General 318-340 questions

-
str12-340 said:
Thee are 2 ways to increase the displacement of an engine: one is larger diameter pistons, the other is putting in a crank with a longer stroke (how far up and down the pistons go). A longer than stock stroke in an engine is called a stroker. There are lots of well proven stroker kits out there and as mentioned earlier the 390 stroker out of a 318 is a popular one.
Click to expand...
I talked to an old mopar drag guy a while back at his shop and he also said the stroker kit was the way to go.
 
273 said:
You probably should be shopping for a competent engine builder.

you should read the magazine articles I linked on post #13 there more on the sticky on the smallblock section, plus watch https://www.youtube.com/@richardholdener1727/videos give you an idea of what's going on.

here's 2 360 video, he don't have 318 but are similar



Click to expand...

Thank you and I have been reading the links you sent. Very great information.
 
66fs said:
That is not true. Small blocks are good to 6,500 -7,000 rpm, valve train, connecting rods and all. Rpm is usually limited by ignition, cam, valve springs. You want strong cylinders that you can seal with the pistons and rings. Next you want good heads, and for the power you want, you can do that with 360/340 heads. Don't get hung up on horse power numbers. 340's were giant killers and they were only about 300 horse power. If you do it right a 318 can be a blast to drive. Strokers require a big cash outlay for a new crank, rods and pistons. Strokers bring the rpm down by adding cubic inches. What car is it going into? What do you want your car to do?
Click to expand...
7EA2FE80-B36C-46F7-9B8F-1A986F952950.jpeg


22774612-C62A-411F-8C0F-0D7D95FE8F77.jpeg

I will buy some 340-360 heads and I will be shopping around for an engine shop. It’s a 72 dart custom. I just want it to be as fast as other mild build cars from the time. No drag racing just back and forth to work and can have the power when I want it. Also currently looking for a larger rear end to take the power along with the brake kit.
 
CLAY72dart said:
I will buy some 340-360 heads and I will be shopping around for an engine shop. It’s a 72 dart custom. I just want it to be as fast as other mild build cars from the time. No drag racing just back and forth to work and can have the power when I want it. Also currently looking for a larger rear end to take the power along with the brake kit.
Click to expand...

Is your 318 stock with a 2 barrel? You will probably like your car more with 300-350 hp. Get a custom cam and valve springs to match. Run 3.23 ( 8 3/4) or 3.21 (8 1/4) gears depending on what rear you can find. Sure grip is a plus, but you can always add that later. What brakes do you have now? That is a really nice looking car.
 
66fs said:
You will like your car more with 300-350 hp. Get a custom cam and valve springs to match. Run 3.23 ( 8 3/4) or 3.21 (8 1/4) gears depending on what rear you can find. Sure grip is a plus, but you can always add that later. What brakes do you have now? That is a really nice looking car.
Click to expand...
I just have the stock 4 drums but I have the front disc kit on the way just have to get the rear kit.
 
66fs said:
Is your 318 stock with a 2 barrel? You will probably like your car more with 300-350 hp. Get a custom cam and valve springs to match. Run 3.23 ( 8 3/4) or 3.21 (8 1/4) gears depending on what rear you can find. Sure grip is a plus, but you can always add that later. What brakes do you have now? That is a really nice looking car.
Click to expand...
What brand of stroker kit is better than the others? I feel like someone here has used multiple and had a reasoning behind a preference.
 
You don't really need 4 wheel discs. Front discs and rear drums should be fine. Don't get a rear disc kit till you get your rear.
 
CLAY72dart said:
What brand of stroker kit is better than the others? I feel like someone here has used multiple and had a reasoning behind a preference.
Click to expand...
I don't run stroker engines. I'm already faster than I need to be, and I'm running a 273. The stock internals are fine and you already have them. I'm sure some one will chime in on stroker kits.
My son has a 73 Dart with a stock 318. We added a small Mopar Performance cam, dual exhaust, 4 barrel intake, Edelbrock 500cfm carb, and a 340 distributor. It runs very nice for what it is.

