AJ's Opinion; Just for you 318 streeters
- Thread starter AJ/FormS
- Start date
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I'd say 9 times out of 10 most would be better off grabbing a running 5.9L magnum since it makes 300-320 hp in stock condition add small cam 360 hp easily and decent powerband 1000-5000 rpm. Second choice a 5.2L magnum same heads just a 4bbl cam headers away from making 400 hp, LS guys love 4.8L/5.3L they can make slightly more hp but the Magnum is what we got nothing stopping the chev guys from running small cid.
Secondly is getting traction in the street if your just building a tire burning throttle blip rocket than ya you want the most cid for low rpm torque.
But say you want a balanced driving experience, say got early 4 gear A body make it handle a little a want to rev through the gears and hook up well from a stop and not have crazy power so you can enjoy at street speed 0-80 mph so like 300-325 hp well a 5.9l magnum it makes that hp stock but it peaks at 4500 rpm cause its a truck engine.
Makes for a good daily driver and fun car but not a hot street machine that you can rev through the gears a 273/318 would fit the bill more on that one. Sure you could build a high revving 360 or 572 for that matter but hp gonna be so high your gonna have to drive 100 plus mph to enjoy or short blips of the gas that will melt tires at will.
Secondly is getting traction in the street if your just building a tire burning throttle blip rocket than ya you want the most cid for low rpm torque.
But say you want a balanced driving experience, say got early 4 gear A body make it handle a little a want to rev through the gears and hook up well from a stop and not have crazy power so you can enjoy at street speed 0-80 mph so like 300-325 hp well a 5.9l magnum it makes that hp stock but it peaks at 4500 rpm cause its a truck engine.
Makes for a good daily driver and fun car but not a hot street machine that you can rev through the gears a 273/318 would fit the bill more on that one. Sure you could build a high revving 360 or 572 for that matter but hp gonna be so high your gonna have to drive 100 plus mph to enjoy or short blips of the gas that will melt tires at will.
I feel i need to change my username.... 
I feel i need to change my username....
To what? 318saPOS? Hardly.
318istrash
dirty white boy
50 yr old Juvenal delinquent
ant red x'in ya but i havta disagree!318istrash
Indeed.
I think besides the "just build a 340 (can't really use "just" in that context) or just build a 360", the fact that within 3-5 posts of a 318 thread, we get the inevitable "buy a .600 lift cam with 300 duration, 5.36 gears and a 4000 stall converter- that's the only way to get anything from a 318" comment.
There is a certain amount of disdain for 307's in the chevy community.
I find the 283 gets more respect.
Of course, the 327 has almost the same mystique as the 340, and even though the 350 is easily the most popular an has more potential, people will shun it if possible, for a 327.
Put a 350 in your nova and tell folks it's a 327, and you get ooohs and aaahs.
Put a 350 in a factory 327 car and you get WTF "just" find a 327.
There is a certain amount of disdain for 307's in the chevy community.
I find the 283 gets more respect.
Of course, the 327 has almost the same mystique as the 340, and even though the 350 is easily the most popular an has more potential, people will shun it if possible, for a 327.
Put a 350 in your nova and tell folks it's a 327, and you get ooohs and aaahs.
Put a 350 in a factory 327 car and you get WTF "just" find a 327.
AustinGriggs
Well-Known Member
As far as this age old debate goes, in the interest of making more power; I think the number one thing to change is the PISTONS! Past that you can build it just like any HP 340/360 and have a strong motor for street use. The 318 will like alittle more converter and gear to run door to door with the bigger engines but it can be done rather easy and cheapish.
Looking for the 318 compression ratio chart. Can't seem to find it.
1968-9 9.2
1970 8.8
1971-3 8.6
is what I found.
My 70 has 8.8. I should switch to the closed chamber 920's I have on the shelf. That would get back to that 9.2.
1970 8.8
1971-3 8.6
is what I found.
My 70 has 8.8. I should switch to the closed chamber 920's I have on the shelf. That would get back to that 9.2.
A 340 cam,LD4B and 650 AVS2 (also on the shelf) , 340 exhaust manifolds, a higher stall converter, and 3.55's. Naw. I might just keep the stock 318 2 barrel.
It is a slippery path.
Or I have a roller teen block in the garage. Oh and a pair of Speedmaster aluminum heads on the shelf and a 273 forged crank. I should build the aluminum head roller, dyno it, and sell it to someone in need. Should be able to squeeze 375-400 horse out of one without too much work.
There you go. I won't even go into the combinations I have on the shelf, unfortunately I only have 3 cars to play with and 2 are already decided on. My stuff lasts forever, so I'm not sure what to do with all the really cool stuff.
Buy a beater and race it…..
Most of my friends race, mostly drag and a couple road race. I know I don't want to get caught in that trap. Lots of cash and little payback. I love street and handling cars that I can run cross country. I'm already at my limit, space and time wise.
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I used that exact cam in a LA 360 once, years ago
I saw it posted on a You tube video and thought I would screen shot the specs. Always lots of questions about purple shaft specs here.
That 360 ran 13.3's with that cam, and 3.23 gears (28" tires). 2.02 J heads, LD 340 intake and 750 DP.
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