Big horsepower 318 builds

-
:drama: Bring on the 500 HP low revving 318. :rolleyes:
They say it can be done, I'd like to see it. :D
It's coming to a dyno near you soon.:popcorn:
 
:drama: Bring on the 500 HP low revving 318. :rolleyes:
They say it can be done, I'd like to see it. :D
It's coming to a dyno near you soon.:popcorn:

Had a chat to a friend of mine who built a 290 ci 273 (large over bore) with ported 273 stock heads and a big solid roller with webbers that went into a local circuit racer that he says made 458 HP @ 6500 Yes that's 6500!

That's 1.57 HP per CI.
 
See hear is the faults perpetuation of bullcrap..... start right off saying you don't know much about them and then go on to say how they're going to lose a valve in a couple of years... Solely because the fact that they're Chinese LOL... This is precisely why I bought them because there was no fact about them except for naysayers that knew nothing about them...

My head porter says they are cast in Australia and final assembly is done in China. I don't know what his source is for that, but he's been porting heads over fifty years. He also says the castings are top notch as for metallurgy.
 
Had a chat to a friend of mine who built a 290 ci 273 (large over bore) with ported 273 stock heads and a big solid roller with webbers that went into a local circuit racer that he says made 458 HP @ 6500 Yes that's 6500!

That's 1.57 HP per CI.
That's nice.
But we're looking for 500 HP with a teeny weeny bore and a short stroke.
Where will we find 50 HP in the same rpm range
 
Hummmm, maybe FABO should have an Engine Masters for 318's??? (I'm ducking under my desk now)
 
That's nice.
But we're looking for 500 HP with a teeny weeny bore and a short stroke.
Where will we find 50 HP in the same rpm range
that 290 would have a smaller bore than a 318..... with the same stroke. Just say'n
 
that 290 would have a smaller bore than a 318..... with the same stroke. Just say'n
Give it some big compression, and a big cam. The rest is in the heads. (nothing else is left) LOL
 
Give it some big compression, and a big cam. The rest is in the heads. (nothing else is left) LOL
And he did it with stock 273 heads (ported, I know...). Impressive! I would think the bigger bore of the 318 and better heads may get the 42 more hp needed for 500 hp @ 6500 rpms..... Just food for thought
 
If one were to look at the Ford/Chevy 302 video for guidance....... it would appear the path forward to a 500hp 318 is to throw a pretty good wad of cash at it.
Big *** heads, big *** manifold, healthy solid roller cam, etc.

That usually works for most things HP related.
No reason it wouldn’t work in this case.

It’s just that........ most people spending that much...... want more than 500hp as the end result.
 
And he did it with stock 273 heads (ported, I know...). Impressive! I would think the bigger bore of the 318 and better heads may get the 42 more hp needed for 500 hp @ 6500 rpms..... Just food for thought
More piston speed, say 7400 or so.
The example giving has fudged numbers, it was more like 7400 .
and I question the ported 273 head
There is a 273 dyno sheet in the 8000K thread. lol
 
I’d do it just for fun. No other reason.

I had the same thought, Rob.. To exercise a challenge, or to prove it to none other than myself.. Maybe even the thrill of planning out a goal.
 
Last edited:
Now you guys are talking about 500 horse 273's! WTF?
 
Now you guys are talking about 500 horse 273's! WTF?
I guess it's the closest example to be found. lol
and you're still searching for a big power 318, say 500HP.......
I find it interesting of how easy it is. but with all the noted engine builders on this site, not one real path to get there.
let me provide a clue, it will certainly take more RPM than 6500
 
I find it interesting of how easy it is. but with all the noted engine builders on this site, not one real path to get there.
LOL.... I want to be a noted engine builder.... instead, I'm a dirt road engine builder buying what I cash in on cans... :D
 
but with all the noted engine builders on this site, not one real path to get there.

You could have every guy on this site who plays around with motors come up with 1 or 2 plans for success in the quest for a 500hp 318....... but with no one taking those plans and following through with the proposed builds, it’s all just speculation.
There is no proof of concept.

Ported rpm heads(280-ish), victor intake with a bit of work, 12+:1, roller cam, 1-3/4 headers....... that would be how I attempted it.
Would I succeed? I think I would...... but without actually building it...... who knows.
 
