I've seen A LOT of posts about making HP with a 318-So why is it so ???

[YY1]

For some reason it still isn't registering that not all 318's are 7-8:1.

...and usually 5.2 and 5.9 engines are super clean inside and even at close to 200,000 miles still have more to give without a rebuild.

Mine has 177,000 and still has the power it had at 31,000 when I bought it.

 

[volaredon]

I have only been thru about half of this thread, so far but it is the same old, same old thing that I am sick of hearing. Just LIKE the "throw a 350 in it" crowd, which has become the "throw an LS in it" crowd.
IM SICK AND TIRED OF IT ALL!!!!!
There is nothing wrong with the 318.
I've never owned anything BUT a Mopar in all of my years of owning cars and trucks. I have owned slants, 318s and 360s.
The biggest SLUG that I have ever had the misfortune to drive, was the 360 in my son's Ramcharger, that was TBI. Now has a carbd 408 in it. My brothers 80 ramcharger also with a 360 wasn't much better.
I never understood why EVERY 360 I have ever seen with the heads off of, LA or Magnum, has dished pistons, where 318s don't. That by itself castrates a 360 right off the bat.
I have done a couple of magnum head to LA block conversions (one is the 408 in the kids ramcharger)
The other was a 318 in a d250. Magnum heads, stock melling LA 360-2 cam, a standard (not RPM) performer intake and a carterbrock 625. It woke up that engine unbelievably. No dyno readings beyond the butt dyno but mileage and power were both way improved. Untouched 120-ish, 000 mile original short block that was original to the truck (an 83)
I have always just liked the 318s for some reason....from the days before I had a driver's license so I never really know why. I always wanted to "try" building up a 360 just to see what all the hype is about.... 1st mod would be flat top, zero deck pistons.



I have never found myself in a situation where just the swap between a 318 to a 360 would have made the difference in what I was after...... I've made a few engine swaps, both 318>360 and back 360>318 and could never really tell much difference.... all stock vehicles, 2.X gearing
I know that even my Dad, who owned both a 72 Fury wagon w/a 360 and 73 Fury wagon w/a 400, "at the same time", '73 was Mom's to run us to and from school..... but Dad always did nothing but cuss 360s in general for some reason....

I HAVE also noticed that back then, it seemed like I was very much more likely to find heavy sludge beneath the valve covers of a 360 than on a 318....
Quit trashing the 318 please...... maybe sith some encouragement, 318 pistons and such jut might start to come DOWN if parts people start seeing a trend of interest in 318s....

I don't have an A body right now, but I do have a B body 78 Fury Sport, with a 318 that yeah, its a lil doggy..... but it still runs its Lean Burn at the moment... have owned since 2007.... I am gonna do an upgrade on it with "parts on hand". To include a freshly valve jobbed set of 302s, one of a couple (undecided as to which yet) aluminum intakes and (also undecided) a Carterbrock 500, a Carterbrock 625, or one of a couple of TQs that are in the attic ready to run..... probably won't do headers, have true duals off the stock manifolds right now.... may swap them to magnum ones..... only thing I am "completely" undecided on is the cam..... currently stock. I want to go up just a couple steps.... thinking same stock 360-2 bbl cam I used on that truck. this car has an honest 55K original miles on it, I am car's 2nd owner.

 

[NCmtnDWELLER]

Ok so first off I'm a little amazed when reading the comments over @ Nick's garage and the Uncle Tony 318 debacle, I'm also a little despondent. As an aside: I am less than an hour away from Nick and that is why I am an observer.

So how much HP do you see the UTG/LOG/NG 318 making even when corrected? (me 255ish)

There are thousands of posts and threads all across the internet concerning the 318 and hopping them up--so why does it seem so hard?

I believe it is because nobody REALLY invests in a 'teener (stock stroke that is) . Why the HECK would they? When I say invest I mean --proper compression/pistons/porting etc...

EVERYONE usually moves to a 340 or a 360 based build--WHY? Because it makes sense.

I understand the budget angle but logic always prevails. Why pay 1-2 thirds more for a 318 specific piston when a 360 piston is available?

I happen to have a 1983 318 block on the floor and may just try and shoot myself in the foot with the following:

I am VERY tempted to make my own YOUTUBE quality video concerning the 318 and yes it will need proper machining and cleaning and some parts will cost actual money. HP goal is more than 250--lol.

What is the bare minimum that everyone wants to see?
What is the maximum everyone wants to see (machining/parts etc..)?

