question is why did Chrysler use that set up - a 318 with 360 heads and intake - on the later 80's cop cars? Surely Chrysler could have made a separate manifold for that application?
Last, using a new Edlebrock Performer intake - if I end up going that route - the applications are listed as 318/360, wouldn't that have the larger ports?
Thanks for any info,
C

 

[srduster340]

The reason Mopar used 360 heads & 4bbl intake on a 318? Cost vs profit. I would have cost too much money to make a 318 intake for very low production.

 

[rumblefish360]

Last, using a new Edlebrock Performer intake - if I end up going that route - the applications are listed as 318/360, wouldn't that have the larger ports?
Thanks for any info,
C

C. Like SR said. It was a cost issue. It is very easy to just make more 360 4 bbl. intakes than to start from scratch on making a good performing intake for a much smaller engine. For the most part, like 99% of the time, 318's were simple people movers.

On the cheap, the best 318 hop up parts are 360 heads & intake with a T-Q carb. They'll work just fine. You can use them and save a few hundred bucks.

The Edel. Performer has the smaller port size. The port size is key and velocity is the secrect. It will work well on 360 engines, but the reverse isn't so well. The 360 intakes ports being larger do not produce higher HP or torque numbers on a 318. Save the 360 parts for serious 318 builds if you can.

A ported 318 head and a Performer intake will out power a stock 360 4bbl. set up on a 318 for most street and lite strip applications.