I guess it's the closest example to be found. lol
and you're still searching for a big power 318, say 500HP.......
I find it interesting of how easy it is. but with all the noted engine builders on this site, not one real path to get there.
let me provide a clue, it will certainly take more RPM than 6500

I don't know why your stuck on rpm, everyone knows your gonna have to spin it, I don't think it would take 8000+rpm as you 1st said, My guess it would around 7000 rpm probably fall somewhere 6700-7300 maybe 7500 at most. VE% and CR play a big roll, take that 477 hp 318 bump up the CR from 10:1 to something like 12.5:1 you'd have your 500 hp and CR isn't gonna raise the rpm if anything might lower it a little since where running a more efficient engine, Sure we don't have any 318 eg.. but look at 5.3ls or 302 even 340 it's not gonna be much different from those engines took to reach 500 hp, The video of the Ford and Chev 302 made more than 500 hp, Ford 302 520 hp @ 7000 rpm and Chevy 543 hp @ 7300rpm, if those engines where cammed to make 500 hp they probably would at slightly less then 7000 rpm or at least at 7000 rpm to, 318 has at least 16 cid on those two engines depending on final bore. So the formula is to put heads on that can support 550 hp or better and add a big cam and 10 - 12.5:1 cr and spin around 7000 rpm and call it a day. Sure you could do better with a 408 etc.. but you could always add a 4" stroke to a 318, 318/360/340 bores isn't all that huge in difference, does it matter yes but unless your shooting for 500-750 hp + on a high competition race engine, for the average street, street/strip engine 318 can take all the same parts including cranks. Saying that yes it makes more sense to start with a 360 block or even a 340 one if you can find one at a reasonable price and add desired parts and stroke.
 
Last edited:
I don't know why your stuck on rpm, everyone knows your gonna have to spin it, I don't think it would take 8000+rpm as you 1st said, My guess it would around 7000 rpm probably fall somewhere 6700-7300 maybe 7500 at most. VE% and CR play a big roll, take that 477 hp 318 bump up the CR from 10:1 to something like 12.5:1 you'd have your 500 hp and CR isn't gonna raise the rpm if anything might lower it a little since where running a more efficient engine, Sure we don't have any 318 eg.. but look at 5.3ls or 302 even 340 it's not gonna be much different from those engines took to reach 500 hp, The video of the Ford and Chev 302 made more than 500 hp, Ford 302 520 hp @ 7000 rpm and Chevy 543 hp @ 7300rpm, if those engines where cammed to make 500 hp they probably would at slightly less then 7000 rpm or at least at 7000 rpm to, 318 has at least 16 cid on those two engines depending on final bore. So the formula is to put heads on that can support 550 hp or better and add a big cam and 10 - 12.5:1 cr and spin around 7000 rpm and call it a day. Sure you could do better with a 408 etc.. but you could always add a 4" stroke to a 318, 318/360/340 bore isn't all that huge in difference, does it matter yes but unless your shooting for 500-750 hp + on a high competition race engine, for the average street, street/strip engine 318 can take all the same parts including cranks. Saying that yes it makes more sense to start with a 360 block or even a 340 one if you can find one at a reasonable price and add desired parts and stroke.
8,000 is a number I threw out. Seems like 7300+ would be the magic number.
A grenade comes to mind. lol
 
You could have every guy on this site who plays around with motors come up with 1 or 2 plans for success in the quest for a 500hp 318....... but with no one taking those plans and following through with the proposed builds, it’s all just speculation.
There is no proof of concept.

Ported rpm heads(280-ish), victor intake with a bit of work, 12+:1, roller cam, 1-3/4 headers....... that would be how I attempted it.
Would I succeed? I think I would...... but without actually building it...... who knows.
You wanna build the top end, I'll build the short block?
 
You wanna build the top end, I'll build the short block?

Don’t take this the wrong way........

When supplying a set of heads and cam for a proposed 500hp 318 becomes a regular paying job...... then I’ll get interested in it.

As of yet, in 30 years of doing this, that is not a request I’ve ever had.
It’s usually more like “I want a 500hp small block street motor”...... to which I reply....... “your best bet is probably a stroker”.
And since I don’t do complete motors anymore, they get to continue that conversation with whoever they decide to have build it.
 
Don’t take this the wrong way........

When supplying a set of heads and cam for a proposed 500hp 318 becomes a regular paying job...... then I’ll get interested in it.

As of yet, in 30 years of doing this, that is not a request I’ve ever had.
It’s usually more like “I want a 500hp small block street motor”...... to which I reply....... “your best bet is probably a stroker”.
And since I don’t do complete motors anymore, they get to continue that conversation with whoever they decide to have build it.
Fully understand, and totally agree. I figured if all the FABO guys who wanted to see such a build would figure out how to pay for it, I'd donate my labor on the short block. But again, I'm totally in agreement with ya.
 
Fully understand, and totally agree. I figured if all the FABO guys who wanted to see such a build would figure out how to pay for it, I'd donate my labor on the short block. But again, I'm totally in agreement with ya.

Do a GoFundMe and raffle it.
 
After thinking about it a bit...... in the end, the TF heads would be the easier and less expensive path.

Plus, it would make the combo infinitely duplicatable without needing custom work.

If they ever finally start selling some intake manifolds......
 
-
Back
Top