73 Yellow Dart 041.JPG
 
Even IF not a boy racer, way too fast and expensive is never too fast or expensive!!! IF the guy has the $$to spend!!!!

The guy road with me down the road a ways in my old Mopar, he said, his v6 Toyoto was faster. I just said, my old V8 is fast enough for me. I could spend more on it and be faster. I just rather keep those $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$4 :poke:
:rofl: :BangHead:
 
CLAY72dart said:
I will definitely keep that in mind I didn’t think about that. And will a b body rear work on an a body car?
Click to expand...

Not really, the spring perches are wider as are the ends of the axles. Now you are in to custom offset wheels or figuring what will work. Do you know what brakes (10" drums?) and bolt circle (small bolt pattern 5 x 4.00?) you have now?
 
66fs said:
Not really, the spring perches are wider as are the ends of the axles. Now you are in to custom offset wheels or figuring what will work. Do you know what brakes (10" drums?) and bolt circle (small bolt pattern 5 x 4.00?) you have now?
Click to expand...
I have the small bolt pattern and I think they are 9 in drums.
 
CLAY72dart said:
View attachment 1716092102

View attachment 1716092103
I will buy some 340-360 heads and I will be shopping around for an engine shop. It’s a 72 dart custom. I just want it to be as fast as other mild build cars from the time. No drag racing just back and forth to work and can have the power when I want it. Also currently looking for a larger rear end to take the power along with the brake kit.
Click to expand...
You also should check 318willrun videos https://www.youtube.com/@318willrun/videos and his builds on this site do a search. He has shown a few times the few steps needed to turn a 318 into a decent performer.

If your car already has a good running 318 i'd start with a 4bbl and mild cam swap duals a good tune, 3.23 shift kit and maybe a stall, you'd be surprised how much that would wake up your car and wouldn't even make more than 250-280 hp. If getting heads I'd look into speedmaster there a decent priced aluminum aftermarket head and would add probably 40-60 hp to what i said above.
 
CLAY72dart said:
What brand of stroker kit is better than the others? I feel like someone here has used multiple and had a reasoning behind a preference.
Click to expand...
You don't need a this, like 66fs said you'd probably be happy 300-350 hp, you stated you just want the performance of the time a 340 only made 275-300 hp others smallblocks made 350 hp at best. And you want a daily driver which is around .8-1:1 hp per cid 1.1-1 at the highest for most so 255-345 hp for a 318. Above that deep gearing and high stall are a must.
 
And if you where to stroke it which isn't a bad idea even at low hp, A 360 is basically a stocked stroked engine already over a 318, 42 cid and a 408 is 90 cid ,which allows you to build 35-100 hp more streetable hp.
 
CLAY72dart said:
How close is cutting a 318 at a machine shop to a natural 340. Trying to build the one I just got.
Click to expand...
U are not far from
Replicaracer43 (member) Concord NC machinist and Mopar specialist contact him and use him for machine work etc !!!
Fair on price and very meticulous
 
273 said:
You also should check 318willrun videos https://www.youtube.com/@318willrun/videos and his builds on this site do a search. He has shown a few times the few steps needed to turn a 318 into a decent performer.

If your car already has a good running 318 i'd start with a 4bbl and mild cam swap duals a good tune, 3.23 shift kit and maybe a stall, you'd be surprised how much that would wake up your car and wouldn't even make more than 250-280 hp. If getting heads I'd look into speedmaster there a decent priced aluminum aftermarket head and would add probably 40-60 hp to what i said above.
Click to expand...
Thank you I will look at his builds and the speed master.
 
273 said:
You don't need a this, like 66fs said you'd probably be happy 300-350 hp, you stated you just want the performance of the time a 340 only made 275-300 hp others smallblocks made 350 hp at best. And you want a daily driver which is around .8-1:1 hp per cid 1.1-1 at the highest for most so 255-345 hp for a 318. Above that deep gearing and high stall are a must.
Click to expand...
Okay I will keep this in mind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top