What say you FABO? J.Rob

Check out article I posted pertaining to the UN-WANTED 318 !!!
I tried attaching to your post but was un-successful

 

[NCmtnDWELLER]

I have only been thru about half of this thread, so far but it is the same old, same old thing that I am sick of hearing. Just LIKE the "throw a 350 in it" crowd, which has become the "throw an LS in it" crowd.
IM SICK AND TIRED OF IT ALL!!!!!
There is nothing wrong with the 318.
I've never owned anything BUT a Mopar in all of my years of owning cars and trucks. I have owned slants, 318s and 360s.
The biggest SLUG that I have ever had the misfortune to drive, was the 360 in my son's Ramcharger, that was TBI. Now has a carbd 408 in it. My brothers 80 ramcharger also with a 360 wasn't much better.
I never understood why EVERY 360 I have ever seen with the heads off of, LA or Magnum, has dished pistons, where 318s don't. That by itself castrates a 360 right off the bat.
I have done a couple of magnum head to LA block conversions (one is the 408 in the kids ramcharger)
The other was a 318 in a d250. Magnum heads, stock melling LA 360-2 cam, a standard (not RPM) performer intake and a carterbrock 625. It woke up that engine unbelievably. No dyno readings beyond the butt dyno but mileage and power were both way improved. Untouched 120-ish, 000 mile original short block that was original to the truck (an 83)
I have always just liked the 318s for some reason....from the days before I had a driver's license so I never really know why. I always wanted to "try" building up a 360 just to see what all the hype is about.... 1st mod would be flat top, zero deck pistons.



I have never found myself in a situation where just the swap between a 318 to a 360 would have made the difference in what I was after...... I've made a few engine swaps, both 318>360 and back 360>318 and could never really tell much difference.... all stock vehicles, 2.X gearing
I know that even my Dad, who owned both a 72 Fury wagon w/a 360 and 73 Fury wagon w/a 400, "at the same time", '73 was Mom's to run us to and from school..... but Dad always did nothing but cuss 360s in general for some reason....

I HAVE also noticed that back then, it seemed like I was very much more likely to find heavy sludge beneath the valve covers of a 360 than on a 318....
Quit trashing the 318 please...... maybe sith some encouragement, 318 pistons and such jut might start to come DOWN if parts people start seeing a trend of interest in 318s....

I don't have an A body right now, but I do have a B body 78 Fury Sport, with a 318 that yeah, its a lil doggy..... but it still runs its Lean Burn at the moment... have owned since 2007.... I am gonna do an upgrade on it with "parts on hand". To include a freshly valve jobbed set of 302s, one of a couple (undecided as to which yet) aluminum intakes and (also undecided) a Carterbrock 500, a Carterbrock 625, or one of a couple of TQs that are in the attic ready to run..... probably won't do headers, have true duals off the stock manifolds right now.... may swap them to magnum ones..... only thing I am "completely" undecided on is the cam..... currently stock. I want to go up just a couple steps.... thinking same stock 360-2 bbl cam I used on that truck. this car has an honest 55K original miles on it, I am car's 2nd owner.

Great info , one day when the 360s dry up future Mopar builders will have wished the un-wanted 318s were saved.
I have 5 preserved
1968 [90 over ] 4.0 bore currently
1970
[2] 1974
1978 [ Was free ]

 

[Keven S. Clickner]

Asking why build a 318 is like asking why mess with a slant six. Some folks like what they like.

And some folks have to use or want to use what they've Got .

 

[Keven S. Clickner]

Okay, I''l chime in... As to why a 318, I vintage road race and have a rule book I have to follow: https://svra.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Chrysler_Corp-MoPar_64-66.pdf

For me there is a budget, but part of the considerations are operating costs and rebuild frequency. So while I built this to the SVRA Supplemental Preparation rules linked above (which I authored back in 2006), I adhere to the HSR 6800 RPM rev limit (good for 146MPH with the 3.55:1 rear and 25.5" tall 6.00-15 Goodyear Blue Streaks, or 156MPH with the 7.00-15s at 26.7" tall). Not spinning above 7 means this engine can last for 3-5 seasons with a little care & luck. Also running the 3.55:1 rear (which I cannot take credit for, Josh Skinner installed that when he originally built the car from his \6 daily driver) means my on-track mileage is about 3.2-3.8MPG, and running it on pump 93 octane means fuel is 1/3 the cost of Vs. a Mustang running 4.11:1 gears and race gas (35-40 gallons for me over a race weekend). Then I also spec it to turn closer to 7500 just to make sure it's got a long fuse...

Dart's 318 Built & Tuned by George & Justin Reggio at Maryland Performance Center (Home, Maryland Performance Center; 301-371-8883):
0.050" over '69 318 block with Hughs Engines main stud girdle; Scat 4340 crank, K1 H-beam rods, and forged pistons. Milodon 7 quart road race pan, Canton Accusump, oil cooler, and Oberg canister filter.

Comp Cams Mech Roller:
Lift: 0.630" 0.630"
[email protected]": 254 260
AdvDur(@0.006"): 284/292
LSA: 107
Int Centerline: 102
Lash: 0.022"/0.024".

QFT 750 Circle Track Carb

Edlebrock LD4B intake with 0.5" semi open spacer

Heads:
Ported by Ryan Johnson at Shady Dell Speed Shop in PA "...302" casting number 318 heads with 1.94"/1.60" valves. Flow @ 28" of water with final intake port volume: 136 cc:

LIFT IN / EX
0.100" 66.1 / NA
0.200" 132.8 / 90.4
0.300" 189.9 / 126.2
0.400" 218.4 / 148.8
0.450" 227.9 / 152.9
0.500" 232.8 / 159.8
0.550" 238.0 / 163.9
0.600" 239.1 / 169.8

TTI Early A-Body headers - 3"-in-2.5"-out X-Pipe and small oval case Borla mufflers.

Static Compression 10.25:1 - runs on 93 octane pump gas

Bore 3.960" & Stroke 3.310"

Rod length 6.123"

After the most recent tune-up in November 2014 (swapped out the mufflers), on a Super Flow chassis dyno, peak power was 363Whp @ 6200-6400, Peak torque 347FtLb @ 4300, Max RPM 6800 (it also pulled 425 HP on the pump at 7000 with the open dyno headers during break-in). Runs on premium 93 octane/10% ethanol pump gas.

View attachment 1715541301

View attachment 1715541306

F-'N A righteous!

 

[RustyRatRod]

And some folks have to use or want to use what they've Got .

That's RIGHT! There's a faction around here that always run down what people are doing. I respect what anyone does with their car. I may not like it, but I respect it, because at least they tried.

 

[NCmtnDWELLER]

And some folks have to use or want to use what they've Got .

Opinions are like *** Holes
everyone has one !!!
Building an AMERICAN V8 is a good thing and more productive than setting on the couch watching ( Dancing with the stars ) and the VIEW !!!!

Pretty simple if u dont like the thread pass over it ## and show us your better ( 340 & stroker 360 ) .

 

[Keven S. Clickner]

That's RIGHT! There's a faction around here that always run down what people are doing. I respect what anyone does with their car. I may not like it, but I respect it, because at least they tried.

Ive a 318 short blk+a set of cl ch 273 cyl hds on the rack . I plan on building it , selling after a 5kmi or so break in = square & true short block a close tol balance. Bild rite and move some parts off the inventory that im not likely to use . I just wont have the ability to keep multiple vintage autos on the road . Love to have '70 hlf ton for the 318 but at this point, affraid not gona happen. 'N I dont even play the lotto to allow me the false hope .

 

[Keven S. Clickner]

Opinions are like *** Holes
everyone has one !!!
Building an AMERICAN V8 is a good thing and more productive than setting on the couch watching ( Dancing with the stars ) and the VIEW !!!!

Pretty simple if u dont like the thread pass over it ## and show us your better ( 340 & stroker 360 ) .

Haven't turned on a television in 3 or more years . Dont miss it one bit . saves near 200$/month . For what? 500 channels o' crap? May enjoy 4 shows on3 dif channels . Low value to me . Gone . Took the ugly plastic boxes off the house. Local cable companies putting in fiber optic just recently they're going to put a box on that side of the house where I just remove the two boxes from the telephone company and the cable company. But I told him that I just had the cable turned off about three years ago I had no plan on having it back and I probably would not use their service either, there were several dull and deer in the Headlights heads leand to the side in inability to understand they didn't need to put that box on the side of my house because I had no interest.
"FREEDOM" clarity

 

[NCmtnDWELLER]

Haven't turned on a television in 3 or more years . Dont miss it one bit . saves near 200$/month . For what? 500 channels o' crap? May enjoy 4 shows on3 dif channels . Low value to me . Gone . Took the ugly plastic boxes off the house. Local cable companies putting in fiber optic just recently they're going to put a box on that side of the house where I just remove the two boxes from the telephone company and the cable company. But I told him that I just had the cable turned off about three years ago I had no plan on having it back and I probably would not use their service either, there were several dull and deer in the Headlights heads leand to the side in inability to understand they didn't need to put that box on the side of my house because I had no interest.
"FREEDOM" clarity

Love how u think !!!
Makes good sense

 

[NCmtnDWELLER]

Haven't turned on a television in 3 or more years . Dont miss it one bit . saves near 200$/month . For what? 500 channels o' crap? May enjoy 4 shows on3 dif channels . Low value to me . Gone . Took the ugly plastic boxes off the house. Local cable companies putting in fiber optic just recently they're going to put a box on that side of the house where I just remove the two boxes from the telephone company and the cable company. But I told him that I just had the cable turned off about three years ago I had no plan on having it back and I probably would not use their service either, there were several dull and deer in the Headlights heads leand to the side in inability to understand they didn't need to put that box on the side of my house because I had no interest.
"FREEDOM" clarity

Im sure the human u talked to was totally perplexed with what u told them !
They couldn't envision life without a tv and thats sad !!!

 

[MopaR&D]

I kept the original 318 block and crank from my Duster but the block needs machining (bores are super worn). I'll build it some day for a cruiser with emphasis on gas mileage but still decent HP. Flat-top pistons and aluminum heads most likely if it's going in an A-body, with a typical modern 260-270 adv. duration HFT cam. It was pretty fun to drive when it was running even though it burned a quart of oil every week or 2. I've built 2 360s since then, the increase in torque is massive but the 318s have a more "fun" powerband. Still decent torque down low if you build it right and they'll run up to 7k rpm a lot easier than a 360 if the valvetrain (and top end) is good for it.